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Gear...... a different perspective

Sal

Veteran

I read this today and thought it was worth sharing.

https://www.theguardian.com/li.....-in-an-old

I have quite the collection of active wear and gear. I love most of it and having nice kit motivates me. I have Specialist shoes and sports bras and socks and leggings and tops for hot weather and cold. It's well worn and achieves a very low cost per wear, but it is expensive to set your self up... And I am very pro movements that allow people from low socio-economic communities or women who have low body confidence to participate in sports.

Some people wear gear all day after exercising - so by that maybe we could wear "clothes" all day including exercising?

For me the specific footwear and the bra are non negotiable. And if hiking in weather the appropriate gear for the conditions is also a must have. But I could play pickleball in a skirt and blouse, or potentially do my early morning walks in trousers and a sweater?

Interested in other people's thoughts on this - are we being manipulated into a whole lot of kit we don't need?

38 replies

Latest reply was from Sal

Jenny H

Veteran

I am all for the idea of not wearing expensive workout gear.

I do wear sports bras every time I workout and I don't plan to change that. But I mostly wear tops that I have downgraded from my regular wardrobe to work out (tees and tanks). As for bottoms, all of mine are quite old-- and not what other people at my workout classes are wearing at all. I have three pairs of skorts (the kind that look like skirts), most of which I bought at thrift stores. And I have several pairs of boot leg yoga pants. None of these items were expensive to begin with. But they get the workout job done quite well and I actually feel pretty good in them.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh interesting Sal. I work out at home and wear a boring outfit of leggings, sports bra and tank top. I do think some technical fabrics and items are important for certain activities, but am not very excited about fancy gym outfits (as I think of them ) myself. I haven't read the article yet, but I am guessing we are all being manipulated into a whole lot of a lot of things we don't need.

Kate

Veteran

My workout as such is walking, and no fancy kit is needed for that, just a decent pair of sneakers or boots in winter.

I'm not a gym rat, but since February I spent two days every week through June doing PT for a rotator cuff tear caused by a fall I took the end of November when on vacation in Iceland. My husband and I were hiking up an snowy hill, I hit ice, slipped and went down.

Granted, all my work at the gym was upper body work, but I went in what was comfortable to me that I really liked, which included jeans, skirts (when it got hot), a regular selection of my Everlane utility barrel jeans, and cropped tees and shirts. While I wasn't the only one who eschewed gear, we were a small band.

My shoulder is now back in action and thankfully I can sling my suitcase up on the rack above the seat when I travel by Amtrak—which I do frequently. It was my one non-negotiable goal for recovery!

Dee

Veteran

Have you ever seen the show Portlandia and the “Get the Gear” episode? It’s hilarious as they decide to take a simple hike and all the gear they figure they need in order to do it.
I do have a bit of “gear” for hiking, so I’m guilty of this too but I also wear plenty of regular clothes to hike in as well.
It’s the cycling gear that always surprises me. I just wear regular clothing for this, but most people where I live are all geared up like they are doing the Tour de France.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

While I totally agree with the principles of wasting less and making more of our possessions multi purpose, I find it impossible to run (my main chosen exercise) in anything but athletic wicking fabrics and mostly specific for the current day’s weather. To accommodate laundry turnaround, I have an assortment of tanks, short and long sleeved shirts, and different weight top layers for colder weather. Plus running shorts, capri and full length tights, wind pants, hats, gloves and ear warmers. And of course, tight supportive sports bras, which I can’t and won’t wear except running or working out.

i have tried to run in denim or other bottoms, plain cotton tops, non athletic jackets and I can’t move and/or I’m overheated or freezing.

i wish the situation were otherwise. I don’t stick to pure gear for hiking or walking, but do wear some of my running tops sometimes.

I feel like I’m being contrary here and perhaps arguing an unpopular stance. But that’s my take.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Cjh -- I was thinking, doesn't this depend in part, not only on your sport, but where you are exercising? You, for example, run outdoors in a much hotter climate than the one the Guardian writer lives in, unless I'm mistaken. And in those photos, forgive me, but she appears to be wearing what I would call "gear." Even if she got it second hand or it is demoted from some other part of her closet.

My take on all this is....sure, I can go skinny dipping (if I can get away with it...) but I will wear my swimsuit, thank you very much.

I'm all for making exercise more accessible to those with lower incomes, all for encouraging those with "non-fitness model" body types to join the fun, and also all for encouraging people to "double-dip" -- i.e. to let their clothing do more than one job and to forget about the idea they need to spend a fortune on workout wear. At the same time, there's a difference between "ultra-fashionable trendy of the moment" gear and gear that may or may not be fashionable or expensive but helps you do the thing.

I exercise every day. Sometimes that means walking. I don't wear gear for this. Sometimes it means hiking. I sometimes wear gear for this, and sometimes don't -- depending where I am going, for how long, what the temps are like, and what I will be doing afterwards. Sometimes it means biking -- I don't wear gear for this, except for a helmet (all important!!) and a reflective vest (ditto!!!). And sometimes it means kettlebells class -- for which I wear leggings or shorts, a lightweight merino tee or tank, and bare feet. Plus sports bra. All of this stuff was bought on sale several years ago. It lasts at least 5 years before it's toast. I think it's money well spent. I don't want to wear my regular cotton tee or a woven button front shirt to exercise in. Too uncomfortable and impractical.

For hiking -- "gear" can include a merino quarter zip and hoodie plus hiking boots (in cooler weather) or hiking shorts and sandals in warmer weather with a lightweight merino tee. Photos below are of some of my gear.

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DonnaF

Veteran

I only walk (up and down an extremely steep hill 10x) but I am dripping afterwards. I wear technical fabric, Thorlo socks, and shoes that work for wide over pronating feet. My clothing isn’t expensive but it is functional. I have four tops I bought at REI on sale probably in the ‘80s. They are faded but not disintegrated. Other tops and bottoms were purchased on sale for function, not cuteness. With all my sweating, I won’t put my regular bras through that type of stress. As it is, I notice that the hooks sometimes rust.

For taking a walk with a friend, I might wear street clothes or at least my nicer gear.

Runcarla

Veteran

I’m with cjh and Suz! As a sporty person, I’ve run through my fair share of specialty fitness kit. For most of the sports/fitness activities I started out with ordinary comfortable clothing items, but as I became serious about the activity, I upgraded to specialty kit. Quite a lot of fitness kit crossed over my sports - running/cycling/yoga/weight training/x-country skiing.

Besides improved comfort - there is a durability factor. The most worn/lowest CPW items in my closet are my training swim suits and gym/running tops and bottoms. I don’t think regular garments would stand up to the wear and tear of frequent washing the way performance wear does. And, FWIW, some of my best fitness kit came from Walmart (best sports bras FOR ME) and Winners.

For Tai Chi, hiking, and urban rambles, I wear regular day wear,

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It is so true, Donna -- i would never want to wear my regular bras for workouts! And as Carla said, you need to be able to throw the stuff in the laundry....

I was thinking of the woman who came to work out in a dress because she was going somewhere immediately afterwards and did not want to change and I was wondering: what *was* this supposed workout? And what kind of dress was this, that she could comfortably work out in it? Imagine going to dinner with someone who'd just come from her workout without a shower... or at minimum a sponge bath.

Sal

Veteran

Of all the places where I waste money in my wardrobe, I don't see active wear and gear as one of them. So I found it interesting.

I have dresses and blouses that were much worse investments than my gear - from all perspectives.

For me there is enclothed recognition - if I like my outfit I can be keener to do the exercise. I was certainly that way around running.

In saying that - there is an industry surrounding gear that I am influenced by. Yoga used to be done in loose clothing when I first started in the 1990s - now its crop tops and leggings in subdued colours.

There is a yoga look in terms of colours and styles of leggings that is different to the running look. Some of the requirements are different for sure, but there is marketing around it. Let alone the to and from the studio looks.

April

Veteran

My view: if you're wearing it and it makes a healthy pursuit easier, go for it.

Like Jaime, I only do my stretches and strength exercises at home and don't need a ton of gear. But when Mr. A and I sit in our spa, I have learned that my head-to-toe sun protection bathing gear (yes, down the ankles, down to the wrists, up to the neck) is worth it.

Correct (in my book this means comfortable, no balance issues from a highly molded sole) footwear is also essential.

Dee

Veteran

I agree that you should wear whatever you need and like to wear for the various sport activities and yes there are wonderful products that are very helpful in doing them, but we are also being heavily marketed to believe that we need so much more than we probably actually need in order to enjoy these various sport activities.
There are so many types of sport shoes now, everything from tennis, running basketball, walking, hiking shoes.etc.. and all types of technical clothing for yoga, hiking, running, tennis, golf, and cycling.etc..Do we really need all this specialized clothing in order to participate? Probably not, but we might enjoy the activity more because we look the part and the clothing is designed to make it easier to participate. However, as I said earlier in this post the Portlandia “Get the Gear” episode shows how crazy things have become with the gear industry.

Helena

Veteran

"My view: if you're wearing it and it makes a healthy pursuit easier, go for it."

April nailed it! For me, this means sometimes gear (e.g. for Uber sweaty workouts, or yoga classes where I want my clothes to stay firmly on place so I don't accidentally flash the class), sometimes this means regular day clothes (e.g to squeeze a walk in or a light workout), sometimes this means jammies (quick stretch or relaxing pre bed workout)!

That said, the idea that you *must* have particular gear for particular activities can most certainly be exclusionary and fair enough to call that out.

As to the marketing piece, well, add that to the list of things we are aggressively marketed! I don't feel there is anything particularly unique about sports gear in this sense. Unfair though it may be, I think we all have to accept we are indeed influenced by marketing and then be as mindful as we can about our intentions and our choices. To the extent the author is raging against the machine with her 2nd hand ts, more power to her

Staysfit

Veteran

I prefer specialty gear for my favorite activities. For Pilates I prefer clothing that stretches and is form fitting. It prevents shirts riding up and hem edges getting caught in my equipment. It helps with my focus to not be pulling at my clothes. For running I wear what the weather dictates. I have previously used old cotton tees and cut off shorts but then developed hypothermia on a rainy day that wasn’t particularly cold, Now I only wear tech fibers and/or wool for outdoor hikes, kayaking, and running. Distance runners who have experienced chafing (me) are also not fond of soggy cotton tops, rough seams on shirts or ill fitting bras. I wear a bra and admit I have never tried to go without while working out.

Any exercise gear I purchase lasts many years. I have leggings that are on their 5th year of heavy use, and shirts that are 8 years and still going strong, As I replace worn items I am trying to add more washable wool, but this material doesn’t work for some items.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

If the point is merely that marketing for sports gear has become extreme and we may not always need the newest of the new, I certainly agree with that. Also, Sal, I'd agree I am slightly influenced by fashion in workout gear -- but much less so than I'm influenced by fashion in streetwear. I think I tend to adopt trends in gear only to the extent that I have to because I need new gear and find out it is now made in xyz shape or fabric. So I go with that (sometimes reluctantly.)

Whereas I'm much more likely in my streetwear to see a trend and say: that looks fun! So if anything, I'm far more wasteful in my streetwear and get a lower CPW from some items in my regular closet than any in my gear capsule.

Jules

Veteran

I will come back and read everyone's comment later - but am happy to see the discussion! I hate any gatekeeping around activity based on having the "right" gear and dislike what I see as the "gearification" of formerly simple activities like going for a bike ride. And despite the seemingly wide availability of active gear right now, there are still dominant trends and I struggle to find things that work for me at 50, including sports bras that check all requirements, and tops with a high neckline. I've decided to default to a bare minimum of very basic items, and have taken to sometimes wearing an old, comfortable but tired underwire bra to the gym to do my low impact workout. Why not?

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Interesting article, and I am nodding my head to the other responses here. As someone who is active in all seasons, there is no way I’m hiking up a mountain in anything but moisture wicking gear. I don’t need to look like I stepped out of a fashion magazine, but I do need to look like I had enough sense in my head to attempt to stay dry. That’s both smart and safe.
I don’t like the thought of anything hanging out in a landfill forever, but I do keep my gear clothes for a very long time and I take extra good care of them.

SW prof

I do low-impact exercise (walking/hiking) and I do wear gear most of the time. But this is because - similar to what Karie said - the weather can require it. I don't wear sleeveless tops to work because the air conditioning is so fierce, but when it's 90+ degrees outside, you bet I'm in a sleeveless, moisture-wicking top for my walk. And conversely, in winter I'm wearing those fleece-lined gear pants that are way too warm for indoors, but necessary in order to stay outside for any length of time. It's just what makes me comfortable - essential if I'm going to be willing to exercise!

EuroTomGirl

I’m a runner and do have waaay more running tops than I need, but most are freebies from races (thankfully the free race t-shirt appears to be on the wane). The ‘right’ gear, in terms of moisture wicking, high performance fabric, does make a difference to how comfortable I feel when exercising (and I mean comfort both physical and mental, ie, I look and therefore feel like I belong to the running community.)

But two things spring to mind: one, the saying ‘all the gear and no idea’. And second, the first finisher at my local parkrun last weekend ran in jeans. Although he did acknowledge it wasn’t ideal running kit!

Echo

Veteran

In warm weather, I exercise (walking, biking) outdoors and end up very sweaty, so I do wear devoted "gear" for it. However, it is the same for both activities because I wear sun-protective gear so I only have to wear sunscreen on my face and hands.

I very much agree that a person doesn't need devoted gear for almost anything, and I agree that we shouldn't think we do. I often get 15K steps in a day at work, and I am certainly not wearing gear for that. I have no issue if people go to a gym in repurposed everyday wear, and actually lots of people here do that, esepecially for weights. I agree about the "gatekeeping." People should do the activities they love in the clothing they have available and not worry about gear. If they have the funds and the desire to wear something special, then they should do that. But people shouldn't think they cannot run or walk or bike or go to the gym in whatever they have.

sarah

Veteran

I'm on the active end of the spectrum - I roller-ski, run, hike, do pilates, bike, and (all winter long) cross-country ski. I couldn't do any of these activities in my regular clothes - the fabrics don't wick (or insulate in the winter) and the clothes would be ruined (I often finish my workouts drenched in sweat). Even walking briskly in the summer is something I can't do in my regular bra and tees or they would quickly be ruined. But I recognize that I'm a bit of an outlier!

That said, I have found reasonable prices with Target, Champion, and other brands.

Dee

Veteran

Ha, me again, a few years back I wanted to start running, so I put on my athletic sneakers with a regular old top and shorts. Nothing considered gear, and as I’m running along it occurred to me that I might look rather strange running around my neighbourhood in this particular outfit, especially since I’m over 60. Did I look like I was late and running for the bus? Or was I being chased or something?
Heck, I know I shouldn’t be bothered by what other people thought but somehow it just felt odd. So the next day I went out and bought some running leggings and an athletic style top just to signal to anyone who might see me that I was indeed simply running for exercise because that’s what runners are expected to wear now. Yep I succumbed to the marketing.

cat2

Veteran

Gear is the last thing I am going to get worried about. My view is that anything that helps get you off the sofa and out on an adventure pays for itself. Sports bras, tights that fit properly and good shoes can be life changing.

Sal

Veteran

Such good interesting responses. I posted it because it was thought provoking not because I agreed with it.

Dee - you don’t look like a burglar but I know the feeling when running in normal clothes!!

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Just coming back to say a good word and agree with others for the positive feature of longevity of much sports and athletic wear. Perhaps this prompts marketing because updated styles need promotion when sports gear lasts forever - otherwise, who would buy much?

My oldest long sleeve top layer shirt is almost 20 years old.i bought it for myself as a 50th birthday present after I’d been running for a whole year. I have other items which are in the 12-15+ year old range, and some from every year since, I’m sure. They still work and look pretty decent.

Sal

Veteran

Good point cjh! I have an Asics long sleeve top from the 1990s in good shape and several running tanks that are 6-8 years old. Leggings seem to last more like four years for me, but shorts often last a lot longer.

My sports tops last a lot longer than my cotton tees.

Style Fan

Veteran

I walk every day in all kinds of weather. I also do Yoga four or five times a week and occasionally do a class with light weights.
When I walk, I wear good walking shoes. They are not trendy, but they keep my feet happy. The rest of my outfit is weather-dependent. It is not gear, but I do wear a bra!
When I do Yoga, I wear leggings, a tank top, a sports bra, and a jacket. Most of my Yoga clothes are from Lululemon. They fit me well and last a long time. My outfit has to be stretchy and stay in place. I don't want to have to adjust my clothes.
When I put on my Yoga outfit, I feel ready to do a class. If I wore the same clothes, it wouldn't be the same experience.

Gaylene

Veteran

“…are we being manipulated into a whole lot of kit we don't need?”

Well, as one of the more ancient YLF members who hasn’t been on the forum much these days, this question brought back so many memories of being involved in sports when the only available “gear” was a pair of shoes that didn’t have slippery leather soles. And, yes, it wasn’t unheard of to see people hiking 10-15 miles on mountain trails in light dress shoes—not a great idea, but better than not hiking, I guess.

In those “good old days” I swam, hiked, skied, ran, played tennis and basketball —you name it—in whatever I could scrounge from my wardrobe. Buying my first pair of Adidas in the 60s was a revelation (foam cushioning!) as was wearing high-top, canvas “basketball” Cons when I played university basketball (ankle support from lacing instead of yards of duct tape!) And my first pair of ski pants (a dry butt instead of waterlogged jeans which weighted a ton and kept sliding off my hips every time I bent over!) And stretch fabrics and fleece which meant you didn’t have to wear oversized bulky layers and could actually move in…wow!

So, yes, you can be involved in many sports without purchasing armfuls of super specialized gear, and no one should be sneered at or made to feel bad about not wearing the latest gear fads. Wearing gear doesn’t make you an athlete but choosing the right gear can make a sport easier and safer for a beginner to have fun while learning. And, when you have fun, you keep at it, so you get more proficient and can choose well designed gear that makes sense for you, regardless of the marketing which swirls around the stuff.

Bijou

Veteran

Gaylene - it's so fab to hear your perspective on this and such wise words! I consider myself very fortunate to be able to purchase gear for my activities. I like swimming in the ocean year-round and find my light-weight wetsuit jacket so useful in winter... Yes, I could swim without it, but it really makes that initial plunge into the ocean that bit easier in the cooler months.

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