Good Outdoor workout clothes? - YouLookFab Forum

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Good Outdoor workout clothes?

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Spring is coming—I can feel it now. We have more than an hour more daylight than we did in December, the crocuses are up, and temps are balmy upper 40s (almost 10 C). Right now that’s unusually warm, but we probably have several months around that temp on the way.

I want to work out outside. One major thing stopping me is gear. I don’t have the right stuff. Can you help me find it?

I should clarify that I am NOT a runner and I don’t do polar bear swims or steady-state cardio. I generally do a bout of work at high effort for under a minute, then take it easy for 40 seconds to 2 minutes, then repeat. The workout I’m planning to do tomorrow consists of pull-ups and push-ups (still all eccentrics, sigh, but I’ll get there), leg raises hanging from the bar, box (actually park bench) jumps and a little HIIT jump rope session. I might do this sort of routine sometime over the next few months: https://redefiningstrength.com.....nt-needed/

What that means in terms of gear is that I don’t just need something to keep me warm at x or y activity level, or at an average temp. I can’t be pulling clothes on and off that quickly; I need things that work for the active *and* rest portions of the workouts. Breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics are key. I need leggings/tights, and prefer tops with built-in support, and then need something to wear over that as well.

What do you suggest? Bonus points if it’s available at Sports Scheck, where I have a coupon. https://www.sportscheck.com/

Shopping

25 replies

Latest reply was from LaPed

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I'm unsure of the availability of this brand on Germany but I thought the company may meet your activity and ethical criteria, I've been really pleased with the quality of the items I have. https://bambooclothing.co.uk/?.....YgQAvD_BwE

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

RoseandJoan, brilliant! They have a German page too. I’d been thinking this was an area where I couldn’t expect sustainability. Do you wear your bamboo gear in chilly temps?

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I have written and deleted my post about three times because the honest answer is that I am unsure, I have their t-shirts for yoga which I wear in the studio, these pieces are warmer than cotton or traditional active wear material IMO, however, I haven't tested them on a hill walk for example.

I have these thick bamboo trousers from Asquith which are very warm but not suitable for your activity https://www.asquithlondon.com/palazzo-pants-slate/

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

RoseandJoan, Thanks for all your replies! <3 No need to sweat it though—that’s what the hive mind is for, so others can buzz in with their experience too. You’ve got me sold on bamboo pants. Now I just have to find the right ones. These are from the second company you posted about, but I don’t think they have a drawstring, and the description makes it sound like they might not stay up super well with a bunch of jumping around. Darn that Brexit that makes us pay duties for anything shipped from the UK! https://www.asquithlondon.com/.....vy-orchid/

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My 22 year-old athletic nephew is BIG on doing outside workouts in London with his mates!

He usually wears slim cotton track pants from Adidas or Super Dry. A tight tank top, or long sleeved muscle hugging tee, and a big jacket over the top because he commutes on foot. When it's very cold, he wears a sweatshirt too. I think he wears grippy gloves for bar work. He takes the jacket off and puts it in his bag when he works out. He takes the sweatshirt off too. He and his mates keep their bags close-by, and I think their phones on their bodies.

I'm not sure this is helpful, but that's all I know on the subject

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Angie, that’s interesting, because it goes against the usual precaution against wearing cotton, because it gets soggy with sweat, letting the body get chilled as it evaporates. Maybe that doesn’t matter so much to the hardy 20-year olds? But yeah, this is really not a fashion question—function far outweighs form here, and there are no judgey gym employees to comment on attire at the playground.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My nephew is a serious athlete and extremely dedicated to his daily workouts. I suspect you are right! The fabrics of his attire don't worry him much at this point! Their fits and weights are important though.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Lol. Touché.
I am curious what his sport is though, because the pro or very-near pro athletes I’m familiar with, in basketball, US football, and soccer/Fußball all wear technical fabrics.

nemosmom

Veteran

I think it comes down to what you would find comfortable for this kind of workout. Sometimes I want form fitting like a sports bra and leggings; sometimes I want loose joggers. I always bring a loose topper (usually a zip up) and loose fit pants in case I get cold or need additional coverage for flitting about town.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Nemosmom, taking other pants to put on over the workout ones might be a good idea; Germans don’t wear gym clothes all day long the way a lot of people in the US do. I do sometimes use my gym leggings basically as long Johns until I get to the gym. For the workouts themselves, I’m not opposed to slightly looser pants, but think I’d like to stick pretty close to the formula I mentioned—workout top with built-in support/bra, some kind of sweatshirt/hoodie, whether pullover or zip, and leggings (or possibly looser pants).

Joy

Veteran

Don’t know if this helps but DS1 swears by Uniqlo fabrics and he walks many miles a day in Tokyo heat, often still working when the last trains stop running. He can’t afford a car.

I would avoid polyester, which is hot and collects odors. And be sure fabric is washable and not see through. If you wear tights or leggings, be absolutely sure there is no cling, or VPL or thong outline to show. Tops should have no gaping necklines. No knit fabric that stretches to show the world the print on your undies if you bend over. I wear denim.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks Joy!I do remember the gasps when people realized their expensive Lulu leggings were transparent. Not a good look. For workouts on hot days, I’m pretty well set. It’s the HIIT in chilly temps that I find tricky. Polyester is confusing these days! It’s always been uncomfortable for me, but then some of my Prana workout clothes have polyester that’s spun differently somehow and they are so comfy. But now that RoseandJoan introduced the idea of bamboo, I’m really curious & am looking into that.

kellygirl

Veteran

If this is just for working out, I vote for leggings and a tank layered under a long or short sleeve technical top. For the activities you list, I think I'd get hot pretty quick and then want to put on a long sleeve afterwards. Unless it's summer, this is how I'd dress for an outdoor work out. Athleta Rainier type leggings with a tank and a top layer. I'm not a fan of joggers except for walking or athleisure. They're fine over tights for warm up, but for the actual work, I'd take them off. This is pretty typical for a public kind of work out…

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks Kellygirl! I was just looking at Athletas. Are yours lined, and what temps are you working out in?
I usually go with more of a “long sports bra” kind of top, but that’s because a shelf bra is all I need, even for high impact activities. I’m guessing you have a base layer on top, separate from the shirts.

kellygirl

Veteran

I like the Rainiers for temps under maybe 75 F--25 C? They're lined and keep my legs warm--lightly compressive too. Those combined with a tank keep me from overheating. Anything warmer than that, then I wear the unlined (Nike or Lulu performance leggings which are too cold for winter) or I just wear shorts. I think a long sports bra would work great as a base too--I've just never found one that fits my torso length quite right.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Kellygirl, 75F/25C is summer weather here! We have several months of 40s/5-10C, with grey skies, before we get to 70s/20s, when I break out the shorts. Your comments on the different leggings in different temps are helpful—thanks.

rachylou

Veteran

Hmm. In normal winter, it will be 40F in the bakery… I wear full length technical fabric leggings and a long sleeve but fairly thin thermal top. My ears are the real issue… and the end of the night when I stop doing the 50lb deadlifts…

DonnaF

Veteran

I, personally, do not wear leggings because I don’t like to show that much of my legs. Instead, I wear hiking gear, preferably cargo pants style due to larger and many pockets. I also wear boy’s shorts (purple below) because I prefer the length; the striped women’s shorts hit me a bit too long because I’m short. In cooler temps, I wear a fleece vest. When it’s really cool I can zip it up to be like a turtleneck. When I get hot I unzip it to my waist and slip off the top part. No doubt it looks odd but it works for me.

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Brooklyn

Veteran

I wear a sports skirt (a skort) because I don’t like myself in leggings. Probably a bit chilly for outdoor wear where you are at the moment, but you can get some that have longer leggings (essentially a skirted legging look). Mine just have bike shorts underneath. They are comfortable, a bit different and they wear like iron.

https://www.skirtsports.com/

Sal

Veteran

I wear a variety of shorts and leggings in technical fabrics, tees or tanks in cotton, technical or merino fabrics.

For cooler weather I like to have a merino and/or thermal, and a wind jacket as well.

The finds below were both excellent 2021 purchases and well worn. I love them both.

For me, as it can be dark in the morning, a bright colour is helpful for a jacket. This one doubles as a bike jacket as well.

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Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

What a wide array of things you all wear!

Rachylou, what you describe is what I’m looking for. Sounds like similar temps too.

Sal, can you tell me more about merino for working out?

I’ve changed which part of my original post is in bold to better emphasize what I’m looking for—leggings, because it’s too cool for me to wear shorts or a short skirt, and I don’t want to work out in pants. If anyone who sees my workout doesn’t like my legs, well, “avert your gaze” (see above comments on judgey gym workers), lol. The post could be amended though, to include fleece lining and sustainable fabrics.

Sal

Veteran

Nothing in particular to report re the merino - it's just a thin gauge one that I sometimes layer under with another merino tank or sports tee, or sometimes layer over with a puffer or wind jacket. I bike, do workouts or walk in it, or take it off as needed after the warm up. I guess in my gear list I would always have a couple of long sleeve merino tops that were unfussy (no fancy laundering). I have worn this skiing and also sometimes wear it with jeans to work under a jacket. In cool weather it gets worn very often!!

LaPed

Veteran

What would you wear for an indoor workout? I'd probably start with that and add layers as necessary. The most sustainable option is the one you already have, as Sal (I think) once wrote here on the forum. If you're using shorts + tee/tank in the gym, you could probably add a hoodie/pullover sweatshirt and swap out the shorts for leggings and be fine. When I pick up a new activity, I tend to start out wearing what I have, and then adjust/upgrade once I've been doing it for a while and have a clearer sense of what I need. That said, 5 to 10° C sounds warm to me! We were out xc skiing in long sleeve tees this weekend with temps in that range. Spring was in the air, if briefly.

Also, I don't know if Free Fly Apparel is available in Europe, but I've been really impressed by the quality of their bamboo activewear. My sensitive-skinned kiddo uses their tops for hiking/backpacking and everyday outdoor play. I'm thinking of adding one for myself, and their bottoms look pretty comfy too. Look carefully at the fabric content -- some things are primarily synthetic. That said, IME you generally want a small percentage of synthetic in a bamboo blend for shape retention and durability (same goes for merino).

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

LaPed, yeah, leggings are the main thing I’m looking for, and something to wear over the top I usually wear in the gym. Not sure how this post veered into ideas about other things I could wear besides what I said I want.

Cross-country skiing is a different kind of activity than what I do, because skiiers are moving all the time; it is steady-state cardio. As described in the OP, I take 1-2 min breaks repeatedly.

I’ll check for fly-free apparel, thanks.

LaPed

Veteran

Haha, with a 7yo, all activities are start-and-stop. But I totally get what you mean. I have a friend who's really into outdoor HIIT routines; she just moved from the southwest to the northeast and is struggling to find the right layers for temps below freezing. I suspect it takes a lot of trial and error to find the right system to manage temperature/moisture/circulation. Speaking of circulation, you may want lightweight gloves and a headband or beanie. I often find that even if my core is warm, my extremities need extra protection.