My Favorite Fitness Gear and Clothes
Last week we talked about ways to incorporate more movement into your day, whether it’s just sitting less or starting a bonafide workout regimen. I offered a few suggestions in the way of equipment, but today we’re talking clothes! That’s the fun part anyway, isn’t it? A new outfit can be really motivating!
Bear in mind that every body is different and what is comfortable for me may not be comfortable for you. I have tried lots of different fitness brands through the years and have even succumb to some influencer recommendations. I definitely have my favorites (and not favorites) and that’s what I’m sharing with you today.
One general recommendation: I find that you get what you pay for when it comes to workout attire and footwear, even socks. I’d go so far as to say that if you are starting from scratch, with zero fitness clothing, you’d be better off investing in one really good quality, well-fitting pair of bottoms and one top and just wear those on repeat. The good quality pieces don’t hold onto stink like the cheaper fabrics do so you can probably even get away with wearing your outfit twice before washing. And then as finances allow, invest in more.
Good Shoes
These Onclouds are my favorites, but this is such an individual thing, I hesitate to even recommend a shoe. People stop me a lot – like at least a couple times a week – and ask if I like my shoes. I soon realized that they were asking because this brand has become trendy. I only like shoes because they work for my feet. Without going into way too many details, suffice it to say, I have difficult feet to fit and must wear custom orthotics in all shoes that I wear for any length of time. If I can find a shoe that is 1. comfortable, 2. fits my orthotics and remains comfortable, 3. has enough cushioning yet is supportive in all the right places and 4. is surprisingly cool and trendy, sign me up! Every three-six months, I order another pair. I currently wear the Cloudsurfer, but also have the Cloudswift and both are great. The Cloudswift has a fit such that I don’t have to tie and untie them to get them on and off, which is kind of nice but also tells you that the fit is not as precise. I have found that with this brand, every model fits very differently so it is best to find someplace local to try them on or at the very least, order from an online place with easy returns.
Good Socks
As I went online to find a link to my very favorite athletic socks, I saw that these are discontinued (at least at REI, where I have always bought them). Boo! I think these are the same – they have the same name, and do look the same in shape and color, but from Amazon, you never really know. I may need to order a pair and try them out. What I love about these particular socks is that they are a lightweight wool that magically keeps my feet warm or cool, whichever is needed. They wash and dry beautifully and last for years. And most importantly, they stay put. So many of these little, no-show socks, slip down off my heel when I’m walking and that absolutely drives me crazy! Love them!
Warm Coat
Back when the virus that changed the world first began, my husband come home to work from our attic office and we started taking walks together at lunch time. For a while, we had been taking walks after dinner, but since we could literally go nowhere else, we became ultra committed to this twice daily walking routine – after lunch and after dinner. No matter the temperature, out we would go. In North Carolina, we experience all four seasons and so I needed outerwear for all sorts of weather. (We do not walk in pouring down rain, but pretty much all other kinds of weather. In the intense heat of summer, I take a cold shower after we walk and in the winter I take a hot bath. I’m just trying to tell you that unpleasant weather is not a good excuse to skip your walk.)
For cool weather (spring and fall and the occasional weird winter day), I love this new Outdoor Research Vigor Full Zip Fleece Hoodie. I found this one day while browsing at Nordstrom and knew it was exactly what I had been looking for! It hits below the hip (I’m 5’3″), has long sleeves with thumb holes, is cozy and soft, but not thick or cumbersome and is light-colored. When we walk after dinner, it is completely dark, and I want light colored clothing so as to be as visible as possible. We always wear reflective gear and carry flashlights, but still, we are almost hit by multiple cars on every single walk. No kidding. In our neighborhood, no less! With wide streets! People are so careless driving in their own neighborhood and are almost always on their phones so we are super duper cautious. We always walk against the traffic and wear light-colored reflective gear. This jacket is perfect and I hope to have it for many years.
For cold weather, I am saving for this one. My current coat is similar, but is a dark color and I purchased it at Costco. It’s still fine, but it’s so thick that it’s a little hard to walk in. This one looks very similar, but I think will have less fluff for similar warmth. Plus, it’s a little longer and comes in a light color, which I discussed above.
Warm Hat
A warm fleecy hat with reflective strip. Nothing fancy, but functional and comes in lots of colors.
Warm Gloves
Notice, this one has no link. That is because I do not have a single pair of gloves I can recommend. I have begun to think that warm gloves simply do not exist. Even my very expensive ski gloves don’t keep my hands warm unless I put a hand warmer packet in the little slot. If you have a pair you really like, pretty please share them in the comments.
Reflective Gear
You can go a lot of different way with this, but by all means, wear something that lights up and/or is reflective if you’re going to workout outside any time of day that is not full sun. Seriously, people think they are visible in the complete dark or dusk or dawn and it’s simply not true. No one wants to get hit by a car when they’re out exercising and no one wants to be the one to hit someone else, so please, please, please be smart and wear something that makes you seen. Here are a few ideas:
Reflective and Light-up Vest – I’ve seen folks in my neighborhood with these and they are very effective.
Clip on Strobe Lights – I had something like this back in the day when I was running all the time. They’re easy to put on different places on your body or a bike and work great.
Reflective Belt – These belts are awesome. Easy to put on, choice of colors and very effective.
Comfortable Walking Clothes
So many choices here, but I’m going to link to a few pieces that I have, are still available and that I love. These are the pieces that I pull for all the time. The brands are all over the place, but I’m not out to make money from affiliate links, I’m aiming to make good recommendations so you’ll be so comfortable (and cute) in your workout clothes that it will motivate you to exercise more!
Fleece lined leggings
These are not super duper warm, but definitely warmer than a regular pair of workout leggings. I sized up like I often do in leggings, but didn’t need to in these. A small or even x-small would have worked fine.
Joggers
These are my favorite joggers and I believe are worth the price. I’ll link a lower priced option below that are also good (but not as good as these). I bought a pair before a long road trip and after wearing them at home a few times, I went back and bought a second pair (I have the charcoal heather and black). For sizing on these, I bought a small and they just fit. If my weight goes up a few pounds, I wish I had a medium. But when I tried them on in store, the mediums were a lot bigger than the smalls. I always hang mine to dry because I can’t afford for them to shrink. Also, I’m just barely 5’3″ and the length on the smalls hits just above my ankle at that most flattering place. The mediums were bigger all around including in length. They just looked dowdy on me.
A less expensive Amazon brand jogger. I actually have two pairs of these (the navy space dye and grey space dye). They’re really comfy and have held up pretty well. They’re a decent, lower priced option. They’re more of a workout type material, not fleecy and soft. I only wear these in spring or fall as they’re not very warm. I buy these in a medium.
Favorite shorts for warm weather
These are the beloved Lululemon look-a-likes available on Amazon. I don’t have the real deal, so I can’t honestly compare, but I really love these. I have three pairs and plan to order more this year because they’re really all I want to wear when it’s hot. Again, I’m not a tall person, so these 4″ inseams work for my height, even at my age. Be careful though because there are other versions of these that are shorter. I even bought a pair of these for my teenager and she’s very happy with them. I buy these in a medium because I don’t want the waistband to cause any muffin top and I really like that fit. I’m typically a size 4, sometimes 6, so I’d say size up if you want a looser fit. This also helps them sit a little lower on the hips, making them a more age appropriate length. I’ve even worn these as swim shorts for days at a time at a water park and they were great for that – very comfortable and dried quickly. The back pocket area did get kind of picked with all the sliding, but the main shorts are totally fine.
My favorite workout tank
I love the fit of this tank. It’s perfect in every way. It goes great with the shorts above. So many workout tanks are way too long or too cropped and this one is just right. I have two in white, one in black and am hoping they’ll come out with some pretty, bright colors this spring. They also have a little reflective detail down the back. I love the modest neckline, that isn’t too high and it fits well in the under arm area too. Really the perfect tank. Did I say that already? I can wear this one in the XXS and XS.
Long-sleeved workout tops
I’ve found most of my favorite long-sleeved workout tops at Walmart and they change their inventory so often, I can’t link to a specific one, but they are all Avia brand.
Skorts
I love skorts for casual summer wear, but I do work out in them sometimes as well. All of mine are at least 5 years old, but the ones I love most are all from Athleta, like the one below. They have a great return policy – you can actually work out in the clothing and still return it if you’re not happy with it. I don’t think I’ve ever been unhappy with an Athleta purchase. I will say that their sizing is not super consistent, so you may need to try a couple different sizes to get the fit you prefer, but once you get that worked out, it’s hard to go wrong with anything from Athleta. This one is on my wishlist for this year. It’s hard to justify because all the ones I have still fit and are in great shape. That’s the one downside of buying high quality, I guess!
Leggings
Leggings are a staple in my workout wardrobe. I’ve worn so many over the years, but again, I have to give the nod to Athleta here. They are so comfortable on and hold up super well. Honestly, I am still wearing some leggings I’ve had for over 10 years. I like their Elation line in the 7/8 length and usually wear size small. I’d recommend buying a couple different pairs and figuring out what you like best. On two different occasions, I went to a local Lululemon and tried on lots of leggings to see if they were worth the hype (and price) and I have to say that I was not impressed. For one, the shopping experience was not pleasant. The salespeople were rude and the store was full of rude customers. It was weird. Just a total turnoff. At Athleta, I am always treated nicely – another reason I go back time and again.
I cannot personally vouch for these leggings, but I know multiple people who have this brand and love them. Again, if you’re an Amazon Prime member, it’s easy (and fast) to order and return if they don’t work out. The next time I need a new pair, I’m going to give this brand a try.
Bras
Another category that is so individual, but I recently purchased one of these medium support bras from Wacoal and I am very happy with it. I sized up to a medium and it is a teeny lower cut than I prefer so I just ordered two more (they’re on sale as I write this) in the size large. Because of the way the medium fits, I think the large will not be too loose and may offer a little more coverage, which I prefer.
I’m not running these days nor am I doing a lot of high impact bouncing around. I mostly walk, ride a bike – stationary or outdoor – and lift weights. So medium impact bras work for me. I’m a 34C. I like the type of bra that have two layers of fabric, but none of those little pads that come out in the laundry. I also don’t want extra padding sewn in. These really tick all the boxes for me. I’ve tried on so many different ones over the past years at all price points and these are the best I’ve found for my needs. And the price is really reasonable.
One final note on workout wear: I never put it in the dryer. Ever! I hang all these pieces up right out of the washer. I really do think that helps them to last longer.
AirPods Pro
Ok, so these aren’t workout wear so to speak, but they are a super important part of my workout routine each day. I don’t usually use them when I’m walking, simply because I want to be completely alert to my surroundings, but I wear them inside ALL. THE. TIME. Working out with cordless headphones was life changing for me and I love Apple products. The quality is just unbeatable, in my opinion. With four people in the house at all times, I can work out with my own music or listen to my Peloton instructor and the noise doesn’t bother anyone else. One great thing about this model is that they come with three different tips so you can get the fit that is right for your ears.
iPad
While we’re talking technology, I have to mention my iPad. I watch my Peloton workouts on this thing and I occasionally watch a movie or something fun while I ride the stationary bike. Of course, any phone or tablet you have will probably work. We just have Apple products in this house and think they’re the bestest.
So there you have it, folks. These are my most favorite workout clothing pieces and accessories for a workout at home lifestyle. If I had to choose the most important thing on this list it would by far be the reflective gear for walking. I really cannot stress enough how important it is that you be seen when you’re out walking. You are not nearly as visible as you think you are. And while we’re at it – remember from elementary school when they taught you to walk against the traffic? That means that you are walking on the left side of the street, from your perspective. You want the cars that are driving on the same side of the road that you’re walking on to be facing you. You don’t want to have cars on your side of the road coming up behind you. Chances are that driver is looking down at their phone and if you have headphones in, you may not hear them in time to jump out of the way. I know pedestrians have the right of way, but in a fight with a car, you will lose. You have to be alert at all times and protect yourself. Walking is one of my very most favorite activities and it’s such an easy to way to start an exercise regimen, but you have to be smart about it.
After you’ve taken care of the safety aspect, get yourself some cute and comfy clothes and get moving!