5 signs your activewear is helping (or hurting) your workout?

A workout is not only about how you move, but how you feel while you are moving. The appropriate activewear can help improve performance, confidence, comfort, and motivation while supporting muscles and helping to reduce strain.

Evaluating activewear includes every detail of the experience from the fabric and fit to the color and style; all of these contribute to training smarter and remaining consistent with workout. Depending on your choices, you may be exhausting your workout or even developing discomfort. It is important to understand whether your activewear is supporting your workout or not.

1. Comfort checkWhen it comes to activewear, the most important quality is comfort.

If your workout clothes are too tight, scratchy, or hinder movement, they will affect performance, and might subsequently cause injury. Proper activewear fits your body and moves with it, supporting the body rather than digging in. Fabrics that wick sweat away and allow your skin to breathe are also important for maintaining comfort during intense workout sessions, and think of clothing that is not comfortable or poorly designed as clothing that causes chafing, overheating, or distraction; all of which reduce workout efficacy.

If the first check of flexibility, softness, and moisture management works for you, you’ve done well to select clothing that supports performance rather than inhibits.2. Moisture managementMoisture management is a main component in understanding if the activewear is helping or hindering workout performance. Good activewear should wick the sweat off your skin to keep you dry and comfortable through your workout.

If clothes cling uncomfortably, feel heavy when damp, or take hours to dry, the clothes can be affecting your workout negatively. If your clothes take hours to dry, you risk inconvenience, chafing, and skin irritation.

That's the beauty of garments designed with moisture-wicking technology: whether a polyester blend or other technical synthetic, sweat evaporates quickly to regulate body temperature, so you can focus on your workout rather than what's stuck to your skin.

You will stay dry, focused, energized, and assured support through any workout.

3. Support mattersWhen discussing activewear, support is an important area that people often overlook. The correct amount of support can improve your workout through better posture, less strain and injury prevention. For example, an appropriate fitting sports bra will help limit breast movement, decrease discomfort and enable full mobility on high-impact activities.

Barraged or non-supportive sports gear, on the other hand, may lead to chafing, muscle fatigue or stress injuries in your joints over time.

Compression leggings and tops, for instance, provide mild support for blood flow and muscle regulation. Focusing on support means you want your activewear to actively support your body.4. Temperature regulationTemperature regulation greatly influences the efficacy of your activewear at any moment during the workout.

Quality activewear will wick moisture away from your skin, which is a key component of helping your body to remain cool when working hard at running, cycling, or HIIT workouts. Breathable fabrics, like mesh panels and moisture-wicking synthetics, will help with the cooling process, while helping you to remain warm in cold conditions during an outdoor sport like hiking or early morning yoga.

Non-breathable fabrics hold sweat against your skin, make you feel clammy and uncomfortable, and can eventually lead to skin irritation.

When your clothing properly regulates your body temperature, you can work out longer, remain focused, and not have to think about whether your clothing is functioning properly, or your workouts will begin to suffer accordingly.

5. Durability & fitTwo of the most important attributes determining whether your activewear will aid or inhibit your workout are the durability of the items as well as their proper fit. The mark of activewear made from durable, high-quality fabrics can withstand repeated usage in sports like running, yoga, cycling, or weightlifting without getting stretched out, faded or ripped.

If the items fit properly, you can perform your movements without restriction, reducing the chances of dealing with chafing, discomfort, or other distractions.

For example, a pair of compression leggings that fit snugly against your body can support muscles and improve circulation as you are running; or a properly fitted bra will eliminate bounce when you are doing more high impact workouts like HIIT or aerobics.

On the other hand, poorly fitted or worn out activewear will limit your performance, decrease stability, and contribute to your overall risk of injury, therefore, both fit and durability are must-haves.Understanding the indicators of supportive or harmful clothing can change how you feel in an exercise sense. Your choices can lead to improved comfort, mobility, confidence, and performance. Careful consideration of your fabric, fit, and function can help you experience not just effective, but pleasurable exercise. Spending money on quality activewear isn't only about feeling good; it's also about ensuring it enhances your fitness journey in a safe and effective manner.(Archana Khosla Burman, Founder, VERTICES PARTNERS | ZONE)