When choosing a workout outfit, you probably first consider its function: Will it help you during your exercise? Will it live up to squats, runs, or stretches? But perhaps the factor that is too often neglected is fit. And whether you believe this or not, how your workout top fits can ruin your experience physically and mentally.
Let’s discuss why the right fit is moreimportant than you probably think.
Movement starts with freedom
There’s nothing more annoying than to get into the flow of performing an exercise and being undistracted by your exercise wear. A top that keeps riding up and digging into underarms can ruin a good workout. If your top is fitting, it follows you, not against you. You should be able to lift, twist, stretch, and jump without needing to adjust it every five minutes.
That sort of freedom will help you to focus on what is important: Your form, breathing, and progress.
Support where you need it
Unlike loose tees or bulky layers, most women’s athletic tops are designed to contour to your shape, offering just enough compression to feel secure without being restrictive.
If your workout top is tight, then it is a compression style top, and if it is loose, then it is a fitted style top. While bras get all the attention when it comes to support, your workout top is equally important in this regard since it also covers a lot.
The right fit can make you feel more secure and together. A loose top may make you feel wasted in some movements, while a tight top will limit your movement or even make it hard to breathe.
The million-dollar question is striking the just-right middle ground: Comfortable enough to situate you without constricting and stretchy enough to stretch to your body movement. This is where features such as seamless construction and performance fabrics truly have a chance to shine.
Confidence in every rep
Let’s face it – your self-feelings are influenced by how comfortable you are in what you’re wearing. Wearing a top that hugs your body where it needs to be hugged without disrupting your shape can be enough to give you a confidence boost. Confidence is not just a bonus in the gym; it is directly related to your performance.
Not pulling at your hemline or pondering how the top looks from behind, you free a headspace to create desires. You feel powerful, what you’re capable of and able to challenge yourself, and that’s a positive transformation.
Sweat smarter, not harder
A good fit will also be a factor in how your top manages sweat. In case your shirt is too loose, it can stick to damp skin and make you uncomfortable. If it’s too tight in the wrong places, it may trap in heat and sweat.
A snug-fitting top, particularly one made from moisture-wicking fabric, assists in body temperature regulation. This keeps you dry throughout the warm-up to cool-down process.
The bottom line
Sourcing the right workout top is not simply based on choosing your favorite color or preferential style. It’s about selecting something that underlines your movement, suits your effort, and enables you to feel confident from the inside out.
