The best weightlifting clothes should feel like an extension of your body.
Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com
In This Article
How We Chose
Sports Bras
Tops
Shorts
Leggings
Does your shirt fall over your face during push-ups? Do your leggings droop when you get low on those Bulgarian split squats? Dread wedgies during dumbbell deadlifts?
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If you're focusing more on your outfit than your lifts, then it's time to give your wardrobe a makeover. Equip your closet with the best weightlifting clothes and kiss all of your exercise apparel struggles goodbye.
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How We Chose
To help you sift through endless online options, we chatted with physical therapists and trainers to better understand what to look for in weightlifting clothes and how to find your ideal items. We chose our top picks based on their recommendations and criteria, including:
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Price Comfort Material Size range
A Quick Language Note We make deliberate choices about the language we use when it comes to gender. While more brands now carry gender-neutral workout clothes, you’ll still typically see clothes marketed to men or women. Because most companies make and market weightlifting clothes according to gender, so we have listed both women’s and men’s picks below. The main difference is the fit: Men’s workout apparel tends to be longer in length and have more room in the front of the pants. Women’s versions are often shorter in length and have more room in the chest. However, fabrics and comfort should be the same between gender-labeled pairs. The Best Weightlifting Sports Bras
Best for Light Support: Lululemon Free to Be Wild Bra
Visit Page https://www.awin1.com Image Credit:Lululemon/LIVESTRONG.com Lululemon’s Free to Be Bra is a fitting option for low-impact exercises like bench presses and squats, and is available in sizes 2 to 14. Built with sweat-wicking and friction-free fabric, it helps you avoid chest chafe while busting out your reps.
Advertisement “This bra fits very well for someone who has a smaller chest. It is breathable, stretchy, yet provides good coverage and support,” says New York-based physical therapist and strength coach Melissa Garcia, DPT, CSCS. “It’s not too tight and looks cute with the strap back.” Buy it: Lululemon.com; Price: $48
Best for Medium Support: Nike Dri-FIT Swoosh Bra
Visit Page https://go.skimresources.com Image Credit:Nike/LIVESTRONG.com LIVESTRONG.com has already named the Nike’s Dri-FIT Swoosh Bra as one of best sports bras on the market, and we’d be remiss to not mention it here. Ideal for low- and medium-impact strength exercises, it comes with removable padding to give you more shape, support and coverage. Plus, it has a top pocket for holding your credit cards and keys.
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Advertisement “This sports bra is a classic,” Garcia says. “I’m still wearing the same one I got more than five years ago and the quality speaks for itself. It’s lightweight and dries quickly.” Check it out in sizes XS to 2XL. Buy it: Nike.com; Price: $38 What to Look for When Buying Weightlifting Sports Bras The first thing to look for is sizing. Your bra should feel snug and secure, but never uncomfortable. Be on the lookout for customer reviews that go into detail about if the sports bra runs true to size, big or small. These reviews give you a better sense of what size is best for you.
Advertisement Second, get a bra that suits the intensity and impact level of your activities. If your strength-training sessions tend to have some squat jumps mixed in, you may want a bra that offers more support. (During strength workouts, a maximum-support bra usually isn’t necessary like it is during running workouts.) However, if you’re in it just for the lifts, light support is probably fine. Some sports bras come with cups for extra coverage. Related Reading The 13 Best Sports Bras for Every Body and Workout The Best Weightlifting Tops
Best With Short Sleeves: Nike Dri-FIT Legend T-Shirt
Visit Page https://go.skimresources.com Image Credit:Nike/LIVESTRONG.com Training in a tank gives you extra ventilation, but if you’re hitting the squat rack, you might want to wear a short-sleeve shirt to protect your skin from unforgiving barbell ridges.
Advertisement Available in an array of colors, this lightweight Nike T-shirt deserves a spot in any gym-goers closet (Garcia owns several). Made with Nike’s signature Dri-FIT fabric, this tee keeps sweat at bay, no matter how intense your workouts get. Plus, it has a relaxed fit, giving you freedom of movement.
Advertisement “It should be a staple for anyone in strength training,” says California-based physical therapist Jereme Schumacher, DPT. “It’s super lightweight and the material is great to wick away moisture to help keep you cool during tough workouts.”
Advertisement This top is available in a men’s cut in sizes XS to 4XL tall and in a women’s cut in sizes XS to 3X. Buy it: Nike.com (women’s); Nike.com (men’s); Price: $14.97
Best Sleeveless Option: Lululemon Sculpt Tank
Visit Page https://www.awin1.com Image Credit:Lululemon/LIVESTRONG.com Garcia loves a looser-fitting tank when she strength trains because it allows her to move more freely and with better form.
Advertisement Available in sizes 0 to 20, this flowy training tank stops right below the waistline, upping airflow and providing a little more coverage than tight-fitting workout tanks do. The shoulders also have mesh panels for extra breathability. Buy it: Lululemon.com; Price: $58 What to Look for When Buying Weightlifting Tops A breathable, light and form-fitting yet roomy top is ideal for strength training, according to Garcia. “You don’t want the clothing to restrict your range of motion or get in the way of an exercise,” she says. Also consider the sleeve length of your weightlifting top and find one that suits the demands of your workout. For example, if you prefer more ventilation, go with a tank. But if your strength sessions typically involve a barbell on your back, short sleeves can offer more protection for your skin.
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Best Knee-Length Design: Vuori Banks Shorts
Visit Page https://www.awin1.com Image Credit:Vuori/LIVESTRONG.com Finding your Goldilocks pair of weightlifting shorts depends a lot on length. You don’t want a pair that’s too long because it might snag on equipment. And a pair that’s too short can feel revealing. For Schumacher, the perfect medium is Vuori’s Banks shorts. These shorts sit right above the knees, letting you move easily and comfortably during lower-body exercises. Unlike most exercise shorts, this pair has a drawstring that allows you to adjust the fit easily and gives you greater flexibility while training. Bonus: It has a zipper pocket to keep your small essentials safe. You can buy them in sizes XS through XXL. Buy it: Vuori.com; Price: $68
Best Above-the-Knee Design: Athleta Run With It 3.5" Shorts
Visit Page https://go.skimresources.com Image Credit:Athleta/LIVESTRONG.com Although these Athleta Run With It 3.5-inch shorts are built for running, Garcia loves to wear this pair for strength training. “Personally — again, just my preference — I like squatting in shorts,” she says. “The shorts need to be stretchy and roomy enough so that there are no surprises at the bottom of the squat. I recently purchased these and wear them so much more than just running I’m considering buying more.”
Advertisement These bottoms are made with Athleta’s Featherweight Stretch fabric, which guarantees a light feel and plenty of ventilation. This fabric is even snag-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about tears if a barbell brushes them. You can buy these shorts in sizes XXS through 3X. Buy it: Athleta.com; Price: $59 What to Look for When Buying Weightlifting Shorts Want the ventilation of shorts without the threat of (gasp) wedgies? Look for a pair that has a looser fit and is longer in length, so the fabric doesn’t bunch up, Schumacher suggests. Shorts with built-in underwear or a lining can also help provide more coverage and support. After all, you don’t want to worry about any unwanted reveals while you’re doing hip thrusts. Related Reading The 11 Best Workout Leggings for Every Body and Style The Best Weightlifting Leggings
Best Full-Length: Virus AU9 Bioceramic Compression V2 Tech Pants
Visit Page https://virusintl.com Image Credit:Virus/LIVESTRONG.com Compression? Check. Flexibility? Check. If you’re looking for the perfect tights for lower-body weight lifting, these Virus AU9 Bioceramic Compression Tech tights definitely take the protein-powder cake, according to Schumacher. The compression fit helps promote workout recovery by boosting blood flow and circulation. You can buy these tights in sizes XS to XXL. Buy it: Virusintl.com; Price: $74
Best Above-the-Ankle Length: Wunder Under High-Rise Tight 25" Full-On Luxtreme
Visit Page https://www.awin1.com Image Credit:Lululemon/LIVESTRONG.com If you prefer a shorter pair of tights that also has ample coverage, Garcia suggests Lululemon’s 25-inch Wunder Under High-Rise Tights. Although they’re originally designed for yoga, their breathable, second-skin feel is perfect for any workout, especially strength training. “My favorite leggings for weight lifting right now are an old classic from Lululemon,” Garcia says. “The Luxtreme fabric is breathable, stretchy, no pills and, best of all, not see-through. The high-rise fit feels nice and supportive so I don’t worry about them falling down.” The 25-inch tights are available in sizes 0 to 20. Buy it: Lululemon.com; Price: $69 What to Look for When Buying Weightlifting Leggings “Overall, you are going to want something that is comfortable and breathable,” Garcia says — aka avoid 100 percent cotton. Although there’s not a huge difference, 7/8 or capri lengths provide some more ventilation than full-length weightlifting pants do.
The 5 Best Weightlifting Shoes, According to Trainers by Bojana Galic The 5 Best CrossFit Shoes for Any WOD, According to a Trainer by Bojana Galic The 11 Best Workout Leggings for Every Body and Style by Marygrace TaylorAdvertisement
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The best weightlifting clothes should feel like an extension of your body. Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com
Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com
- How We Chose
- Sports Bras
- Tops
- Shorts
- Leggings
We make deliberate choices about the language we use when it comes to gender. While more brands now carry gender-neutral workout clothes, you’ll still typically see clothes marketed to men or women. Because most companies make and market weightlifting clothes according to gender, so we have listed both women’s and men’s picks below. The main difference is the fit: Men’s workout apparel tends to be longer in length and have more room in the front of the pants. Women’s versions are often shorter in length and have more room in the chest. However, fabrics and comfort should be the same between gender-labeled pairs.
The main difference is the fit: Men’s workout apparel tends to be longer in length and have more room in the front of the pants. Women’s versions are often shorter in length and have more room in the chest. However, fabrics and comfort should be the same between gender-labeled pairs.
Visit Page
https://www.awin1.com
Image Credit: Lululemon/LIVESTRONG.com
Image Credit: Lululemon/LIVESTRONG.com
Buy it: Lululemon.com; Price: $48
Visit Page
https://go.skimresources.com
Image Credit: Nike/LIVESTRONG.com
Image Credit: Nike/LIVESTRONG.com
Buy it: Nike.com; Price: $38
The 13 Best Sports Bras for Every Body and Workout
Buy it: Nike.com (women’s); Nike.com (men’s); Price: $14.97
Buy it: Lululemon.com; Price: $58
Image Credit: Vuori/LIVESTRONG.com
Image Credit: Vuori/LIVESTRONG.com
Buy it: Vuori.com; Price: $68
Image Credit: Athleta/LIVESTRONG.com
Image Credit: Athleta/LIVESTRONG.com
Buy it: Athleta.com; Price: $59
The 11 Best Workout Leggings for Every Body and Style
Visit Page
https://virusintl.com
Image Credit: Virus/LIVESTRONG.com
Image Credit: Virus/LIVESTRONG.com
Buy it: Virusintl.com; Price: $74
Buy it: Lululemon.com; Price: $69
The 5 Best Weightlifting Shoes, According to Trainers
by
Bojana Galic
The 5 Best CrossFit Shoes for Any WOD, According to a Trainer
by
Bojana Galic
The 11 Best Workout Leggings for Every Body and Style
by
Marygrace Taylor
