There are some people who go to the gym and could care less about what they look like or have on because they’re there to workout, and that’s perfectly understandable. But on the other hand, there are those who do want to look good while working out because like the saying goes, “when you look good, you feel good”... And to further that statement from a weight lifting perspective, you’re going to have a much more productive and effective lifting session when you look and feel good.
Now, it’s also important to not misconstrue looking and feeling good for the sake of lifting weights… Fashion isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to most people’s minds when it comes to weight lifting; People more so think about functionality, and that’s fine too. But what if we told you that there is indeed a way to have the best of both worlds in function and fashion? Would you be open to learning more about it? If so, read on.
Fashion vs Function
In the world of weight lifting, there is no need for fashion to be at odds with function, or clash with it in any way. In fact, the two work very well together. There are, of course, clothes designed for working out, but the clothes designed for working out are a bit different when it comes to lifting weights.
That’s not saying you can’t wear standard workout clothes to lift weights, but weight lifting apparel is designed differently with lifting considerations in mind. For example, there are pants and shorts designed specifically for squats. And if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense, and it’s an occurrence that’s more common than you may realize.
For instance, would you wear shoes designed for walking when you’re a distance runner? Absolutely not because the makeup of a running shoe is more intricate than that of a walking shoe. So the same thing applies to weight lifting. Let’s take a look at some of the most common and popular ways fashion meets function in weight lifting.
Fashion Meets Function
Grip Shirts
You can always rock a basic t-shirt when lifting weights, and actually, lots of companies make activewear for weight lifters out of stretchy materials to accommodate their muscle mass. These shirts work great in accommodating the different body sizes but can be a potential accident waiting to happen because those shirts are typically made from polyester, which makes the shirts slick, and that’s definitely not what you want when lifting with a barbell.
Grip shirts are ideal for barbells because they lock the barbell in place on your back. These shirts are also great for bench presses too because they allow for good form by reducing movement from your shoulders on the bench.
Headbands and Wristbands
When it comes to lifting accessories, headbands and wristbands are going to be your ultimate necessity to keep you focussed on your form and strength training without the distraction of hair or sweat getting on your face or palms. Just think about how much you sweat when lifting weights… It’s actually pretty safe to say that you sweat more lifting weights than doing cardio simply because lifting weights burns more calories and gets your heart rate up faster.
And one of the great aspects about this particular accessory is that it still falls in line with fashion and functionality. Headbands and wristbands serve the function of sweat absorption and keeping hair out of your face (among the many other functions they serve) but they’re also quite fashionable as well.
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Suddora’s collection of headbands and wristbands offer a wide variety of different designs and styles that no matter your preference in weight lifting apparel, you’ll definitely find a complementing headband and wristband to complete your look.
Compression Shorts and Pants
Compression shorts and pants aren’t a new phenomenon in the world of fitness but there are few brands out there that have been specifically designed to add support and protection against potential strains in barbell lifting.
Squat Shorts
If you’re a novice lifter, you’re probably thinking, shorts are shorts… what’s the big deal? Well, the big deal is the inseam and tightness at the bottom of the shorts. The shorter the inseam, the better, for one. Secondly, regular shorts tend to get tight at the bottom when you go down for a low squat; This will cause the shorts to get too tight against the skin and make you come out of the squat faster.
Ideally, you want shorts specifically designed for squatting, as they have more stretchy material in the crotch area, allowing for deeper squats.
As you can see, it’s very possible for fashion and function to live happily ever after in the world of weight lifting after all. There’s no need to put the two against each other because you can indeed get the most out of your weight lifting clothes and have an effective session too. And you can do it all in sleek weight lifting fashion as well.
So before you go out and buy more workout clothes, take the time out to really think about what you’ll be doing during your workouts and incorporate the right apparel, meaning, if you’re going to be lifting, start buying lifting apparel. You don’t have to buy them all at once but definitely start incorporating them into your purchasing budget.