by Milinda Atallian
Picture this: you are walking uphill from the parking garage on your way into the HAC, and you notice a red carpet. Along the red carpet, there are lights, cameras, and reporters – all asking the same burning question that we hear time and time again on award shows – “What are you wearing?”
It could be said that this question is somewhat redundant and perhaps even shallow, but it is indeed an important question to consider going into the gym. Why – do you ask? The answer is simple – because in the gym – fabric matters!
There are pros and cons to most fabrics that are seen on the daily at HAC. So, let’s dive a bit deeper into our red-carpet interviews.
Let’s start with Sandy – as she approaches the halfway point up the red carpet, she is stopped and asked “the question,” to which she politely responds, “I only wear cotton.”
The pro of cotton is that it is comfortable, soft to wear, and soft to the touch. The con of cotton is that it absorbs moisture (aka sweat) quickly – which can make a high-intensity workout feel as if you’ve just jumped into a pool. Cotton also traps sweat, which can lead to irritation long after you leave the gym. While cotton does not trap the odor as much as other fabrics, it does stay wet longer.
Further up the red carpet, one of the reporters stops Danny, who clearly likes to match his apparel from head to toe, which the reporter duly notes. When asked, “What are you wearing on this fine day as you approach the HAC?” Danny replies, “I’m a polyester guy.” OK, Danny, polyester is a bit more breathable than cotton and found in most fitness fabrics. However, it is better suited for workouts where you are less likely to sweat a lot – perhaps a brisk outdoor walk around the HAC property. Polyester tends to stink and trap bacteria quicker – once the stink has stunk – it is hard to get rid of with polyester fabrics!
Moving on, somehow, Taylor has gotten almost all the way up the hill without anyone stopping her to inquire about what she is wearing. Thankfully, someone caught up to her. Her answer was quick, with zero explanation on her part, “Spandex.”
Spandex, AKA Lycra, is an excellent fabric for flexibility workouts, such as yoga, weightlifting, or classes where you need to move around a lot. The material is usually skin-tight, which is good for sports bras, leggings, track shorts – even socks! Unfortunately, it is not the best when it comes to moisture wicking, and it does loosen over time.
How many more fabrics can there be? We inquire about a couple more as they come walking up the red carpet runway to the HAC. We stop Charles on his way in to ask what he was wearing – he has to check the tag, but he responds that his “go-to gear” is made of nylon.
Nylon is excellent for all workouts and all-weather conditions – no wonder it is Charles’ favorite! Think of nylon as being the best parts of spandex and polyester combined into one material. Nylon or Poly-Dri is stronger and more durable than standard polyester gym wear. It has low moisture absorbency and dries quickly, making it perfect for any workout. The con of nylon is that it tends to shrink easily, and the material does not last as long as others, as it tends to deteriorate quicker.
As the HAC red carpet ends, we are able to catch up with a member who can be seen in just about every corner of the facility, whether she is taking a class, working out on the main floor, bringing in her kids, swimming at the pool, dining at the café, indulging in a massage or facial, or meeting with a trainer – Lucey is definitely a regular. We pose the question of the carpet to Lucey, to which she responds, “Moisture-wicking, of course.” Of course, Lucey, of course. If you sweat a lot, moisture-wicking fabric can be a lifesaver as it pulls sweat away from the body through the fabric to the top surface so that it can evaporate and dry quickly. Most synthetic fabrics like nylon excel at moisture-wicking due to the structure of their fibers. Natural materials like cotton can also be specially treated to better pull sweat up and away from the skin, but they’re not as effective as synthetics.
Let it be known that moisture-wicking is NOT the same as waterproof. Waterproof fabrics do not allow moisture in, whereas moisture wicking “moves” the moisture to the top layer of the fabric.
We learned a lot about what fabrics are seen at the HAC. The pros and cons of different materials. The most important thing when it comes to choosing a red-carpet-ready-to-sweat-look is that it is functional. The other thing to consider is how to care for the fabric.
We’ve all been in spaces when the not-so-fresh smell arises. Let’s be honest, no one is leaving the gym smelling like a bar of soap, but there are ways to avoid the pitfalls (pun intended) of having gym clothes that smell as soon as you start to sweat:
- Avoid clothes that are mostly made with polyester.
- Once you are done working out, change out of your sweaty gear.
- If you cannot wash your gear right away, avoid crumbling it up in your gym bag or throwing it into a hamper – turn everything inside out and find a place to air it out until you can run it through the laundry.
*Some of the fabrics discussed, especially the moisture-wicking materials, absorb oil and odor easily – so it is important not to pile them in a hamper as this will trap the odor and make it harder to get out.
- Use an updated detergent – there are more than several detergents specifically made for gym clothes (the older/traditional detergents were made for traditional fabrics – and are not as efficient in getting out the bacteria and sweat in newer materials). Look for one that specifies that it is made for athletic wear, active wear, and/or performance fabrics.
- Do not overload the washing machine or use more detergent than indicated. In other words – more is not better.
- Turn your gym clothes inside out when you wash them (sweat and bacteria are more concentrated on the inside).
- Skip the dryer and hang your gym clothes (sometimes machines don’t get the clothes all the way dry, only to leave the moist bacteria time to grow and smell) – hanging your clothes will also help with the longevity of the garment. Whew, a lot to think about for sure.
Whew, a lot to think about for sure. But at the end of the day, you want to be comfortable, feel good, smell fresh, and look your best.
There is nothing worse than entering a space when one of these things is not happening.
If you’re uncomfortable but look good, you’re not going to get a decent workout. If you feel good but are not super fresh in terms of odor, well, those around you will not be able to do their best (if you can smell yourself – so can everyone else).
Take it from the Red-Carpet-Ready- To Sweat interviews – some fabrics simply work better than others when it comes to the gym.
