Can the right sportswear enhance your workout or game, and is it worth investing? We ask the experts if they’re in it to win it …
We live in an age of Lycra. On weekends, my local café is rammed with shiny-haired 20- and 30-year-olds wearing form-fitting sportswear. They spend their time in running clubs, gyms and cycle classes, pausing for nutmilk coffees. It’s a far cry from what I remember at that age, hungover and eating bacon sandwiches. Last year, there were over a million sportswear-related searches on Marks & Spencer’s website. Many of us are spending more time in workout kit, having become used to being comfortable during lockdown.
Does stylish sportswear enhance your performance? I remember an opposing tennis team arriving in matching baseballstyle jackets branded with their school crest; it felt try-hard, but boosted their team spirit, sending a message of discipline. Smart kit can be intimidating – when your tennis opponent turns up with a giant branded racquet bag, it can put you on the back foot. It doesn’t always follow, however – we’ve all seen people dressed in pristine white tennis dresses (not a thing among amateurs) who can barely hit a ball. Kit can give you a boost, but beware the artifice of having “all the gear and no idea”.
Leading the luxury market are Sweaty Betty (favoured by the Hot Yoga Cork team) and Lululemon; the latter’s pocket leggings cost over €100. At ALO, the LA brand whose store opened last year on Grafton Street, the designs are great, but certainly expensive, with soft bras at €80. But is pricier activewear worth the investment? Nutritionist and personal trainer Fiona Gratzer is a believer in good workout clothes: “They last longer, fit better and make me actually want to exercise, which is half the battle. I want to feel supported, unrestricted and a little stylish too. Lululemon and ALO have great leggings and tops – pricey, but worth every penny.”
“Good workout clothes last longer, fit better and make me excercise.”
Based on cost-per-wear, investment buys tend to stand up, since they withstand endless wear, whereas cheap leggings tend to go baggy and shapeless. Alana Murrin, co-founder of Dublin’s new boutique gym, Saint Studios has tested “countless” activewear brands over a decade as an instructor. “Two leggings stand out for me: for high-intensity workouts, the Lululemon Wunder Trains offer unbeatable compression and sweat-wicking properties; and ALO Airlift leggings provide support with a sleek, elevated sheen that makes you feel effortlessly put together. Their durability makes them worth every penny – I still have pairs from five years ago that look and perform like new, after having worn and washed them multiple times a week.”
Pilates teacher Sheena Kennedy also favours Lululemon or Sweaty Betty leggings: “I find the quality is always really good and they tend to last for ages. I particularly like Lululemon’s Softstreme high-rise pants. I also find H&M brilliant as a lower budget option, particularly for sports bras and yoga tops; their leggings are pretty good too.” Also on the high street, M&S Goodmove leggings (from €28) are a bestseller.
The instructors at sleek Daha Wellness in Dublin also wear luxury brands. “I’ve tried so many and swear by Lululemon’s Align leggings – fabric that is comfortable and that you can actually breathe in is key for me,” says prenatal yoga instructor Aislinn Mahon. Generally, this season, it feels like softer, tracksuit-style pants are coming back in; see ALO’s Muse sweatpants. Soft yet strong is the way forward …
Cream Serif logo sweatshirt, €175; matching sweatpants, €185; both www.sportyandrich.com.
KIT OUT YOUR BAG: CORE ESSENTIALS
FEET FIRST Walkers and runners swear by Hoka trainers; many physiotherapists recommend these shoes as supportive, especially if you’ve had injuries. At Amphibian King in Bray, Co Wicklow staff monitor how you run and help you find the right shoes for your sport/gait/needs.
KIT FOR LESS Shop at Kildare Village for Sweaty Betty, Castore (Andy Murray is an investor), Under Armour, Asics and more, for less. Wait for sales at Lululemon: you might end up with tangerine-coloured leggings, but they do the job.
BEST BRAS A good sports bra should come first. Gratzer says: “For high impact workouts like jogging, I swear by the Lululemon Run Time Bra or the Under Armour High Sports Bra to keep everything in place. For yoga, I like something a little softer, but still supportive.” So far this year, M&S has sold enough sports bras to stretch as far as a 10K race; try the two-pack breathable Ultimate Support Wired Bra (in cup sizes A-H), €43, tested for its bounce control.
SOCK DRAWS “Nothing ruins a run faster than blisters or socks that slip down,” says Gratzer. “A breathable, cushioned ankle sock keeps feet comfy and blister-free. My favourites are Under Armour and Asics.”
GAME ON Head to family-owned Grandstand tennis store in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin for kit and expert advice.
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