I was in TK Maxx the other day (I'm not proud) and I was wondering how you can tell the "sportswear" that might actually be of any use for running in from the stuff that's just for lounging around in with your hat on back to front. Or does it not matter?
It was easy when I I was young--no-one would be seen dead in sportswear.
Depends what your criteria are for workout clothes.
When I first started running and exercising I became very precious about having all the right kit and couldn't possibly run and go to the gym in the ame top different fabrics etc and had to have the correct shoes for the surface I was running on. Nowadays I am a lot less bothered. If it is clean and doesn't chafe anywhere, it's fine.
I do find the wicking fabrics much more comfortable - not that I'm getting up that much of a sweat tbh!
If it's tights/capris I would check that there is an internal drawstring (helps keep em up - I feel a bit safer with one) and a pocket, preferably a zipped or internal one for keys, MP3 or similar - doesn't have to be big. I think most sportswear fabric these days is breathable which is good but I might be wrong
What are capris please? I remember them being a Ford car a few decades ago! 😃
I would definitely try it on before you buy...some of the 'cheaper' tops etc. are not very roomy when you get your arms in.. I agree wicking fabric is best for tops...😊x
Garments that are wicking - do they always say "wicking" on a label - in the way that "breathable" garments are labelled "breathable"??? I haven't actually ever seen a garment labelled "wicking" - this may just be because I don't shop much of course!! 😃
Ha, no I don't think so...just that silky thin fabric with giveaway mesh under the arms is the clue I think... Rather than cotton.
Ah ok thanks- will watch out for holey arm pits then. 😀
Well, I have still no idea what you're talking about! My English has reached a limit, I'm afraid lol. "Wicking" garments? Anyway, I think there's no tops that are wicking enough for me as I sweat a lot!
Your English is excellent Anthie! Wicking fabrics are very impressive technology according to my husband who was a material scientist. We have wicking sleeping bags for when we are camping-they are absolutely brilliant, dry on the inside and dripping on the outside if you are sweaty! 😃
Wow, thank you very much for the precision! I'm going to try and find this miraculous material next time I'm going to the sports shop. I'm pretty sure I will still sweat them out... I haven't found any top sophisticated technical material as it might be that is breathable enough and keep you warm at the same time.
have you tried Merino wool? I swear - and sweat - by it 
No, didn't know there was anything so nice until yesterday when I checked "wicking running tops" and got a 2016 article from the Independent with great running tops like Sweaty Betty (ahaha must be right for me!). But unfortunately no sales and too expensive. Do you know of any other brands that would be cheaper? I'll save for a nice turtleneck Sweaty Betty for next winter!!
Aah yes I have read that and their sports bra review!
I shop on ebay at the moment - some private sellers and outlets, some of my stuff was new but not all - it gets washed after all.
Icebreaker brand is pricey but on ebay you can get a comparative bargain (there was an ebay voucher at new year so that helped).
There's a brand called Women's Embers that seems to be discontinued and someone is still selling it relatively cheap? I have my eye on two tops.
Bamboo is nice too - v soft and cottony but more breathable than cotton. I have bamboo leggings, quite thick and supportive.
Thanks a lot for all the information!! Fabulous: I very seldom buy on the Internet but my buddy does. So will have a look on E-bay with him. I love Bamboo but I didn't know there were also sportswear made in it. I still have a couple of weeks to have a look in sportswear shops for special sales...
try bambooclothing.co.uk - I just wish they still did high-vis running tops, so great for dark cold early mornings! (They'll post to EU )
Thanks a lot! I'll have a look even if I'm stuck on Sweaty Betty lol. Not only are there only retails in the UK but limited sales... Even on the Internet!! Amazing how some brands are so good at being hype. So will check bambooclothing instead while waiting for the next sales date for Sweaty Betty... I'll let you know if I buy anything 
Your English is so good that Ive spent weeks wondering if you are a French woman or an English woman living in France Anthie xx
You're both very nice you and Elfe 5 but you're only judging on posts I teach English, so hopefully I'm not too bad at it but it's very difficult to keep up with all the cultural twists when you don't live in the country anymore. I spent a year in Colchester, then in Manchester, then another in Australia, and then an MA in Leeds... With returns to France in-between. So I'll let you imagine what my English sounds like lol (the only thing I'm sure of is that I don't sound French...). xx
Your written English is extremely good. You use terms that imply a very good grasp of spoken English. Xx
Good question!
Nike call their clothing dri-fit and other brands are something similar. It feels a bit like nylon rather than cotton. tights are generally spandex or elastane if you look on the label They might even helpfully have a running logo on
Happy shopping
Ah that's useful thanks- but not sure that I can put "happy "and "shopping" together in the same sentence. If my youngest daughter comes to keep me sane, I can put "survive" and "shopping" together! 😀
dri-fit is good gear, actually. I run mixing 'running' tops with basketball jerseys and it works well for me.
Most of my kit comes from TKMAXX.
Look for sports labels you know or tags detailing properties such as wicking or dri-fit. It is usually possible to spot the stuff that's meant for real activity. And like others say do try things on - you can usually tell if something is really just designed to 'look' sporty rather than be properly comfortable for sport.
Just back from TK and I see what you mean about trying stuff on. One pair of "XL" shorts was like a bell tent, the other I could hardly breathe in. Still I now have a pair of running shorts and two "dri" T-shirts in anticipation of the day I ditch the trackies and expose my legs to an eager public.
Ha ha - I really can't believe sizes vary so much. Today I ran in XL leggings a L top and a S/M jacket!
Bring on the Spring weather - sounds like you're all set.
Most of my running kit comes from the back of the cupboard! It's been languishing there for years having been relegated to gardening clothes but now promoted to running clothes. I have HH dry something base layers bought for layering when watching mid- winter football which I wear alone or with a cotton (shock) t shirt on top when it's below 5degC.
You will be amazed what you can pick up on eBay new. I have just bought two Karrimor running tops for £3 each plus £4.40 p&p. My first running clothes purchase apart from shoes last summer.
Soon we will be posting about clothes to keep cool in the heat of summer. I'll be cutting sleeves off old t shirts...
YES! Running in gardening clothes - me too! They may be more dual purpose than promoted! 😀
I've picked up some fab running stuff from TK Maxx. I mix and match and one of my favourite tops is actually a tennis top so don't forget to look at other sportswear too.
Just be careful about seams, zips etc as you really do not want ‘chaffing’.
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