It’s important to choose your gym clothes based on comfort, but you also need to make sure your choice is functional and gives you the right support. While it’s true that a lot of people turn to 100 percent cotton clothing because it’s comfortable, easy to wash, inexpensive, and breathable, it’s just not an ideal material for exercising.
Cotton does absorb sweat, but the sweat just stays there, keeping the fabric soaking wet. It doesn’t get drawn away from your skin. In other words, cotton is not moisture-wicking, which means it doesn’t pull the sweat away from the skin. It does not promote quick drying of sweat. You will find yourself stuck with a heavy, soaked vest that can cause irritation and leave you cold after you’re done exercising.
This is why synthetic materials are popular for gym clothes. They are moisture-wicking and help dry sweat faster by pulling the sweat away from the skin, out of the clothing, and into the environment. Rather than trapping sweat, synthetic fabric releases it, allowing for the important cooling process of evaporation.
Choose gym clothes made of breathable fabrics that wick away moisture and keep you feeling cool and dry is going to make a tremendous difference in how you feel during your workout.