Every new year brings a wave of motivation to make your health and well-being a priority. For many, this can mean rushing into a new hobby, not so sure of what to expect. Whether you’re hiking through nature, running across finish lines, or building strength in the gym, dressing appropriately is key to staying comfortable and confident.
The right clothing can make all the difference, keeping you warm in the cold, protected from the elements, and confident throughout your new journey. Here is a quick guide about dressing for fitness activities including hiking, running, and gym workouts, setting you up for a year of life changing habits.
Hiking
When it comes to hiking, layers are your key to success. As the base of mountains tend to be dramatically different in temperature from the top, you want condensed layers that are easy to remove or add on. During these harsh winter months, layering different fleeces is the perfect way to combat these conditions. These can easily be rolled and stored in a hiking bag so that you have them at the ready to wear in case temperatures drop. You can also easily remove these layers if the opposite temperatures occur. Dressing for fitness activities like hiking also means selecting durable and weather-appropriate accessories to ensure safety and comfort.
In addition to your tops and bottoms, you want to ensure you have plenty of other accessories that will keep you warm and protected from the elements throughout your climb. Beanies and gloves are absolutely essential to a successful climb up the mountain. The hat serves to keep your head warm and can assist to keep hair out of your face in windy conditions. Your gloves will ensure that you will have full use of your hands even in the coldest cold. In addition, gloves can also help protect your hands from any rough rocks or slips that you come across on the way up. In the event of a very chilly hike, you can always slip handwarmers in your gloves for that extra boost.
Additionally, when hiking in winter, you want to ensure that your outer layers fight against the cold wind. Look for jackets, hiking pants, and gloves that are wind resistant. This will ensure you a mood boost as you continue to hike as you won’t have to feel the brutal wind slipping through your clothing.
With this, the most important accessory when hiking is the boots you are wearing. Boots are unique to each individual as everyone has a harsh preference for their own wants and needs. When looking for good boots, the most important thing to look for is support. You want your foot to feel fully supported as you hike as this will ensure you do not roll an ankle or face any other foot-related injuries. When dressing for fitness activities, invest in gear that supports your performance and keeps you safe. Pair your favorite boots with hiking socks, not regular socks, and you are set to climb.
If you’re looking for affordable and practical hiking gear in Denver, FERAL sells new and secondhand gear for hiking, camping, climbing and other outdoor sports. Plus, their staff can answer your questions about what might work best for you.
Running
Like hiking, the key to dressing for a good run might seem like the use of layers. However, the tricky part about dressing for a run is that you do not typically carry a bag to place disposed layers in. With that, the best types of clothing to look for are Dri-Fit or similar items. These items are so popular due to the outstanding technology within the fabric.
Dri-Fit layers are to be worn directly on the skin as base layers. This is because they provide initial warmth in the beginning of your run, but as you become hot and sweaty, the fabric pushes the hot sweat to the outermost layer, encouraging it to evaporate. This becomes a cooling mechanism, keeping your body’s temperature much more cool than a regular spandex shirt would.
In addition to the main parts of your outfit, accessories are also a must while running. As your hands are visible the entire time you are running, wearing a nice pair of running gloves is essential. Like the shirts mentioned above, these gloves differ from regular gloves as they have technology to keep your hands not only warm, but also dry. They also are wind and waterproof, which is great news for those runners who are not scared off by poor conditions. Many also include reflective pieces, ensuring you stay safe during those chilly night runs.
The most important item to wear during a run is your running shoes. These shoes differ greatly from person to person as they take all sorts of elements into effect. Running shoes differ not only by how the shoe supports the foot, but also by what they are designed to do. There are shoes made for road running, trail running and treadmill running.
No, you do not need to go buy an expensive pair of shoes for all of these different terrains. Many popular running shoes are designed to handle all of these terrains. If you are new to running, it is best to start looking at shoes that are designed for pavement, as they will perform the best amongst the others in differing terrains. Being thoughtful about your sneaker choices ensures you stay comfortable and avoid injury.
Gyms
When it comes to dressing for the gym, it is all about finding what makes you feel the most comfortable and secure in your body. Many beginners are prone to wearing baggy, conservative clothing to turn away any unwanted attention. However, others are attracted to intricate, fashion-forward outfits. What you wear to the gym depends entirely on your own personal style and finding what you feel confident in.
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If you are looking for what to wear for your first time, opt for wearing different layers of active clothing. For women, it is typical to wear a sports bra covered by a large t-shirt, called a “pump cover” in gym terms, with a pair of athletic shorts covered by baggy sweatpants. This outfit ensures that you are comfortable throughout your workout. As gyms typically are colder environments, starting off wearing the t-shirt and sweatpants allows your body to be comfortable in the cold while building heat. Then, when you become too hot, you simply remove either the t-shirt, sweatpants or both.
For men, it is typical to wear a similar outfit. Many men wear athletic shorts on the bottom and a t-shirt covered by a hoodie on top. As you continue your workout, it is likely that you will remove the hoodie for your comfort.
Throughout these various forms of exercise, what matters more than this guide is what makes you feel good. If you put together an outfit that makes you feel confident and excited to do something good for your body, that is all that matters. As the new year continues and you push to meet those resolutions you set for yourself, you will find where your preferences are. Fashion is all about discovering what you enjoy and what makes you feel good. Dressing for fitness activities is about finding the balance between functionality and personal style. We wish you the best as you continue your journey into 2025.
