From leggings that don’t roll down to bras that keep everything in, keen amateur cyclists, weightlifters and swimmers reveal the bits of kit they can’t do without
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What is the perfect sports kit? That is the question we set out to answer, talking to sport and fitness enthusiasts all over the country. From Zumba dancers in Bristol to marathon runners in Leeds and gym bunnies in Thurrock, we asked different groups for the activewear they swear by and why it works for them.
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Sea swimmers in Felixstowe had conflicting views about wetsuits, but all swore by brightly coloured tow floats and swim caps. Boxers in east London were united on the best kind of glove, but had different takes on clothing choices. Cyclists in the Wirral had differing levels of bike-collecting addiction, but agreed on the benefits of being Mamil (middle-aged men in Lycra).
Finding the right kit is a matter of trial and error, and what is comfortable for one person can be sensory torture for another. Cost can also be an issue, but spending more doesn’t always equate to a better experience, as these interviews show.
Above all, what is clear is that when you do find perfection, it can enhance how you feel about yourself when participating in any given sport. All that’s left to do iseither bulk buy or devise a very efficient washing system.
Here is some inspiration to get you started …
When Sally Gulliford first plucked up the courage to start going to Zumba in Bristol in 2019 with her daughter, she didn’t want to stand out. “I wore baggy clothes and stood at the back,” says Gulliford, 57, who is a civil servant and lives in the village of Backwell near the city.
Amy Smith, who takes the class, reassured Gulliford that everyone would be focused on the instructor doing the moves at the front. The 38-year-old from Bristol had herself only recently regained the confidence to teach, and to wear tight-fitting workout clothes, having started leading classes after the birth of her two daughters. She decided her sessions would be held in a nightclub in the dark: “This creates an atmosphere where people not only feel like it’s a party, which it should be, but lose their inhibitions more. It is like a girls’ night out – we compare outfits and ask where things are from.” The clothing choices of attendees reflect this disco atmosphere. “I wear bright colours now,” Gulliford says. Her daughter still goes, too: “And borrows my gear.”
“You want to completely submerge in the workout,” says Lucy Law, 35, a psychological therapist from Yeovil, who has been going to classes since 2024. This is why the right attire is key: “You don’t want to be worrying about your back fat or your side boobs, or anything rubbing.”
With all the jiggling about, a sturdy bra is crucial; all the women agree that M&S’s Goodmove ultimate support non-wired sports bra (worn by Smith and Gulliford, above centre and right, £15) is the best. The zip-front design ensures “you’re not going to fall out”, Gulliford says. Law also rates the F&F active zip-front high support sports bra (seen on her above left, £18), “because it’s so soft”.
Gulliford says Zumba Wear’s mesh tops (worn by Smith, above centre, from £24.70) are popular to keep cool and Halara’s skorts and skort dresses (worn by Law, above left, from £17.95) work well for bum-shaking. “You don’t want something to feel like a wetsuit,” Law says, “but you want it tight enough that it flows with your body. A massive one for me, especially with trousers or shorts, is rolling down at the top. I pull them up to suck the belly in and I don’t want to be spending the workout pulling them up.” Gymshark’s Light Hold Leggings (£38) and Matalan’s Souluxe leggings (from £12.50) do the job: “They do not move on your tummy.”
Dressing up for Zumba has helped the women to feel good about themselves. “It has definitely given me a lot more confidence in how I look at myself and what I wear,” Gulliford says.
To find Amy Smith’s online and in-person classes, follow her on Instagram at ZDP_Amy