From leggings that don\u2019t roll down to bras that keep everything in, keen amateur cyclists, weightlifters and swimmers reveal the bits of kit they can\u2019t do without<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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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).<\/p>\n
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\u2019t always equate to a better experience, as these interviews show.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s left to do iseither bulk buy or devise a very efficient washing system.<\/p>\n
Here is some inspiration to get you started \u2026<\/p>\n
When Sally Gulliford first plucked up the courage to start going to Zumba in Bristol in 2019 with her daughter, she didn\u2019t want to stand out. \u201cI wore baggy clothes and stood at the back,\u201d says Gulliford, 57, who is a civil servant and lives in the village of Backwell near the city.<\/p>\n
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: \u201cThis creates an atmosphere where people not only feel like it\u2019s a party, which it should be, but lose their inhibitions more. It is like a girls\u2019 night out \u2013 we compare outfits and ask where things are from.\u201d The clothing choices of attendees reflect this disco atmosphere. \u201cI wear bright colours now,\u201d Gulliford says. Her daughter still goes, too: \u201cAnd borrows my gear.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to completely submerge in the workout,\u201d 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: \u201cYou don\u2019t want to be worrying about your back fat or your side boobs, or anything rubbing.\u201d<\/p>\n
With all the jiggling about, a sturdy bra is crucial; all the women agree that M&S\u2019s Goodmove ultimate support non-wired sports bra (worn by Smith and Gulliford, above centre and right, \u00a315) is the best. The zip-front design ensures \u201cyou\u2019re not going to fall out\u201d, Gulliford says. Law also rates the F&F active zip-front high support sports bra (seen on her above left, \u00a318), \u201cbecause it\u2019s so soft\u201d.<\/p>\n
Gulliford says Zumba Wear\u2019s mesh tops (worn by Smith, above centre, from \u00a324.70) are popular to keep cool and Halara\u2019s skorts and skort dresses (worn by Law, above left, from \u00a317.95) work well for bum-shaking. \u201cYou don\u2019t want something to feel like a wetsuit,\u201d Law says, \u201cbut 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\u2019t want to be spending the workout pulling them up.\u201d Gymshark\u2019s Light Hold Leggings (\u00a338) and Matalan\u2019s Souluxe leggings (from \u00a312.50) do the job: \u201cThey do not move on your tummy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dressing up for Zumba has helped the women to feel good about themselves. \u201cIt has definitely given me a lot more confidence in how I look at myself and what I wear,\u201d Gulliford says.<\/p>\n
To find Amy Smith\u2019s online and in-person classes, follow her on Instagram at ZDP_Amy<\/p>\n