What's a good strategy for building a cheap gym outfit collection?

January 17, 2019 8:11 AM

If I'm going to start going to a gym for the first time at the age of 40, how do I cheaply and appropriately attire myself?

This is kind of an idiot level question but I am a uniform sort of person (wear the same thing every day) partially because I don't like shopping for clothes.

Oh, and I'm a cis male.

Couple of things.

1. I am going to do cardio, mainly just biking.

2. Typically I wear jeans and a button down shirt.

3. I live in a place that is extremely cold in the winter.

4. Please confine your answers to the question, I don't need any information about what I should be doing instead of going to the gym.

Thanks!

posted by selfnoise to Health & Fitness (25 answers total)

You go to Kohl's or TJ Maxx or something equivalent. You buy 2-3 pairs of gym shorts (like, these). Depending on your personal preferences, you just get some cheap tshirts in general, or you get some cheap tshirts made from sweat-wicking material in the same area where you buy the shorts.

If you're going to change at the gym, you just bring these clothes in your gym bag. If you're changing at home, you also want something like a pair of sweat pants to wear over. Whatever normal jacket you wear otherwise is fine.

For me personally, I'll wear basically any sock + shoe to bike (I like converse), but really any sneaker will do. If you're going to be running, I would go to your local running store and put the money into a pair of shoes that will work with your feet; that's the one place I'd aim to be less cheap.

I can't speak specifically to your undergarment preferences, but you likely want some form of boxer brief to prevent chafing.
posted by annabear at 8:18 AM on January 17, 2019 [4 favorites]

You will see people wearing all kinds of crazy nonsense to the gym, but (for your proposed use) you don't need anything more than gym shorts, a loose, comfortable t-shirt, socks, and tennis shoes.
posted by praemunire at 8:20 AM on January 17, 2019 [5 favorites]

The good thing about the gym is you can also wear a uniform. And to be honest since you'll be working out, even if it's cold, you'll probably just need something that would be like outdoor workout wear. I think more importantly you'll want to make sure you have other gym gear, depending on whether you're a "shower at the gym" sort of person. Honestly this also depends on how cheap you want to go. For me, there's a ton of thrift store gymwear because people blow out on their resolutions and I can find stuff that fits me for a few bucks. But basically you want

- some sort of sport-y shorts exactly like annabear suggests
- cotton t-shirts
- cotton underwear that holds your junk in (unless the shorts have that)
- cotton sport socks
- decent sneakers (you can go to a sporting goods store or just find some on Zappos and try em on until you find ones that fit - I have some basic Sauconys and they are fine)
- towel
- water bottle

If you're not super body conscious you can also wear gym-type tank tops which can be nice because then you don't get as armpit sweaty. You can get all of these at Target, Walmart, Kohls or basically any department store.

Then you'll want a gym bag to put it all in and if you really like the gym I suggest getting a locker so you can shower there and then have shampoo/soap/conditioner. If you do that make sure you bring a hat with you even if you are not a hat person because wet hair in super cold weather is bad news.
posted by jessamyn at 8:23 AM on January 17, 2019

Make sure you've bought enough sets that you can't use "needs to wash my gym kit" or "gym kit wet" as an excuse. I also advocate getting as many microfibre towels for the after-workout shower at they gym as you have gym outfits. Depending on sweat levels you may also want add a mini microfibre towel for while you exercise to your set of gym things. As per annabear unless you're running just any old comfy trainer-type shoes and socks will do!
posted by london explorer girl at 8:24 AM on January 17, 2019 [6 favorites]

You'll want to change at the gym. Going out in the cold in sweaty clothes is a recipe for misery.

I have a pile of T-shirts that I've accumulated from who knows where? over the years; that's my gym stack. I (woman) wear nylon tights/shorts, so I buy those (advice above is good).

As a man, your selection of shorts/etc will mostly already have pockets, but make sure, because you'll want to put keys or your phone for podcasts in there.
posted by Dashy at 8:36 AM on January 17, 2019

I wear compression shorts over boxers and under gym shorts because, despite being relatively thin, I have impressive thighs that rub when I run. YMMV.

Other than that, I agree with what most of the others have said. Other than running shoes, none of this is hard.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 8:51 AM on January 17, 2019 [2 favorites]

I live in a frigid area and also like to change into gym clothes at home because it's a lot faster, so would add a pair of sweatpants to the list for wearing over your shorts when outside. Combined with your usual coat and stuff, that's plenty good enough for getting from a house to a car and a car to the gym.
posted by teremala at 8:57 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

It doesn't matter as long as you are comfortable. If you're comfortable biking in jeans and a button down shirt, wear those.

All the above is fine advice, but may not apply to you. Start going and then figure it out.

Some people like to shower at the gym, some prefer to go home first. Some people like to bundle up before going out into the cold, but I like to walk outside in shorts and a tee shirt to cool off for a few minutes, even in 20 degree weather. Some people like wearing sweat pants or nylon track pants, most people prefer shorts. Some people like loose clothes, some like tight/compression wear. Some people (especially those who sweat a lot) like moisture-wicking athletic clothes (including socks), others are OK with basic cotton. Some people like light workout shorts, but I generally wear khaki or hiking shorts because I like the pockets better. Some people want compression shorts or tights or shorts, others don't. Some bikers like padded cycling shorts; most are fine with regular underwear (though probably not boxers, as you are likely to want some support). Some people bring a water bottle, others use the water fountain; others don't get thirsty. Some people bring a towel, some use the gym's towel, and some don't sweat enough to bother.

Theorem: The best exercise is the one you want to do enough to do it. Corollary: the best workout clothes are the ones that you enjoy wearing.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:18 AM on January 17, 2019

All of my t-shirts were free, I wear the swag from my high tech employer. Start grabbing all the free t-shirts you can at any suitable event, these will be your workout staples.
posted by crazycanuck at 9:26 AM on January 17, 2019

Decathlon are the Ikea of sports goods retailers: emphasis on well designed stuff at a keen price. Their range varies considerably by season - which means that right now they are pitching cold weather stuff.
posted by rongorongo at 9:28 AM on January 17, 2019

IME "cardio" and "cotton" are incompatible. Guys who mostly lift seem to have an easier time getting away with cotton t-shirts, but when I do cardio I sweat a lot, from my chest and back and not just my armpits. I like the feeling of dry cotton more than I like the feeling of clingy polyester, but during and after a workout I like the feeling of clingy wicking fabrics a whole lot more than I like wearing a cotton t-shirt that's soaked. All of my workout shirts came from Nordstrom Rack and were either factory seconds or last season's colors, neither of which matters one bit. The one thing to note now is that all the big brands seem to sell "running" stuff (clingy but not skin-tight, probably 100% polyester) and also "training" stuff (skin-tight "compression" fabrics with Lycra/Elastane/Spandex). You may like more one than the other. Pay attention to labels and fit as you buy them, and comfort as you use them.

Below the waist, you may want padded bike shorts if you're mostly going to be on a bike. Actual, honest-to-$deity bike shorts can't be bought cheaply. You can get cheap compression shorts at Target or your local sporting big box store, and those will take care of chafing on your inner thighs, but they won't help at all with the seat area. You may not need the padding, but to get started I'd buy one cheap pair of compression shorts and one pair of, say, Pearl Izumi bike shorts, try both for a few weeks, and let your body tell you how you feel about them. And if you're talking about spin classes, you may need bike shoes with clips.

Truth be told, you don't need a lot of special gear to get started. Get started with what you have or, at most, one or two new outfits, and add more clothing as you figure out what works for you. I wouldn't go buy a week's worth of workout clothes without first knowing what workout clothes I actually like.
posted by fedward at 9:33 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

When you buy things, think about what you'll need to carry in the pockets - some men's gym shorts don't have pockets, and carrying things in the breast pocket of a t-shirt is annoying. Will you be listening to music? How will you carry it? Will you have a key with you?

Also, if you're going to the gym from work or going to work from the gym, you'll want flat, light gym shoes without a lot of internal structure that can kind of fold and squish down in your bag. (If you decide to start running, you'll need more structured shoes and if you decide to do really serious weightlifting you might want very flat shoes, but I've found that soft gym shoes work for bikes, elliptical, moderate weights, etc) There are a lot of them about right now, so they should be easy to find. I got a pair of Nike roshe runs on ebay. IMO I should have sized up a half size, but they're fine. They're also washable.

I get most of my gym stuff used on eBay because there's a ton out there, most of it fits pretty loosely and the sizing is consistent.

My main goal is to get things to pack down small, so I I don't get super oversized/"beefy" tees and I get gym shorts made of synthetics rather than fleece.
posted by Frowner at 9:38 AM on January 17, 2019

Oh, also, it bugs me when things don't match, so I get everything either grey, black or blue.
posted by Frowner at 9:40 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

My partner swears by the Russell Athletic brand available at Walmart, specifically the dry-fit line; he usually wears a short-sleeve shirt and shorts in the summer, and the same thing with leggings underneath the shorts and a hoodie over the t-shirt in the winter (covered by a coat/hat on the way to the gym, obvs.). I think he has 4 sets and this seems to be a good amount to always have a clean outfit.

I only seem to be able to find a good link to the short-sleeve shirts but our in-person Walmart usually has a good selection!
posted by stellaluna at 9:54 AM on January 17, 2019

Personally, I find that cycling is most comfortable in bib shorts, like these ones from Bouré. The bib keeps the shorts from slipping down and the chamois in place.

If you're doing short rides, it might not matter. But in my experience, there are two kinds of saddles on gym bikes. Spin bikes have the narrow saddle of a racing bike, and are most comfortable with a padded chamois. Most other stationary bikes have wide saddles (too wide), with plenty of padding, but with a wide nose that can chafe unless you have compression shorts. A decent pair of padded bike shorts can help with both.
posted by brianogilvie at 9:54 AM on January 17, 2019

I get cold and live in a cold part of the world. I wear jogging pants, a tshirt and a zip-up hoodie at the gym. I (female) absolutely never wear shorts under any circumstances but that's just my preference. The men at gyms I've been to seem to be split between shorts and joggers/long athletic pants.

Also get seperate gym shoes, which for me are cheap and crappy canvas sneakers but you can go hogwild at athletic shoe stores or orthopedic specialists if you want. I wear compression socks, other people wear regular athletic crew socks like the kind that come in a pack of 8 pairs.

I work out hard but rarely get overheated enough to regret my clothing choices. The zip up hoodie can easily be opened, closed, or removed.

I wear a fanny pack (yup) to hold my phone and the key to my locker. I stopped using a combination lock because I always forget the combination.

I have like 3 nearly-identical sets of gym clothes that I rotate. None of them were expensive; think thrift stores, walmart, etc. The key with joggers is that they need to have a string to adjust the waistband.

Make sure you don't get clothes that are baggy enough to interfere with the types of movements you expect to be doing. If you ever want to branch out and try different types of exercise, you can always google "what to wear for X (yoga, swimming, weight lifting, etc) or call the gym and ask.

Most of my gym clothes are pretty ratty. I do not care; I go to the gym to work out, not to show off, and choose my clothes for comfort and functionality, not appearance. They're one step above the clothes I would paint a house in.

There are people who put a lot of stock in their appearance at the gym- if that's your bag, my way might not be for you. But most people at the gym are more concerned with themselves than with how you are dressed and usually the only rule is that you can't be wearing outdoor or dangerous (open toed, flip flop, high heels, cowboy boots, cleats) shoes in the gym.

This is not an idiot-level question. This is a totally reasonable question; the world of athletic activities and athletic wear is vast! Many gyms and studios will have this very question in their FAQ because it's such a common one! We were all beginners once. Have fun at the gym!
posted by windykites at 10:06 AM on January 17, 2019

I have 2 outfits I wear to the gym, both boring (black tights, black top - I'm a woman). Don't worry about needing any fancy new gear, I'm pretty sure no one notices. The only time I remember what people wear is when people wear obviously inappropriate things (like jeans for squatting a couple of days ago).

I basically agree with what other people have said, apart from the cotton thing. I think you need proper sweat-wicking material, or you will get very uncomfortable and are also more likely to chafe. I guess it depends how hard you are planning to work out to some extent but t-shirts designed for working out are really cheap these days, just go to a cheap sporting goods store.
posted by thereader at 10:40 AM on January 17, 2019

I started writing a comment, then went to lunch, and now I come back to see other people have mostly made my points for me.

You know, depending on the intensity of the biking you plan to do, you might not even need gym clothes. It's normal to wear jeans and a button-down shirt on casual rides on non-stationary bikes; I do it all the time. Doing it on a stationary bike is not common, but there's no reason why not. I've seen plenty of people doing other workouts (even heavy weightlifting) in jeans before. It's common enough. Really, the biggest problem would be sweating through your clothes and having nothing to change into after you're finished.

Aside from that, simple is best. The gymwear industry is one of the biggest cons in consumerism. All you need is a t-shirt, a pair of non-restrictive shorts or sweatpants, and some sneakers. Even socks and underwear are optional (I wear the former but not the latter when working out or playing sports). Beyond that, you're just spending money on toys, at least until you reach a more advanced level of fitness.

You shouldn't need advice on how to find t-shirts; nearly everyone has access to free or extremely cheap t-shirts. Literally any t-shirt will work. My current favorite was a "Christmas bonus" from my job one year, my second favorite I bought at Old Navy 21 years ago, and my third is a free shirt I got in college. They have holes; that's not important. Shorts aren't so common, but still cheap. You should be able to find some at Walmart for under $10, nicer ones at TJ Maxx for slightly more. Never spend more than $20. Likewise, sweatpants are cheap and at Walmart. My wife just bought me a pair for $6.97, and they're one of the most comfortable things I've ever worn.

Note that you probably don't need sweatpants. Just wear shorts (it'll be plenty hot in the gym) and then change back into your street clothes when you're done. Try that first, and if it doesn't work for you, you can go buy the sweatpants to wear out.

You only need two of each item: one to wear while the other one is in the laundry. As long as you don't leave them balled up in your gym bag (which, btw, can just be a plastic grocery bag; you don't need to buy a special new bag), you should be able to re-wear your gym clothes for a couple of days at a time. I guess the equation would be (x/y)+1, where x is how often you do laundry and y is how long you can go wearing the same clothes.

Once you've spent a little while at the gym and you start to get a feel for things, then you can re-evaluate. If you don't like your cotton shirts getting drenched in sweat, then you can go out and buy a moisture-wicking one. If you're getting saddle sores from the bike, then you can buy a pair of bike shorts with a chamois. Personally, I have a knee sleeve I wear. But don't waste money on these things upfront. Try the cotton shirt first, if for no other reason than that you probably have one already and/or you can get one for free.

The key with any sort of exercise is getting started. Once you've stepped in the door of the gym, the hard part is done. When you're a beginner, you should focus on that rather than what you're wearing. Don't focus on clothes until you've built up the habit.
posted by kevinbelt at 10:48 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

Nthing the suggestions to check the thrift stores first before buying new gym-specific clothes. I've gotten like 75% of my moisture-wicking shirts, sports bras, and workout leggings there in like-new condition for a fraction of the cost of ordering it online or buying new.
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:18 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

If your club has a Jacuzzi type thing you may want swim wear. I consider hot water my reward for working out.
Don't forget to get a lock, there is nothing worse than getting all ready to work out and not being able to lock your stuff up. They have locks that you can set a combination of your choosing to so you won't forget it, or get a keyed lock and pin the key to your shorts.
Shower shoes of some sort, I like the Crocs type, so you don't pick up a foot fungus.
Bike shorts really will make your workout more comfortable.
posted by BoscosMom at 11:21 AM on January 17, 2019

If you want to stretch or do some weights after cardio, you can always bring a second t-shirt to change into. It’s more comfortable and you won’t be leaving pools of sweat on the stretching mats or weight benches.
posted by monotreme at 11:23 AM on January 17, 2019

Some of the men at my gym like to wear running tights underneath their workout shorts on especially cold days (we workout in a converted warehouse), and it seems to keep them warm enough.

You also might like a hat or headband or bandana to keep hair or sweat out of your face. Synthetic ball caps designed for working out are great for this purpose, but some folks like to go the old kerchief route.

Please wash your gym clothes between uses, and think about investing in some Borax or other detergent aid for workout clothes; a little goes a long way!
posted by sara is disenchanted at 11:33 AM on January 17, 2019

Old Navy activewear is cheap and good. The deals are amazing when there are sales. Get some t-shirts, and bottoms that feel comfortable to you (maybe joggers vs shorts, not too baggy). I’d aim to have a set for every day you plan to go to the gym, if you wash your clothes weekly.

Shoes: just get comfy runners for now, maybe at some point you’ll be interested in spinning but sounds like that’s not now. A lot of people can find at least one model of New Balance shoes that’s comfortable. (Among their athletic runners, not the fashiony models that are sold in non-athletic shoe stores. So go to a place like The Running Room, again, wait for sales.)

If you listen to music, get decent headphones that can tolerate sweat. I like Skull Candy ones, but there are plenty out there, see Amazon for reviews.
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:43 AM on January 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

One warning -- while some have advised you that you can wear button-down shirts and jeans to the gym, I have been a member at gyms which expressly forbade 'street clothes'. The rationale was that jeans/belts scratched up the equipment.

I have always been fine in whatever random t-shirt and the cheapest pair of athletic shorts from target/TJ Maxx/Costco, athletic sneakers, and athletic socks. The shorts should still have pockets, though. If you live somewhere super cold and you are going from the house to the gym, you can think about workout pants. I am old enough that I am accustomed to sweating in 100% cotton, but I also have under-armor type workout clothes. These are not completely necessary.
posted by Comrade_robot at 11:46 AM on January 17, 2019

One thing I will say about getting sweaty in a cold climate--I am much happier when I have a dry shirt and undergarments to change into *after* I've exercised, or else the commute home is exquisitely miserable. They don't need to be workout clothes or anything, just dry. And they don't get so gross as to need washing, they're usually the next session's outfit. (I wear regular t-shirts, and sweatpants or shorts or martial arts pants).
posted by tchemgrrl at 11:49 AM on January 17, 2019