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How training kit should fit and last
Sportswear · Fit and care
How training kit should fit and last: sizing, fabric, washing and when to retire it
Premium kit fails for two reasons: it was the wrong size, or it was washed wrong. How each garment should fit, what the fabric names mean, the three care rules that double its life, and the signs it is done.
Updated September 2026 · Prices are UK RRP and need verification · Some links are affiliate links
Fabric names, translated
| Fabric | Brand | What it is | Feels | Best for | Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luxtreme | Lululemon | Nylon-Lycra, slick face | Cool, compressive | Running, sweaty studio | Cold wash, hang dry |
| Nulu / Everlux | Lululemon | Soft nylon-Lycra | Buttery / cool-dry | Yoga / HIIT | Cold wash; no softener |
| Dri-FIT ADV | Nike | Engineered polyester | Light, mapped ventilation | Cardio | Cold wash |
| DreamKnit | Vuori | Recycled poly-elastane | Very soft | Strength, rest days | Cold wash; low tumble ok |
| Power fabric | Sweaty Betty | Sculpting nylon-elastane | Compressive | Running, HIIT | Cold wash, hang dry |
| Merino blends | On, Satisfy, Tracksmith | Wool-poly | Warm, odour-resistant | Outdoor, travel | Cold wool wash; flat dry |
| Seamless knit | Gymshark, Lululemon | Circular-knit nylon | Stretchy, close | Lifting | Cold wash; snag-prone |
Fabric descriptions summarised from brand documentation; care advice is general.
Fit, garment by garment
Leggings: waistband stays put in a squat without rolling, no sheerness at full stretch, no bagging at the knee. Shorts: liner if you run, no liner if you lift; inseam 5 to 7 inches for most. Tops: close through the shoulders, room through the torso; if it rides up in an overhead press it is too short. Sports bras: get fitted; a high-support bra for running is a different garment from a studio bra. Shoes: half a size up for running, true to size for lifting and court.
The three care rules
Cold wash. No fabric softener, ever; it coats the fibres, kills wicking and locks in odour. Hang dry, or the lowest tumble if you must. Add a sports detergent or a splash of white vinegar if kit has already started to smell. Wash after every session; sweat left in technical fabric is what breeds the smell nobody can wash out.
When it is done
Leggings go sheer or lose recovery at the knee. Tops stop wicking and smell after ten minutes. Shoes: 500 to 800km for running shoes; visible midsole creasing or worn outsole for training and court shoes. Bras: when the band stretches and rides up. Premium kit that is cared for lasts three to five years; that is the whole case for buying it.
Repairs and resale
Lululemon and Arc’teryx offer repairs; Patagonia leads on it. Vinted and eBay are lively for premium activewear, which reduces the effective price of buying well. Our second-hand guide (not yet available) covers the equipment side.
FAQs
Common questions
Why does my gym kit smell even after washing?
Fabric softener or hot washes have coated the fibres, or sweat sat in the fabric too long. Strip with a sports detergent or vinegar soak, then wash cold without softener from now on.
Should leggings be tight?
Compressive but not restrictive: waistband stays in place through a squat and there is no sheerness at full stretch. If you see skin through the fabric when you bend, size up.