Regarding your workouts, the type of fabric you wear can significantly impact how much energy you put in. Form-fitting, breathable fabrics are essential for helping you achieve your best results.
Popular in skin-tight clothing like leggings, running shorts, and sports bras, thin athletic material is often blended with elastane to create elastic fabric.
Breathability
One of the most important characteristics to look for in a sportswear fabric is breathability. Breathable materials allow cool air to reach the skin, preventing overheating during workouts. They also wick away sweat, preventing odors and keeping athletes dry.
The most common choice for thin athletic material is polyester. This synthetic fabric is lightweight and stretchy, ideal for high-intensity workouts. It also dries quickly and resists wrinkles, which makes it suitable for daily activewear. However, it’s not as breathable as other options, so you might want to avoid this fabric for hot weather workouts.
Another excellent choice for a thin athletic material is nylon. Nylon is a stretchy fabric used to make tights and shorts. It’s also incredibly durable, dries quickly, and is mildew-resistant. Some nylon varieties are also breathable. These fabrics are similar to cotton in feel and texture but are more moisture-wicking than polyester and have a higher abrasion resistance. They’re also suitable for cold-weather workouts, as they keep the body warm while allowing sweat to evaporate.
Comfort
Whether you’re training for a marathon or just trying to stay in shape, comfort is essential. The suitable fabric can help you feel confident and comfortable throughout your workouts. The best thin athletic material is a breathable and stretchy material that will support your movements and keep you cool and dry as you sweat.
Form-fitting fabric is also critical for your comfort. Tight, thin materials like those found in most shirts or other high-performance clothing are ideal for helping your muscles stay intact while moving and can even reduce recovery time by increasing blood flow.
In addition to cotton and polyester, other thin and sweat-wicking fabric types include elastane and nylon. Spandex is a popular choice for gym clothes because it can stretch up to 700 percent and will always return to its original length and shape, allowing you to move quickly. A nylon fiber commonly used for leggings and sports bras. It’s also the go-to choice for many motion capture suits, which are unique bodysuits that actors wear in front of green screens to create realistic 3D characters.
Stretch
Aside from being lightweight and breathable, thin athletic material also has plenty of stretch. This helps the fabric mold to the wearer’s body for a form-fitting look that enhances their physique. This type of fabric is popular in skin-tight clothes like track shorts, leggings, and sports bras. It’s also used to make motion capture suits, which are unique bodysuits that actors wear in front of green screens to create realistic 3D characters on screen.
Spandex, which can expand up to eight times its original size and allows the wearer to move freely in all directions, is a popular option for thin athletic fabric. While it’s not the best at wicking moisture or breathability, it is durable and wrinkle-resistant.
When buying fabrics, requesting a sample swatch first is always a good idea. This will help you determine if the material is what you’re looking for before purchasing a whole yard. Sample swatches can give you a better sense of the fabric’s weight, stretch percentage, color, and more. Many online retailers now offer free or low-cost sample swatches.
Durability
Thin athletic materials can be made from various natural and synthetic fabrics. They can generally withstand stretching and creasing and will return to their original shape. Some are even wrinkle-resistant. The workhorse of fitness fabrics is polyester, used in most t-shirts and workout apparel because it is soft, durable, and moisture-wicking. It also has the bonus of being an excellent insulator for cold-weather workouts. Spandex is another popular material in thin, athletic apparel because it is incredibly stretchy and allows for an unrestricted range of movement. It often comes in a polyester-spandex blend that gives the fabric lightweight breathability and durable, wrinkle-resistant functionality.
Athletes and fitness enthusiasts need a durable, form-fitting fabric to keep up with their demanding exercise schedule. Cotton can be stable but tends to wrinkle easily and isn’t ideal for sweaty workouts. Conversely, polyester is a synthetic fiber that is soft, durable, and moisture-wicking. Other durable options include polypropylene, nylon, and elastane (used to make skin-tight clothes like track pants and leggings). Another synthetic option is to coat other fabrics to create windproof and waterproof clothing.
Moisture-Wicking
Whether wearing it for running, football practice, or even to get to work, you need your sportswear to keep up with you. This is where wicking fabrics come in handy. They pull moisture like sweat away from the body, allowing it to evaporate quickly. This leaves you feeling relaxed and dry.
Unlike non-wicking fabrics, which tend to trap sweat, causing it to cling to your body and clothes. This can lead to sweat stains and a build-up of the bacteria that cause body odors. In addition, pooling sweat can freeze against your skin in cold temperatures, making you feel cold and uncomfortable.
The best moisture-wicking fabrics are a mix of synthetic and natural materials designed for your type of workout. Polyester, for instance, is a reliable choice as it is lightweight, breathable, and dries quickly. It also doesn’t retain odors like other fabrics but is often used with other materials to create durable and comfortable athletic gear. Another popular option for wicking fabric is polypropylene, a thermoplastic polymer much like polyester that can make a wide range of performance garments. Due to its thermal qualities, it is also a fantastic choice for garments worn in cold climates.