to expect keep fit clothes to come in BIG sizes?

[punter]

I am looking at you Sweaty Betty - your XL translates according to your website as a size 16 which is the average UK women's size. As you have a sale on I ordered 3 different styles, they arrived this morning and looked like they had shrunk in the wash when I tried stuff on.
Surely people who want to get fit should be able to get clothes that are comfortable and fit for purpose (that came out as a pun sorry.
Suppose I shall have to try dreaded M&S ....

[Noodledoodledoo]

I agree but the wont pay Sweaty Betty prices.

I got some really good stuff from Sainsburys - washes fantastically and looks as new.

Although I dont mind M&S but I know thats not a good thing to admit

[spookyskeleton]

This annoys me too! I also hate that all women's fitness T-shirt's are fitted which just makes my tummy and hips look so much worse.

I have just hit upon a solution which is ordering men's T-shirt's in XL (I am a tall size 16) and they fit great. Long enough to cover my bum, baggy and not a fitted part in sight. Downside is the colours are boring

[Starlingsintheslipstream]

YANBU. Cycling stuff too, they assume everyone is size 12 or under. Can only get stuff to fit from the hellhole that is Sports Direct.

[Welshmaenad]

I second Sainsburys fitness wear.

Getting a decent sports bra in bigger back sizes is also nigh on impossible. The super shock absorbing ones seem to go up to 38 and that's it. I have big boobs and I'm fat and in order to run I seem to have to shell out £60.

[MissDuke]

Cycling stuff is definitely the worst. I don't like skin tight clothes, so buy XL and it is still skin tight I am a size 12.

[toomuchtooold]

Oh god, bike clothing is terrible for this. XL usually translates to a 14. I got some lovely gear (Altura's not bad for larger sized stuff, but still not amazing), really comfy and good for winter cycling but I'm currently too big for it and it's a bit of a catch 22 when I need to lose weight to get into the gear but I don't want to go on the bike without it...

[overmydeadbody]

But spooky surely sports gear is meant to be fitted otherwise it doesn't do its job of pulling sweat away from your skin and keeping you thermally regulated?

Surely if you want baggy sports gear you might as well wear normal t shirts and joggings bottoms.

However, yes I agree there should be a larger range of sizes for those people who do want specific sports gear.

[bberry]

Get yourselves to tk max... They have loads of large stuff....

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

Look at gap for exercise wear. Most of the range goes up to a 22.

[overmydeadbody]

Toomuch could you wear the cycling bottoms (presumably padded?) and then wear tracksuit bottoms over the top to cycle in until you are more comfortable wearing tight stuff? Just clip the bottoms of them if they are baggy so they don't get caught in your bike!

A good reason to get out in this weather is you won't get too hot in a few layers!

[overmydeadbody]

tkMaxx is very good! They have nice colours too {smile]

[spookyskeleton]

You may be right but I don't buy my kit for technical reasons I just hate showing all my lumps and bumps with skintight tops!

Also the tops I buy (mainly running ones) wouldn't be skintight on men either so I assume they dont need to be.

Another issue is that, being tall, most tops are far too short on me so I need men's!

[fatherpeeweestairmaster]

another vote for Sainsburys. The 7/8 leggings have a good high waistband and are surprisingly flattering for skintight lycra, plus they hold everything in so you I don't feel you're I'm heaving around like a jogging beanbag.

[SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker]

Ski wear. You are either male or thin. Apparently big ladies don't go skiing unless they want to wear boring black male ill fitting ski wear. I used to work in a volunteer job that required me standing in sub-zero temps for four or more hours at a time. My snow pants are too long on me and too big in the waist because they are mens.

[Topseyt]

I am with you there, and not just for sportswear. So many clothing manufacturers seem to make women's clothing to fit stick insects.

I use M & S too, even if it may be a bit uncool to admit it. At least their clothes seem to be made more for women shaped women, and for women like me, who are a less than perfect size and shape.

I am fairly short in the leg. In fact, I am a short-arse anyway, which adds to my woes when I need to buy clothes of any sort. Most trousers seem to be made for people much taller than me, but M & S short leg ones are usually OK. Cropped trousers from most places are fine too, but do not really look cropped on me.

Sports Direct is pretty good for larger and more comfortable clothing, I find. There is some unisex type stuff in there.

[BadtzMaru]

I hated skintight t shirts too until I started trying different fitness classes and found that a loose t shirt ends up over your head doing certain floor based moves and flashes your bra to the room . Plus, the sight of my lumps and bumps in the massive gym mirrors is an incentive to keep going to get rid of them.

[chrome100]

But do you really need special keep fit wear? I exercise in topshop leggings and a t shirt. Does the job.

[Fluffyears]

Proper workout clothing wicks sweat away from skin, wearing leggings or anything cotton chafes if it gets sweaty. I'm size 16 and get clothes from sportsdirect and got some good workout tops from forever 21 which I was shocked at.

[comeagainforbigfudge]

Try George @asda or sainsbury's?
Tesco do some as well

[MicrochipsAndMemories]

Mountain Warehouse! I work there and also wear their stuff, our Active range goes up to a real size 20

[CMOTDibbler]

For those of you looking for cycling gear in larger sizes, Fat Lad at the Back do properly cut ladies gear (room for norks and everything) up to a size 26. DH has cycle jerseys from there, and the quality is really excellent

[calla23]

Stick insects? Nice way to describe slimmer women.

[MicrochipsAndMemories]

Extra 20% off active at mountain warehouse ATM too

[SaucyJack]

Look, let's not be coy.

Sweaty Betty is an aspirational lifestyle label. The reason they don't make the clothes in bigger sizes is because they don't want to devalue their brand by having it worn by customers who don't meets the image they want to promote.

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

Boden have gym wear as well. This tops looks as nice on me at a 12 as it does on my sister in a 22 m.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Sportswear/Yoga/BA057/Womens-Yoga-Cut-out-Tee.html

I really do rate the gap stuff though have used it from the size 22 stuff down to the 12 now. Sports direct karrimor stuff was good as well. My favourite running tights are karrimor.

Also simply be do a sports range from a 14 to a 26 maybe even higher.