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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Female sports clothing is rubbish. AIBU to wear male?

126 replies

0None0 · 10/07/2021 14:07

Aibu to wear make sports clothing?

Female tops are strapped and insubstantial, stretch-marks- revealing and draughty.

Male tops are far more substantial, less draughty and a better range of colours and designs.

Female leggings are tight, hot and revealing. Make football shorts are comfortable, cool, cheaper and have pockets.

Male running shoes come in more sizes and a wider range of widths.

I don’t think I’m being unreasonable, but every single shop assistant I have spoken to this morning has tried to steer me towards female clothing.

I don’t want to play sport in skin tight leggings looking like I have wound a reel of shocking pink string around my top half

OP posts:
Natsku · 10/07/2021 14:50

YANBU, I often buy men's (well teenage boys because mens are too big for me) clothes because they are just comfier, more practical, and have more/any pockets.

IDreamOfLogCabins · 10/07/2021 14:54

Not sports wear but I've just bought a pair of men's sandals for summer. Saw them on sale and was so impressed at how sturdy they were with proper soles. Much better looking quality wise than any woman's sandals I've seen, and I also have wide feet. Wouldn't wear them for going out somewhere nice, but bought mainly for walking and they're great for that.

fassnk · 10/07/2021 15:08

@wordsareveryunnecessary hahaha youre right! Although I am a female climber and wear loose trousers and vest tops/tshirts.

dementedpixie · 10/07/2021 15:12

I never wear strappy tops as I hate my bingo wings. My sports tops are from curvissa

Kanaloa · 10/07/2021 15:12

Of course not, wear what you want.

Thoughtcontagion · 10/07/2021 15:14

I prefer mens running tops

motogogo · 10/07/2021 15:14

Wear whatever you like and fits you. Unfortunately men's feet are a different shape (usually) to women's and bigger so make sure if you buy men's trainers they properly support you. I have women's running leggings with a pocket btw, just wish they would make running tops that come below the hips

RiotView · 10/07/2021 15:16

I've started wearing men's t shirts. I'm sure I'd be able to find what I want in women's with enough searching but it's easier just to pick up something from the men's section than hunt round multiple shops for a decent woman's t shirt

motogogo · 10/07/2021 15:16

Ps I have small feet so I buy girls trainers, no VAT!

tallduckandhandsome · 10/07/2021 15:17

I’ve bought great running base layers from Mountain Warehouse. They were on sale for £9.99 and they often do free delivery weekends.

I prefer the women’s base layers as the men’s are often crew neck which I find stifling so I prefer a slightly lower neckline.

I’ve also bought loose running tops from Tesco.

tallduckandhandsome · 10/07/2021 15:18

But I get what you mean, there is lots of weird revealing active wear in shops, it’s not for me.

I’m always amazed that people sign up for Fabletics.

ErrolTheDragon · 10/07/2021 15:20

@NeedNewKnees

Do you subscribe to CCP's Invisible Women newsletter? She's highlighted some better designed sports wear recently (and also gardening equipment, which was of more interest to me)
I don't subscribe at the moment but would like to - do you have a link please?

If the 'men's' stuff fits you, OP, of course you should get it if you prefer it. I'm a bit envious as I'm too short for it, but not skinny enough for boys' kit. But I can find active wear which does the job - most of my tops are isocool baselayer T-shirt's from outdoors shops, for instance. I find they're often good for practical choices.

Proudboomer · 10/07/2021 15:20

Men’s football shorts don’t have pockets. I think you must be thinking about gym shorts as they tend to have zipped pockets.

C8H10N4O2 · 10/07/2021 15:22

Have often said trainers have no need to be sold in male/female, just according to foot shape and usage

Women's feet are a different shape to mens. Women's body proportions are a different shape to men's. Its not about colour and style but wanting clothes and shoes that fit women's bodies properly and remain comfortable and practical in the way that men's sports clothes are expected to.

Bryonyshcmyony · 10/07/2021 15:23

Women's feet are a different shape to mens

I always wear mens trainers.

TwoLeftElbows · 10/07/2021 15:24

I just get loose women's sports tops from H&M and basic women's trackies. I'm way too short for men's clothes and my bum is too big.

However it sounds to me that you've found something that works, so just stick with it.

GrandmaSteglitszch · 10/07/2021 15:28

Tell them you identify as a man.
If they've had their woke training, that should get them to shut up.

CMOTDibbler · 10/07/2021 15:33

I never wear strappy exercise wear - even my tri suits have sleeves, and don't buy anything that would ride up. I do like wearing leggings, but wear running skirts over them, and I love a skort, but also wear loose shorts over tight ones sometimes. My leggings, shorts, skorts, and skirts all have pockets
Blokes running tops don't have room for my norks, and mens shorts don't have room for my bum

AuntieStella · 10/07/2021 15:47

I think you have been unlucky in the brands you have tried

I mean, you're of course NBU to prefer men's ranges. But I think you are BU to dismiss all women's ranges.

Female tops are strapped and insubstantial, stretch-marks- revealing and draughty. Male tops are far more substantial, less draughty and a better range of colours and designs

You're looking in the wrong places. Brands such as Contra have exactly the same items in women's ranges as the men's, and even though I hate the store for other reasons, Karrimor (Sports Direct) have very similar items and definitely colours across their tops. There are oodles of online shops with bright colours for women. And also try cycling brands (which are longer and have the grippy stuff on the hem to reduce riding up.

Female leggings are tight, hot and revealing. Male football shorts are comfortable, cool, cheaper and have pockets

You're not comparing like with like. Running tights (both sexes) are of course tight, and brands such as Decathlin have useful things like pockets and drawstrings, and have different weight fabrics to cope with a range of temperatures. Baggier performance bottoms are available and the only real difference is that women's have narrower waist in relation to leg length. Cycling shorts and that style shorts are worn by both sexes. As are baggy shorts - look at the Decathlon trail sorts for an example of how good the women's items can be

Male running shoes come in more sizes and a wider range of widths

Possibly more sizes - never really looked - but I've never come across a men's range with more than 2 widths, same as many women's.

I don’t want to play sport in skin tight leggings looking like I have wound a reel of shocking pink string around my top half

You don't have to, even if you shop entirely in women's ranges.

korawick12345 · 10/07/2021 16:23

@wordsareveryunnecessary

Ds has climbing lessons. The men wear comfortable climbing trousers and t shirts or loose vests. The women wear tight figure hugging leggings and tops that look like bras. Why??
I leggings are far more comfortable with a climbing harness than trousers which bunch up. Similarly I prefer to wear a tight vest rather than a lose one as it’s less likely to get in my way/ride up/get caught on something. A tight legging in a performance fabric is about the most cool and comfortable sportswear you can get IMO. Most sports you can’t put things into your pockets as they either fall out or annoy you! Maybe do some climbing yourself rather than sitting at the edge and judging those women who are actually doing it.
BigHuff · 10/07/2021 16:24

I do think there is less choice for women, and that the quality may be worse in some cases.

I went to buy trail running shoes a little while ago - had done a bit of research online, but went to a specialty shop to see what they had in person. There were twice as many mens options as womens. I chose a pair of shoes and the assistant informed me that they also came in a waterproof version, and would I prefer those? I said yes, she disappeared for a period of time and then returned embarrassed and disbelieving and said actually only the mens have a waterproof version. I guess women don't run when it's wet!

Orf1abc · 10/07/2021 16:29

There's plenty of nice stuff that's cut for women that isn't pink and stringy.

What does 'cut for women' actually mean? It's such a nonsensical phrase.

JADS · 10/07/2021 16:39

Yanbu wear what you want.

I would say that women's sportswear isn't what you describe. I've had some great stuff from M&S as well as Decathlon and Sweaty Betty when I'm feeling flush. Plenty of pockets, nice high waistbands, soft and comfortable.

I'm living in male cut scrubs at work at the moment, tight on the hips, baggy everywhere else. So I quite like something a bit more form fitting.

iloverock · 10/07/2021 17:01

I have men's running shoes. They are wider for my big feet!
I also tend to wear the t shirts I get from races and they are just a one size/shape fits all.
Just wear what you like.

Dollhousedoor · 10/07/2021 17:25

I prefer ladies leggings for running and find them comfy but I've been using my husbands sports tops from the moment we moved in together as I prefer a looser fit than I get from all of the women's tops I have