Female sports clothing is rubbish. AIBU to wear male?

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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

YANBU to wear whatever you like. Why are you being 'steered' towards a particular section by shop assistants though? Don't you just go in and browse like anyone else? (After all, for all they know you could be looking for something for your dh/ds etc.)

I hate men's loose-style running shorts. The material rides up between my thighs. Plain black women's running tights (pretty much indistinguishable from men's ones) are much more comfortable and practical imo. I also own plain coloured running tops (short-sleeved and long-sleeved) which are a sensible cut and perfectly comfortable. Yes there's lots of skimpy, garish stuff too, but some women like that, which is fine obviously!

I find buying a top a couple of sizes too big from M&S or Sainsbury's works well for me. Both ranges go up to quite large sizes which should give most people a bit of choice. I do like my Sweaty Betty leggings though and many now have a phone pocket. I also have a running pouch that fastens magnetically onto the back of the waistband for a key credit card and some change.

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!

You were lucky - waterproofing is a TERRIBLE feature for trail or fell running shoes! Avoid it like the plague.

If you run off road in wet muddy terrain, your feet will get wet because water will go over the top of the shoes no matter what you do.

If your shoes aren't waterproof, the water will naturally pump back out through the fabric with the motion of your feet. They'll still be wet, but they won't stay completely soaked. If your shoes are waterproof all the water will stay in your shoe, pickling your feet and feeling crap.

Never, ever, get waterproof fell running or trail running shoes. They're more expensive (got to pay for the patented Gore membrane!) despite being a less suitable shoe for the purpose.

(Source: I'm a lifelong fell runner, never run on roads)

@Orf1abc

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.

Do you really not understand that, when making clothing, the pattern can be cut to suit different body shapes and sizes?

Are you wearing the wrong size in women’s? I wear a lot of sportswear, mainly running stuff, in it 4 days a week at least. I have no trouble finding nice stuff, Nike and adidas mainly, but also Decathlon and a few H&M bits.

Of course YANBU

YANBU if that's your preference but it's easy enough to find non strappy clothes. Consider yourself fortunate to be able to choose from all ranges and get twice the choice.

Last year I gave up trying to find Jersey shorts that covered more than my (very substantial) bum and bought two pairs in the Primark mens section. They were so comfy. And nearly knee length.

Buoyancy aids... the mens one definitely doesn't fit me well.

@EllaBlaire

I also enjoy men’s pyjama bottoms.. they are thicker and have pockets!

Me too!

I'm going to have a look at men's exercise tops now thanks. I usually go for the women's vest tops but will have a look at my options now.

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

Wear what you like and if they try to steer you just say no, I tend to find the male clothing suits me best. They must get people who identify as male but look female so it can't be that difficult for them not to default.

I'm not a lifelong trail runner, but agree with the post above. Get waterproof socks (eg Sealskinz) but not waterproof shoes

I always wear mens trainers

Not sure what point you are making. Women's feet are a different shape - look at lasts for male and female feet.

Lots of women wear men's trainers because they can't get women's in the right sizes or there is simply less choice. I've worn mens trainers/hiking boots etc in the past because I'm tall and for years trainer and boot makers assumed women's feet stopped at size 6 so the pitiful subset made for women were too small.

However the fit will be better if it matches the shape of your feet. If your feet are already narrow like mine then it makes a massive difference.

@Orf1abc

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.

It means for bottoms that the waist is narrower in comparison to the leg length, and the rise of the crotch is more likely to be OK (men's waistbands 'sit' lower down, which means the rise is usually too shallow. Also, some are designed for willy/balls space and support and that can wrinkle up and be uncomfy.

For tops, they are cut to allow for the bust, whilst still still sitting right on the shoulders. That can be important for endurance events (reduces chances of chafing) or sports where you use equipment and you want to lessen likelihood of it catching

Feet less obvious, but they use a wider, squarer last for men's shoes. There is however more overlap between typical men's and women's feet that there is when considering bust or hip/waist.

I’ve bought cotton rugby shorts from the boys section of the school uniform aisle for my dd. They have pockets. There aren’t a female equivalent, maybe cycle shorts? Girls obviously don’t play rugby.

I wear my DHs old swimming shorts, the ones he’s outgrown! I wear them over my female swimming costume.

Yanbu! I wear size small men’s football shorts to gym, they are longer than “girls” gym shorts and much more comfortable for me as I hate tight clothes.

The women wear tight figure hugging leggings and tops that look like bras. Why??
Because they choose to.
There are plenty of loose trousers for climbing that women wear. Our local boulder place has probably an equal number of women in tight fitting leggings and others in loose harem style pants.

Depends on your shape and size. I’m a 5’2” hourglass with size 4 feet. Nothing in the men’s dept would fit me.
However I don’t own anything pink or strappy. What sport are you doing? I’m happy to help if I can (though I do like leggings as loose stuff catches between my thighs).

I also enjoy men’s pyjama bottoms.. they are thicker and have pockets!
Curiosity has got the better if me. Why do you need pockets on your jammies?

Women wear 'figure hugging' leggings because they are comfier, especially for long distances - look at Mo Farah, or better performance over shorter efforts - look at Usain Bolt. it's not a straightforward divide by sex

Compression gear is chosen for performance issues (and can very much recommended if rehabilitating an injury)

I can only wear sport leggings in cold weather.

Female trisuits don't fit my big shoulders -- I need bloke suits.

it's paying £38 for a simple top or pair of shorts that I find mind-blowing, whether marketed as female or male.

Each to their own. I'm a man, but I'm a child of the Eighties and I like my shorts colorful and short rather than almost knee length and black/grey/navy. So I wear women's shorts, so much better.

I'd warn against wearing a men's jockstrap though. Some of them really rub against the perineum. I've never understood what's so manly about chafing there, of all places.

@notacooldad

I also enjoy men’s pyjama bottoms.. they are thicker and have pockets! Curiosity has got the better if me. Why do you need pockets on your jammies?

Why do men need them?

They are useful for putting things in. Glasses. Tissues.

I've got some cheap tights style leggings in 3/4 lengths and full length. Cost about £4 each and a couple of huge men's running shirts that come down to mid thigh. I ain't showing my bits off to anyone! Really think unless you are a semi/professional etc, there is no reason to get any of the women's ridiculous over priced, over exposing nightmares. Think they are more for effect on photos on Instagram.

Sports bra excepted