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

if it’s more aerodynamic then why aren’t the men wearing skimpies too?

I was going to say the same as above… they do.

However, the obvious male/female anatomical differences mean that too skimpy could lead to a wardrobe malfunction.

I did not know about women vs. men's feet being different.

My running shoes always wear out fast at the widest point, is this a male-shaped foot in female shoe problem -- does anyone know? me & all DC (including girl) have G width.

I impulsively ordered women's cycle shorts the other day because they were flowery & I'm a sucker for flowers. I hope I don't regret that because 'women's cycling shorts often have too little padding in front and a sea of pointless padding in back. I am holding my breath.

Draughty?

You could just buy things that don't show any areas you don't want to show. You sound like you've judged one pink sports bra and deemed the whole arena of female clothing to be poor.

You can buy female loose t-shirts in wicking material, long tops, high waisted items, loose trousers, loose shorts. It's all available. Maybe not a sole sorry item on the sale rack at New Look, but it's there.

I prefer tighter things as I dislike the loose fabric, as well as wanting the sweat evaporating properties of skintight items. Climbing, I go loose. Lots of female climbing clothing is loose, but women might choose to wear tight things. Hiking, also, is an activity where it's popular to wear tight things but not actually recommended due to the need to keep warm with layers. Skintight could be very dangerous on a hike.

Wear men's if you wish. I guarantee no one is looking.

@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.

not really.

Some women have boobs. These women need different cut tops than men.

Some women have hips, same thing.

Not sure why the concept of clothes adapted to female bodies is so outrageous. My teen daughter is tall but still at the skinny age where she has no shape as such (she looks amazing before anyone dares to criticise). She has no problem finding sports clothes either

My son wear sports leggings under his shorts, they are just as tight as any sports leggings. People are just trying to find something to be offended these days.

Sportswear is the wrong area. You can find anything and everything!

I tend to wear trainers aimed at men because they are a tiny bit wider.

You can wear whatever you like. I personally like what's on offer for me.
I prefer closer fitting sports clothes but also have plenty of looser fitting ones.

I don't like fabric flapping around me when I run. I have millions of race t.shirts and mostly they are male sizes ie way too large.

I have loose fitting running shorts. I don't like to carry stuff so I don't need pockets, but plenty have a small zip pocket, which is enough for a key. In the event I need to take my phone or lip balm I'll wear a running belt.

I think for male cut shorts/leggings they'd be too low rise. I am very slim, but I am not straight like a man.

I think it depends how hot you get, how wide your hips are vs the width of your thighs - chunky thigh'd sprinters tend to wear longer shorts than the wiry distance types.

I'd assume that men have different "undercarriage" comfort needs as well.

@lljkk

I did not know about women vs. men's feet being different.

My running shoes always wear out fast at the widest point, is this a male-shaped foot in female shoe problem -- does anyone know? me & all DC (including girl) have G width.

I impulsively ordered women's cycle shorts the other day because they were flowery & I'm a sucker for flowers. I hope I don't regret that because 'women's cycling shorts often have too little padding in front and a sea of pointless padding in back. I am holding my breath.

I had to wear my son's cycle shorts once. I shouldn't have bothered. If I'd had a penis and balls they certainly wouldn't have got sore, but my woman arse certainly did.

I also get women's running shoes as they are narrower.

@coogee

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

I don’t think so. Men and (most) women are different shapes.

Indeed. Vests are cut narrower, otherwise you might chafe around the arms holes.

They are often longer and a bit more flared over the hip.
They allow for breasts.

Hips, waists, thighs.

Clothes Allowing for breasts is a big deal, agreed.

@lljkk

I did not know about women vs. men's feet being different.

My running shoes always wear out fast at the widest point, is this a male-shaped foot in female shoe problem -- does anyone know? me & all DC (including girl) have G width.

I impulsively ordered women's cycle shorts the other day because they were flowery & I'm a sucker for flowers. I hope I don't regret that because 'women's cycling shorts often have too little padding in front and a sea of pointless padding in back. I am holding my breath.

I’m not sure but how come your trainers have so little cushioning? I would have painful knees after training in those, they’re almost flat!

@coogee

if it’s more aerodynamic then why aren’t the men wearing skimpies too?

I was going to say the same as above… they do.

However, the obvious male/female anatomical differences mean that too skimpy could lead to a wardrobe malfunction.

Exactly - wasnt it Peter Beardsley who brought a whole new meaning to sliding tackle?

tallduckandhandsome, what I posted earlier was not pic of my shoes. The app is unreliable so it's a pain to get my own pics. But here is pic of my actual running trainers. My trainers always wear out at fat ball of foot location (widest point). Leather shoes ok, don't burst, but trainers do burst.

I think you can see sole is not that worn out, just the sides burst very quickly almost as soon as I start wearing them.

-- Fatfootedly yours

I see! Not sure what that's happening then! How many months of running does it happen after?

@lljkk

tallduckandhandsome, what I posted earlier was not pic of my shoes. The app is unreliable so it's a pain to get my own pics. But here is pic of my actual running trainers. My trainers always wear out at fat ball of foot location (widest point). Leather shoes ok, don't burst, but trainers do burst.

I think you can see sole is not that worn out, just the sides burst very quickly almost as soon as I start wearing them.

-- Fatfootedly yours

Do you think maybe they're too wide, and your foot is slipping to the side (with a bit of natural pronation)?

Have you been properly fitted?

Hiking I carry full waterproofs plus looser layers so I wouldn't say I'm taking more of a risk than when I split the crotch of my "loose" proper walking trousers which were in fact loose on the waist and tight on the thighs so split open on a big step up as they sagged so the join was a bit low when I stretched up...

Tight leggings (generally on the more robust end of running tights and definitely not cotton/jersey) are a decent base layer under waterproofs (and the slidy fabric works better under marginally tight thighs than the old style walking trousers). They also dry nice and quick in case of rain on a hot day.

How many months of running does it happen after?

I dunno, few weeks so about 5 runs? It's not getting worse.

@TheOrigRights - I understand that there's no point in a "proper fitting" because my runs are > 80% off-road. I run in muddy uneven bumpy trip hazard places.

And tbh, fitting is not convenient, I can't be arsed to travel far & pay ££ for a "proper" fitting and ££ for expensive shoes.

(I do sometimes wonder if shorter shorts are chosen because of where it leaves the tan line. Something that people may or may not choose to care about, but when you train outdoors I can see why it might become a consideration)

If you exercise outdoors, regardless of how high your shorts might be, you end up having to accept that you will always have a tan line around your ankles where your trainers and socks end.

I just resign myself to crazy tan lines.

I understand that there's no point in a "proper fitting" because my runs are > 80% off-road. I run in muddy uneven bumpy trip hazard places.

Fell runner here - I still make sure my shoes fit properly. An off-road specialist running shop will usually give pretty good advice on fit, no matter what terrain you run on.

Having said that, ime fell shoes don't last that long . Being constantly abraded against rocks and gritty mud does tend to trash them.

"An off-road specialist running shop will usually give pretty good advice"

How would I know if I found one of them.
Google recommend this retailer, nearest branch is 2 hours drive away.

I currently run 12'46" / mile once a week. I admit I'm not willing to invest in this further. But maybe one day...

So I've clarified I need men's cycle shorts (and men's style bike seats), men's tri-suits, maybe men's running shoes, and definitely men's goggles (swimming). I prefer male running shorts, too. Maybe I lost a wee Y chromosome down back of sofa.

OP is definitely not BU!! :)

In terms of clothing : wear what you want. Nobody is interested and nobody cares.

In terms of shoes, you need ones that properly fit your feet and suit your gait & build, particularly if you are doing a lot of running. Whether they are pink or blue is irrelevant.

I currently run 12'46" / mile once a week

What does that mean? You run just under 13mins/mile once a week?
For how far or long?

If you find menswear more comfortable then go for it.

My Mum used to wear men's jeans as she didn't have much of a waist.

@lljkk

"An off-road specialist running shop will usually give pretty good advice"

How would I know if I found one of them.
Google recommend this retailer, nearest branch is 2 hours drive away.

I currently run 12'46" / mile once a week. I admit I'm not willing to invest in this further. But maybe one day...

So I've clarified I need men's cycle shorts (and men's style bike seats), men's tri-suits, maybe men's running shoes, and definitely men's goggles (swimming). I prefer male running shorts, too. Maybe I lost a wee Y chromosome down back of sofa.

OP is definitely not BU!! :)

Google is idiotic. Ime Up and Running isn't much good for off-road unless you live in an area where all the local running is off-road. Where are you based?

Often mountaineering / climbing shops are staffed by fell runners and can offer good advice on off-road running shoes.

I ran 4.24 miles yesterday at a pace of 12'46" per mile.
My heart averaged 144 bpm, that's not wimpy for age mid 50s, is it?
I deserve a slowness award, truly, my slowness is magnificent.
Just thinking I also have men's 'jammers' as swim kit. To wear with tankini top. No way I'd wear the tankini bottom (wedgie city). Another bit of women's exercise kit that also doesn't work for me.

Other than bra I'm beginning to wonder what sport kit I have that IS for women.

it's official. I'll be reaching for a jockstrap next.

My female neighbour used to run 1 mile 3x/week always in jeans (!!)