In this the fifth part of the basic equipment series, I am going to cover the importance and finer points of selecting the proper pants or shorts for strength training. At first glance, this seems a rather intuitive choice that people would get right. I have found over my many years of coaching though, it’s best not to assume anything. After all – policies arise out of necessity. If you’ve ever seen a policy that you thought was ridiculous, before passing judgement, just remember it was likely implemented as a response to something people were doing (or not doing as the case may be). As we endeavor forward, I’ll be sharing some wardrobe malfunctions and also discussing the importance of choosing the correct undergarments. Let’s all brace ourselves. Here we go!
What to Wear While Strength Training
In the area of what to wear on your lower half while strength training, we should first start with a description of the kinds of movements one will be doing. In all manner of squatting, the lifter will descend into a deep squat at the bottom of the movement while shoving the knees apart and sitting the hips or butt, down and back. This is a similar bottom position one might assume while perhaps having to answer the call of nature while in the woods where no proper toilet is present. How’s that for a mental image? In spite of the fact that this is just everyday, business-as-usual stuff for the average gym-goer or strength coach, suffice it to say many at first find this position in public to be undignified. I do understand at first glance it appears this way to the newcomer. With that being said, I think you can now appreciate better the importance of choosing proper attire and undergarments for the purpose of squatting. They should be stretchy for one thing (more about this later), and not require a belt to keep them up. They should in no way restrict your movement. The girls seldom make a bad choice in this area of clothing, but the guys sometimes really miss the mark here. One such guy – who shall henceforth be called “Frank” – decided to train in his board shorts which are basically knee length swim trunks. These have become fashionable as gym wear in recent years and are now made to be stretchy, so they function well for strength training. At the time of this incident, though, these advancements of utilizing stretchy fabrics were not yet implemented and the board shorts in question did not stretch, even a little bit. “Frank,” who was wearing the board shorts, took the bar out of the rack for a set of back squats. As he descended into the third rep the stitching could no longer bear the stress it was under and “Frank” had a major blowout. He ripped the back of the shorts wide open, from crotch to waistband. To make matters worse, “Frank” was not wearing any underwear. To his credit, “Frank” was in fact squatting to full depth. He also was committed to finishing the last two reps of his set, blowout and all, before setting the bar back in the rack and promptly but casually, leaving the gym for the day. It was a sight to behold for all present, but one that could have been avoided in the first place. And with this story now told, I think we can lay a few ground rules about the importance of choosing the right pants or shorts for the task at hand.
We have already stated pants or shorts should be stretchy or not restrict movement in any direction. They should not have a tear or split seam in the nether regions lest you put yourself on exhibition while assuming some compromising positions while training. And please wear supportive undergarments. This last request is really aimed at the guys again, since the female anatomy doesn’t tend to require the same support as the males. So, guys – listen closely! Boxer shorts are lounge wear – not active wear. You can thank me later, especially those of you who are Olympic weightlifting which involves aggressive jumping in which the bar is routinely sliding up to the top of the thighs on its way to the shoulders or overhead. Any “ahem” appendages not held securely in place are subject to abuse as the barbell is sent aloft during the clean but more specifically the snatch. For the ladies, you tend to prefer shorts in the warmer weather which is fine if you will not irritate the skin of your shins and thighs by the barbell sliding up your legs during deadlifts, or again, more aggressively rubbing against your thighs while Olympic lifting. Girls, you may also prefer some modesty while assuming the bottom of the squat by wearing ¾ length tights or yoga pants as opposed to exceedingly short, shorts. Also, for girls, a supportive sports bra is in order. Again, there may be some aggressive jumping and landing to be done with Olympic weightlifting, and some supportive undergarments will be helpful for both your comfort and sense of modesty. For guys and girls alike, if you prefer to wear shorts, you may also prefer some knee-length socks as well to protect the skin of your shins from the barbell during deadlifts. It doesn’t take much to rub the skin raw with the knurling of the barbell and cause it to bleed. While this can be cleaned up, you may agree it would be more hygienic to prevent breaking the skin in the first place, as well as avoiding the resulting scars from repeated injury. One last thing to consider when choosing pants or shorts or any workout attire for that matter, avoid clothing with metal. No zippers rivets or snaps. Not only are these things likely to rust or corrode from the sweat, but they also can be quite painful when pressed upon by a barbell, even momentarily. These things may also cause damage to some of the training equipment under the right circumstances.
In closing, I hope you will think about all of this and decide it is well worth it to buy the proper clothing to enable you to train comfortably, safely and modestly. My intent here is not to shame anyone about their body, I only wish to help protect the modesty of everyone involved. I only say these things because I have seen these things in my time coaching and training. I have found over the years that many people experience some growing pains associated with strength training from simply being unaware as to what to expect and not being dressed to their comfort level as they begin their journey. There’s nothing wrong with being new and uninformed at something. Having a little background on what to expect can help you have the best experience possible.