A Beginner’s Guide to “What to Wear” to CrossFit
You finally decided to jump in and give this CrossFit thing a try but you quickly noticed that your old running or basketball shorts and shoes aren’t quite as comfortable or effective for the constantly varied, high-intensity days at CrossFit.
With everyday fitness brands coming out with new clothing designs and gear it can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you are new to the CrossFit world. So we put together this beginner’s guide to help you narrow down your clothing search.
Shoes
Though you can get away with wearing your running shoes for a bit, you’re going to be thankful for the flat-footed CrossFit shoes that are specifically designed to help you rep out box jumps and double-unders, weather rope climbs and support your feet when you run.
Brands to Check Out: Reebok Nanos & Nike Metcons; Two different looks, two very functional shoes designed for all levels of fitness. NoBull also continues to impress with their abundance of designs.
Personal Favorite: I’m a sucker for the Reebok Nanos. I still even wear my nano 2s sometimes, but I’m excited to try the Reebok 7s (new bright colors!) & Grace.
Shorts & Spandex
When I first started CrossFit, I only wore my Nike Tempo Shorts (#classic). They’re great for running, but I soon realized I needed more functional shorts/spandex that stayed up during double-unders, allowed me to squat fully (Hello flexible material), and remained breathable for those long hours in the gym.
Brands to Check Out: Fleo, Redline, 2Pood
Personal Favorite: Lululemon – Speed Shorts
Pants
I’m a big fan of compression pants and joggers, which allow you to move comfortably without worrying about extra material riding up or getting in the way of your fitness. Personally, I like to wear my joggers during lifting (and to the grocery store). They also help minimize rope burn during rope climbs.
Brands to Check Out: Virus; Reebok, Rogue
Personal Favorite: 2Pood
Sports Bras
I love the recent push, among fitness brands, to develop innovative sports bras that are both supportive and cute. I’m talking about strappy designs, extra collar bone support (Brilliant idea, Chestee), and even patterns with donut sprinkles on it. Who doesn’t want to feel sexy/flexy as you sweat? My world has expanded.
Brands to Check Out: The Chestee, Lululemon, Nike, Reebok, Born Primitive
Personal Favorite: Under Armour
Tees & Tanks
Everyone seems to have an opinion on what type of shirt they like to workout in (or take off mid-metcon). Material, cut, fit, color and design all factor in. Regardless, it’s so important to find quick-dry, light tees/tanks that you can feel confident to move around in. There’s (almost) nothing worse than feeling constricted by tight sleeves during a snatch.
Brands to Check Out: Rogue, Doughnuts & Deadlifts, Belle & Bell, BoxStar, Virus
Personal Favorite: Feed Me Fight Me (Click if you like pineapples) & Reebok
Did we miss some of your favorites? Let us know. Stay tuned for the Beginner’s Guide to Essential Gear – coming soon!
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