Technical Running Apparel 

Wearing the right running clothes can help make you feel more comfortable and confident while you are out running. Running clothes have come a long way in the past decade. If you are still wearing cotton T-shirts and track pants when you jog or walk, read on.  

Today there are many moisture-wicking fabrics out there designed specifically for runners and the unique demands running puts upon their bodies. Fabrics used in technical running apparel are hydrophobic meaning the fabric takes the sweat away from your skin to the outer part of the garment where it will evaporate and provide a cool and dry feel on the surface of your skin.

You may well ask what's the big deal? As cotton absorbs the moisture of sweat your running clothes will become both heavier and more abrasive. The uneven, sweat-gorged cotton threads will act like sandpaper on your skin, causing overheating and uncomfortable chaffing when worn for a long walk or run. Cotton also traps this moisture against your body giving you unwelcome cooling in the winter. The new micro-fiber fabrics are a tremendous improvement over the cotton running clothes of  yesterday with many of them going seamless or stitch free eliminating any irritation points.  

The different sports brands each have their own proprietary technologies, e.g. 

• Adidas - Clima365, ClimaCool, ClimaLite, ClimaProof, ClimaWarm 

• Nike - Dri-Fit

• Reebok - PlayDry

Related Links 

• Proper Attire (a RunnersWorld article)
• The Rise of the Skirt Culture (a RunnersWorld article)