# Need girl advice about exercise clothes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452 "2014-08-13T18:15:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2014, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/21 "2014-08-13T22:59:03Z")
I don"t wear underwear under my tight running shorts/leggings or my bike shorts. Never had a problem nor VPL. Be careful wearing underwear in padded bike shorts (those that mention they do this) - that’s a recipe for saddle sores if you ride a lot. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/22 "2014-08-14T01:54:42Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I’m not a girl, but I wear underwear with every type of pants except swim trunks. To me it’s a matter of hygiene. Of course, I don’t give a rat’s butt about panty lines. 🙂 I am a girl, and I wear underpants under my spandex yoga pants. I don’t know or care if I have panty lines showing. I would feel weird with spandex against my crotch. Also, the underwear can be washed in hot water and dried on high, and is clean when I put it on. I don’t think spandex can get as clean as underpants. It just seems a little gross. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/23 "2014-08-14T03:44:31Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > How about doing the world a favor and not wearing spandex in the gym at all. My god, I try to look away but there you are on the stairmaster right in front of my treadmill, with every defect of your posterior anatomy staring me in the face and jiggling and flexing with every move. It’s hypnotic. > > OK, this is what I have said in my head any number of times at my gym, not to you personally. You may have a fabulous body that would be a treat to be behind. But I have to wonder why not just wear loose shorts instead of spandex? Let’s see YOUR picture. Seriously, WTF? The whole point of going to the gym is trying to make your body look better. You’re going to see people without “fabulous bodies that aren’t treats to be behind.” It’s a GYM. Get over it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/24 "2014-08-14T03:46:09Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > And yet you posted it here directly to her. Whoosh! ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/25 "2014-08-14T04:21:12Z")
I don’t wear panties with workout stuff - why bother? It’s one more thing that can chafe or rub. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/26 "2014-08-14T04:48:07Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Whoosh! You didn’t whoosh anyone. You posted something that was offensive and creepy in a thread where it was inappropriate. Own it, apologize, and learn from it. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/27 "2014-08-14T12:11:24Z")
Exactly. I didn’t assume he really meant he **was** working out behind her, or anything like that. I’m saying that even though he said he hasn’t actually said that, what he meant was “…in person.” ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/28 "2014-08-14T12:24:09Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > if I’m really working out, the shorts need to be washed whether I’m wearing underwear or not. > > so why would I? \ I’m OK with the amount of sweat/dirt that builds up over 2-3 rides while wearing undies, depending on how strenuous the ride is. Obviously some huge ride where I’m covered in sweat and mud requires washing the shorts whereas a shorter, less strenuous ride doesn’t. Either way, though, I find that riding with undies on make the time I can go between washings a little longer. Even a non-strenuous, short ride usually produces some sweat in the crotch region, and the undies are easier to wash than the shorts. I don’t have issues with chafing or anything else, so it’s not a big deal for me. But to each their own. I know a lot of riders who don’t wear undies, and that’s fine. My main point I was trying to make is that panty lines are about the 1 millionth thing in my mind when dressing to exercise, it’s simply not something I’d ever worry about whether we’re talking gym wear or bike wear or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/29 "2014-08-14T13:23:33Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > How about doing the world a favor and not wearing spandex in the gym at all. My god, I try to look away but there you are on the stairmaster right in front of my treadmill, with every defect of your posterior anatomy staring me in the face and jiggling and flexing with every move. It’s hypnotic. > > OK, this is what I have said in my head any number of times at my gym, not to you personally. You may have a fabulous body that would be a treat to be behind. But I have to wonder why not just wear loose shorts instead of spandex? Please don’t listen to this OP. There may be guys who spend their time at the gym critiquing the defects of the women they see but those guys are rare. In my many years in many gyms I’ve heard a lot of comments along the lines of “check out the hot chick on the treadmill.” Only a few times have I heard anything like “look how fat that chick is” and it has always been met by the reply, “Good for her. That’s why she’s here, dumbass.” As for the underwear - I’m a guy but normal cotton underwear bunches up in bike shorts and causes more problem that it solves. So you need something form fitting under Spandex. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/30 "2014-08-14T16:42:52Z")
I exercise in form-fitting pants and tops with underwear because that is what is comfortable to me. I don’t worry much about panty lines, bulges, or jiggles. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/31 "2014-08-14T17:38:54Z")
Hey, I have a dumb question about compression gear - what is it good/used for? I’ve recently started a strength training program and mostly just wear a combination of Champion from Target and Old Navy exercise gear - sweat-wicking performance tops, semi-fitted capri-length black workout pants, vented cotton footie socks, lightweight athletic shoes. Underneath, sports bra and nylon/spandex semi-no-line underwear. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/32 "2014-08-14T18:10:43Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Hey, I have a dumb question about compression gear - what is it good/used for? > > I’ve recently started a strength training program and mostly just wear a combination of Champion from Target and Old Navy exercise gear - sweat-wicking performance tops, semi-fitted capri-length black workout pants, vented cotton footie socks, lightweight athletic shoes. Underneath, sports bra and nylon/spandex semi-no-line underwear. The only articles I have read about compression gear state that it is useful for distance runners because it helps with recovery. I am not fast enough nor do I run far enough (top distance has been a handful of half marathons and I am SLOW) to worry about it. I know Crossfitters sometimes wear knee socks as dashing your shins on boxjumps can REALLY suck, but that isn’t compression, although they can look similar. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/33 "2014-08-14T18:42:17Z")
I don’t know. I don’t wear it for the “compression” benefits. As stated upthread, shorts ride up on me, and the tight knee-length things don’t, so I wear those. I get mine from Old Navy. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/34 "2014-08-14T19:19:20Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > I don’t know. I don’t wear it for the “compression” benefits. As stated upthread, shorts ride up on me, and the tight knee-length things don’t, so I wear those. I get mine from Old Navy. Sattua - sorry, I was referring to actual compression garments, not just snug-fitting stuff. I also wear fitted workout gear, mostly because it stays out of my way and doesn’t move around much. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/35 "2014-08-14T20:13:52Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > The only articles I have read about compression gear state that it is useful for distance runners because it helps with recovery. I am not fast enough nor do I run far enough (top distance has been a handful of half marathons and I am SLOW) to worry about it. Thanks! This is the kind of thing I was looking for. I don’t really do cardio that much, or have trouble with stuff riding up. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/36 "2014-08-14T20:14:51Z")
I’ll wear compression socks (go up to the knees) after a long ride (100 km’s+) to prevent swelling and pooling of blood in the lower legs. Seems to help with DOMS too. Compression garments do not equal tight spandex shorts/leggings. They’re a special piece of clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2014, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/37 "2014-08-14T20:56:48Z")
Yeah, Old Navy markets theirs as “compression”, but it just seems like spandex to me. ---
**Author:** ![Arabella\_Flynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Arabella\_Flynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arabella_Flynn)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/38 "2014-08-15T03:41:25Z")
I’m not really a gym bunny, but I was told from day one – when I was but a wee little sprog in peewee ballet – that we do not wear anything under our dancewear. Leotards and dance tights generally have those little cotton gussets in the crotch, like pantyhose, for this reason. (Fashion tights often don’t.) Now that I’ve grown up and know how much it costs to buy things from Danskin and Capezio directly, I do my rehearsals in cheap sports bras and leggings from T J Maxx. And still don’t wear underwear. It chafes, and the elastic wedges itself into places best not mentioned in polite company. Some of the burlesque dancers do wear seamless fleshtone thongs under some of their costumes, though. For, er, insurance. The local laws don’t allow you to be _actually_ naked on stage. Although you can paint creative things on your thong and pasties if you like. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/39 "2014-08-15T04:02:03Z")
My hope is to look as repellant as possible when I exercise. If a panty line makes someone look away, so much the better. I’m not there for their needs, but for my own. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2014, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452/40 "2014-08-15T05:33:00Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > PS: this guy is why I worry about VPL. _That_ guy?? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-girl-advice-about-exercise-clothes/695452.md?page=3)