Performance Wear Tops

The best of the best in workout shirts and jackets

Many women who work out are content to stick with the basics, putting on a light shirt when they’re in the gym and layering whatever they can find when they head outside in cold weather. But even if you’re just planning to take a walk in the winter, you’ll find it a lot more comfortable if you have the right clothing. And you’ll probably be more willing to go outside for a workout the next time.

Layering

Serious fitness buffs don’t use cold weather as an excuse to skip a walk, run or cross country ski trip. A big winter coat overtop a hooded sweater and undershirt sounds like the most obvious choice to stay warm, but there is a better, more comfortable way to go about it. Layering allows exercisers to peel of clothing as they warm up and put them back on if they start to get a chill. Special materials and manufacturing processes have made it possible for thinner layers to work better than traditional bulky ones.

• Base layer - The shirt closest to a runner’s skin in cold weather should serve one major purpose, pulling sweat away from the body to the outer layer of the fabric, allowing it to evaporate and dry quickly. When sweat evaporates directly from the body it has a cooling effect, something that’s not good in the winter. A shirt that retains moisture is also a less than ideal choice. Many of this high-tech workout wear is a mix of synthetic materials such as polyester and spandex and specialized garment construction.
• Mid layer - The middle layer is for warmth. Shirts made of fleece can be a great choice because they’ll keep the moisture moving outwards and retain heat. Most women who take fitness outdoors only wear a mid layer when it’s really cold, the other two will do the rest of the time.
• Top layer - This layer protects the wearer from the elements. A jacket that blocks wind and resists water is the ideal top layer.