Bamboo clothing for people who have just started exercising
Short answer: You do not need technical training gear to get started. Ordinary bamboo clothing covers the first months fine, and chafing between the thighs is the one thing you should fix right away. The rest can wait until you know how often and how hard you will actually train.
Ordinary clothing works well at the start
At low and moderate intensity bamboo viscose moves moisture away from the skin just fine, and you barely notice a difference to pricier technical fabric. Technical polyester only becomes relevant once sessions get long and properly sweaty. Start with what you have, and try a men's bamboo T-shirt before spending money on something new.
Fix chafing first
This is the one thing that actually stops beginners after a few weeks. Long legs or boxer briefs remove the friction between the thighs on runs and rides. See boxer briefs if that is where it hurts. It is a cheap fix for a problem that otherwise makes many people quit far too early.
Seamless socks prevent blisters
Blisters are the second common stumbling block for new exercisers. Socks without bulky seams and with a proper fit will not fold inside the shoe. See men's bamboo socks if your current socks leave marks after a run. A sock that fits properly matters more for comfort than most people expect.
Choose boxer briefs over loose underwear
Ordinary loose underwear bunches up under trousers and chafes in a different spot than close fitting boxer briefs. For running and strength work a fitted style gives better freedom of movement without shifting constantly. See men's bamboo underwear for a style that stays put while you move.
Change straight after training
An hour in damp clothing after a workout causes most of the skin problems, from irritation to outright rashes in some spots. If you cannot shower right away, at least change underwear and socks. See men's bamboo underwear for a dry set to keep in your gym bag.
Wash after every session
Sweat that dries into a crumpled heap in the bag sets odour into the fibres that is hard to remove afterwards. Hang the clothes to air if they cannot go straight into the wash. See washing and care for the right temperatures for training clothes.
Build up slowly instead of changing everything
Most beginners swap too much gear too fast, long before they know what they actually need. Start with a couple of extra sets of underwear and socks, and expand only once you know your own pattern. It saves money and makes it easier to work out what actually works for you.
Fit matters more than the fabric
Even the best fabric chafes if it fits wrong. Choose a size that follows the body without pulling, especially at the crotch and under the arms. Try a style while moving, as in training, not just standing in front of a mirror, so you spot problems before they show up on a run.
Take it easy on the number of pieces
You do not need ten sets from the start. Two to three sets of underwear and socks are enough if you wash regularly between sessions. See men's bamboo T-shirt for the top, and grow the wardrobe as your training load increases rather than buying everything at once.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Should you buy technical training gear from the start?
No. Ordinary bamboo clothing covers low and moderate intensity fine at first. Technical fabric only becomes relevant later, during long, properly sweaty sessions.
What should a beginner fix first?
Chafing between the thighs. Long legs or boxer briefs remove the main stumbling block that otherwise makes many people quit far too early.
When does technical fabric become necessary?
During long sessions with heavy sweating, where natural fibres eventually saturate. Until then ordinary bamboo clothing handles most of your training just fine.
See our range of Copenhagen Bamboo.
