What you wear under your workout gear matters more than many exercisers realise. The wrong underwear can cause chafing, discomfort, and distraction during your workout, while the right choice supports your movement and keeps you feeling fresh. This guide covers everything active Australian women need to know about choosing performance underwear for various types of exercise.
Why Regular Underwear Doesn't Work for Exercise
Your everyday cotton underwear, comfortable as it may be for regular activities, falls short during intense physical activity. Cotton absorbs moisture and holds onto it, becoming heavy and damp against your skin. This retained moisture creates an environment for bacterial growth, increases friction, and can lead to chafing and irritation.
Additionally, underwear designed for everyday wear often lacks the secure fit needed for movement-intensive activities. Waistbands that work fine at your desk may shift and roll during squats. Leg openings that feel comfortable while walking may ride up during running. These small discomforts become major distractions during a workout.
Keep your workout underwear separate from your everyday underwear. Having dedicated performance pieces ensures you're always prepared for exercise and allows each piece to rest between uses.
Key Features of Performance Underwear
Moisture-Wicking Fabric
The most important feature of workout underwear is its ability to wick moisture away from your skin. Moisture-wicking fabrics are engineered to move perspiration from the skin surface to the outer layer of the fabric where it can evaporate. This keeps you drier and more comfortable throughout your workout.
Look for fabrics specifically marketed as moisture-wicking, quick-dry, or Dri-FIT (Nike's proprietary fabric). These are typically polyester or nylon-based with specialised treatments or weave patterns that enhance moisture management.
Anti-Chafe Construction
Chafing occurs when skin rubs against fabric or against itself repeatedly. Performance underwear addresses this through:
- Flat seams: Raised seams create friction points. Flatlock or bonded seams lie smooth against the skin.
- Strategic panel placement: Well-designed underwear positions seams away from high-friction areas.
- Smooth fabrics: The texture of the fabric itself affects chafe risk. Smoother surfaces reduce friction.
Secure Fit
Performance underwear stays in place during movement through:
- Wide, non-slip waistbands: Broader waistbands distribute pressure and resist rolling.
- Compression elements: Light compression keeps fabric close to the body without restricting movement.
- Bonded edges: Rather than elastic that can dig or ride up, bonded edges lie flat and stay put.
Key Takeaway
Good workout underwear combines moisture-wicking fabric, anti-chafe construction, and secure fit. All three elements work together to keep you comfortable during intense activity.
Best Styles for Different Activities
Running and High-Impact Cardio
Running demands underwear that absolutely won't shift, bunch, or create friction over repeated strides. For many runners, thongs or G-strings work best because there's minimal fabric to shift or bunch. The key is finding moisture-wicking versions with comfortable, secure waistbands.
If you prefer more coverage, look for seamless boyshort styles designed specifically for running. These should have flat seams at the leg openings and stay-put leg bands that won't ride up during your run.
Yoga and Pilates
These flexibility-focused activities require underwear that moves with you through every stretch and pose. Seamless thongs or G-strings work well because they remain invisible under tight yoga pants while avoiding the bunching issues that can occur with more coverage.
The lightweight nature of yoga also means you can prioritise comfort and invisibility over heavy-duty moisture management. Breathable microfibre works well for these lower-intensity activities.
Strength Training
Lifting weights involves diverse movements: squats, deadlifts, lunges, and more. Your underwear needs to stay in place through all of them. Thongs work well because there's no fabric to shift during deep squats. If you prefer more coverage, choose styles with compression elements that hold the fabric close to your body.
Consider the specific exercises you do most. Heavy squatting may work better with thongs, while upper body-focused workouts are more forgiving of different styles.
Cycling and Spinning
For cycling, many experts recommend going underwear-free in padded cycling shorts, as the shorts are designed to be worn directly against the skin. The padding provides cushioning, and adding underwear creates additional seams that can cause chafing during the repetitive pedalling motion.
If you prefer wearing underwear, choose seamless styles with flat seams and no lace or decorative elements that could create pressure points during your ride.
Always change out of sweaty workout underwear promptly after exercise. Wearing damp underwear for extended periods can lead to bacterial and yeast overgrowth.
Fabric Recommendations for Exercise
Best Choices
- Polyester blends: Excellent moisture-wicking and quick-dry properties. Most performance underwear uses polyester as the base fabric.
- Nylon blends: Smooth, lightweight, and quick-drying. Often combined with spandex for stretch.
- Performance microfibre: Ultra-fine synthetic fibres that are soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking.
- Merino wool: A natural option that wicks moisture and resists odour. More expensive but excellent for multi-day hiking or camping.
Fabrics to Avoid
- 100% cotton: Absorbs moisture and stays damp, leading to chafing and discomfort.
- Heavy lace: Can cause friction and doesn't manage moisture well.
- Satin or silk: While smooth, these fabrics don't handle moisture properly for intense exercise.
Care Tips for Performance Underwear
Performance fabrics require specific care to maintain their technical properties:
- Wash after every wear: Body oils and sweat can build up and reduce moisture-wicking effectiveness.
- Skip the fabric softener: Fabric softeners coat fibres and can reduce moisture-wicking capability.
- Cold water wash: Hot water can damage elastic and synthetic fibres.
- Air dry when possible: High dryer heat can damage technical fabrics and elastic.
- Avoid bleach: Bleach can break down synthetic fibres and damage colour.
Building Your Workout Underwear Collection
A practical collection for regular exercisers includes:
- 3-4 pairs of everyday workout underwear: Enough for a week of workouts with laundry in between.
- 1-2 pairs for specific activities: If you do activities with special requirements (like long-distance running or cycling), have dedicated options.
- 1 backup pair: Keep one at the gym or in your bag for emergencies.
Investing in proper workout underwear is investing in your exercise experience. When your undergarments work with your body rather than against it, you can focus fully on your fitness goals without distraction. For more guidance on finding comfortable styles, check out our comfort tips guide.