What To Wear To Spin Class

Disco lights flash and the beat drops as you move the pedals in time with the music. Your quads burn and you're glowing with sweat. 'Two Gears Up!' the instructor shouts - you're in for the climb.

We're in a spin class, of course, one of the most popular workout classes that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. A class that's been around since the 80s, but in recent years luxe and boutique studios have been catching onto the trend, hosting live DJs, interactive leaderboards, or turning the traditional lower body workout into a full body burner. But behind all the bright lights and pumping tunes, the concept is the same: A pedal-turning, heart-pumping, mood-elevating workout - once you get going, it's hard not to love it!

If you've been going to spin for a while, then you'll know how sweaty it can get. And finding what to wear… well, it can be a bit of a nightmare at times. But trust us when we say that having the right spin class outfit can make the difference between a good spin class and a great one.

So whether you're stepping up to your bike for the first time, or the 100th time, we've got the ultimate guide on spinning outfits so you know exactly what to wear to spin class.

No spin class? No problem: We'll bring the workout to you. Cycle your way through our spin class workouts, available on The Gymshark Training App.

Contents:

• What Is Spin Class?

• Women's Spin Class Outfits

• Men's Spin Class Outfits

• Spin Class Accessories

• What Are The Benefits Of Spin Class?

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What Is Spin Class?

Before we share all the deets of the best spinning outfits, let's first cover what spin is.

Spinning (also known as indoor cycling) is a low-impact, calorie-burning studio class, that will get your legs and heart pumping. Classes usually last 45 or 60 minutes, consisting of periods of heavy resistance hill climbs and fast sprint work, improving cardiovascular fitness, heart health, and muscular endurance.

Fitness benefits aside, spinning can be a lot of fun. And, in our (humble) opinion, it's one of the best mood boosters. Pedal along to a motivating playlist accompanied by immersive lighting and a motivating instructor - what more could you want from a workout?

Ready to climb? Hold on as we cover what to wear to spin class.

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The Best Spinning Outfits To Wear To Spin Class

Whether you're hitting up Psycle, Dynamo, or Soul Cycle, one thing's for sure: things are going to get sweaty, which is why you need to make sure you're wearing exactly the right spin class outfit.

Women's Spin Class Outfits

Listen up, ladies - from shorts and leggings to sports bras and tank tops we've got the very best spinning outfits ready to share.

Best Cycling Shorts For Spin Class

Personally, we get pretty hot as soon as we start turning the pedals - which is why cycling shorts are our go-to pants for spin. Our favs are:

Elevate Cycling Shorts

With a longer 8" leg, there's no chance of uncomfortable rubbing on the saddle or chafing between your thighs with the Elevate Cycling Shorts! Plus, the RLSE™️ fabric is sweat-wicking and breathable, keeping you cool even through the stickiest rides.

Sweat Seamless Shorts

Sweat Seamless Shorts are a conditioning favorite, thanks to its unique DYNMC™️ fabric that works hard to keep you cool during the sweatiest of sessions. The ribbed waistband means there's no chance of these shorts slipping down, providing ultimate comfort in the saddle. In a slightly shorter 5" length, they'll show off your toned quads whilst still providing enough protection for your thighs.

Best Leggings For Spin Class

If it's winter or you're just looking for a little more coverage, then you might opt for leggings for your spin class outfit. It's important to choose leggings with sweat-wicking fabrics to keep you cool and comfortable on the bike.

Vital Seamless 2.0 Leggings

They're a classic: You can't go wrong with the Vital Seamless Leggings. Tired of always pulling up your leggings when moving in and out of the saddle? Well, the Vitals are the gold standard of high-waisted leggings, featuring a thick ribbed waistband that means there's no sliding down. They hug you in all the right places to sculpt and support you - who said you couldn't look good and feel comfy during spin?

Sweat Seamless Leggings

We couldn't leave the Sweat Seamless Leggings off the list - just like the shorts, these leggings are one of the best for workouts that leave you dripping with sweat with breathable fabric that works to keep you cool. The 4-way-stretch fabric means you can move without restriction when peddling through the hardest climb.

Is It Better To Wear Shorts Or Leggings?

This is entirely up to you and what you feel comfortable in! Spinning can get really hot, so shorts provide a cooler option for indoor cycling. One thing to check if you do opt for shorts is the length: We don't recommend short-shorts for spin as the saddle can rub on your inner thighs causing chafe. Opting for longer cycling shorts, like the Elevate Cycling Shorts or Sweat Seamless Shorts, ensures you have enough coverage to protect your legs, whilst keeping you cool.

Leggings are a good option for your spin class outfit too, but you'll want to make sure you're choosing ones that have suitable sweat-wicking fabric. We also love high-waisted leggings for spin that won't fall down while you ride.

Best Tops For Spin Class

For our spin class outfit, we like to opt for a tank top that leaves our arms free, or an oversized t-shirt that we can throw on over the top of a sports bra. Our top choices are:

Sweat Seamless Midi Tank

The tank is the perfect pairing with your Sweat Seamless Shorts or Leggings. Featuring the same DYNMC™️ fabric as the rest of the Sweat Seamless family, this sleeveless tank gives your arms full freedom of movement, whilst the fabric hugs in all the right places. The oval cutout at the back not only looks great but makes this top even more breathable.

Training Oversized T-shirt

The Training Oversized T-shirt is a gym class staple - especially when we're heading to spin! Offering effortless styling potential; you really can't go wrong with throwing the Training Oversized T-shirt over your spin class outfit. The soft fabric and loose fit make it the ideal pump cover to wear to the gym and during your warm up. When you get too warm, take it off and drape it over the handlebars.

Looking for oversized t-shirt styling tips? Read our Styling Tips.

Best Sports Bras For Spin Class

What to wear to spin class wouldn't be complete without the sports bra. Spinning may be low impact, but there's a fair bit of movement involved, so we need to choose wisely here. Opting for a medium-support sports bra will ensure your boobs are kept supported and in place with every bounce, whilst not feeling restrictive and too compressive.

Ruched Sports Bra

We love the flattering scrunched front on this medium-support sports bra, and the criss-cross back features adjustable straps so you can adjust it for the perfect fit. The stay-put underband means this sports bra isn't going anywhere - even during the sweatiest of cycles.

Strap Feature Sports Bra

Prefer a slightly more classic design? The Strap Feature Sports Bra features lightweight, breathable fabric with comfortable cups and supportive straps to minimize bounce. The sleek design with a cute double-strap back feature means it will go with any and all of your fav' high-waisted cycling shorts.

Did you know that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra? Check out our Sports Bra Sizing Guide to make sure you aren't one of them.

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Men's Spin Class Outfits

One thing you should know about spin class is that it's absolutely not just for women. Whilst women have traditionally outnumbered men in spinning classes, the number of men attending spin is growing.

So if you're looking to head to your first spin class (or maybe you're a regular already), then you'll want to make sure you're wearing the right gear to keep you cool and comfortable, whilst minimizing sweat. We've put together a guide on what to wear to spin class - men's edition.

Best T-shirts For Spin Class

Spinning gets sweaty pretty quickly, which is why our Moisture-Wicking T-Shirts are a must-have for your spin class outfit. With sweat-wicking tech, lightweight fabric, along with stylish designs, you'll be able to push to your limits whilst keeping cool and not having to worry about smell or sweat patches!

Our best moisture wicking t-shirts are:

Arrival T-Shirt

The Arrival T-Shirt is one of our signature sweat-wicking fits. It's lightweight but breathable, with a no-fuss design in a trusted silhouette built to boost performance and keep you cool.

Apex Seamless T-shirt

With a premium feel and ventilated BRZE™️ design, the Apex Seamless T-Shirt is the ideal t-shirt to wear for spin. Plus, with enhanced anti-odor ESNCE™️ and bacteria-removing Ionic+® technology, you'll be comfortable through even the sweatiest of rides.

Best Shorts For Spin Class

Things are about to get hot, so we're going to need some 5-inch shorts for the bottom half. Short enough to show off your quads (which will start to pack some serious size and shape on them after a few spin classes), with enough flexibility to ensure you aren't restricted. That being said, you want to feel comfortable and secure when cycling, so don't forget to get some Base Layer shorts to pop on underneath!

Arrival 5" Shorts

A classic, know-what-you're-getting type of sweat short: The Arrival 5" Shorts are one of our more versatile products, as suitable for sweating in the spin studio as they are for running outdoors in the summer months. Lightweight, sweat-wicking tech, finished with an embossed logo - what else could you want?

Apex 5" Hybrid Short

If you're styling your Apex Seamless T-Shirt on your top half, then completing your outfit with the Apex 5" Hybrid Shorts is a no-brainer. Not only are they designed to keep you cool, but with 4-way stretch and side splits you'll have full freedom of movement to put full power into your peddling.

Element Base Layer Shorts

These ultra-tight compression shorts fit like a second skin, allowing you to focus fully on performing your best. No uncomfortable rubbing on the spin bike saddle; these Element Base Layer Shorts will provide ultimate comfort and keep you cool thanks to sweat-wicking technology.

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Spin Class Accessories To Match Your Indoor Cycling Outfit

So your spin class outfit's on-point, but don't forget these all-important accessories, too! Pop them in your gym bag and you're pretty much set to go:

Sweat Towel

One thing we couldn't recommend more to go with your spin class outfit is a Sweat Towel! As mentioned, things get hot pretty quickly, and there's nothing worse than sweat dripping down your skin (or worse, in your eye, especially if you're hitting spin class after work and still have your makeup on…). Drape this microfibre Sweat Towel over your handlebars and use it when things start to heat up.

Water Bottle

Ok, we know this one sounds pretty obvious, but when you're spinning there are a couple more requirements from the water bottle side of things. Firstly, you want a water bottle that fits easily into the bottle holder on your bike, and secondly, you want one that's easy to take a quick swig of water from when you're in the middle of class. Our classic Sports Bottle has a flip lock lid that's easy to open and drink from when you're in need of some hydration mid-class.

What Shoes Should I Wear To Spin?

You may have seen some people wearing spin shoes that clip into the pedals of their bikes. If you're lucky enough, your studio may even lend you a pair of indoor cycling shoes, and have them ready and waiting for you on your bike!

Whilst spin shoes aren't essential, they can be a game changer, and if you've been spinning for a while you may want to consider investing in a pair. They feel smoother to ride with and engage your hamstrings more, as they fire up the back of your legs to help in pulling the pedals on the up-stroke. Plus, they help you transfer more power from your pedal stroke into the bike - top of the leaderboard you go!

That being said, you do not need to have spin shoes to do a spin class. If you're new to spinning, wear your normal gym trainers (preferably ones with a flat shoe, rather than running sneakers), that can easily slip into the adjustable straps on the pedals.

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What Are The Benefits Of Spin Class?

So you're dressed for spin, but before we head into class, let's just remind ourselves of the benefits of spinning and why you're here in the first place:

1. Easy on the joints: Spinning is a low-impact exercise, meaning you are less likely to suffer from hip, knee, or ankle injuries associated with other types of cardio (such as running). This makes it great for those with joint issues, people recovering from injuries, and older adults.

2. Mood booster: Spinning is the ultimate endorphin releaser, not only because it elevates your heart rate and gets a sweat on, but there's often a great playlist and a motivating instructor to maximize the happy hormones. If you've had a long, stressful day at work, there is no better remedy!

3. Burns calories: Spinning is an excellent form of high-intensity interval training, that mixes heavy resistance work with faster-paced sprints. This makes it an excellent calorie burner, not only during the class but in the hours following it too.

4. Improves strength: Thought you could only build strength on the squat rack? Think again. Spinning will work your hamstrings, glutes, quads, and core, particularly during those slow, heavy hill climbs. Some classes also focus on building arm strength, and incorporating dumbbells into the workout.

5. Builds community: Working out with your headphones on in the gym is pretty isolating, especially for the extroverts among us! Group exercise classes like spinning are a great way to meet like-minded people striving for the same goal, meaning you'll feel more motivated to come back the next week and stick to your goals in the long run.

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Now you've sorted what to wear to spin class it's time to hop in the saddle and put that outfit to the test!

Still wanting more? Add all these items to your wishlist and keep up with our latest product drops over on the Gymshark App.

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WRITTEN BY: Alex Kirkup-Lee

Alex is an inhouse Content Writer for Gymshark's Health & Conditioning categories. A qualified Personal Trainer, CrossFit Level 1 and Functional Fitness Coach, Alex is experienced in training clients from a range of sporting backgrounds. With a passion for functional training, her favorite workout is anything that includes deadlifts, rowing, or wallballs.

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