Okay, GREAT!
So you are looking to take up a new fitness hobby in the way of spinning!
But you’ve never been to a spin class, so what is considered spin class attire and what should you wear for spinning?!
First…
What should you NOT wear to spin class?
There probably isn’t anything that falls under the category of what you should absolutely not wear to spin class that you might be thinking of wearing.
So, don’t be too worried about that.
If you show up for indoor cycling and look around at everyone else and get intimidated because everyone else seems to be decked out in spin clothes like their super experienced spin class masters… don’t feel intimidated!
Remember…
First, they probably are super experienced spin class masters! 😉 Well, maybe not all of them, but a lot of them probably do have a few weeks or months under their belt.
Second… they were all in the very position you were! They also once had that very same experience as you of showing up to their very first spin class!
So, if you think that you scream beginner because of the way you look when you show up… it’s not really something to feel so bad about!
Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!
Okay, but what can you wear to spin class that will make you feel a little less like a complete beginner?
If you’re completely new to spinning, you may not want to go all out in buying clothes or spinning gear specific to spin class.
The reality is that you just don’t know if it’s something that you’ll like.
You may like the idea of spin class, but what if you don’t like this whole indoor cycling thing after trying it out a few times?
So while there are a couple of things that you can get to maximize your spinning experience (more on that later), first up just think more along the lines of what to wear to the gym for working out.
Whether or not you continue long term with spin class or not, hopefully you will continue working out in some way! So no matter what, you’ll be able to make use of the workout clothes that aren’t specifically cycling attire.
Here’s the quick list of things you may want to take a look at for what to wear to spin class!
- Moisture-wicking shirt – like these or like these
- Shorts or yoga pants – like these for women or like these for men
- Performance socks – like these
- Padded cycling shorts – like these for women or like these for men
- Bike seat cushion – like this
- Cycling shoes – like these
And then take a look at these types of water bottles to take with you too! (What you should never arrive to spin class without!)
And for the rest of the day, these types of water bottles are super popular because of their ability to keep cold drinks cold for a long time. It’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day so you’ll be ready for that intense spinning!
1. Moisture-wicking shirt
Again, if you’re not interested in investing money in clothes before your first spin class, then it would be just fine to wear that old gym shirt you have!
But if you are looking for something as you continue your healthier lifestyle that can keep you more comfortable when working out, it can be a good idea to go for a moisture-wicking shirt, or shirts made of material designed to wick away moisture.
In this case, the moisture that this type of performance shirt would help to wick away is moisture on your skin – sweat!
- For women, have a look at some of these and some of these
- For men, have a look at some of these and some of these
2. Longer length shorts
It’s likely best to avoid wearing short shorts for spinning because if you do, the bike seat can rub directly against the skin of your inner thighs. Not only can that be uncomfortable during spin class, but you might still feel the effects after spinning too.
And that’s a real quick way to end up hating spin class and never going again!
These kinds of shorts you can wear for a variety of workouts, and not just spinning:
- For women, have a look at capris or tights like these or longer length of shorts like these
- For men, have a look at shorts like these
3. Performance socks
These types of socks act in kind of a similar way to the moisture-wicking shirts.
They do what they can to make it so that sweat won’t become a big issue. Of course, socks on your feet don’t have as much open-air as a shirt on your upper body, but performance socks can minimize that effect of sweat.
So no matter what, it can be a good idea to wear performance socks like some of these when working out.
4. Padding for your butt
Now, here are a couple of cycling-specific things that you may consider once you’ve decided that spin class is for you!
One of the biggest complaints for going to spin class is the hard bike seats and the pain that causes to your butt after (and maybe even during) spinning.
You may be able to get through your first spin class just fine, but once you decide to go spinning on a regular basis, that’s when you might want to consider getting in a little bit of extra cushioning between your bike seat and your butt.
And that’s what cycling shorts are for! Cycling-specific shorts are padded for this purpose.
- For women, take a look at these types of shorts
- For men, take a look at these types of shorts
You may not see so many people bringing in a bike seat cushion to spin class, but it is an option if you don’t want to wear the padded shorts but still want to get that extra comfort!
- Take a look at this bike seat cushion!
5. Cycling shoes
Bike specific shoes will probably be one of the last investments you make when it comes to what to wear for spinning.
Since you can only wear cycling shoes for one purpose – biking! – you’ll probably want to make sure you’re committed to taking a series of spinning classes before you decide to invest in bike shoes.
But, do you even need cycling shoes?
With these types of shoes, you clip them onto your bike, which basically secures and locks your feet in position so they can’t move. This allows you to spin more efficiently.
Here are cycling shoes to take a look to wear for spinning:
- For women, take a look at these
- For men, take a look at these
They are also called clipless bike shoes. This might seem confusing since you are basically clipping your shoes onto the pedals.
But the clipless term seems to have originated from going from toe clips to bike shoes.
If you take a look at the picture of this spin bike here, you’ll see that they come with toe clips.
Most spin bikes will have these toe clips or toe cages, and by using the bike shoes instead, you no longer need these toe clips! So in this sense, you are going clipless!
Last thing… What you should NEVER show up for spin class without!
WATER!!!
It doesn’t really matter what type of water bottle you take, just make sure you take one! For a one-hour spin class, it will be important to take a sip of water a few times throughout your cycling session to stay well-hydrated and SAFE!
Well actually, the type of water bottle you take doesn’t matter only to a point! These types of water bottles are popular in everyday life because of the maximum insulation they provide, but many of the sizes won’t fit in the water bottle holder on the bike.
Instead, if you’re looking for an insulated water bottle that will most likely fit in your spin bike’s water bottle holder, have a look at some of these types of water bottles that are designed to keep your water colder than the average water bottles.
HAPPY SPINNING!
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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel:
- walking sandals:
I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
see more:
- What to wear hiking
- What to wear snorkeling