10 Best Active Underwear for Women

Are you active? Good for you! Are you a runner, a boxer, a yoga addict or a cross fitter? Do you go to the gym at least twice a week? If you work hard to keep your body in shape, then keep on reading.

As one of the most personal pieces of clothing, active underwear can’t be tried on — making it complicated for you to see if it’s a good fit or not. You can only make your decision based on friend’s recommendations, brands you know and trust, the type of materials, and aesthetic criteria such as colors or fit. Lastly, the price will be your last indicator.

Choosing the right active underwear requires a bit of research, but we’ve done the work for you. First, when you practice a sport, you need comfortable activewear which will absorb sweat and keep your body warm — or regulate your temperature if you go outside. You also need underwear that has good elasticity. So what types of activities do you need active underwear for? Which materials are good? How do you balance sexiness and sport performance? Let’s explore.

Active Underwear by Sport Type

Yoga: A sought-after practice across the world, yoga — which has 14 different types — has numerous benefits from improving your flexibility to clarifying your mind. Whatever your intentions are — and preferences for either the sweaty Ashtanga or Vinyasa yoga to more relaxing, calming Yin or restorative yoga — you will need comfortable, light, and absorbing underwear. Yoga wear is utterly sexy and you need the right panties to go along with your yoga pants. Find invisible tight-fitting undies that stay unseen underneath your yoga pants.

Running: Did you know that running makes women more attractive? A study also showcased that after a 9-month period, runners reported having greater sex with their partner. Running has great benefits as it increases bone mineral density. A perfect running attire requires a good pair of pants or shorts, good sneakers, and the right active underwear. As you run, you need to prevent your body to be cold. High-waist underwear may also keep your back in place when jogging. Choose anti-microbial and odor-resistant undies to go running.

Boxing: As a sport, boxing requires athletic prowess. The required attributes of boxing encompass power, strength, eye coordination, and endurance. For those of you who love boxing workouts, find underwear that stays in place and keeps moisture away. For high-intensity sports such as boxing, find underwear made of breathable materials like mesh and with a comfortable shape to maintain and support your body in your active moves.

Cycling: Riding a bike is a fun exercise which has countless health benefits such as decreasing stress levels and protecting you against various diseases from cancers to strokes. Cycling is also accessible to everyone — no matter how old you are.

For cycling, go for padded cycling shorts if you practice long hours. Go for a quick dry and lightweight underwear that fits your cycling pants.

Rock climbing: If you fancy rock-climbing and wish to prepare yourself for the Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya or Rinjani in Indonesia, then you need the right outfit and underwear.

Go for underwear that provides support and comfort without squeezing you while you work out. Prefer materials that keep the sweat away and dry easily and thermo-regulate your temperatures as temperature may change from one climb to another such as mesh or nylon.

CrossFit: Popping up around the world as its popularity increases, CrossFit is a form of high-intensity power fitness (HIPT). The benefits of CrossFit include improving agility, performance, and flexibility. Many may wonder if this sport is safe as it requires to lift some weights. If you work alongside a trained fitness professional, then CrossFit is for you.

To choose your best underwear for a good session, go for undies that stay put so you don’t have to keep adjusting them.

Dancing: Choosing the right dance undergarments is important if you practice dance regularly — or if you are a professional dancer.

Will it be classical or contemporary dances or more explorative types of dance from Balinese to Afro? Select a hidden, high quality and appropriately supportive dance underwear. To keep you fresh and cool, pick up breathable materials and go for nude underwear to keep a discreet look.

Best Materials For Performance Underwear

Depending on where you live and exercise, whether it’d be outdoor or indoor, and the types of workouts you will go for, you need to choose the right materials for your active underwear.

For example, if you actively workout in Montreal in the summertime, then you won’t need the same materials as if you were planning to hike in the countryside somewhere in Asia. Here are some of the most common materials and fabrics for your active underwear:

Wool: An all-purpose fabric, wool is good for hiking, running, or backpacking.

Pros: Wool has some perfect properties. It wicks moisturize easily, repels odors and thermo-regulates your body temperature, making it a good selection for outdoor activities. On top of it, wool is very comfortable and provides support, plus dries very fast.

Cons: Wool doesn’t last as long as cotton or nylon.

Nylon: A synthetic fabric that’s been around over a hundred years, nylon is popular for active underwear.

Pros: Lightweight, nylon can match your body shape perfectly and keep the body free of moisture. Plus, nylon has a heightened level of comfort and breathability, making it one of the best fabrics for active sportswear, especially cycling and running, and is also known for its great elasticity.

Cons: Nylon has a limited life span.

Spandex: Almost 60 years old, spandex has been famous since Olivia wore them in “Grease” (1978). A synthetic fabric which is also known as Lycra or Elastane worldwide, spandex was first used to replace rubber.

Pros: Spandex fabric provides excellent stretch and is form fitting, making it an ideal material for sports like boxing or rock climbing that requires extreme movements. Spandex is also water resistant and antimicrobial providing the best protection for intense outdoor activities. Finally, Spandex comes in a variety of shapes and colors and can stay fit after many uses.

Cons: Spandex fabric is quite sticky, and doesn’t allow the body to breathe that easily.

Cotton: Versatile, cotton is a natural fabric that is widespread and has multi purposes.

Pros: A favorite and perfect everyday fabric, cotton keeps your body free of moisture and provides smooth comfort while protecting you against temperature changes. Furthermore, cotton insulates and is hypoallergenic, being a good material for sensitive skin.

Cons: The biggest drawback of cotton fabric is that it absorbs moisture, making it not so great choice for an intensive, active workout. Choose cotton fabric if you practice a sport that is more gentle such as Yin yoga.

Environmentally-friendly fabrics: you may wonder what are the most environmentally-friendly fabrics for your workouts? Go for materials that are naturally breathable such as plant-based materials or organic cotton.

Find Your Shape! 

Whenever you work out, you can select between different shapes for your underwear. For dancing, you can go for a discreet thong and for cycling, select a comfier but less sexy shape.

Here are the most common shapes for active underwear:

Classic briefs: Timeless and popular, classic briefs bring the right level of support and protection and are ideal for any situation. If you seek a moderate amount of coverage, this shape is the best! Classic briefs are great for practical workouts such as running, walking, or going to the gym.

Hipsters: A favorite of dancers and gymnasts, hipsters underwear provides security while allowing flexibility in the moves you make. Providing full coverage but leaving the waist free, hipsters underwear leave enough space for another garment. I’m a big fan of hipsters underwear since they cover well and leave the waist free to make graceful moves.

Bikinis: One of the most famous underwear shapes in the world, bikinis feature a narrower side seam and a shorter rise and is perfect if you are after a minimalist — yet covering enough — underwear. Bikinis are comfortable and easy to find throughout many stores as they are very popular.

Boyshorts: cozy and comfy, boyshorts protect the lower tummy and keep your butt looking nice. Not every girl loves thongs, so boyshorts are a good compromise between elegance and a bit of glamour without sacrificing comfort and style. Boyshorts are good for girls looking for intense, rewarding gym workouts.

Thongs: The sexiest and most discreet of all active underwear, thongs are a good choice for yoga or dancing, or whenever you need thin and light materials over your skin. They come in a variety of colors but choose a nude or black thong depending on the color of activewear (pants or shorts).

Shorties: Provide the largest security and coverage and are a good choice if you go cycling or running outside, or even if you do baseball or basketball. If you want the maximum comfort and support, then shorties are for you. While not very sexy, they are the most comfortable.

High waisted underwear: Preserve the elegance of your shape. High waisted underwear also provides good comfort for your back, making it a great choice. Although slightly less elegant than a thong, high-waisted underwear balances between sexiness and comfort in the best possible way.

Final Tips to Choose Your Active Underwear

Decide what to wear according to the type of sport you practice and the season.

Pick up a variety of shapes, colors, and brands.

Always choose underwear from well-known brands to ensure there are no added chemicals that may damage your skin.

If you have sensitive skin, please choose hypo-allergenic materials.

Don’t wash your underwear at high temperatures, especially for nylon or lycra as you may damage the material.

Don’t wear a shortie with a yoga pant and don’t wear a thong if you go hiking.

Male underwear won’t fit you! So don’t steal your boyfriend’s super cool active underwear.

If you want to order online, look for your right sizes from XS to XL. Choose the best size according to your weight and body length.

Take care of your underwear and preserve them in a dry environment after washing them.

When going to a public laundry, ensure you don’t forget your underwear in the machine.