5 Life Hacks for Your Athletic Wear: Tips and Tricks for Improving Your Athletic Gear Right Now!

At the outset, let me state that I am the undisputed king of the consignment industry. One who stalks secondhand shops. You won’t catch me complaining if someone hands me their old pair of dope boots to wear. For two dollars, I will gladly purchase a jacket and cut off the sleeves to create the perfect vest. I enjoy learning about new things and figuring out how they work. Whenever possible, I try to give things my own unique twist.

Secondhand athletic wear, especially snug-fitting pieces, often wear out quickly. Plus, no matter how many times you shampoo them, someone’s sweaty stretch pants will always have a slight odour. I’m a cheapskate who likes to cross-train; how can I afford to buy separate gear for each sport I participate in?

I’ve rethought how to get the most wear out of my costly gym clothes throughout the years, slicing off legs, rethinking arms, stitching remnants, sporting hand-me-downs, turning things inside-out and upside-down, and generally making a fashion statement. Since running and bicycling are my mainstays, I may be a little biased in favour of their hackability; but, I think you will find that some of these ideas (or general frame of mind) will adapt to a number of physical endeavours. What follows is a list of some of my personal favourites.

My husband relishes every opportunity he has to get out on his bike. Your trip with your more affluent friends has arrived. Giving away my used clothing and equipment to others who will put it to better use has always paid dividends for me. Please feel free to give me your unwanted tank top that “simply doesn’t fit well in the tummy,” your x-small men’s slacks, or your old, out-of-style layer.

I appreciate and accept them for what they are, and I’ll figure out what to do with them in due time. In order to avoid being constrained by my clothing or getting unsightly farmer tan lines, I will sometimes cut the sleeves off of an old cycling jersey to make a tank top. Personally, I find that this is the most flattering and comfortable way to wear a “larger” men’s jersey. If the shoulder cutout is too low, I’ll put a bright sports bra or a lightweight tank top underneath.

I would be lost without my trusty pair of scissors for giving my outgrown gym clothes a second chance at life. To use the most stringent definition possible. Former tenants left behind a pair of razor-sharp scissors. I use the granddaddy of scissors to trim off extra material, which I then turn into headbands, sweat rags, and other bizarre accessories for my outdoor adventures. Somewhere in a stack of dark pants, I discovered a pair of Lucy Yoga Pants from the early 2000s.

They were well-made and comfortable but always seemed to be one size too big despite the high price tag. They kept disappearing into the cavernous depths of the camping equipment closet. I felt energised by the challenge of reimagining them, so I did it right now. I’ve been looking for a good pair of straight-leg, above-the-knee mountain bike shorts to wear over my old cushioned liners. I slashed off the legs of the flared pants, stuffed them into the spandex I no longer wanted to wear on the outside, and they fit perfectly, saving me a tonne of cash. A chic new garment was created.

Another reason I’m so into recycling is that I really dislike doing laundry. A number of options and layers that I may construct for a bike ride, run, swim, or snowboard vacation in varied Colorado weather conditions are preferable to worrying if my $90 Lululemon leggings (yeah, I buy the Kool-Aid every few years) are in the filthy bin. Even though I only get to wear my most comfortable go-to’s on special occasions, I get a lot of use out of them since they feel like such a special treat when I do. I’ve found some novel applications for the following:

To protect my high-priced swim goggles from being broken in my gym bag, I’ve been keeping them in a used hard-plastic sunglass case.

Practising hot yoga while wearing a Prana Swimming Suit, namely the padded halter top style. Why not? I don’t think so.

I use my Manduka eQua microfiber, odour-neutralising yoga towel to dry off in the pool during my free time. Word on the street has it that it can double as a “shawl” for zen practice. Consider it even more highly.

I used a metal cutter to remove the strange attachment rings from my favourite pair of well-fitting bikini bottoms. Then I used the fabric ties from my swimsuit to cinch the side panels even tighter.

I can almost see myself wearing a pair of Gaiam’s organic cotton Flow full-length leggings under my snowboarding trousers as a pair of skivvies. I’ve been using the same pair of fleece “floods” for almost a decade now. Personally, I think it’s high time.

One of the best things about mountain riding is the creative freedom it affords riders. It’s true that anything goes in modern society. Possibly to differentiate themselves from the spandex-clad road riders, mountain bikers are increasingly adopting longer, more generously cut pocket shorts. Now, socks are also worn to the point where they touch the shin.

To add my own personal touch, I put on a pair of knee-highs from the “tweener” area of Target, which is both silly and stupidly cheap. I offer them in a wide range of bright colours and patterns, such as pink and blue stripes and heart-shaped polka dots. Cotton is old school and doesn’t wick moisture, which is a faux pas, but they fulfil their purpose by keeping my calves warm on cool fall days, acting as mudguards on a particularly awful course, and starting the conversation. Some of them I wear whole, while others I snip off at the feet and wear as a chic and versatile pair of leg warmers.

It’s entertaining for me to dig through trash piles for useful scraps of fabric. When I go to the fabric store, the first place I look for intriguing and unique stretchable fabrics is in the remnants bin. In that case, I’ll keep my eyes peeled for sales on bolts of athletic fabric. Make your own one-of-a-kind “buff” (you know, those $20 headbands that double as neck gaiters and sweat rags) by purchasing a quarter of a yard (the cutting women will love you).

Find a fabric that doesn’t fray when trimmed (most stretchy varieties do) and cut a long, broad rectangle that tapers near the end for convenient tying; this will save you the trouble of having to sew the buff. Each and every colour and design imaginable is represented in my vast collection of them. In addition, I have ten buffs, so I can wash them all at once instead of worrying about losing one.