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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Words: Sarah Phillips. Portraits: Fabio De Paola

Stretchy, supportive and completely chafe-free: the sportswear real people swear by

Zumba dancers (from left) Zumba dancers Lucy Law, Amy Smith and Sally Gulliford at a class in Bristol
Lucy Law, Amy Smith and Sally Gulliford at a Zumba class in Bristol. Photograph: Fabio De Paola/The Guardian

What is the perfect sports kit? That is the question we set out to answer, talking to sport and fitness enthusiasts all over the country. From Zumba dancers in Bristol to marathon runners in Leeds and gym bunnies in Thurrock, we asked different groups for the activewear they swear by and why it works for them.

Sea swimmers in Felixstowe had conflicting views about wetsuits, but all swore by brightly coloured tow floats and swim caps. Boxers in east London were united on the best kind of glove, but had different takes on clothing choices. Cyclists in the Wirral had differing levels of bike-collecting addiction, but agreed on the benefits of being Mamil (middle-aged men in Lycra).

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