After hours of training and preparation, the last thing you want to find is that your running gear is holding back your performance. For the faster sprints and longer marathons, having the right training gear can make or break the ride. Sure, it's nice to have the newest men's gym shirts that feature trending colours, but for optimal performance, you need to be searching for apparel that enhances your running. Brands like A-Game are known for their performance-enhancing gear, so when you’re shopping for your running gear, what type of features should you be looking for?
In this blog, we will share the crucial features that your running gear has, and why it’s so important for optimal performance and precision. Take a look at the following:
Sweat-wicking
You don’t notice it until it becomes a problem, but once your shirt starts clinging and your skin’s soaked, there’s no ignoring it. Sweating is part of running, sure, but sitting in wet fabric for five, ten, fifteen kilometres? That’s not just uncomfortable, it messes with your focus. That’s why the fabric matters. The best stuff wicks the sweat away almost as fast as it shows up. You stay dry, or at least drier, and suddenly your long run doesn’t feel like a slow bake under a heat lamp. It’s a game-changer, and it’s something you only really appreciate once you’ve worn the wrong gear.
Lightweight composition
Here’s the thing. If your shirt feels heavy when you pick it up, it’s going to feel worse ten minutes into a run. Good running gear shouldn’t make itself known. It should feel like air, move like it’s not there, and stay out of your way. The moment you start tugging at a seam or adjusting a sleeve, the flow’s gone. That’s what makes lightweight fabric so important. It lets you keep your rhythm. Whether it’s a short 5K or an hour-long tempo session, your gear should be helping you move, not reminding you that it’s there.
Reflective features
Running early or late is often the only time that fits. But those golden-hour runs come with a trade-off: visibility. It’s easy to forget how invisible you are to passing cars until one doesn’t see you. Reflective strips, even small ones, make a difference. They don’t have to scream high-vis either. A sleek line on the back, some shine on the sleeves. Subtle, but smart. If you’re serious about running, being seen should matter just as much as pace or distance.
Phone storage
Most runners don’t want to hold anything, especially not a phone bouncing around with every step. But leaving it behind isn’t always an option. Whether it’s for music, maps, or just peace of mind, you need somewhere to put it. Not just any pocket, though. A proper one. It needs to stay put, not swing or dig in. Some shirts and shorts get it right with little side compartments or internal sleeves that almost hug the phone in place. Once you find gear that handles this well, it’s hard to go back to anything else.
Bottom line
Great running gear isn’t about looking good on the start line. It’s about how it feels at kilometre seven when the sun’s in your face, your legs are aching, and all the distractions are starting to pile up. That’s when the right fabric, fit, and features really matter. And if your gear helps you focus on the run instead of fussing with it the whole way? Then you’ve found the good stuff.
