Getting started 2/2. Technical clothing to start running

In this article, athlete Jaume Albaráñez shares a series of recommendations for choosing technical clothing to start running. In a previous article, he explained the aspects to consider when choosing running shoes to get started in the world of running.

For anyone who’s been running for a while, choosing technical clothing is easy. But when you’re just starting out, it’s not so easy to know what you need to consider to get your technical kit right.

Runner and fitness coach Jaume Albaráñez helps you understand what to look for when choosing technical clothing to start running.

Technical clothing to start running: comfort as the first rule

Having a clear idea of the technical clothing you need to get started in running may seem like a very complex topic—one that requires a “PhD”—but it doesn’t.

To start, I’d like to make it clear that for someone taking their first steps in running (or any sport), a fundamental rule when choosing gear should be “comfort”. Anything you use for running has to feel comfortable, especially when you’re new to running and need to get used to many new things.

Comfort should be the main requirement when choosing the technical clothing you use for running. Technical clothing to start running isn’t complicated: a technical T-shirt, shorts or a skirt, and socks are the basics. You could also add sunglasses as essential protection for running outdoors.

A lightweight, breathable, quick-drying technical T-shirt

Will any T-shirt do when you’re starting to run? In theory, yes, but it’s best to choose a technical fabric T-shirt with three features:

• Lightweight.
• Breathability.
• Quick-drying.

Until the 1980s, running T-shirts were made of cotton. But with the arrival of technical polyester fabrics, most sports brands stopped using cotton. The main drawback of cotton T-shirts is that they get wet quickly with sweat and become heavier because the sweat doesn’t dissipate.

Technical polyester fabric offers breathability that cotton doesn’t. And breathability (the ability of a textile material to let water vapour pass through it) is a very important feature for any garment used for running; at rest, the human body produces about 0.75 L of water per day as vapour, but when we do an intense activity like running, that figure shoots up.

In addition, technology makes it possible to apply treatments to polyester to help disperse moisture and speed up drying. That’s the case with 42K technical T-shirts, which feature the Dry-Tec+ treatment.

The DryTec+ treatment directly improves the garments’ breathability. This technology manages the moisture produced by the body, enabling rapid wicking to the outside and fast evaporation.

Using a technical T-shirt that ensures good breathability and quick drying is very important when running, especially when the activity—whether a training session or a race—lasts a long time.

Something many people don’t realise when they start running is that choosing the wrong T-shirt can end up causing an unpleasant and painful experience if it leads to chafing (skin irritation caused by friction with the fabric, seams, labels, etc.). It’s rare to find a runner who hasn’t suffered chafing at some point—and it’s not something you forget when it happens during a race and you have no choice but to grit your teeth until you reach the finish line.

Tips to prevent annoying chafing

To minimise the risk of chafing, you need to wear suitable technical garments because, in addition to providing comfort during sport, they’re designed to prevent rubbing or discomfort that can lead to dreaded chafing. As a first step, it’s very important that they’re made from lightweight fabrics that guarantee good breathability.

For T-shirts, you should also make sure they meet these features:

• Softness treatment. Today, technology makes it possible to enhance the softness and lightness (and therefore comfort) of technical fabrics. 42K T-shirts are made from technical fabrics that have received the SoftLight treatment, a process in which the fabric fibres are modified to eliminate any possibility of abrasion, resulting in a very soft, pleasant feel against the skin.
• Flat seams. Seams are often one of the main sources of rubbing, and to avoid this there are flat seams (also used, for example, in underwear), which 42K uses in most of its running T-shirts.
• Anti-chafe collar. To prevent chafing from the T-shirt collar—especially at the back—42K uses a seam-covering tape on the inside back of the collar.
• Printed label. At 42K, sewn-in labels were removed a long time ago and replaced with printed labels to avoid chafing or discomfort.
• Zip garage. If the T-shirt has a zip, it’s highly recommended that it has a zip garage at the top to prevent the zip, when fully closed, from rubbing against the neck.
• Avoid garments that are too tight or too loose. It’s not good for a T-shirt to be tight (unless it’s a compression garment), but it’s also not advisable for it to be very loose. Tight, because if any part of the T-shirt rubs excessively it can cause discomfort and, of course, chafing; loose, because an overly loose garment will shift with movement and will also end up causing discomfort.

Well-fitted socks made specifically for running

Socks are another important part of choosing technical clothing to start running. It’s common to think that any sports sock will do for running, but that’s not the case. Inadequate socks (even if they’re sports socks) can cause problems, especially if you run regularly or do high-intensity or high-mileage training.

It’s no joke (and I’m speaking from experience): choosing the wrong socks is almost a sure guarantee of irritation, chafing, or even blisters. Feet are one of the body parts that anyone who wants to enjoy running needs to take the most care of, which is why choosing the right socks is a key part of technical clothing to start running.

 

Technical running socks are made with synthetic fibres (polyester, lycra, nylon, spandex…) that ensure good moisture wicking. I don’t recommend cotton socks because, as with T-shirts, they retain sweat; nor is it advisable to run in merino wool socks (a material used for winter cycling socks) because while they do insulate from the cold, they don’t offer good breathability or sweat drainage.

What should we look for when choosing running socks? When choosing running socks, you should consider the following aspects:

• Support and a good fit. Socks need to hold the foot well to prevent slipping and they can’t be too big. Socks that are too big will create wrinkles that can cause rubbing.
• Cushioning and reinforcements. It’s advisable to have cushioning in the metatarsal area and reinforcements in the toe and heel, as these are the areas with the most friction and wear.
• Breathable mesh zones. The goal is to keep your feet dry, so it’s very important to have mesh zones that help wick moisture and drain sweat.

Ingravity, Etna and Makalu: 42K’s technical running socks

At 42K, there are three exclusive sock models for running: Ingravity, Etna and Makalu.

Ingravity 42K technical socks are made with VAPORFEEL PURE®, a high-quality material with bactericidal action that stands out for its abrasion resistance and keeps feet dry during physical activity by transporting moisture to the outside. In addition to being thermoregulating and quick-drying, VAPORFEEL PURE® eliminates 100% of skin bacteria thanks to its bactericidal action. This bactericidal action prevents discomfort and bad odours that bacteria and fungi can cause.

Etna technical socks guarantee a high level of comfort for running at any time of year thanks to their excellent moisture absorption and breathability properties. They’re made with the Meryl® Skinlife system and chitin yarn. The Meryl® Skinlife system is ideal for any type of clothing that comes into direct contact with the skin. Its properties ensure feet stay fresh thanks to its ability to transport moisture to the outside and its quick drying. The chitin yarn is present in the toe and heel and has an antimicrobial effect.

Makalu technical socks offer everything any runner needs, from beginner to experienced: lightness, softness and, thanks to the Coolmax® system, excellent sweat wicking. The Coolmax® system is known for its effectiveness in transporting moisture to the outside, helping the garment dry faster.

And that wraps up our review of technical clothing to start running. As a summary and conclusion, I want to stress the recommendation to use technical clothing to start running that feels comfortable, while always ensuring it meets the requirements of lightness, breathability and suitability.

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