What Is Cross-training, And What Should You Wear For It?

While it feels like we've moved on a little bit from the uber-fancy boutique gyms we lusted over just a few years ago, one thing hasn't really changed: our commitment to cross-training. Whether in a park-based bootcamp or an upstart-gym founded in some industrial estate, it's become the most trendy way to train in recent times, with people loving the blend of cardio and strength work it provides compared to other, more traditional streams of exercise. But what is it, and more importantly, how should you dress for it compared to, say, going for a run? Here's what you need to know.

What is cross training?

Cross-training is basically a catch-all term for workouts that combine functional strength movements with cardio. This can take a bunch of different forms, including traditional weightlifting sessions, EMOM and AMRAP sessions, and entail the use of a bunch of different types of equipment, from barbells, to kettlebells, to medicine balls. The goal of cross-training as a whole is to provide a program that helps build strength, muscle and cardio endurance all at once, often incorporating running, spin-bikes and rowing machines as well to help leave you breathless.

All of this means cross-training comes with a very different learned skill set compared to running or even traditional strength training, and if you're coming to the activity with the same gear you've been using for exercise in the past, you might be doing yourself a disservice. Here's where we think you should upgrade your activewear to get the most out of every session.