If you’ve joined the pickleball craze, you’re definitely not alone. About 13.6 million Americans tried the game in 2023, and it just keeps growing and growing.
Pickleball is even more fun when you have the right apparel. Thanks to the sport’s growth, many companies are producing pickleball apparel that looks good and feels good.
Investing in the right gear can help boost your performance and give you other benefits. Here are just a few reasons why the right gear is important for pickleball.
Show Everyone Your Love of Pickleball
One of the best reasons for getting some pickleball gear is that a lot of it is so stylish that you’ll want to wear it off the court as well. Wearing cool pickleball gear out and about is a way to show everyone your love for this sport. That’s a great way of projecting a cool athleisure style—and of finding other people who are pickleball enthusiasts just like you.
A lot of pickleball gear takes style as well as performance into consideration. Specialized pickleball hats and apparel use fabrics and styles that are performance-forward, with colors and designs that work well off the court as well. The benefits of performance pickleball gear that is sweat-resistant, stylish, and can be worn off the court are that you can go from a match to your other responsibilities in no time at all.
Match Your Busy Lifestyle
While there are some professional pickleball players, most people play as a hobby. Players tend to be busy and squeeze in games in between work, college classes, socializing, and other responsibilities.
If you’re one of those people trying to squeeze pickleball into your routine, you probably don’t have time to change your outfit multiple times a day as you switch tasks. Having gear that performs well on the court but that you won’t be embarrassed to wear while running errands can help you save time and make those pickleball matches possible, even when you’re busy.
If you know that you’ll be playing pickleball in between your other responsibilities, having gear that is sweat-resistant is important. That way, your gear stays fresh if you wear it somewhere else after a match or have to shove it in a gym bag for a few hours. It’s more pleasant for you and everyone around you.
Reduce Uncomfortable Effects of Sweating
It’s normal to sweat when you’re playing an intense sport such as pickleball. Normally, when you work out, the sweat pooling on your skin causes the naturally occurring bacteria to multiply and produce body odor. Besides odor, sweating can make you feel damp and uncomfortable.
Sweat-resistant gear is perfect for sports such as pickleball because it reduces the uncomfortable effects of sweating. Sweat-resistant pickleball gear wicks moisture away from your body as it forms. It usually has performance fabric that dries quickly, not giving sweat enough time to pool.
By wicking sweat away, pickleball gear helps improve your game. You will feel more comfortable, which will allow you to perform better. You also won’t have damp, sweat-laden clothing slowing you down or worsening your grip.
Sweat-resistant gear also means that some of the nastier effects of sweating are reduced. You won’t have as much body odor after a match when wearing the right gear. You’ll also feel much more comfortable (although it is still a good idea to shower and wash your clothing after each workout session).
Your Performance on the Court Will Improve
Obviously, the best way to improve your pickleball performance is to practice, but buying the right clothing can also give you a boost in performance.
As mentioned above, sweat-resistant clothing is more comfortable, allowing you to focus on your game. Pickleball gear is made with this sport in mind and is usually designed to allow the full range of motion you need to play.
Also, playing in stylish gear will boost your confidence! Success in sports is often about having the right mentality, and feeling confident will help you play better.
Your Gear Will Last Longer
While buying new pickleball gear is always fun, if you have to do it constantly, it becomes a chore.
Buying the right performance pickleball gear means that you won’t have to replace it soon. Good athletic gear is built to last. While all apparel experiences some wear and tear as you sweat and move in it, the right fabrics can withstand plenty of movement before they need replacing.
Look for performance fabrics, sweat-resistant apparel, and durability guarantees. Apparel that takes performance into account will usually last longer. When you don’t have to do it constantly, replacing your gear becomes a hobby, not a chore.
Fit in With Athleisure Trends
Stylish pickleball gear is an important addition to your closet, even when you’re not headed to the court. In fact, your workout clothes may be helping you stay on trend.
Athleisure has been one of the most dominant trends in fashion over the past five years. Athleisure refers to clothing items that take inspiration from sports gear or outfits that combine workout clothing with stylish pieces.
While a few years ago you wouldn’t have been caught dead going to the grocery store in your gym clothes, let alone to a meeting or out with friends, athleisure has made casual outfits trendy again.
This means that having stylish workout gear is more important than ever! Stylish pickleball gear can help you elevate your outfit game on and off the court. You can wear it to impress at a local tournament or while out with friends as part of an athleisure-inspired outfit.
Taking Your Hobby to the Next Step with the Best Pickleball Gear
If you’re serious about playing pickleball, then you need the right gear to go along with it.
Thankfully, many top brands are making pickleball gear that is not only sweat-resistant and designed with performance in mind but stylish as well. If you choose properly, you can wear your pickleball gear on and off the court!
The right gear can make you more comfortable on the court, improve your performance, and even become part of your everyday outfit. Make your pickleball hat or shirt a conversation starter the next time you are out and about!
