A personal trainer’s guide to workout clothes for women over 50

These AFITNE Bootcut Yoga pants have all we look for in a good pair of exercise leggings but crucially they're flared at the bottom, so look a bit more like regular trousers. Reviewers praised the 75% Polyester and 25% Spandex mix, saying “The material is great; thick but feels light when on and so comfortable.”

I love a high waist on leggings – there’s nothing worse than a waistband that’s going to roll down and expose your tummy. But on these, the waistband sits flat against your skin and won’t dig in, giving you a more streamlined look. And best of all, as one reviewer said, “They sit lovely on the body with a high waist, so no rising up.”

The bootcut style also allows for more freedom of movement, so they’re perfect for Pilates or yoga, as well as being arguably more flattering than leggings. In my opinion, you could finish your yoga class and go and run errands in these without looking like you’ve actually come straight from the gym.

Gymshark sportswear is very popular and with good reason. These joggers are soft and stylish, but also lightweight, so you’re not going to sweat in them as much as you would in a fleece-lined pair. 

They’ve got an adjustable drawcord waist and decent sized pockets. They also come in a range of colours. You might not think of a pair of joggers for exercise, but they’re perfect if you’re attending a relaxing yoga session, or a slower, movement based class such as tai-chi. 

If you're nervous about heading to an exercise class, or you feel like you'd like to lose more weight before putting leggings on, try a comfortable pair of joggers as a great alternative.

This super-soft Goodmove Cotton Rich Relaxed Zip Up Hoodie is made from sustainable cotton, perfect for keeping you comfy over a t-shirt when warming up or cooling down or to wear on Spring walks.

There’s four colour options (we love the lavender), and reviewers have praised the fact that it’s “not thick and bulky but still warm,” which makes ideal for popping in a rucksack on a spring hike. 

Our favourite review praised the fact that this hoodie has “big pockets,” which can be really hard to come by in women’s clothing! 

If you're working up a sweat, we doubt this will stay on long, but it's a great gym-going companion with a touch of stretch for easy movement, breathable fabric and thumbholes for cosy wear. Personally speaking, I always put a jacket on to wear to and from the car - I don't wear it for the exercise class itself!

Fun fact about me - I love sports but hate running and cycling. That is, of course, why I've signed up for a 78 mile bike ride this year and Triathlon the next.

I've just bought this jacket in blue (which they don't have now), and it's really good for runs and bike rides. It's lightweight, so great for layering, but surprisingly good at keeping the wind out, so when I'm cycling I don't get too cold.

Fit-wise, I'm a UK size 8 and got a 10. This gave enough room for me to get three thin layers underneath and not feel too restricted when running or riding. I like the reflective strips and the slightly dropped hem at the back - it keeps my backside warm! My only gripe is the hood doesn't stay up well, so I wear a hat if it's drizzling.

Mountain Warehouse is great for essentials, and this jacket is no exception. I have it in two colours because it’s so versatile. I often exercise outside, whether that’s running, hiking or bootcamp. When it gets chilly, I want something to put on that keeps me warm but isn’t too heavy, and this jacket is perfect for that. 

It’s a flattering fit – it is tight but not overly so, and it’s very stretchy. It also has pockets (of which I am a big fan). I would really recommend this as it’s a great spring jacket but can also be worn under a thicker fleece for winter walks.

Over the years, I’ve tried tight vest tops, baggy t-shirts, and I’ve even braved a crop top. In the end, I’ve come to the realisation that I want something that’s light, breathable, and covers the tops of my arms. The Goodmove Scoop Neck T-shirt ticks all those boxes. 

One reviewer felt: “It’s a bit more of a snug fit than I'd have liked but it's not a tight fit. I like that the hem dips at the back.” But I feel that’s personal choice – I prefer something that’s not very loose, whereas others might like flowy tops. The longer hem at the back is great, though: if you’ve ever done a downward dog and felt a breeze across your back, you’ll know why I love the idea! 

The top is made with lightweight, breathable fabric and reviews noted, “It washes well and dries quickly.” As well as wearing it for exercise, I think this top would be great for wearing out and about with casual trousers on a springtime walk.

As one Sweaty Betty customer said, this long sleeve top “fits well, is easy to move in, good to pop on when the gym gets chilly!"

Long sleeves might not be everyone’s cup of tea for a workout, but equally I know some people feel self-conscious over their arms. This seamless top from Sweaty Betty is great quality and comes in a range of colours, too. It’s very stretchy, so allows for freedom of movement, and I love that it has thumb holes to keep your hands warm.

Sweaty Betty clothes are pricey but I can tell you they're exceptional quality and last for ages. I have some leggings from them that have been going over 3 years now and they're not see-through or baggy at all. So while the initial outlay might be a lot, this is workout gear that will last.

Oh I do love a Mountain Warehouse bargain. This t-shirt is great for the gym or simply everyday wear. I've found their clothes are fabulous on holiday because they dry so quickly, so great for taking abroad when luggage space is at a premium!

Reviewers love that it fits well. Speaking from experience with Mountain Warehouse products, I find their fit to be slightly generous but not too big, so I'd size down if you want a more snug fit. However, personally I'd buy my usual size for exercising so there's room to move about.

Lots of reviews praise the look of the t-shirt too, and I have to say I agree. It comes in 3 colours and all of them are fab.

I am so in love with this color! The vivid blue will go with so many leggings or joggers choices. Personally, I prefer darker leggings, so this will give a nice color pop and also I do find bright colours motivate me to workout!

The very is breathable and wicks moisture away from the body. I love that the sleeves are generous - no thin straps, this is more like a t-shirt without the capped sleeve. This also has the kind of quality we expect from Mountain Warehouse - reviews praise the fact that it washes and dries easily. Size down if you want a more snug fit.

If you’re after a workout vest, this comfy Sweaty Betty Athlete Seamless Vest is ideal for jogging and power walking, thanks to its special material that's designed to wick sweat away from your body, keeping you nice and dry.

It’s a tighter fit than the Goodmove Scoop Neck Short Sleeve T-shirt, which makes it ideal for more intense exercise, like lifting weights or a circuits class, where you might not want a more relaxed fit. It’s stretchy, too, moving with your body to avoid riding up, and seamless to avoid chafing. 

Reviewers praised the fit, with one stating: “"I love the tight fit of this top and because it has mesh, my skin could breathe through it so I didn’t overheat. Absolutely love the colour."

I know Lululemon is considered an expensive brand but my goodness these leggings are worth the price tag.

I spend a large amount of time squatting - whether that's demonstrating them, doing them myself in the gym, or squatting to play with my little niece, so I can't have leggings that will go saggy or see-through.

The Lululemon Wunder Train series comes in a range of colours and I also like that they come in different lengths. I have the 28 inch pair. I'm quite short, so they're full-length on me, but would rest on the ankle or slightly above for most people.

I wear a size 10, so I order US size 6 and they fit perfectly. The leggings come up above my belly button which is perfect - we're not gym bunnies in our twenties. I've had 3 children, I don't want my stomach on display!

They're soft and cling really closely to my legs, but not in an uncomfortable or restrictive way. They move with my body, sort of like a second skin. But a really soft one! They feel thin but what I've found is they keep me both warm and cool - when I go out walking in the early morning they're good at hugging my legs and warming me, but when I'm sweating, they wick away moisture to keep me cool and dry.
They're completely squat proof, which is a big reassurance when teaching as I really don't want my underwear on display!

They wash well and dry quickly. I'd like a pocket for my phone on the side, but that's not too much of an issue - I like that the pocket in the waistband is big enough for my keys and they didn't dig into me. I also really like the draw cord on the inside of the waistband - I'm small around my waist but larger on my thighs so it's helpful to be able to adjust them.

At £88 they're an investment, but honestly you'll soon realise that they truly justify the price tag. Look out for sales, too, under the 'we made too much' tab on their website.

The M&S Goodmove range is excellent value for money and has a wide offering. As well as the Goodmove t-shirt and hoodie, these leggings are a great workout wardrobe staple. I asked a member of my class to test these, and she did (as seen in photos).

They were put through their paces and Kath had a lot of praise for them, saying: "Hurrah for leggings that fit true to size! So many don't, so that was a nice surprise to be honest!

I love the drawstring so you can pull them tighter if needed - perfect if you have a smaller waist and it stops them falling down. I felt really secure when running.I also love the pocket at the back - I could fit my keys and also my small radio that I take with me for running. Perfect.

They kept me dry and although I felt hot, I didn't feel sweaty. The material is good quality - they wash well and keep their shape. I can't see that they'll go see-through. Overall I am really happy with them.

This underwired bra has light padding and is suitable for medium to high impact sports. The straps can be adjusted to a racerback style if preferred. It goes on and fastens at the back like a normal bra.

Now I'll be honest, when this bra first arrived, I was dubious because although I live in sports bras, I never wear an underwired one. I've always felt they'd be too restrictive. Well, I've happily been proven wrong!

This goes on like a normal bra, and I would fasten it at the back. However, I did check, and you can quite easily fasten it in front and swivel it round (you know what I mean - we've all done it!), so if you do have any issues reaching behind it's still ok.

I thought it would be stiff, but it's not. It's just really comfortable. I've worn it for 14-hour days and not felt uncomfortable once! I've worn it on long hikes, to teach kettlebells, and even just while I'm working at home.

It washes well, and hasn't become saggy or lost support. It also has really good coverage across the breasts. I'm a 34C so not at huge risk of falling out, but I do like to feel like I'm strapped down!
I'd highly recommend this bra and I think it's good value for a high quality product.

I love a Runderwear bra! I've had a few of may class members review them for me over the years and it's always unanimously positive reviews.

This time my tester said "I can't fault this bra at all. It offers amazing support while running and is supportive no matter what activity I'm doing.

The material is soft and comfortable and there's no rubbing. It's a firm fit but not tight, and it needs to be firm anyway to make it suitable for running. There are no problems with the fasteners and it does up at the back.

I've washed it a lot and it's still wearing well - no support lost."

Runderwear bras are expensive, and it's easy to think 'I'm not paying that,' but you really do get what you pay for. I've worn so many different bras over the years but Runderwear are by far the best quality both for the comfort, longevity of the bra and for the level of support offered.