Sportswear vs Activewear: What’s the Real Difference?

Whenever you walk into any fitness store, you hear only two words- Sportswear & Activewear. Have you ever thought, what's the real difference? At the start, it seems the same, but when you start exercising in them, you will get to know- both are different. Where one outfit keeps you cool and dry during intense activity, while another one feels comfortable and perfect for a light workout, travelling and relaxing at home.

Do you know where this confusion starts? Let me tell you. When people start buying activewear, they think it will work in sports. By understanding the difference between Sportswear vs Activewear, you can easily choose the right outfit for your sports or Gym. In this guide, we will uncover the real difference between both wear- Sportswear vs Activewear. Stay Connected.

What is Sportswear?

Sportswear is specially engineered clothing specially designed for high performance and sports activities. Due to being crafted with advanced fabric, it improves movement, boosts performance and offers protection during high-intensity workouts. Sportswear always prioritizes:

• Function
• Performance
• Sweat management
• Durability
• Temperature Control

Sportswear is generally worn by athletes, gym goers, runners, swimmers, footballers, and people who play high-energy sports.

Features of Sportswear

Sportswear has various features such as:

• High sweat-wicking material
• Breathability
• Stretchability
• Durability
• Supportive Fit
• Quick-dry technology
• Sports-specific designs

What are the Common Examples of Sportswear?

In Sportswear, multiple wears included:

• Running shorts
• Performance t-shirts
• Sports bra
• Track suits
• Cricket Uniforms
• Basketball shorts
• Football jerseys
• Tennis skirts
• Swimwear
• Gym training sets & more.

What is Activewear?

Activewear refers to the combination of function, comfort, and fashion. It is specially designed for light physical activities and everyday wear. If you want comfort throughout the day, then activewear is perfect for you. Activewear seems like it is used for high-intense activity, but not. It is specifically designed for:

• Casual walking
• Yoga
• Light workouts
• Travel
• Leisure Travel
• Daily wear

Activewear mainly focuses on style, comfort and versatility.

Features of Activewear

Here are some exclusive features of Activewear:

• Comfortable and soft fabric
• Stylish designs
• Lightweight
• Stretchable but relaxed fit
• Everyday versatility

What are the Common Examples of Activewear?

Let's see, it's some common examples:

• Yoga pants
• Lifestyle t-shirts
• Sweatshirts
• Athleisure Tops
• Tank tops
• Track pants
• Everyday sneakers
• Casual leggings & more.

Sportswear vs Activewear: 7 Key Differences that you should know

Still confused about what the difference is between Sportswear vs Activewear? Let's understand it with a detailed table with 7 key differences:

Why should you not replace Sportswear & Activewear?

No doubt, Activewear and sportswear look similar, but they are totally different. By mixing each other, it can affect your comfort, performance and even the lifespan of clothes. Here are some more reasons why you should not replace activewear & sportswear:

Designed for Different Activity Levels: As it is clear that both of the outfits are designed for different activity levels, like activewear is used for lightweight and normal casual wear, but sports wear is specially designed for high-intense activity, that's why you should not replace sportswear & activewear.

Performance vs Comfort: Both of the outfits have their own focus, as sportswear focuses on performance, whereas activewear focuses on comfort. And if we replace each other by wearing activewear in the supports, then it will give us full comfort, but performance will be zero. That we should not replace each other.

Wrong Fabric for the Wrong Situation: Sportswear are crafted with quick-dry and moisture-wicking fabric, whereas Activewear is made with lightweight and breathable fabric. If we switch both of the wears, then it may cause heaviness, irritation and overheating.

Risk of Skin Problem: If you wear activewear during an intense workout, then it may cause:

• Rashes
• Chafing
• Sweat Irritation
• Overheating

Sportswear is specially designed to prevent the team from these issues.

Final Thought

As we all know, every outfit has its own benefits and its own focus. Replacing it with another can cause multiple problems. This same issue you face when you replace sportswear with activewear. To prevent you from the problems, we have discussed the difference between sportswear vs activewear.