Should You Wear a Tank Top to the Gym?

When you’re just starting out at the gym, you’re often not feeling your most confident self.

Maybe you’ve put on a few extra pounds during a busy period…

The doctor has suggested you loose some inches of the waist..

Or maybe a friend has made an insensitive remark about the size of your ‘twig’ arms.

Whatever your individual reasons for being at the gym…

Almost everyone hits a point in their journey where they are deliberating over what to wear.

In particular, you may be wondering whether you should wear a tank top or not.

And if so, at what point in your gym journey is wearing a tank top a good idea?

You should wear a tank top to the gym as soon as you feel comfortable and confident enough to do so. Tank tops help you to show off your arms and shoulders, increase ventilation for those hotter days and can significantly improve comfort levels.

In saying this, whether (and when) you choose to wear a singlet or tank top to the gym is a personal choice, and no one else can decide for you.

Today I’ll be talking you through the pros and cons of wearing a tank top during gym workouts.

As well as speaking about my own personal journey navigating this.

So you can make a more informed choice around what’s right for you.

Let’s dive in.

| Should You Wear a Tank Top to the Gym?

Personally, I’ve always been a fan of wearing a tank top or singlet to the gym.

After years of being a fitness coach observing thousands of gym members.

As well as having been working out in the gym for over 10 years..

Here’s what I’ve found are the pros and cons of wearing a tank top to the gym:

| Pros of Wearing a Tank Top or Singlet to the Gym

Let’s dive into the pros in a little more detail.

Improved Confidence

Wearing a tank top to the gym can help you to show off your arms during a workout.

Some cuts of singlets can also really accentuate your shoulders too.

Although it seems a little vain, I really loved the pump I could see, especially towards the end of my arm workouts.

I can genuinely say that one of the best feelings in the world is when you have put in a tonne of work over months or years.

And get to see that manifested during an incredible shredded look with your muscles bulging and veins popping.

It will boost your self confidence and self belief dramatically.

Furthermore, wearing a tank top was a good way to track the progress of the size of my arms and shoulders throughout my gym journey.

Increased Ventilation

Perhaps the most practical benefit of wearing a tank top to the gym is the increased ventilation.

In Melbourne, Australia where I live, the temperatures can get as hot as 40°C or over 100° F during the summer months.

Add on top of that an extended HIIT or cardio workout, and you’re in dangerous territory.

It’s therefore important to wear something with good aeration when working out in these temperatures.

No sleeves allows greater flow of air to your chest, upper arms, and stomach region.

Which can limit excessive core temperatures.

Important note: No singlet can ever fix dehydration, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water during all workouts.

Improved Comfort

There’s nothing worse than being stuck in gym attire you don’t feel comfortable in.

Whether it’s a tight t shirt that restricts your movement or a baggy one that constantly gets in the way.

If you’re performing exercises that require large ranges of motion such as shoulder press or bench press…

Tank tops’ lack of sleeves can really improve your comfort levels.

| Cons of Wearing a Tank Top or Singlet to the Gym

Despite personally loving tank tops for my gym wardrobe, they do pose some potential downfalls.

Feeling Insecure / Self Conscious

Okay, so I’m gonna get a little vulnerable here.

I am someone who really cares about how I look.

I overanalyse my body all the time, and get insecure if a I feel my arms have ‘decreased in size’ (usually it’s all in my head).

If I’m ever in a bad mental space, aren’t feeling my most confident self and wear a tank top…

This can often put me in a really negative state of mind.

I start beating myself up for ‘not being committed’ enough.

Now, this is a very extreme example, but still I’m sure you get my drift.

Wearing a tank top has the potential to evoke feelings of insecurity or feeling self conscious.

Especially if your body is not where you want it to be at, or if a shredded bodybuilding beast walks past.

It’s Colder (At Least to Start)

If you’re working out in the winter months, wearing a tank top can be icy cold!

I would advise you to dress in layers, maybe having a t shirt and hoodie over the top too.

This will allow you to slowly remove a layer at a time as your body warms.

More often than not, you will still be able to wear a singlet or tank top on a cold day once you’ve warmed up and got stuck into your working sets.

Especially if you’re a ‘hotter’ person like myself.

Chance of Looking Like a “Show Off”

Singlets come in all shapes and sizes.

From the modest singlets only lacking in sleeves… 

To the bodybuilding stringer singlets that are pretty much the equivalent of taking your shirt off.

In some gym environments and cultures, there is a small chance that you may appear like a ‘show off’…

If you wear something too revealing.

It’s probably not something any member actually says.

And it’s also probably not a written rule.

But, it’s probably something you can start to pick up after having visited the gym a few times.

Use common sense, read the room and get a gauge on the type of attire that’s acceptable in your gym’s environment.

Increased Sweatiness

We all know that one guy at school.

You know, the one who was a walking pool of water before end of the 5 minute PE warm up.

No one wants to be that guy.

Well, keep in mind that singlets can increase the amount of sweat that beads off your body during a workout.

The more surface area of material on our body, the more it will soak up your sweat.

Which means that with a reduced-material singlet, you’ll have less absorption of sweat.

This is something to keep in mind, but isn’t a huge problem if you bring a gym towel with you.

| Do People Actually Care What You Wear to the Gym?

It can be easy to get very caught up in what to wear during workouts

Perhaps you’re still 50/50 on whether you should wear a tank top to the gym.

But at the end of the day, most other members don’t really care what you wear.

They aren’t paying attention to what you’re doing, rather just themselves.

| When to Start Wearing a Tank Top to the Gym

What’s most important is finding something that you feel confident and comfortable in.

Something that’s going to help you feel your best at the gym and keep you coming back day after day.

In my opinion, when starting out at the gym you should wear something low risk.

Essentially this means you should wear something you feel extremely secure in.

This could be something you wear often, something that hides your insecurities, or something you’re excited to wear.

Over time, you can start to play around with different options that are ‘higher risk’, such as a tank top or singlet.

From there, you can see how you feel and readjust accordingly.

Feeling secure and at your best at the gym involves being at the right gym in the first place.

So take a look at our gym quiz below to find a gym that’s perfect for your goals, personality and circumstances.