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As any woman who has ever left the house knows, there is an arsenal of things we should carry with us. These daily essentials can usually be stored in a small bag or the deep pocket of a trench coat. But women’s sportswear in general has lacked storage solutions that are functional, flattering, comfortable and strategically placed.
When I run, I need to carry my phone, keys, headphones, cash or a bank card, and an inhaler; For a long run, I also need fuel and water, maybe tampons and an extra light layer. Fortunately, many sports brands are now making gear with room to carry your essentials and then some: think bras with innovative front pockets for a water bottle (Lululemon) or phone holders sewn into the swimmer’s back (Bandit). fly running makes shorts with two secure rear pockets for storing energy gels (£135), while Tracksmith Add hidden mini pouches around the waist of your Turnover shorts (£80) to keep your AirPods cases and maybe a lipstick safe without irritating them.
“It’s about solving women’s unmet needs,” said Nikki Neuburger, lululemondirector of brand and product activation for, speaking at Further, the brand’s six-day women’s ultramarathon in California in March. For the event, Lululemon created a wide range of kits with storage as the main modus operandi: The idea is that if women can comfortably carry their own supplies, they can metaphorically and literally “go further,” Neuburger said. Pieces included sand-toned racing sleeves with bicep pouches, coral-colored jumpsuits with 360-degree waist pockets that fit everything from jackets to oatmeal bars, and specially designed adjustable hydration vests. to comfortably fit larger breasts: the Support Code. The kit bra will be available soon.
For too long, women’s gear has suffered from the “shrink it and make it better” approach, says Rebecca Taylor, women’s department director at Soar Running. She notes that while men’s sports jackets feature zippered compartments and hidden features, often the “identical” women’s version has open pockets from which items can easily fall out. “He’s lazy and sexist and doesn’t take women’s training seriously,” Taylor says. He’s currently trying out a pair of high-waisted leggings that will be released in the fall and packs a jacket, water, a phone, and his keys. “I call them my miracle socks.”
Lululemon’s upcoming sports bra, made with non-irritating construction, is another innovation: The water bottle, which fits neatly into the roomy front interior pocket, “doesn’t bounce around,” according to Neuburger. One of the main problems with hydration vests for women is feeling like you’re running with your udders stuck on top of your breasts. And they are generally sized and fit for men, which often irritates women’s waists, collarbones, and ribs.
Bras are surprisingly underused by most sports brands. The “need for compression” means they’re actually the perfect place for secret pockets and pouches, according to Ardith Singh, co-founder and design director of Bandit. The Brooklyn-based brand offers dark-hued bras ($68) and crop tops (starting at $78) with storage systems in the front, back, and under each arm; Each collection is developed and refined through community feedback sessions. It is often uncomfortable to store a hard phone in your front breast pocket, but holding it against your spine can be “ideal.” From a safety perspective, women can’t afford to go out without their phones like men do. Ergo, the kit becomes a multifunctional and well-thought-out storage tool.
Mollie Talmanson, vice president of sourcing and product development at Tracksmith, keeps her car keys in the pocket of the brand’s £75 Allston bra; Some women, she says, use it to preserve mace. I wear my Allston so regularly that I now have it in five colors; I use the pocket to store snacks, hand sanitizer, keys, and my phone charging cable; For the London and Chicago marathons, I filled it with six Maurten gels. According to Taylor, it’s best to store heavier or bulkier items in the middle of your body to ensure the weight is “evenly distributed and doesn’t cause an imbalance.”
And not all pockets are created equal, according to Singh. “Different silhouettes require different types of pockets, different constructions and different locations; We try to incorporate intuitive storage solutions into each garment… based on use,” he says. “If it’s a pocket to hold cash, you need a zipper. If it is a product with many pockets, we use a bonded finish so that they disappear visually.” Women have been neglected “in society and in athletics,” Neuburger says; One look at the inappropriately skimpy, high-cut suits designed by Nike for the United States women’s Olympic track and field team proves it. But the hope is that such product innovations will propel the industry forward by offering smart, on-the-go solutions for today’s woman, whether she’s running a 10K race, running errands or just living her busy life.