Used fitness clothing....yes or no?

I go consignment shopping all the time, I guess you'd say I'm cheap, and quite a few times I'll buy tank tops, yoga pants, or shorts when I need them. Most resale clothing stores (thrift shops & consignment shops) only take gently used items, which means the person who wore my tank to before me didn't sweat in it as bad as I'm going to. A few of them have washers and dryers in the back and you can almost always hear them going (humming) while you're shopping and I always wash everything I come home with twice no matter what. Now sports bras and and undergarments I'll buy brand new no matter what they cost.

It will deter many people, but on places like ebay there is a thriving market for 2nd hand clothes, be they fitness or anything else. It depends what you are selling and how much for. If its good quality items and obviously clean then there will be a market imo.

Maybe not running tights or compression shorts, but I wouldn't mind gently used shoes, tanks, pullovers, even sports bras if they look good/were a good brand. I'm not picky.

There is not a whole lot of logic in the arguments to not buy used fitness clothing. I generally do not buy any used clothing, I do not know why I have just never considered it as a general overall cleanliness thing.

I do find the repulsion to it fascinating though, specifically the people that are not willing to buy clothes that has been sweat in... next to peoples genitalia yet... they are ok with buying used pants, shorts, shirts, skirts and dresses that at one point were probably worn while the exchange of human bodily fluids were occurring or just about to.

Really? How do you know if that used pair of shorts or pants was not owned by a guy with a sweating problem or a case of serious jock itch. Or that teen got far to excited too often in their pants? I know I have had similar issues with clothing.

Outerwear like jackets, rain pants, sure.

Like new shoes? Yeah.

Shirts shorts socks... No. I'll pass.

skullshank wrote: »

PRMinx wrote: »

lishie_rebooted wrote: »

Ehhhhhhhh no.

jyogit wrote: »

would you wear used underwear? … same thing as used sportswear i'd guess

^This. Especially since a lot of people don't wear underwear in their workout gear

Yep, guilty as charged. Nothing is comfortable under compression tights. Commando, yo.

perhaps you should...sell...your used....things....to me....unwashed....in a baggie to....seal in the goodness.

OMG so funny

dbanks80 wrote: »

Curt911 wrote: »

I have some friends who are very serious competitors in Ironman competitions.....they do not stop to use the bathroom when riding their bikes, they just stand up and go. So......I would have to say NO to purchasing used sportswear

But what if they have to go number 2????

Runner's trots is a real thing.

I don't buy used clothing of any sort. It doesn't gross me out or anything, it's just not something I need/want to do. I guess I'm a snob *shrug*

So my answer is no.

I don't think I would ever purchase used fitness clothing. I find too many good deals Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Old Navy to ever find it necessary. Most of my girlfriends don't wear undies under their workout bottoms so that would bother me as well.

I had no idea they had underwear racks at Goodwill. Whenever I spring clean and donate I throw that stuff away cause I figure who would want it.

Thanks to this thread, I'm going commando for my workout tomorrow.

I think it would depend for me.

For things like tops and shorts, if they were in good condition (not stained/stretched/overly worn) then sure.

Socks, skins, swimsuits, and sports bras are a no unless they're from a close friend or family member. My sisters have a habit of wearing things once and deciding they don't want them any more, which works out fine for me!

Running shoes are a no. But that's more because I don't want to mess up my knee any more than it is already. As for other shoes...that's the 'close friends and family' category.

seltzermint555 wrote: »

I buy some fitness clothing in thrift or consignment stores, where I can see/touch it and tell that it's basically unused. Mostly in a college town nearby, I always find a ton of Athleta and North Face stuff and for 3-5 bucks -- when it looks brand new I'm not passing that up!

However, I probably would NOT buy it online where I couldn't see firsthand the way the item looked and felt. I feel like the hygiene issue isn't as big of a deal as I'd be washing it anyway, and I do wear undies with my fitness apparel. Just one of those things where everyone has their line I guess.

I have to agree with the person I quote above... I buy a greater percentage of my clothes from Goodwill or other non-profit organizations. Many times I find them new, still with tags. Unless the original owner wears these items "commando" (seriously... who would want to exercise in work-out wear commando and bounce all over the place!), I don't consider them in the same class as underwear. However, I am very quality conscious and I would need to see, touch and feel the quality of the item before putting out my hard earned money. You can find high quality used items yes, but to buy them via an on-line purchase, that for me is to risky... and the hassle of getting a refund and doing the return... I would never throw my money away like that.

I just don't know that you would be able to sell used fitness clothes at a price point that would appeal to consumers and still allow you to turn a profit. Considering that I can buy new, name-brand, workout clothes at a place like TJMaxx for $10-$15 (less on clearance), I can't imagine spending anything close to that for other people's castoffs. I don't think you could sell used yoga pants or sports bras for more than a few bucks a piece...and when you factor in shipping, I'm just not sure it's worthwhile.

For me the "ick factor" isn't that big a deal. People resell and hand down baby clothes all the time, and they get pooped, and peed, and puked in all the time. There's even a market for used cloth diapers. Heck...I use the gym's towels knowing that other people are using them to wipe their sweaty bodies...and I'm not even the one doing the laundry. How do I really know they're getting clean? (And now there is someone reading this who will never again use towels provided by the gym.)

I get grossed out trying on new clothes at the store. I would have to say no. Even washing my clothes with my boyfriend's clothes bothers me and my clothes get much sweatier than his ever do.