What to wear to play tennis this winter

This summer has been a little bit confusing, glorious sunshine for a couple of days and then freezing cold. British summer time doesn’t know what it is doing but we have got you covered, whether you are playing tennis on a miserable summers day or looking for your next winter tennis outfit.

The best approach when thinking about what to wear during a winter tennis game is layering your tennis wear. There is science behind layering, with each layer having a different purpose while trapping air between the different layers. It helps to maintain your body warmth and prevents heat loss. Which is particularly important when you are being active on a cold day with possible temperature fluctuations are you start to warm up.

Base layer

The base layer sits next to your skin and is designed to be sweat wicking. While you are running around the court, smashing those hits and working up a sweat, the base layer takes the sweat away from your skin. If the base layer wasn’t sweat wicking it would stay next to your skin, chilling you especially on those cold winter days. The base layer should be breathable, moisture wicking and quick drying. A snug fit helps with insulation.

Middle layer

The role of the middle layer is to trap heat in, this layer should be thinker than a base layer, there are different thickness available that are suitable for different temperatures. If it is particularly cold then you can use multiple layers, but as you will hopefully be running around the court and making enough heat you won’t need multiple middle layers for long. The beauty of layering is that when you get hot you can start pealing off the layers. As with the base layer is must be breathable. Fleece based materials are often used as a middle lay as it it breathable and available in a variety of thicknesses.

Outer layer

The outer layer or shell as it is sometimes called, is designed to keep the weather out, wind, rain and snow. Which we could see in an afternoon’s game of tennis in the UK.

Ideally the outer layer should be wind and water proof / resistance. A quick explanation of water proof verses water resistant. Water resistant will hold up against a light shower but will seep through in heavier down pours. Whereas water proof, will keep you dry even in a heavy shower. You will tend to find that a water proof coat is more expensive then water resistant.

As you will be active while playing tennis, it is essential that you get a breathable outer layer or you will trap your perspiration in.

Bottoms

Now we have your top half covered with layering, we need to think about what you are going to wear on your bottoms. Your legs need less protection than your core so there will be no need to layer.

If you like to wear shorts, the obvious upgrade would be leggings. On the other hand if you like the look of a tennis skort or skirt, we would suggest moving from skorts to skeggings, With skeggins you have both a skirt and leggings all in one.

As with the base layer your bottom have should be breathable, flexible and a thin layer to allow to a full range of movement.

We hope that this article has given you some ideas for the ideal tennis outfit to wear this winter, see our full range of sustainably sourced tennis and padel wear.