Sports season means practices, games, PE and camp, often on the same day. A good athletic set makes the morning easier: the top and bottom already match, the fabric dries fast, and the pieces hold up to the wash. Here is what to look at when you choose one.
1. Start with the sport
Loose shorts and tees work for soccer, basketball, running and PE. For gymnastics, dance and cheer, fitted pieces stay in place during stretches and tumbling: bike shorts, leggings and racerback tanks. For football, hockey and cold-weather practice, a compression base layer goes under the uniform.
2. Check the fabric
Look for a polyester or nylon blend with some spandex. Polyester and nylon do not soak up sweat the way cotton does, so the shirt dries faster and feels lighter. Spandex (10-15%) adds stretch so the fit does not pull. Our boys' tee and shorts sets use 90% polyester / 10% spandex; our girls' 5-piece tank and shorts sets use 85% nylon / 15% spandex. Both are moisture-wicking and machine washable.
3. Count the pieces
A 2-piece set is one outfit. A 4-piece set (2 tops + 2 bottoms) or a 5-piece set (2 tops + 2 bottoms + a headband) covers two practice days before anything needs washing, and the pieces mix and match. For kids who practice three or more times a week, a 3-pack of tees, shorts or leggings fills the gaps.
4. Look for the small details
- Pockets on shorts for a mouthguard or hair ties.
- Drawstring or elastic waistband so shorts stay up during drills.
- Tagless neck for no itching.
- Flatlock seams on fitted pieces to reduce chafing.
5. Get the size right
Kids' activewear is sized in pairs: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14 and 15-16. Measure height and chest and use the size chart in each product's photos rather than guessing from age. Loose-fit sets are true to size; if your child is between sizes and still growing, the larger size usually gets more wear.
Our picks by sport
- Soccer, PE, running: the boys T-shirt and shorts 2-piece set or the boys 4-piece set with 2 tees and 2 shorts.
- Basketball: the boys tank top and shorts set with pockets, plus the boys basketball shorts 3-pack.
- Gymnastics, dance, cheer: the girls racerback tank and bike shorts 2-piece set or the girls leggings with pockets 3-pack.
- Football, hockey, cold weather: the boys compression shirts and pants 4-piece set.
Every set above comes in sizes 3-16, and orders over $39.99 ship free.