What makes Play Outside different from other outdoor clothing brands?

Play Outside creates comfort-first outdoor essentials designed to work across real life, not just one activity or season. Our clothing is sun-safe, versatile, and built to perform from beach to snow while remaining soft, flattering, and easy to wear.

Is Play Outside clothing flattering on real women’s bodies?

Yes. Our clothing is designed for real women’s bodies, not idealized or Instagram-perfect fits. We prioritize movement, softness, and ease so pieces feel comfortable, drape well, and look great throughout the day.

Is Play Outside clothing made for outdoor performance?

Absolutely. Our pieces are built to perform outdoors in changing conditions including heat, wind, cold, and movement, while still being suitable for everyday life, travel, and time outside with kids.

What is sun safe apparel?

Sun safe apparel is clothing designed to help protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Play Outside uses UPF-rated fabric so sun protection is built directly into what you wear without extra layers or chemical treatments.

What’s the difference between UPF and SPF?

SPF measures how sunscreen protects your skin, while UPF measures how much UV radiation a fabric blocks. UPF clothing provides consistent protection that does not wear off or require reapplication.

Why do you use bamboo fabric?

Bamboo fabric is naturally soft, breathable, temperature-regulating, and gentle on skin. It stays comfortable in warm weather and layers well in colder conditions without stiffness or itch.

How can the same clothing work in both summer and winter?

Play Outside clothing uses temperature-regulating bamboo fabric and layer-friendly construction. It stays breathable in summer and retains warmth when layered in winter, allowing the same piece to work year-round.

Do you release new styles every season?

No. We focus on timeless, versatile pieces that remain in our collection year after year. Each iteration is refined using real customer feedback to continuously improve performance, comfort, and fit.

Clothing for Hot Yoga and Low-Impact Training: Why Bamboo Works Best

A few years ago, before I ever dreamed of creating Play Outside, I signed up for a hot yoga class thinking it would be the perfect reset. I walked in with my regular synthetic workout top, felt great during the first five minutes, and then two poses later the shirt felt sticky, hot, and suffocating. It trapped sweat, clung in all the wrong places, and by the end I wanted to peel my skin off.

That class was the moment I realized that what adults wear for movement matters just as much as what our kids wear outdoors.

And now that I live in Florida where heat and humidity are constant, I have a much deeper appreciation for workout clothing that breathes well, dries quickly, and feels good on my skin even when I am dripping with sweat.

Whether you are practicing hot yoga, Pilates, barre, or daily gentle training, here is what actually works.

Why Hot Yoga Clothing Needs to Be Different

Hot yoga studios usually hover around 90 to 105 degrees with high humidity. That means your clothing must:

release heat quickly
wick sweat away from the skin
dry fast
stretch without constricting
avoid chafing
prevent bacterial odor buildup

Traditional polyester and cheap activewear often fail because they trap humidity against the skin. When your clothes cannot breathe, neither can your body.

This is exactly why more athletes are turning to natural performance fabrics like bamboo.

The Best Fabric for Hot Yoga: Bamboo

Bamboo naturally has the properties that synthetic athletic wear tries to imitate. It is:

breathable
moisture wicking
temperature regulating
hypoallergenic
naturally odor resistant

Our ONE Shirt, originally built for outdoor heat and sun, has become my favorite top for low-impact workouts because it stays cool, dries fast, and never traps that post-class smell. It is soft enough for sensitive skin and lightweight enough that I forget I am wearing anything at all.

You can see it here: The ONE Shirt.

Side note: Yes, even though it was created for kids, adults constantly borrow them because bamboo is that comfortable. This is why the adult line is coming.

What To Look For In Hot Yoga or Pilates Clothing

1. Breathable and Lightweight Fabrics

Choose bamboo or a bamboo blend. If you prefer synthetics, look for technical knits that focus on airflow rather than compression.

2. Seamless or Low-Seam Construction

Hot yoga involves a lot of bending, twisting, and stretching. Thick seams create friction that leads to rashes or discomfort.

3. Quick Drying

If the fabric stays wet after class, it is not suitable for hot yoga. Bamboo dries quickly without feeling clammy.

4. Stretch and Recovery

Four-way stretch ensures nothing pulls or digs in when you move from deep lunges to folds.

5. Odor Resistance

Bamboo naturally resists bacteria growth, keeping clothing fresher between washes. Synthetic tops usually retain odor.

What To Avoid

Heavy cotton that gets soaked and stays wet
Thick compression tops that trap heat
Unlined sports bras without moisture management
Fabrics with heavy elastane that lose shape in humidity
Tops that require constant adjusting

If you are constantly tugging at your shirt, it is not the right shirt. American Academy of Dermatology Sweat Rash Guide

My Go-To Hot Yoga Outfit

Here is what I personally wear:

Bamboo ONE Shirt
High-rise leggings with a light compression
Barefoot for yoga, grippy socks for Pilates
A thin headband to keep sweat out of my eyes
Stainless steel water bottle (cold water only)

Simple. Breathable. No distractions.

Why Bamboo is Better for Sensitive Skin During Workouts

Many adults have sensitive skin without realizing it until they start sweating. Fragrance in detergent, rough fabrics, and bacteria growth can all trigger irritation.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, breathable fabrics and moisture management are essential for preventing sweat-induced rashes.

Bamboo checks both boxes:

Gentle against eczema-prone skin
No chemical sprays for UV protection
Naturally smooth fibers reduce friction
Antibacterial properties reduce breakouts

This is why we recommend bamboo not just for kids, but for parents too.

How to Build a Hot Yoga Capsule Wardrobe

You only need a few pieces:

2 bamboo tops
2 pairs of high-rise leggings
1 supportive sports bra
1 pair of grippy socks
1 lightweight layer for going to and from class

That is it.
Wash at night, hang to dry, and you are ready for the next day.

This type of wardrobe also fits perfectly inside a minimalist gym bag, which you can read about soon in our post on that topic.

Final Thoughts

Hot yoga and low-impact training should feel grounding and healing, not uncomfortable. The right fabric can completely change your practice.

If there is one thing I have learned from years of creating kids’ outdoor apparel, it is this: the best clothing is the clothing you forget you are wearing. Bamboo does that for me every single time.

Breathable. Soft. Fast drying. No stink. No itching. No tugging.
Just movement.

Love,
Adriana
Founder of Play Outside