Badminton Outfits: What Should Be the Best Outfit for Playing Badminton?

Whether you are learning badminton professionally or want to play at your local club for fun, you need proper badminton attire. Wearing your regular sports shoes and pants is not allowed on a badminton court. You must wear a suitable badminton outfit. But what does it really include? Let’s find out.

Badminton Attire – What’s Included?

A proper badminton attire for men and women must include the following elements.

Element	Specifications	Details
Top	Sports t-shirt	Nylon or polyester T-shirt
Bottom	Shorts, skirts, or skorts	Well-ventilated and lightweight material
Shoes	Badminton shoes	Shoes with non-marking soles

We will discuss the specifics as we go, but here are a few things to remember:

• As long as you are wearing a lightweight T-shirt, all’s good.
• The pants should be decent and above the knee. Long pants are not allowed.
• Shoes must have non-marking soles.

The trickiest part could be selecting the right badminton shoes. So, here are some extra pointers that could help.

1. Must have a breathable material or atleast small portions of mesh for ventilation.
2. Check the fit. It must not contract your toes or have too much room inside.
3. Non-marking soles used to be exclusively brown in color, but now they come in various colors.

These are just a few pointers. For more details, check out my blog on Best Badminton Shoes.

Badminton Outfits for Men

Top

For men, I highly recommend the Russell Dri-Power T-Shirt. It dries super quickly, so you won’t feel sweaty. Plus, it’s made from stretchable poly-spandex material, so it hugs your body in just the right places.

Bottom

For bottoms, you should definitely consider Adidas Parma 16 Shorts. They don’t have a liner, which makes them lightweight compared to other sports shorts. With the drawcord on the waist, you can ensure it fits tightly and won’t come loose even after rigorous jumping.

Shoes and Socks

The Yonex Power Cushion Cascade Accel shoes are one of the best badminton shoes for men. They have extra cushioning that won’t just protect your feet but also give extra power for a jump.

You can pair these shoes with these Adidas Athletic socks. They have excellent arc compression, which will give you extra support while you are playing.

Badminton Outfits for Women

Bottom

Women have an option to choose between skirts and shorts. Nowadays, most skirts come with built-in shorts, so you don’t have to worry about indecency.

You could never go wrong with a Yonex skirt. It’s the most basic type of skirt with 100% polyester fabric. It does have built-in shorts for comfort.

But if you are looking for something more cute, you should check out Ekouaer skirts. They have a lot of design and color options. You will definitely find something to suit your taste.

For shorts, check out Adidas Pacer Woven Shorts or Squadra 21 Shorts. I own both pairs and wear them regularly during my practice sessions.

Top

A Nike jersey is always an excellent choice for all sports. Its extremely lightweight nature makes it perfect for badminton.

No one will tell you this – You need an excellent sports bra. You do a lot of jumping and lunging, and a good sports bra will ensure you feel comfortable. Every woman will find their perfect size from different brands. For me, Wacoal bras have always worked. I especially like the Full Support Underwire Sports Bra.

Shoes and Socks

For shoes, the Yonex Sonicage 2 is a good choice. They have multi-directional soles that can help you swiftly change directions on the court. Even though they are branded as tennis shoes, they are excellent for badminton.

You can use the same Adidas Athletic socks mentioned above for men. If you want something shorter, these Adidas Quarter Socks are a good option.

Other Must-Have Badminton Clothes

You will wear the above-mentioned badminton clothes on the court, but off the court, you need layers to protect yourself from the sun and cold.

It’s best to have –

• Long joggers, track pants, or legging
• A jacket

The long pants will come in handy for stretching and warm-up. If you are not comfortable with shorts, you can also wear them while traveling.

You should probably have two types of jackets.

1. A thick jacket to protect from the cold.
2. A thin and lightweight jacket to wear on sunny days.

What to Look For While Choosing a Badminton Outfit

While choosing all these outfits, you need to look out for a few things. The following pointers will help you select the ideal badminton clothes.

Size

• The top must be well-fitted, not too tight or too loose.
• The bottom shorts are usually tight.
• The jacket should be loose so it can be worn above the T-shirt.

Comfort

Whatever clothes you select, you should feel comfortable in them. They must not feel like a burden. If you need to adjust them regularly, it’s not a comfortable fit. Try your clothes before you keep them.

Performance

Badminton clothes are lightweight to enhance your performance.

You don’t wear a cotton T-shirt because it absorbs sweat and makes the clothing heavy. And heavy clothes hinder your speed on the court.

So, whatever clothes you choose must enhance your performance on the court and not restrict it.

Fabric Weight

I cannot stress it enough – a badminton outfit should be lightweight. The fabric weight of both the top and bottom should be extremely lightweight. It should be like you are hardly wearing anything.

Brand

Branded clothes have a next-level feel. They are soft, extremely lightweight and have breathable material. Plus, they are more durable than non-branded sportswear.

I prefer to shop from:

• Yonex
• Li-Ning
• Victor
• Adidas
• Russell

These are notable brands in the field of sportswear and have years of experience manufacturing badminton clothing.

Color Combination

Aesthetics are important on the court. You want to look your best self as it will boost confidence. All eyes are on you when you are playing, and your attire enhances the overall viewing experience of the audience.

Apart from aesthetics, colors also play a major role in the weather conditions you are playing in.

• If it’s summer or sunny days, avoid dark colors as they absorb heat. Your body will overheat.
• If it’s cloudy or winter, dark colors could help you keep a bit warm.

Good to Have Accessories

Some people like to accessorize their badminton outfits. These aren’t just for show. They have a functional purpose. For instance,

• Headbands keep the hair from falling on your eyes.
• Wristbands prevent the sweat from running down to your fingers.
• Absorbent socks absorb the sweat and avoid slippery feet.
• Badminton glasses protect your eyes from UV rays and the wind.

Tournament Dress Code

Tournaments have stricter rules than local badminton courts and sports clubs. The dress code is moderated minutely. If you miss even a single aspect, you could get disqualified from the entire tournament.

Each tournament has its own set of dress code rules. But most of them are usually the following.

• Follow the color scheme of your team or tournament.
• No graphics on the clothes.
• No clothes that promote sports other than badminton.
• No clothes that promote some agenda.
• No use of accessories that could hinder your opponent’s performance, such as a shiny pin that creates strong reflection to blind the opponent temporarily.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Badminton Clothing

Here are some common mistakes that you can avoid while buying badminton outfits.

• Say no to cotton. Cotton clothes absorb sweat and stick to your body. This can cause discomfort while playing.
• Ill-fitting clothes – a big NO. You will have to keep on adjusting your clothes, which will distract you from the game.
• No regular shoes. Shoes with only non-marking soles will give you the freedom of movement and required grip on the court.
• Cheap clothes = More money in the long run. Low-cost clothes will end up costing you more money because you have to replace them more frequently.
• No skipping warm-up layers. In cold conditions, you will end up freezing in the shorts, so keep those warm-up pants and jackets handy.

Final Thoughts

Badminton attire includes regular sportswear tops, which are lightweight and breathable. The rules are stricter about the bottoms.

• Shorts or skirts are compulsory.
• You can pair these with sweat-absorbent socks and non-marking badminton shoes.
• If you sweat excessively, wristbands and headbands will be useful.

While buying all these things, remember all the points we have discussed in the blog.

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