For millennia, people have played sports and designed clothing specifically for performance enhancement. From the earliest days of wrestling belts through to the present emphasis on high-quality materials and digital accessories, high-quality sports apparel has been a must from day one.

Sports apparel started with wrestling

Humans have played sports for decades, and no other sport has been documented for longer than wrestling. Right across the African continent, cave paintings document people wrestling for entertainment, suggesting that the sport has been enjoyed for thousands of years. In Ancient Mesopotamia, Iraq and Egypt, people took part in regular wrestling competitions, which were held as a form of military training and public entertainment. Competitors at this time wore a combination of loincloths or long belts. When conducting military training, individuals donned specially-designed military attire, which allowed for the most impactful physical blows to be absorbed efficiently. Even today, sumo-wrestling in Japan makes use of the same traditional belts popular centuries ago, which enabled ease of movement and grappling. 

Chain mail, flannels and sweatbands

After the emergence of wrestling in Ancient times came a whole host of athletic contests, sports and exercise-based activities, each of which demanded a unique costume for participation. In England during the Middle Ages, jousting was a primary example of this, where competitors would dress up in chain mail to lessen the damage dealt by jousting sticks on horseback. Across Commonwealth countries like Australia, India and Pakistan, cricket took off in the 19th century, where cricket ‘whites’ or flannels were worn to protect cricketers from sun damage and to provide a feeling of lightness and comfort during long days of fielding. However, it wasn’t until the late 20th century that exercise for its own sake really took off. Publicly accessible gyms, which included treadmills, free weights, and machine weights, became immensely popular, as did the home gym, which also featured these workout equipment. Fitness fashion thus changes, focusing on functionality and mainstream fashion trends rather than protection. As a result, the popularity of workout tights, shoes, socks, tops and sweaters also took off. In the 80s, this became so apparent that the decade has been defined, for some, by the iconic retro sweatband. 

What’s trendy in sports gear today?

Today, the trend toward health, well-being and overall fitness and flexibility has continued. While team sports still draw huge crowds and participation in amateur and local settings, the popularity of running, gyms, yoga, Pilates and exercise regimes has boomed in the 21st century. Outdoor recreational activities like camping, hiking, snorkelling, canoeing and rock climbing are also gaining attention, as people seek to escape the city buzz on the weekends and get into nature. Workout technology and exercise apps have helped people keep track of their fitness goals, with features like biometric indicators and GPS providing huge technological support. Along with all of these changes have seen a burst in athletic apparel, shoes, watches, tech and accessories all geared towards making you as active, fit and healthy as can be. 

When buying sports apparel, consider what you’re going to be using it for. Die-hard runners will likely be looking for lightweight fibres, which can help their bodies breathe on long jogs. Runners will also need shorts that facilitate leg flexibility, and in some cases, compression pants for blood circulation; they might also want to buy smartwatches to help keep track of biometric data. Meanwhile, divers and snorkelers might want to consider buying themselves a waterproof sports watch that is ideal for diving, which can help them navigate, tell the time, and access a range of other handy features underwater. Consider the intensity and type of sport you’ll be participating to decide on your needs and requirements, and shop with that in mind.

Want to find the best sports apparel in Singapore? You’re in the right place. In what follows, we’ll take you through the best brands for athletic apparel, sports watches, and sports shoes, plus a range of electronics and accessories to boost your next workout routine.  

Must-haves for running

Find all of your favourite running apparel on iShopChangi. Shop through shorts, tops, compression tights, and more at duty-free prices, like the Zone3 Men’s Aquaflo Tri Shorts. These shorts are some of the best on the market, and their quality is reflected in their popularity, being one of Zone3’s most purchased products. Coming in four different sizes, with grip pads, a drawstring and a chic bright blue design, these Tri Shorts are a must for any serious male athlete. For longer distances, take a look at the Zone3 Men’s Lava Long Distance Tri Shorts, whose unique, ergonomic fabric design is ideal for long-distance comfort and breathability. Women can buy the same product in the Zone3 Women Lava Long Distance Tri Shorts, which, as with the men’s shorts, comes in four distinct sizes. 

Shop tri tops for men and women, like the Zone3 Women Performance Culture Tri Top and the Men Lava Long Distance Tri Top. These sleeveless tops allow for maximum arm movement while you’re running, meaning you’re less likely to meet with resistance or experience chafing. Both have been lauded by triathletes as a fantastic choice for multi-sport performance. For runners on the lookout for compression tights, Zone3 also offers the Men RX3 Medical Grade Compression Tights, which are guaranteed to support your muscles, blood circulation, and other bodily functions to help prevent serious injuries while you run. 

Electronic accessories

It pays to have the right running electronics and accessories when you’ve got a regular exercise routine involving running. Some of these accessories, like wearable armbands for your phone, valuables or any small snacks, provide immense support, especially for long-distance journeys. The Armpocket Wrister is a great example of this. The Wrister offers you a slot for your smartphone as well as weather- and sweat-proof space for anything you might want to take with you, be that your keys, a muesli bar or a small bottle of sunscreen. Fitting neatly onto your upper arm, you won’t even notice it’s there while you run. The Armpocket Xtreme I-30 Armband, meanwhile, contains multiple interior straps, an ergonomic, foam-padded design as well as the essential smartphone slot. This armband comes in a dazzling hot pink, which is sure to grab attention. Cycling enthusiasts will love the Wahoo Element Roam GPS Cycling Computer, which tracks your journey, your speed, your altitude and other key data from your ride so you can analyse your athletic performance over time. With a battery life of 17 hours and 5 feet of waterproof resistance, this attachable GPS will be your most trusty companion on your next bike ride.

What is the best sports watch brand?

Alongside the boom in the popularity of running has come a boom in smartwatches and wearables, tailor-made for your athletic performance. Brands like Apple, Fitbit and Garmin are among the most popular, and each comes with its own distinct perks. 

The Apple Watch 7 Aluminium Series GPS + Cellular comes with all of your favourite Apple applications, like Stopwatch, Timer and Health, alongside the ability to answer texts and calls, send emails, control Bluetooth audio devices and record notes. In this sense, the Apple sports watch is designed for day-to-day usage as well as for athletic activity. The Watch 7 comes with longer battery life, greater durability and water resistance up to 50 metres, making it an excellent choice for those who want to combine their exercise life with a general daily companion.

The Fitbit Charge 5 demonstrates FitBit’s prowess for tracking runs and walks. The Charge 5 comes with a heart rate monitor, skin temperature sensing and oxygen saturation monitoring to track your biometric activity. To help you navigate while walking and running, GPS and GLONASS technology are built-in to the device’s software. More broadly, the Charge 5 comes with a staggering battery life of up to 7 days, as well as neat features like 7 days of detailed motion data memory, syncing with most popular Android and iOS phones, water resistance up to 50 metres and bluetooth connectivity with your favourite devices. 

Garmin offers a range of products, including the Garmin Lily, which tracks your sleep, your steps, your stress and your energy levels with intuitive bodily monitoring. Garmin has integrated other useful applications and features, like calendar, texts and calls into this sports watch, meaning you can stay connected to work and home life while you’re out. The Garmin Lily also comes with smart apps for yoga, walking, cardio and mindful breathing, which are sure to help you get the most out of each of your workout sessions.

Prepare yourself for the great outdoors

Whether you’re camping, hiking, canoeing, climbing or cycling, there is bound to be something for you in the sports and lifestyle section of iShopChangi. 

Cyclists rejoice. You can buy a Dassi Interceptor Graphene Bike, also known as the world’s first graphene bike, online on iShopChangi. Lighter and stronger, this bike is by definition better for cycling than any known before it. When you buy it, take home a set of DL Killer KS1 Cycling Racing Shoes in pink, a Morpher Folding Helmet or those from Livall, so you’re fully equipped for the road. With iShopChangi’s cycling gear collection, you know you’re always sorted before you ride.

Equip yourself for the road and the snow with longboards and snowboards from iShopChangi. Direct from the maple forests of Wisconsin comes the Kota Nungesser Longboard, made with some of the strongest wood you’ll find on the market. 73mm/80A Seismic Speed Vent Wheels will carry you down high gradient slopes with the smoothness and durability you’ve been looking for. Snowboard fanatics will enjoy the Northwave Drake Squad Men Snowboard, whose performer wood core will take you down side hits and the park with ease. 

Campers can make the most of the Fitness Multi-Cool Cooling Tower from Mission Athletecare. Ideal for long, hot days, this polyester and nylon piece is made with hyper-evaporative cooling stretch fabric and is guaranteed to keep you cooler for longer when wet. Wear it as a headband, scarf, facemask or neck gaiter for best results. If you’re on a rock climbing trip, try the Climbing Technology Aerial Pro Set NY Quickdraw, which is some of the brand’s most lightweight and efficient quickdraws for traditional and sports climbing. Browse our climbing and mountaineering selection, and you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for.

Restart your fitness regime with a slick kit of athletic apparel on iShopChangi. Shop sports watches, shoes, shorts, tops and more at tax-absorbed prices online, and make your money go further. When you spend $59 at the checkout, you can also make the most of free delivery to addresses Singapore-wide, so you don’t even have to leave your home. Check out Changi Rewards for even more incredible discounts for our most loyal customers, like 10% off your first purchase after joining.