A tracksuit is the piece most likely to be bought on price alone and regretted within a month. The seams go, the cuffs stretch, or it turns out to be a summer-weight set sold in December. Here is how to read a tracksuit listing properly, for adults and for children.
Fabric comes first
Fleece
Brushed on the inside, smooth outside. This is the winter tracksuit most people want: warm, soft, light to wear and easy to wash. Almost all children's winter tracksuits are fleece, and for good reason.
Micro interlock and polyester knit
A smooth, slightly stretchy knit with no brushing inside. Lighter than fleece, better for exercise because it moves sweat away rather than holding it, and comfortable well into spring. Not a cold-weather set on its own.
Cotton and cotton blend
The most comfortable against the skin and the most breathable. It holds damp longer than polyester, so it is better for lounging and daily wear than for running.
What to check in the listing
- Is it a two-piece? Most are a jacket or sweatshirt plus trousers, but some listings are the top alone. Check before you order.
- Zip or pullover. A full zip is easier to put on a child and easier to take off when a room is warm. A pullover is warmer at the chest.
- Ribbed cuffs and hem. Ribbing at the wrists and ankles keeps warm air in. A straight hem lets it out.
- Pockets. Side pockets on the trousers are not a given on cheaper sets.
- Waistband. An elastic waist with a drawcord adapts as a child grows; elastic alone does not.
Sizing for adults
Imported sizes run small. Take one size up on a tracksuit as a rule, and two if you want it loose or plan to wear a layer underneath. If the listing gives a chest measurement or a weight range, go by that rather than by S, M or L, because those letters mean different things from one supplier to the next.
Tracksuit trousers are usually sold by waist stretch rather than by inseam, so if you are tall, check the length given and allow for shrinkage of an inch or so on cotton-rich fabric.
Sizing for children
Children's tracksuits are sold by age range, but children of the same age vary enormously. Measure the child's height against a wall and buy by height where the listing gives it.
If the child falls between two sizes, take the larger one. A tracksuit is worn over other clothes in winter, and children grow through a size in a season. Sleeves and ankles that are slightly long are a smaller problem than a set that stops fitting in January.
Washing it so it lasts
- Turn it inside out before washing. This protects the printed side and the brushed inner surface.
- Cold or warm water, never hot. Heat is what flattens fleece and cracks prints.
- Skip the fabric softener. It coats the fibres and makes fleece less warm over time.
- Dry it in the shade. Direct sun fades colour and makes elastic brittle.
Before you order
If you are buying for a child and are unsure between two ages, send us the child's height on WhatsApp at 0345 6650894 and we will tell you which size to take.
Browse tracksuits and kids' clothing, or read our kids' winter size chart for the full height guide.