Autumn changes what training asks of your wardrobe. In summer, one layer does the job. From September onwards you start cold, warm up fast, and cool down faster — often in the same session. The kit that works is the kit you can add to and shed without thinking.
This is a simple checklist for getting back to the gym as the temperature drops. No excess, no gimmicks — just the pieces worth owning, and what to look for in each so it lasts beyond a single autumn.
1. A breathable base layer (the piece you train in)
The base layer is the one doing the real work: managing moisture while you move. This is where fabric choice matters most.
Look for lyocell (TENCEL™) rather than standard polyester. Lyocell is a wood-based fibre that absorbs sweat into the fibre instead of leaving it on the surface — which means it holds far less odour after a session, breathes better, and doesn't cling. Paired with plant-based anti-odour technology, a good lyocell tee stays genuinely fresh across multiple wears.
What to check: at least 80–90% lyocell in the blend, flatlock seams to prevent chafing, and an OEKO-TEX certified anti-odour treatment — not silver or PFAS.
Shop lyocell tees: men's t-shirts & polos · women's tops & tees. Breathable, naturally odour-resistant, made to wear more between washes.
2. A hoodie for the warm-up and the walk home
Autumn's defining piece. You want it on before the session while you're still cold, and on again afterwards for the cool-down and the journey home. It doesn't need to be technical — it needs to be warm enough, breathable enough, and comfortable enough to keep on.
French terry cotton is ideal here: smooth outside, looped inside, with natural structure that manages heat without trapping it like fleece. Add plant-based anti-odour and it holds up to being worn repeatedly between washes — which, for a piece you'll live in all autumn, matters.
What to check: French terry construction (not thin jersey or heavy fleece), premium cotton that resists pilling, and an anti-odour treatment that survives more than a season.
The autumn staple: APRÍshield™ hoodie — French terry cotton, NordShield anti-odour, 99.9% effective after 30 washes. See all men's and women's hoodies.
3. A crew-neck sweatshirt (the versatile mid-layer)
The sweatshirt is the hoodie's more understated sibling — a clean mid-layer for milder days, a piece that moves easily from the gym floor to the rest of the day. If you only own one warm layer, a hoodie covers more situations; but a crew neck is the one that looks composed enough to keep wearing once training's done.
What to check: a relaxed but not shapeless fit, dropped shoulders for comfort over a base layer, and the same anti-odour and certification standards as the rest of your kit.
A quiet everyday layer: APRÍshield™ crew-neck sweat in premium cotton with biodegradable NordShield anti-odour.
4. Shorts or leggings that still make sense indoors
Much of autumn training moves back indoors, where it's warm regardless of the weather outside. Shorts still have their place for gym floor work, padel, and indoor courts — and for outdoor sessions, leggings with a little more coverage carry you through the cooler mornings.
What to check: premium cotton with anti-odour for relaxed sweat shorts; 78% polyamide with elastane for performance leggings — softer and more durable than polyester, with better stretch recovery and opacity.
For indoor and court sessions: APRÍshield™ sweat shorts, or explore the full workout edit.
5. The layering logic, in one line
Base layer for the effort. Hoodie or sweatshirt for the warm-up and cool-down. Shorts or leggings to match where you're training. Add a layer when you arrive, shed it when you're warm, put it back on before you leave. That's the whole system.
The reason it works isn't the number of pieces — it's that each one earns its place, breathes properly, and stays fresh enough to wear more than once between washes.
One principle behind the whole list
Every piece here shares the same logic: natural or premium fabrics, plant-based anti-odour that lasts, and construction made to survive real use. That's what lets you wear activewear more between washes — fewer washes, less friction, and kit that's still going strong long after the season ends.
If you're rebuilding the habit as well as the wardrobe, read our companion guide: how to get back into training after summer — and make the routine stick. And to understand the anti-odour technology that makes wearing pieces more than once possible, see the best workout clothes that don't smell.
Want the science behind the fabrics? Explore the APRÍ Learning Hub.