Review: Skirtsports GymGirl & BikeGirl

I was originally going to post this with a group of other reviews of things I've tried lately, but then it got long and I ran out of steam somewhere in the middle. So, rather than just waste that time, I figured I'd post the one review I did manage to complete. :)

I'm a regular reader of the Vine, and there was a question there a few weeks ago about workout clothes that don't look gross if you sweat a lot, or something like that. One of the items on the list of reader suggestions was the GymGirl workout skirt. Being a sucker for workout skirts of any kind, I had to check them out. After reading the website and noticing the sale section, I ordered a GymGirl in XL (color: ink). Serendipitously, they had a sale on BikeGirls about a week later, so I picked up one of those, too (black-on-black, XXL because the black runs small).

They both arrived shortly before we left for Wisconsin, and I've worn the GymGirl once and the BikeGirl twice.

OPEN WIDE for reviews.

NOTE: Because my GymGirl is about 10 lbs. too small right now (XXL black was not available on the sale page), this review is based more on the BikeGirl. Since their designs are basically the same, the items below should apply to both, once I get to a size where I feel more comfortable wearing the GymGirl in public.

The one thing I will say about the GymGirl that doesn't apply to the BikeGirl: The inseam's a little too short for those of us with thunder thighs. On the one workout I did, was forever pulling on the shorts to keep them from rolling up. I have this same issue with combo shorts in my correct size if the inseam is too short (<4 inches), so I know it's not just that the skirt is too small.

The pros:

1. Stretchy, breathable, blissfully comfortable (even a size too small). The mesh shorts are awesome.

2. The chamois on the BikeGirl isn't half bad. I mean, I wouldn't want to ride a century in it, but it beats the stuffing out of Terry's Commuter skort chamois, and it's more than sufficient for my 11-mile commute.

3. I totally love the iPod pocket*. On our trail ride, that stretchy little pocket carried my cell phone, a credit card, cash, driver's license, and car keys. I thought for sure one of the large items would slip out, with it being on my thigh and everything, but it held. I haven't had a chance to actually use it as an iPod pocket, but I like that it has a headphone passthrough hole in the skirt part. Too cool.

Cons:

1. The leg grippers on the BikeGirl (which, combined with a very-slightly longer inseam, are what keep them from having the GymGirl problem mentioned above) are smooth plastic. This works well enough for keeping the shorts in place, but leaves a red mark on my leg after my commute. I think it's because it gets sweaty under there, then the plastic slides around a little and chafes. The nubbly rubber grippers on my other bike shorts do not do this, so I'm pretty sure it's the smoothness.

2. They're expensive. I'm mostly of the "pay for quality" camp, but even the sale prices on these things made me wince a little before hitting the "add to cart" button.

3. Like most workout clothes, these skirts are designed for athletic bodies. Flat tummies, pleasantly muscular legs, marked lack of saddlebags. For instance, this model. Though my GymGirl looks exactly like hers on a hanger, it does not look anything like hers when I'm running. The slippery fabric of the skirt makes it ride up higher than the shorts most of the time, and I've already mentioned my shorts issues. I found myself doing a funky little dance on the treadmill, what with the adjusting of the shorts and the yanking of the skirt. I was glad I was alone in the workout room. :) While I don't have the shorts problem on the BikeGirl, the skirt is the same.

This is a minor complaint, however, since it's true of just about everything. I only mention it because there are other workout clothes that are more flattering/lower maintenance for larger sizes--yoga pants, capris, compression shorts/loose running shorts combo, etc. These skirts are still cute and definitely very comfortable, but I feel a little self-conscious wearing them nonetheless. They have a "I might be too fat for this outfit" feeling for me, kind of like low-rise pants. Your mileage may vary, of course.

The verdict:

Comfortable, well-made, and cute--thumbs up! The issues I had with them were minor, and had a lot more to do with my pear-shaped body than the skirts themselves. If you're less than, say, 30 lbs overweight, carry your weight differently, or even just have fewer body image issues--I say work it, girl. :)

*they call it an "mp3 player pocket" on the GymGirl, and a "hidden pocket" on the BikeGirl. I'm not sure if that's an implicit message against riding with earphones or what, but I can tell you that the BikeGirl has the same headphone port through the skirt as the GymGirl. You know, in case that's a selling point for you.