How to Choose the Right Sports Hijab

Fitness requires the utmost comfort and what that means is being comfortable in your fitness attire. If you are a hijabi, comfort and safety in sports are equally important. To get the best fitness experience in a hijab, there are a 3 key areas you need to remember :  Fabric, Safety, Design

1. Fabric

Choose the right fabric.

  • Choose fabric that moisture wicks
    What it means is that the fabric is able to dry fast by  evaporating moisture and sweat away from skin. Most wicking fabrics are made of polyester mix. Typical cotton absorbs moisture and sweat and does not facilitate evaporation well. Therefore, moisture tends to hold onto it and due to that, the fabric becomes heavier and may cause discomfort and chafing. There is moisture wicking cotton designed for sports, but expensive.
  • Breathablility
    Mesh, Pattern Texture or Interlock or mix? Mesh is more breathable as it has small holes to allow ventilation.
    There are some fabric with different types of pattern texture as pique, waffle and stripe pique. They are not smooth but adds flattering element onto your sportswear. Interlock, on the other hand is smooth and soft, but as not breathable as mesh.
    Wafer Pique
    .
    Mesh and Interlock Fabric
  • Thickness & Weight
    Depending on temperature and humidity, you would want to choose the right thickness so that you don’t get too hot or too cold with hijab on. Thickness comes with extra weight. If you are looking for performance sports hijab, choose the ones that are lightweight and fast drying.  If you prefer heavier fabric for personal reasons,  it is ok too. Some prefer heavier fabric as it is not easily blown by the wind, hence does not flip easily.
  • Wet or Dry, or Both
    Find out if fabric is suitable for swimming and water sports. Some polyester and nylon fabric are fast drying and elastic that they are versatile for both dry and wet.

2. Safety features

  • Easily Detachable
    Depending on the level of intensity and ruggedness of your activity, you would want to get sports hijab that is secure but removable easily so that your head or neck does not get snagged. Accidents can happen when your hijab gets stuck or pulled while working out. 
    No pins or brooch

    Avoid wearing pins or brooches on hijab for sporting activities. Be it safety pins, sewing pins or scarf pins, you may not only cause danger to yourself but others who are exercising with you. Brooches with sharp edges and pins may cause unnecessary injuries.
    Wrapsarounds? Maybe not.
    Long scarfs that require wrapping around your neck are not safe as it my cause injuries if the scarf gets stuck or snagged while moving around.

Neck-scarf
Possible injury if scarf wrapped around neck for Sports

  • Reflectors (nice to have)
    Invest a little bit more for additional safety feature like reflectors on your hijab. You would find such feature useful for caving, hiking, trailing and even for running and cycling at night or before the sun comes out.

    Sports Hijab Reflector

    Sports Hijab Reflector

3. Designs

  • Sporty
    Sporty designs typically make use of vivid lines around the head and front. However, if you are not comfortable having such look, you could wear simple and conventional designs. Some sports hijab designs are suitable for both wet and dry activities.

    Short Sporty Design

    Short Sporty Design

  • Length & Width
    Depending on your dressing preference and comfort, you can either choose short or long hijab. Short sports hijab gives better hand movement and lesser obstruction around chest area. Some finds good comfort  tucking in short sports hijabs into their shirts .
    If you prefer long sports hijab for better chest coverage, make sure the sides do not obstruct hand and shoulder movement.

    Long Sports Hijab

    Long Sports Hijab

  • Colors
    Black, white and grey are the common and most universal colors. Do remember however, that black absorbs heat and it does affect sporting experience, especially outdoor and during daytime. Avoid using dark colors and try wearing hints of bright colors on your sports hijab as it adds more vibrant onto your look.

    Hints of Bright Colors

    Hints of Bright Colors

  • Design for the right Sporting Activity
    Jumping & Inversion friendly

    If you are looking for sports hijab for obstacle run, yoga or any sporting activities that require jumping or rolling like netball or volleyball, you may want to look for hijab that does not flip (unflippable) or invert, or you may want to tuck in your hijab.

    Inversion Friendly

  • Competitive or Training
    If you are an athlete looking for performance sports hijab, you need to get the ones made of lightweight and super breathable fabric.
    It is also important that the hijab is comfortable and practical that it does not cause obstruction when you compete. You would want to compete with a clear and free mind. It may be pricier. You can spend a little bit lesser for sports hijab you use for training. It can be longer and heavier and not designed for performance.
    Competitive Sports Hijab

So weigh your options and choose the right sports hijab for a swift and comfortable sporting experience. Check the fabric, make sure the hijab is safe for sports, pick design that flatters you and suits your sporting activity.

Focus on performance and having a great active lifestyle!

 

Ultra Set was Put To Test @ Penang National Park

Ultra Range Products : Full Support Sports Bra, Compression Arm Sleeves, Skirt Compression Pants and the Ultra A-Cut Top are designed for performance. They were put to test at a two-day trailing activities at Penang National Park during Mother’s Day weekend.

Day 1 (Saturday) :

Attire : Amin Hijab, Black Ultra A-Cut Top, Pink Skirt Compression Pants, Nashata’s Fushia Sports Bag

  • 2.9 km trail from Penang National Park Entrance to Monkey Beach. Time taken – 50 minutes.
    What do you get to see apart from big rocks and sea view along the way? BIG monitor lizard, Murai Batu, White Sea Eagle, Colorful Butterflies, Mengkuang Laut, Orange Fungus & USM Research Station
  • 1.2 km trail from Monkey Beach to Muka Head Light House. It was a steep walk up the hill, but the view from the light house was amazing. Time taken – 1 hour
    What do you get to see, apart from steep stairway? ‘Strings of  Pink Avatar Flower’, on the tree and on the ground, White Sea Eagles when you reach the top. The light house was built in 1883. It has a marvelous view of the hill and the sea.
  • 1.2 km trail back from Muka Head Light House to Monkey Beach. Walking down was easy.
    Time taken :38 mins
  • Boat ride back to Penang National Park initial point
    What do you get to see? Fish farms and stationary boats where tourist fish
    Time taken : 10 minsday 1

Day 2 (Sunday)

Attire : Amin Hijab, Grey Ultra A-Cut Top, Black Skirt Compression Pants, Nashata Full Support Sports Bra &  Nashata’s Fushia Sports Bag

  • 2.9 km trail from Penang National Park Entrance to Kerancut Beach. Time taken – 55 minutes.
    What do you get to see ? 5 creeks, marked trees, colorful butterflies and pink avatar flowers.
  • Upon reaching Kerancut Beach, you will see a short hanging bridge bridge that goes across the Meromictic Lake.
  • Kerancut Beach apparently is famous for jelly fishes and you can’t swim there. No don’t even dare!
  • As you walk along the beach, you will pass a jetty and the Turtle Sanctuary is right after that. You can walk on the jetty to see plenty jelly fishes in the water.turtle
  • What do you get to see at the Turtle Sanctuary? Hatchery area, bins of baby turtles and medium size turtles, Turtle info-center and more Murai Batu birds
  • At the 2.9 km trail back, you may bump into slithery animals like snakes and an Orange Flower with black seeds on its petals.  Time taken :1 hour

day2

So what were to THUMBS up about trailing in  Nashata Outfit?

  • You don’t get bugs bite! The good thing about trailing in long sleeves, long pants and a sports hijab on is that you need not use insect repellent. Your body is protected.
  • All the items, including the sports bra are made of light weight and anti-bacterial fabric, hence no odor and fast to dry  throughout and after your activities.
  • The extended sleeves, covering half of you palm protect your palm when you need to do rope work or when you hold on to branches along the way. There are ropes at both trails.
    Not only that, I use palm to wipe your nose and sweat along the way.
  • Phone and important small items are safely secured on the back of Skirt Compression Pants and the compression pants keep you knees and thighs firm. I can’t feel carrying a phone at your back.
  •  The Amin Hijab, to be released end of this month was put to another TEST. The combination of breathable fabric and fitted design gives complete comfort! It was dry throughout !
  • The light weight sports bag was idea for 6 km trail. With phone and important item in the pockets, a small towel, a water bottle, a shirt and a raincoat fit nicely in the bag. The total weight is just like an empty bag-pack! But running with the bag on is not advisable.

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Protection and comfort attained while trailing in Nashata Outfit!

Lastly, here’s a Grid of Pink Avatar Flowers and the Orange Flower with Black Seeds on its Petals. Let us know if you know the name of these exotic-looking flowers!

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