BAM FLEXA SEAMLESS GYM LEGGINGS

£52 Is the promised 360° stretch handy for triathletes?

There are materials that appear regularly in the pages of 220: Lycra, neoprene, carbon, titanium, to name but a few... But bamboo? Not so much. Hold on if you’re dismissing this review though, as there’s a lot to be said for a material more often associated with pandas’ snack time when it comes to sports apparel. Firstly, there’s the eco angle – bamboo is sustainable for a number of reasons, in that it grows fast, absorbs five-times the carbon of hardwood trees and doesn’t need the irrigation levels linked to cotton. So far so good. But what of the product?

Bam offers a wide range of items for outdoor training and yoga. The Flexa leggings are aimed at gym use but can also cross into yoga and running. I tried them out for runs in the chillier months of February and March, and was impressed by the warmth they offered without feeling thick or heavy. The mostly seamless build makes them feel like they have endless multiway stretch and my size large (for a UK14 tester) was so comfortable I found myself reaching for them for all my run, gym and yoga sessions. The fabric is very soft and comfortable, too, and that grey camo print was nicely subtle.

Another benefit of bamboo is that it absorbs moisture, unlike other fabrics that allow it to sit on the top and attract bacteria/smells. I didn’t find these leggings needed washing after every workout and they held their shape well after a wash.

Time will tell whether they work as well in the warmer summer months – but for now, I’m looking forward to trying more from this range (see next month for more).