EA7 Tracksuits: What the Fabrics Actually Weigh

An EA7 tracksuit is almost always mostly polyester, often blended with elastane, and sometimes with a share of cotton on the so-called "fleece" styles. So the word "fabric" on its own doesn't tell you much: what changes the feel is the fabric weight (GSM), the exact blend ratio and how the piece is cut. Here's what to look at before you buy.

One useful clarification: we sell EA7 in our shop. We are neither an official reseller nor an authorised distributor of the brand. We describe what the product listings state, nothing more.

The short answer: three fabric families

With an EA7 tracksuit, you'll come across three scenarios.

• Technical polyester. A lightweight fabric, often described as "interlock" or "jersey" on the listing. It's supple, dries quickly in the air and doesn't crease much. It's the most common fabric on sports tracksuits.
• Fleece (molleton). A brushed loopback knit on the inside, thicker, often a cotton-polyester blend. This is the everyday tracksuit, the one you wear around town.
• Elastane blends. A small share of elastane, usually between 3 and 10% depending on the style, is enough to give stretch to cuffs, waistband and ankles.

The rest — stripes, logos, zips — is down to finishing, not the main fabric.

Reading a composition: what each fibre actually does

Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fibre. It doesn't distort easily in the wash, it resists abrasion and it doesn't hold water like cotton. On the flip side, it doesn't breathe on its own: it's the weave or knit that lets air through, not the fibre. A very fine, tightly woven polyester holds more heat than an open-knit polyester.

Another point: polyester holds odours more readily than cotton, because body oils cling to it. A 30°C wash on a normal cycle is enough to maintain it. Avoid high temperatures: above 60°C, many synthetic pieces lose their shape.

Cotton

Cotton adds softness to the touch and a less "plasticky" feel against the skin. It absorbs moisture, which is pleasant when you're static and less so during intense effort: wet cotton dries slowly. In a tracksuit, it's almost always blended, rarely on its own.

Elastane

Elastane is the fibre that springs back into shape. A few per cent is enough. It's what stops a cuff from gaping after twenty washes. Too much elastane, on the other hand, makes the fabric heavier and sometimes warmer.

The fibre doesn't make the comfort: it's the fabric weight and the knit that decide.

Fabric weight: the number we don't look at enough

Fabric weight is expressed in grams per square metre (g/m² or GSM). It's the most telling indicator for comparing two tracksuits, and it's also the one most often missing from listings.

These values are market ballparks, not measurements taken from a specific style. If the EA7 listing you're looking at doesn't show the GSM, you can fall back on two visual clues: the thickness of the hood where there is one, and how the fabric holds its shape in a worn photo. A heavy fleece breaks at the fold; a fine jersey floats.

What an EA7 tracksuit is not

It needs saying clearly, because many listings leave room for doubt.

A polyester tracksuit is not "waterproof". It may have received a surface treatment that makes light rain bead off, but a seam, a zip or a machine wash reduces that effect. No standard sportswear textile keeps you dry in continuous rain.

A fleece tracksuit doesn't carry a temperature rating like "keeps you warm down to minus fifteen degrees". That information depends on what you wear underneath, your activity and the wind. A fleece cuts dry cold well, wind poorly.

Finally, no textile fabric is "indestructible". Polyester resists abrasion better than cotton, that's all. A tracksuit worn three times a week shows signs of wear at friction points — crotch, cuffs, collar — after a certain number of seasons. That's normal.

The case of stripes and zips

On EA7 tracksuits, side stripes and zips are checkpoints at purchase.

The stripes

They can be woven into the fabric or applied as a border. An applied stripe can peel or come unstitched at the shoulders after several washes, especially if you wash hot. Turn the piece inside out and wash it that way.

Zips and eyelets

The metal parts — zip pull, cord eyelets, sometimes the buckle — are most often 316L stainless steel. Watch out for a common confusion: the "L" in 316L stands for "low carbon", meaning low carbon content. It doesn't mean the metal is "nickel-free". Stainless steel commonly contains 10 to 14% nickel.

What matters for sensitive skin isn't the presence of nickel but its release, that is, the amount of metal that migrates on contact with sweat. A surface coating or a different metal on the part in direct contact with the skin changes things. If you react easily to metals, look mainly at what touches the skin: the zip pull itself is rarely in prolonged contact.

Stainless steel contains nickel: what's measured is how much it releases.

How to choose according to your use

For indoor sport

Go for a fine polyester, with elastane at the ankles and waist. A lightweight tracksuit dries between sessions and takes up little space in a bag. Fleece is best avoided: it holds heat, which quickly becomes uncomfortable indoors.

For town and cool days

Fleece wins. It has a cleaner drape and doesn't cling to the leg. Check the composition: a blend with a notable share of cotton gives a softer touch, a dominant polyester gives better shape retention in the wash.

For mixed use

A mid-season tracksuit, in the 240 to 300 g/m² range, covers most situations. It's the most common compromise in catalogues.

Care: what actually extends the life of the piece

• Wash at 30°C, synthetics cycle, moderate spin.
• Turn the tracksuit inside out before putting it in the machine: stripes and logos will thank you.
• No fabric softener on polyester. It clogs the fibres and reduces the effect of certain finishes.
• Air dry, flat or on a hanger. A hot tumble dryer distorts knits and weakens elastane.
• Close zips before washing: an open pull catches the fabric.

These habits don't make the piece eternal. They simply delay visible wear at the points that rub.

Sizes and fit: measure before you order

For a tracksuit, the size question comes up often. We can't tell you what size to take: it depends on your build and the exact cut of the style, which varies from one reference to another.

What you can do, however: measure a garment you already wear and that fits you. Lay it flat, measure the waist, the hip and the inside leg. Compare these figures with the size chart on the listing. It's more reliable than trusting a label.

For shoes, the method is different. Measure your feet at the end of the day, when they're slightly swollen, and measure both: they're not identical. Trace the outline on a sheet of paper, heel against a wall, and note the length from heel to the tip of the longest foot. Then match that measurement to the EU / UK / US conversion on the product listing. Sizing varies with the shape: a wide shoe isn't chosen like a narrow one.

What the price of an EA7 tracksuit reflects

An EA7 tracksuit sits in an intermediate to upper price range compared with a generalist sports tracksuit. What you pay covers three things: the fabric and its weight, the finishing (stripes, zips, cut), and the brand name.

The "brand" share is real and there's no point denying it. But it isn't alone: at equal composition, two tracksuits can look very different depending on the GSM and the quality of the stitching. That's why we suggest looking at the listing before looking at the label.

Frequently asked questions

Does a polyester EA7 tracksuit make you sweat?

It depends on the weave more than the fibre. An open-knit polyester lets air through and dries quickly. A finely woven, lined polyester holds heat. For intense activity, choose a lightweight piece and check that it doesn't have a thick lining.

Does EA7 fleece shrink in the wash?

A piece containing cotton can shrink slightly on the first hot wash, especially if it goes in the tumble dryer. Wash at 30°C and air dry: the risk becomes negligible. Polyester alone practically doesn't shrink.

How can you tell if the tracksuit is good quality without touching it?

Three clues on the listing: the full composition rather than a partial one, the GSM if stated, and the presence of precisely described finishing details (type of zip, type of cord, stitching). A listing that gives no composition doesn't help you decide.

Can the stripes on the tracksuit peel off?

Yes, it's a known wear point on applied stripes, especially after high-temperature washes or a tumble dryer cycle. Wash inside out, at 30°C, and avoid the tumble dryer.

Should you size up?

We can't answer that for you: the cut varies between styles and we don't know your measurements. The reliable method is to measure a garment you already wear flat and compare it with the size chart on the product listing.

Where to find these pieces

To discover the pieces, browse our clothing and men's clothing.