Survey of 1,200 Middle and High School Students on 'What's Needed in Gym Uniforms': Boys Prioritize 'Stretch/Flexibility,' Girls Prioritize 'Design'—Girls Show Greater Concern for 'Winter Cold' and 'Transparency'
Kanko Gakuseifuku conducted a survey of 1,200 students nationwide regarding gym uniforms. The results revealed that while boys prioritize movement, girls focus on design and functional reassurance like anti-transparency and warmth.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 20:00
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Kanko Gakuseifuku Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Okayama City; President: Shigeru Ozaki) has released survey data on "What Middle and High School Students Think is Necessary for Gym Uniforms" in its monthly research report, "Kanko Homeroom" Vol. 243.
In school life, gym uniforms are as ubiquitous as school uniforms. They are worn not only in PE classes but also during club activities, school events, and various other occasions.
What do students look for in their gym uniforms? We surveyed 1,200 middle and high school students nationwide about the situations where they wear gym uniforms outside of PE classes, their concerns when wearing them, and what they prioritize in gym wear.
◆Survey Summary◆
- The most common occasion for wearing gym uniforms outside of PE is "club activities," but they are also worn during school trips, field trips, and excursions.
- The top concern when wearing gym uniforms is "appearance (design, color, silhouette)," followed by "ease of movement."
- Girls, in particular, tend to have more concerns, such as "winter cold" and "transparency (underwear showing through)."
- Regarding priorities, boys focus most on "stretch/flexibility (ease of movement)," while girls prioritize "design," showing a strong preference for appearance and reassurance.
◆Conclusion and Insights◆
Currently, for students, gym uniforms are both "clothes for exercising" and "essential clothes for school life," expanding their role to support the entire school experience beyond PE classes. Therefore, in addition to athletic functionality, complex values such as comfort, appearance, and reassurance are being sought.
In this survey of 1,200 students, occasions for wearing gym uniforms outside of PE included "club activities" (53.8% for middle schoolers, 44.2% for high schoolers), "school trips (including room wear at accommodations)" (36.0% for middle schoolers, 35.5% for high schoolers), and "field trips/excursions" (29.3% for middle schoolers, 27.3% for high schoolers), revealing frequent use both inside and outside school.
Concerns while wearing gym uniforms included "appearance (design, color, silhouette)" (Boys 28.0%, Girls 39.8%), "ease of movement" (Boys 31.2%, Girls 31.2%), "winter cold" (Boys 19.2%, Girls 33.0%), "comfort/texture" (Boys 21.3%, Girls 27.0%), and "sweat (stains, stickiness, odor, dampness)" (Boys 23.5%, Girls 23.2%). This wide range of concerns suggests that gym uniforms are viewed from multiple perspectives depending on the season and usage situation throughout the year.
In terms of priorities, besides "design" (Boys 32.5%, Girls 51.0%) and "stretch/flexibility" (Boys 39.8%, Girls 43.7%), many girls also expressed a desire for specific colors, loose silhouettes, and anti-transparency measures. A combination of functionality, appearance, and reassurance is being demanded simultaneously.
The role required of gym uniforms is increasingly focused on comfort in daily life as well as athletic performance. Addressing these diverse student needs and viewing gym uniforms as a tool to support the entire school environment is necessary for creating better school settings in the future.
◆Survey Results◆
1. Occasions for wearing gym uniforms outside of PE class:
"Club activities" was the most common response (over 50% for middle schoolers). This was followed by "school trips," "field trips," "in-school classes (as daily wear)," and "cleaning/service activities," showing broad usage across school activities.
Additionally, over 20% responded "not specifically" when asked about wearing gym uniforms outside of PE classes.
In school life, gym uniforms are as ubiquitous as school uniforms. They are worn not only in PE classes but also during club activities, school events, and various other occasions.
What do students look for in their gym uniforms? We surveyed 1,200 middle and high school students nationwide about the situations where they wear gym uniforms outside of PE classes, their concerns when wearing them, and what they prioritize in gym wear.
◆Survey Summary◆
- The most common occasion for wearing gym uniforms outside of PE is "club activities," but they are also worn during school trips, field trips, and excursions.
- The top concern when wearing gym uniforms is "appearance (design, color, silhouette)," followed by "ease of movement."
- Girls, in particular, tend to have more concerns, such as "winter cold" and "transparency (underwear showing through)."
- Regarding priorities, boys focus most on "stretch/flexibility (ease of movement)," while girls prioritize "design," showing a strong preference for appearance and reassurance.
◆Conclusion and Insights◆
Currently, for students, gym uniforms are both "clothes for exercising" and "essential clothes for school life," expanding their role to support the entire school experience beyond PE classes. Therefore, in addition to athletic functionality, complex values such as comfort, appearance, and reassurance are being sought.
In this survey of 1,200 students, occasions for wearing gym uniforms outside of PE included "club activities" (53.8% for middle schoolers, 44.2% for high schoolers), "school trips (including room wear at accommodations)" (36.0% for middle schoolers, 35.5% for high schoolers), and "field trips/excursions" (29.3% for middle schoolers, 27.3% for high schoolers), revealing frequent use both inside and outside school.
Concerns while wearing gym uniforms included "appearance (design, color, silhouette)" (Boys 28.0%, Girls 39.8%), "ease of movement" (Boys 31.2%, Girls 31.2%), "winter cold" (Boys 19.2%, Girls 33.0%), "comfort/texture" (Boys 21.3%, Girls 27.0%), and "sweat (stains, stickiness, odor, dampness)" (Boys 23.5%, Girls 23.2%). This wide range of concerns suggests that gym uniforms are viewed from multiple perspectives depending on the season and usage situation throughout the year.
In terms of priorities, besides "design" (Boys 32.5%, Girls 51.0%) and "stretch/flexibility" (Boys 39.8%, Girls 43.7%), many girls also expressed a desire for specific colors, loose silhouettes, and anti-transparency measures. A combination of functionality, appearance, and reassurance is being demanded simultaneously.
The role required of gym uniforms is increasingly focused on comfort in daily life as well as athletic performance. Addressing these diverse student needs and viewing gym uniforms as a tool to support the entire school environment is necessary for creating better school settings in the future.
◆Survey Results◆
1. Occasions for wearing gym uniforms outside of PE class:
"Club activities" was the most common response (over 50% for middle schoolers). This was followed by "school trips," "field trips," "in-school classes (as daily wear)," and "cleaning/service activities," showing broad usage across school activities.
Additionally, over 20% responded "not specifically" when asked about wearing gym uniforms outside of PE classes.