Bear Grips Pro ShopsWellness Division vs Bikini: What Each Athlete Wears
- Wellness division emphasizes curvier lower body, bikini stays leaner and more linear.
- Wellness apparel needs more stretch in the glute and thigh area.
- Bikini apparel can use more form-fitting cuts throughout.
- Both divisions wear crops, biker shorts, and high-waist leggings, but with different sizing and emphasis.
How the Two Divisions Actually Compare
The NPC bikini division emphasizes a lean, athletic, balanced physique with subtle muscle development. Bikini athletes train hard but maintain a leaner overall look with linear lines through the legs and minimal upper-body mass.
The NPC wellness division (added in 2021) emphasizes a curvier physique with significantly more glute, hamstring, and quad development. Wellness athletes are visibly more muscular in the lower body while keeping the upper body more proportional and less developed.
Same federation, two distinct aesthetics. The training, the diet, and the apparel choices follow.
Bikini Division Apparel Emphasis
Bikini athletes can wear most standard womens athletic apparel without sizing modifications. The training wardrobe leans toward:
- True-to-size leggings: Standard high-waist or seamless leggings fit without sizing up.
- Fitted crop tops: True-to-size crop hoodies and crop sweatshirts work as intended.
- Form-fitting tees: Bella Canvas Womens Favorite Tee and Next Level Premium Cotton both fit standard.
- Padded sports bras: Standard fit, no special sizing required.
Wellness Division Apparel Emphasis
Wellness athletes carry more muscle through the lower body, which changes sizing on bottoms specifically:
- Size up by one in leggings: High-waist leggings often need a size up to accommodate glute and thigh development.
- Size up by one in biker shorts: Same reason. Standard sizing runs tight on a built wellness lower body.
- True-to-size on upper body: Crops, sports bras, and tees fit at standard size because wellness keeps the upper body proportional.
- Stretch waistbands matter more: The Bear Grips high-waist pocket leggings and signature biker shorts have stretch waistbands that handle the size jump cleanly.
Side-by-Side Apparel Chart
| Piece | Bikini athlete | Wellness athlete |
|---|---|---|
| High-waist leggings | True to size | Size up by 1 |
| High-waist biker shorts | True to size | Size up by 1 |
| Cropped hoodie | True to size | True to size |
| Cropped sweatshirt | True to size | True to size |
| Womens favorite tee | True to size | True to size |
| Padded sports bra | True to size | True to size |
| Seamless leggings | True to size | Size up by 1 |
| Flowy muscle tank | True to size | True to size |
How Coaches Stock for Both Divisions
Most prep coaches work with athletes in both divisions. The shop catalog covers both audiences without needing separate products. Stock all of the standard pieces in XS-2XL, add sizing guidance on each product page (\"Wellness athletes typically size up by 1 in leggings and biker shorts\"), and let athletes choose their own size at checkout.
The visual difference between a bikini athlete and a wellness athlete shows in how the same piece fits. Both can wear the same crop hoodie. The biker shorts that fit a bikini athlete at medium fit a wellness athlete at large. Same shop, same brand, same products, different sizing.
Stock Apparel for Both Divisions
One catalog, both divisions. True womens cuts, stretch waistbands, sizing guidance on every page. No minimum, ships in about a week.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need separate products for wellness and bikini athletes?
No. The same product catalog serves both. The difference is sizing guidance on bottoms (wellness athletes size up by one in leggings and biker shorts). Add a note on the product page and let athletes choose.
Should the design or branding differ between divisions?
Not for team apparel. Most prep teams use the same logo and design across both divisions. The athlete identifies their division separately at competition. For personal brand merch, the design follows the athlete personal brand, not the division.
What about figure and womens physique divisions?
Figure carries more visible muscle than bikini but less than womens physique. Apparel sizing for figure athletes tracks closer to wellness (size up by one on bottoms). Womens physique often needs to size up by one in tops too due to more developed shoulder and back muscle.
How fast do orders ship for either division?
About 3-5 business days production at a US partner with free ground shipping. End-to-end is about a week from order to door.
