Pole Wear Buying Guide: What Every Pole Dancer Actually Needs

Whether you've just booked your first class or you've been training for a while and your kit bag is a jumble of random activewear — this guide is for you.

Pole wear can feel overwhelming when you're starting out. There are scrunch bum shorts and booty shorts and knee pads and grip aids and suddenly you're staring at a wall of options wondering what you actually need versus what you can wait on.

Here's the honest breakdown, from people who've been making pole wear for over two decades.

Why Pole Wear Is Different from Regular Activewear

Regular gym gear is designed to cover skin. Pole wear is designed to expose it — in the right places.

Skin contact is how you grip the pole. Your inner thighs, knees, the backs of your knees, your arms and your back are your main grip points. Anything covering those areas reduces your ability to hold on — which is why pole shorts are shorter than regular shorts, and why polers wear bralettes or crop tops rather than full singlets.

This isn't about how you look. It's about how you stick.

Once you understand that, every other purchase decision becomes a lot clearer.

The Essentials: What You Need to Start

1. Pole Shorts

This is your most important purchase. A good pair of pole shorts should:

• Be high-cut at the thigh to give you skin contact on the inner leg
• Stay exactly where they are when you move, invert or spin — no shifting, no riding up
• Have a waistband that sits firm without digging in or rolling down mid-class
• Fit your body, not an average sample size

The two styles you'll choose between:

Booty shorts are the classic cut — high on the leg, full coverage at the back. Great for beginners who are still getting comfortable with the amount of skin involved, or anyone who just prefers the fit. Browse booty shorts →

Scrunch bum shorts have the same coverage on the sides but feature a gather seam through the centre back that lifts and sculpts. These are wildly popular because they feel secure, look incredible, and are just as grippy as a traditional cut. Browse scrunch bum shorts →

Both work equally well for grip. It really comes down to the fit and how you feel in them.

Sizing tip: Pole shorts should sit firmly without compressing uncomfortably. If you're between sizes, go up — you want security without restriction. RARR goes from XS to 5XL with a detailed size guide on every product page.

2. A Pole-Friendly Top

You don't need anything special for your first few classes. A fitted crop top or sports bra works perfectly — you just need something that stays in place and doesn't have drawstrings, zips, or any hardware that could catch on the pole.

As you progress, you'll start appreciating tops with thinner straps or open backs, because they give your arms and upper body more contact with the pole for tricks.

At the start, avoid:

• Loose singlets or t-shirts (fabric can catch and bunch)
• Anything with hardware across the front or back
• Slippery fabrics that won't grip your arm when you need them to

3. Bare Feet

Most pole studios start you barefoot. You don't need special shoes, socks or grip socks to begin. Heels come later — and that's a whole separate conversation.

Nice to Have: What to Add Once You're a Few Weeks In

Knee Pads

The moment your studio introduces floorwork — or any move where you grip the pole with your inner knee — you'll wish you had these. They protect you during training and can genuinely expand what's possible as your skills develop.

We've written a full guide on finding the right pair for your style and skin: Knee Pads 101 →

Pole Grip Aid

Sweaty hands, dry skin, humidity, seasonal changes — all of these affect how well you stick. Grip aids come as sprays, gels, blocks, and powders, and what works brilliantly for one person may do nothing for another. Your skin type, your pole type, and even the weather all factor in.

The best way to figure out what you need is to try a few. Your studio might have some on hand — ask before you buy. When you're ready to explore, we've covered this in depth: How to Pick the Right Pole Grip →

What to Skip (At Least for Now)

Pole heels. They're incredible and we love them. But get comfortable on bare feet first — heels change everything about how you move and balance, and that's a much easier transition once you have some core pole skills.

A full matching set on day one. Start with what you need, then build your wardrobe as you figure out which colours and styles you actually love training in. (That said, if a set makes you want to train — buy the set.)

Budget activewear used as pole wear. Regular cheap leggings or shorts might seem like a cost-effective start, but slippery fabric genuinely makes learning harder and can be frustrating when you can't understand why a move isn't working. Good pole shorts are worth the investment early.

Fabric: Why It Matters More Than You Think

The material your pole shorts are made from affects grip, durability, how they move and how they hold up wash after wash.

Look for:

• Squat-proof construction — no transparency when you stretch or bend
• Strong recovery — the fabric should spring back to shape after being pulled in every direction
• Colourfast dyes that won't bleed onto the pole (or your skin)
• Breathable but not slippery

Cheap activewear fabric often looks fine on a hanger but loses its shape after a few washes. It can also sit against the pole in a way that actively reduces your grip rather than helping it.

RARR pole wear is designed specifically for the demands of pole training — every piece is tested for grip, recovery, and durability before it goes into production.

Sizing and Fit: The Honest Version

Pole wear sizes differently from everyday clothes, and it can be surprising the first time.

For shorts: They'll look very small when you hold them. That's correct. Stretch the waistband between your hands — if it snaps back with firm, even tension and room to stretch further, it'll hold. Measure your natural waist and hips, then compare to the size chart. Don't guess.

For tops and bralettes: Pole tops tend to run smaller than everyday crop tops because they're made for movement and grip, not loungewear. If you're between sizes, size up in shorts and down in bralettes.

If your thighs are fuller or you carry weight in your hips: don't size based on your waist measurement alone. Go with the larger measurement and adjust from there.

RARR sizes go from XS to 5XL, every product has a detailed fit guide, and if you're not sure — reach out. We'd genuinely rather help you get the right size than have you return something.

Your Starter Kit: What We'd Actually Tell a Friend

Here's what you need to get going without overthinking it:

Start with quality shorts. They're the one thing you'll wear to every single class, they're the piece that most directly affects your training, and they're worth getting right.

What to Shop at RARR

We've been making pole wear in Australia since we started, in sizes XS to 5XL, built for real training bodies.

• Shop All Booty Shorts →
• Scrunch Bum Shorts →
• Matching Sets →
• Knee Pads →

Afterpay available. Free shipping on Australian orders over $150.

Got a question about sizing or what to choose for your body or training style? Drop us a message — we're actual humans who pole dance and we're happy to help.