16 Halloween Costumes For the Gym *and* the After Party
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Halloween isn't just for kids — in fact, it's arguably more fun for adults. As grown-ups, there's plenty of creative costumes to choose from, but also way more options to celebrate. The only downside is — now that the days of trick-or-treating have come and gone (for the most part) — there's a chance the actual holiday might land smack dab in the middle of your weekly fitness routine. And as much as we'd love to party all week long, many of us have bills to pay, mouths to feed, and yes, workouts to hit. Luckily, there's still ways to stay in the Halloween spirit — and wearing a costume to the gym is a good place to start.
Lately, as more gyms (and even exercise studios) start to celebrate Halloween, gym-goers have been encouraged to dress up and get festive with their workouts. That said, it can be difficult to get a full workout in if you're wearing an elaborate or uncomfortable costume. To give you some more realistic costume inspo, we rounded up the best Halloween costumes for the gym, using references from social media. From iconic movie characters to literal "gym rats," there's something here for virtually every fitness enthusiast.
Not only do these clever gym Halloween costumes look great, but they also won't majorly obstruct your workout, allowing you to run, jump, squat, lift, and row to your heart's content. Plus, many of these activewear-inspired outfits are easy to make at home. Whether you're looking for something punny, spooky, or pretty, you'll find an idea here. Just don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and show off your spooky season spirit . . . even if it's in an unlikely setting.
— Additional reporting by Maggie Ryan, Melissa Santoyo, and Chandler Plante
Mother Nature
Bring some of the great outdoors to your Halloween sweat sesh. All you need is a pastel workout set (we love the green shown here), and a flowery headpiece. You could also use plant-themed clips, barrettes, or jewelry to really sell the nature theme.
Gym Rat
We love this punny play on words, and it doesn't require too much effort. Complete your gym rat transformation with a pair of ears, gym shorts, and drawn-on whiskers. Go the extra mile with a gym rat shirt, but don't feel obligated — a plain sports bra or crop top works just as well.
Witch
When in doubt, go for this classic option. The pointy hat is the key element here, but a witch costume is easy to customize for the gym — plus, it works great with any dark or sheer activewear.
Clown
Throw on some (sweat-proof) face paint and space buns for a quick-yet-spooky ensemble. You could also skip the makeup and just stick to a DIY clown outfit. We like that this version is basically just a white blouse, striped socks, and black gym shorts.
Butterflies
Get a group together for this unique costume idea. You'll need a black leotard and shorts for the base, and a pair of colorful butterfly wings to go over top. The antennae and glittery makeup serve as the perfect finishing touches.
Harley Quinn
This gym costume is no joke. Re-create Harley Quinn's look with mini pigtails, a baseball tee, and red gym shorts. Add some colorful triangles under your eyes (we'd argue the sweat only adds to the look) and stay away from any wayward baseball bats.
The Purge
If the Purge really did happen, would you spend it in the gym? This costume is easy to make gym-friendly — all you need is black gym shorts, a black sports bra, and a white button down (fake blood optional). We're also big fans of this light-up mask . . . just make sure you can see before lifting.
Alarm Clocks
Any fitness enthusiast knows early alarms hit different. Go for one of these DIY alarm costumes, and you might just secure the scariest costume in the whole gym.
Rosie the Riveter
This inspirational gym costume will remind you that "we can do it." Hit a new PR and push through that last set with a red bandana, denim button-up, and black leggings.
Waste Management
Don't be wasteful. This gym costume is seriously spooky, but it doesn't take a ton of time to re-create. Dress up in scrubs or oversized athleisure (then give them a healthy dose of fake blood). We'd argue that the clinical waste bag and syringe are crucial details.
The Incredibles
These iconic supersuits will help you channel your inner superhero and power through even the toughest of reps and sets.
Black Cat
Put that workout onesie to good use. Take inspiration from this literal catsuit, complete with matching cat ears and whiskers. A black workout set could also work just as well.
Zombie
Give new meaning to the word "deadlift." This easy zombie costume consists of an oversized T-shirt or T-shirt dress, thigh-high socks, and optional bloody makeup. Perfect for anyone feeling like a real-life zombie.
Devil
Heat things up with this devil-inspired gym costume. All you need is some red activewear (we love this shimmery set), and a pair of devil horns.
Sesame Street
The gang's all here! While most of these furry jumpsuits are easy to move around in, we'd recommend wearing something underneath in case you get too hot. Other than that, you really can't beat this group gym costume.
Botched Barbie
This isn't your typical Barbie costume. Make your pink workout set a little more terrifying with fake blood and arrows to represent a surgery-gone-wrong.
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Christina Stiehl is a former senior editor for PS Fitness. She is a writer, editor, and content strategist with more than 10 years of professional journalism experience, the last six of which have been focused in the health, fitness, and wellness space. Her work has appeared in SELF, VICE, SHAPE, Men's Health, Thrillist, and more. She's passionate about advocating for mental health and erasing the stigma associated with mental illness.
Maggie Ryan was an assistant editor at PS. A longtime runner and athlete, Maggie has nearly four years of experience covering topics in the wellness space, specializing in fitness, sports, nutrition, and mental health.
Melissa Santoyo is PS contributor and a senior at Northwestern University.
Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for PS Health and Fitness. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she enjoys finding new ways to rock her 18(!) different eye patches, and making videos about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.