If you want to get back in shape, it starts by getting back into the best gym gear you can get your hands on. After all, you need new gym clothes to pump weights and look good in the process, right? Gym gear for men has come a long way and features a range of features to keep you cool, comfortable, and odour-free while you workout. This range of gym apparel and men’s fitness wear is sure to give you that ‘look-good feel-good’ motivation to smash out your gym sessions day in and day out. Step up your gym style with our top picks for the best workout gear to get you back in the gym.
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What to Consider When Buying Gym Apparel
If you’re making the trek back to the gym and want to get your outfit sorted, it’s not as easy as just chucking on an old, worn out t-shirt. There are a few key things that gym apparel offers that conventional clothing does not. Here’s what you should be looking out for;
- Movement – The best gym clothes for men are all about making it easy to move. Let’s face it, going to the gym is pointless if you aren’t going to get your body in action. For this reason, it’s important that your gym gear is flexible and not too tight.
- Material – You want to have a full range of motion, so it pays to look for gym wear made from materials that stretch. Denim is obviously out.
- Air-Flow – In order to keep yourself from overheating, your gym clothes should offer some breathability. The best gym clothes for men often have vents or mesh ducts above your important, high-sweat areas.
Best Gym Shoes
When it comes to getting your workout gear sorted this year, it starts from the ground up. From Nike to Under Armour, here is a list of the best gym shoes and workout footwear to up your New Year’s resolution fitness revival.
Nike ZoomX SuperRep Surge
The Nike ZoomX SuperRep Surge is built for classes and workouts that keep you moving. From the treadmill to the rowing machine to strength training, you get the responsive cushioning of Nike ZoomX foam and containment support from an arc on the side to keep you ahead of the curve.
Brand: Nike
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $200
Nike Metcon 6
The most breathable version yet, the Nike Metcon 6 helps keep your foot cool when you’re going full steam. It stands up to the push and pull of heavily weighted and high-intensity workouts, delivering stability and durability. A favourite of multi-time CrossFit champion and current Fittest on Earth winner Mat Fraser, the Metcon 6 has all the support you need to make some serious gym gains this year.
Brand: Nike
Best for: High-intensity, CrossFit
Price: $190
TriBase Reign 2 Training Shoes
These aren’t your typical weight lifting shoes for men. Under Armour TriBase technology maximises your contact with the floor with three points of contact for a low, stable base that still allows natural foot flexibility. Additionally, these shoes come with larger external heel counter and collar height for increased stability & heel lock-in along with strategic rubber build under the toe box for a more powerful floor grip.
Brand: Under Armour
Best for: Weight-lifting
Price: $170
Nike Free Metcon 3
The Nike Free Metcon 3 combines Nike Free flexibility around the forefoot with Metcon stability in the heel to help you get the most out of your training session. The signature Nike technology in the forefoot creates flexibility for agility moves and sprints, while the rigidity up the sides helps support side-to-side movement. For the big boys, the flat, wide heel creates a stable base when you’re lifting.
Brand: Nike
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $180
Reebok HIIT Shoes
Keep up the pace during jump squats and burpees. The gym shoes are specifically designed for High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), making them some of the most versatile workout shoes on the market. The mesh upper features a pillow around the collar for a locked-in fit, while the flexible outsole provides dependable grip on slippery gym floors.
Brand: Reebok
Best for: High-intensity
Price: $150
Reebok Nano X Unknown
You never know what challenges the WOD will bring. With these men’s mid-cut shoes you’ll be ready. The textile upper and high collar provide extra coverage and support. Added midsole cushioning and a decoupled outsole make them more comfortable than ever before.
Brand: Reebok
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $200
adidas Powerlift 4
Take your weight training sessions to new heights. Made for stability, these weightlifting shoes have a narrow fit, a midsole wedge and a wide instep strap for complete lockdown. A rubber outsole keeps you firmly planted when lifting.
Brand: adidas
Best for: Power-lifting
Price: $140
New Balance Fresh Foam Roav
Designed for athletes on-the-go, the New Balance Fresh Foam Roav men’s running shoe takes you from morning miles to the rest of your day in comfort and style. The signature Fresh Foam cushioning delivers a plush ride, while Ultra Heel technology provides a seamless, secure fit to help keep you locked in.
Brand: New Balance
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $140
Best Gym Shorts and Pants
Now you’ve got the shoes sorted, it’s on to the pants. With a focus on flexibility and mobility, these shorts and track pants offer the ability to run, squat, stretch and lift in ease. Here are the bottoms you need to boost your workout this year.
Pace Breaker Short 7″ Linerless
Run, train, or stretch in these lululemon shorts. Made from Lightweight, Swift fabric, wear these multi-sport shorts for pretty much any occasion. Zippered storage keeps essentials close, and they come in six different colours to suit any style you’re going for.
Brand: lululemon
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $69
Nike Flex
Made from soft, stretchy fabric, the Nike Flex Trousers help you move freely before, during, and after your routine. A tapered design reduces distractions and lets you focus on your workout. They even come in two colours, black and grey.
Brand: Nike
Best for: Low-intensity, lifting
Price: $80
adidas 3-Stripes 9-Inch Shorts
Add walking and cycling to your cross-training workout in these adidas shorts. Lightweight fabric manages moisture and feels soft against your skin. A mesh gusset targets airflow to cool you down and keep you moving.
Brand: adidas
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $50
UA Speckled Fleece Shorts
These are your new favourite warm-up shorts for pretty much everything you do—they’re light, comfy, and are super-soft on the inside. Made in a loose fit for added comfort, these shorts have secure, zip hand pockets to keep your valuables safe on the run.
Brand: Under Armour
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $60
Nike Pro Rep
The Nike Pro Rep Shorts are made from lightweight, flexible fabric that has sweat-wicking technology to keep you dry and moving freely during your most intense workouts. A hybrid waistband is thin at the front and wide at the back to keep the shorts in place and distractions at a minimum.
Brand: Nike
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $90
Best Gym T-Shirts
Whether you are hitting the gym for powerlifting exercises or just tackling the treadmill, you need a shirt that offers movement and breathability to suit With a mixture of long-sleeved and shirt-sleeved options, you’ll find the perfect attire to hit the gym here.
Nike Dri-FIT A.I.R. Chaz Bear
The Nike Dri-FIT A.I.R. T-Shirt delivers soft comfort for your run. It features graphics designed by musician Chaz Bear, and comes in violet and white colour options. It’s hard to go past a gym shirt that offers comfort and style in one place.
Brand: Nike
Best for: Lifting
Price: $55
Nike Pro
Nike’s signature workout top, the Nike Pro Top feels lightweight and stretchy to keep you moving comfortably from your warm-up through your cool-down. Using at least 50 per cent recycled polyester fabric to keep you dry, you can grab this performance shirt in eight different colours.
Brand: Nike
Best for: Running, high-intensity, lifting
Price: $50
Lululemon Licensed to Train Tank
Meet your newest training partner. More wearing, less washing. This garment was treated with No-Stink Zinc technology to inhibit the growth of odour-causing bacteria on the fabric, meaning you can workout for longer without becoming a sweaty, smelly mess.
Brand: lululemon
Best for: Lifting, high-intensity
Price: $69
Nike Dri-FIT Tee
The Nike Dri-FIT T-Shirt is made from fabric that wicks sweat to help keep you dry and comfortable during your workout. Available in black and white, this tee comes in a standard fit for a relaxed, easy feel.
Brand: Nike
Best for: Running, high-intensity, lifting
Price: $35
UA MK-1 Short Sleeve
These men’s training T-shirts are built with fabric that dries fast to keep you cool and a streamlined fit to cut bulk. They’re part of the UA MK-1 system—a collection of gear keeps you ready for any training situation.
Brand: Under Armour
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $50
Metal Vent Tech Short Sleeve 2.0
This lululemon workout tee is built to perform, sweat after sweat. The Metal Vent Tech collection, powered by seamless construction, is the ultimate gear for running and training.
Brand: lululemon
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $79
Best Workout Hoodies / Jackets
If you’ve been to the gym in the last few years, you would have seen a major uptick in the number of people wearing workout hoodies and jackets. A favourite of Dwayne Johnson, the upper-body attire offers some great mobility and breathability in cooler climates, perfect for outdoor jogging and workouts.
lululemon Active Jacket
To make it a fair race, you may want to give your goals a head start. Lightweight, water-repellent, and loaded with functional details, this jacket is perfect for a run or gym session in rail, hail, or shine.
Brand: lululemon
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $149
UA Men’s Curry Stealth Jacket
Everything in the Curry collection was custom-built for Stephen Curry, the 2x MVP and 3x world champ. It all needs to meet Curry’s standards for elite performance. Also features unique construction with internal air pockets to trap added warmth without sacrificing breathability.
Brand: Under Armour
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $150
Nike Windrunner A.I.R. Chaz Bear
A classic gets modernised for performance. The Nike Windrunner Jacket sets you up with a lightweight material that helps keep you covered and comfortable during your run. It’s been re-imagined with graphics designed by Chaz Bear.
Brand: Nike
Best for: Running, high-intensity
Price: $140
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General FAQs
The key features to look out for when choosing gym gear are light-weight material, breathability, and functionality. Cool features like quick-dry and anti-odour material are also great additions for those intense workouts.
As a general rule, male gym goers must wear enclosed shoes, a top or singlet, and shorts or pants. You must also bring and use a workout towel on all machines.
Our picks for best gym apparel brands are Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, UnderArmour, and Reebok.
