For years, men with steroid filled veins and paper-thin muscled tee shirts have ruled the gym. Their oversized arms and elephantine legs made many of us men scared to show our face (or should I say our chicken legs and bird chest) in the gym, in fear of looking foolish in the wake of most of these behemoths. It has changed greatly from when we were kids and our father’s idea of getting a good workout was mowing the lawn or performing other types of housework. The days of men’s spaghetti tank-tops and using pushing the lawnmower in replacement of a dumbbell is long passed us. In greater and greater numbers, men are taking much more responsibilities for their looks and physical fitness.
This can be seen the fitness craze that has strangled our society. With this boom, the sale of clothing gear for the fitness industry has sky rocketed accordingly. Because of the onslaught of gear that can be bought, mistakes in buying the type of gear that will most affectively aid in your fitness endeavor can be made at a price that will not cause you to lose weight in your pocket book. Most of us can attest to seeing men in the gym clad den with Timberland boots, Rocka-Wear jeans and a button down collard shirt, trying to squeeze in a thirty-minute workout session during their lunch break or before work. Not the best way to work out. Here is a guide to some of the best buys in men’s workout gear.
In the Gym
Some men have a tendency to feel insecure about their bodies. Some even feel overwhelmed when the make it into the gym and see a number of buff men pumping iron. Do not let this stop you. You just have to pick the right clothes so that you feel comfortable pressing the iron next to the next Mr. Universe. Under Armour workout gear offers great style that will accommodate you in the gym. I would choose Under Armor’s HeatGear Full Tee ($49.00) as a top and their Microshort ($24.99) for a bottom. The HeartGear Full Tee is re-engineered for action in the gym. It features ArmourGri technology and raglan sleeves with flat lock stitching to keep you mobile. HeatGear fabric partners with strategic ventilation zones to keep you cool and dry. While working out in a sweaty gym. Under Armor’s made from stretch microfiber to deliver HeatGear performance with a relaxed fit. It includes a 7-inch inseam and a 10-inch rise.
Outside
This being said some men can not get past the insecurity of being in a gym and opt to have their fitness training out doors. Now that the Fall season is quickly creeping upon us, the same attire that you wear while working out in a sweaty, musty and all be it heated, workout facility, is not the same prescription for attire when training in the slightly chilly, wind and rain. I would choose the Hind men’s Varsity Long Sleeve ($49.99) for a top and the Under Armour men’s Side Pant ($54.99) for a bottom. The Hind men’s Varsity Long Sleeve features a combination of smooth-face, moisture management fabric and mesh fabric that provides inherent stretch, wicking, and ventilation. dryLETE technology moves moisture away from your skin to keep you cool and dry, and front and back reflectivity increase your visibility in low light. Great for those evening runs in the Fall. Under Armour men’s Side Pant delivers comfort and performance from the first stretch to game time. 4-way stretch and an athletic cut help you keep up with the action, and strategic mesh works with AllSeasonGear moisture management to keep you dry and comfortable. This track pant features an elastic waistband with inside drawstring, ankle zips, and zippered side pockets.
Shoes
Weather sweating to the oldies inside a world class fitness facility or trying to endure your training on a cool, windy Fall morning, you are going to have to have protection on your feet that is conducive to blood circulation, give you the correct arch support and that will stop that special someone dead in their tracks when they see you dash by. The good thing is that most gym shoes (trainers) could be worn inside the gym and worn for your outside run in the park. I would suggest buying a pair of Nike’s Shox Explodine ($99.99). The shoe is the ultimate training shoe to prepare for the gridiron. Its synthetic upper with laser details, this unit has a stability bridge and with its aggressive non-marking traction pattern outsole and lateral outrigger, you will be running for miles and feel as if you were running on air.
As a fitness enthusiast, I strive to help everyone feel comfortably in their skin while trying to obtain their fitness goals. I hope that by reading this, you are one-step closer to unleashing the fitness guru that is waiting to bust out of you without sending you to the poorhouse.
