Even before I stepped into a gym first the first time, I had to look up the best gym clothes for men. Sadly, the results page yielded all the usual suspects, none of which were up to my standards. Am I seriously trying to get a fit off at the gym, all sweaty, hot and bothered? You better believe I’m trying to look my best while I’m hinging at the hips to deadlift two plates.
Clearly I’m not alone in the pursuit of galactic-level gym fits, because a whole crop of fresh workout apparel brands have made it easier than ever to have outfits that are as hot as a gym packed with after-hour office warriors. To help you look good while going after it, we went deep on cutting-edge athletic labels we love—each a top-notch purveyor of the best gym wear for men—to keep you feeling motivated and ready to smash your next PR—and sure, we threw in some stalwarts, too. Just maybe don’t mix and match your Swooshes and Stripes.
The Best Gym Clothes for Men, According to GQ
The Ol’ Reliable Pick: Rhone
Longtime GQ Recommends readers know how we feel about Rhone. Its breathable, odor-fighting tees have held down the top spot on our list of best workout shirts for years now, and we’re such big fans of their thoughtfully designed shorts that we made them the flagship product of the GQ Box a few quarters ago, too.
Despite its reputation as an athleisure brand, Lululemon does in fact make workout clothes that’s actually pretty good. Think: stretchy pants, excellent fits, and classic silhouettes. And heck, if you do end up at a post-workout bar with your workout fit on, you won’t look too out of place.
Before designing cycling gear, Pas Normal Studios founder Karl-Oskar Olsen was behind Danish clothing brand Wood Wood. Beloved for its minimalist designs and Scandinavian styles, Wood Wood’s design aesthetics could be applied to Pas, which is equally stylish (but more functional) for coasting down the streets of Copenhagen, New York, or London.
Mall brand Abercrombie has long been on its come-up, and after branching into athleticwear, we can say A&F has reached peak form. YPB, which stands for “Your Personal Best,” features a mix of tees, tanks, and other workout gear for achieving just that: your personal best.
Who says distance running can’t feel punk rock? Satisfy’s moth-eaten muscle shirts and leopard-print shorts reflect their Parisian founder Brice Partouche’s roots in skateboarding and hardcore.
Need to feel completely free in order to really hit your stride? Ten Thousand’s featherlight Session training shorts and Distance tees—both some of the brand’s best sellers—are built to be as efficient as possible—and stay out of your way in pursuit of that next PR.
Boston-based Tracksmith transplants Chariots of Fire-era aesthetics onto modern marathon-ready gear in a way that feels natural, stylish, and not the least bit kitschy. Its singlet (a fancy tank top) might be its most famous piece, but it’s hard to go wrong with literally anything from this brand.
After shaking up the performance eyewear game with its ultramodern Japanese frames, District Vision has turned its attention to apparel. The brand’s latest innovation is a stretchy, lightweight mesh called Air-Wear, with thousands of tiny pores that open and close as you move to regulate your body heat and sweat.
The Preposterously Soft Pick: Vuori
If hand-feel is your number-one criteria, then Vuori is the move. Its buttery, sumptuous, stretchy sweats make all other pants feel like sandpaper by comparison.
Reigning Champ is Canadian through and through, focusing on high-quality materials (its French terry is exceptional) and high-functioning performance details. Everything is made and designed in Vancouver, Canada, yielding year-round staples that will take you from couch to crunch with comfort and ease.
The Muscle Beach Pick: Y,IWO
Ever wondered what it would feel like slanging weight at Gold’s in its sweat-soaked heyday? Y,IWO harnesses the endearingly cheesy energy of Pumping Iron-era Schwarzenegger—think retro graphics, bicep-hugging cuts, and bright, saturated colors—to imbue your gym selfies with a healthy jolt of ’70s-era sleaze. It’s about time you tried a crop top anyway, especially when you’re weightlifting.
All it took for Miler Running to take home a Fitness Award was equipping its top-notch shorts with a couple of damn pockets; they’re that good. To absolutely no one’s surprise, the rest of the brand’s murdered-out wares—made in New York with fabrics sourced from the European capitals of the world—are equally stellar, too.
The “Bike Is Life” Pick: Rapha
Chances are you’ve seen Rapha if you’ve ever come close to someone speeding away on a bicycle. It’s arguably the most popular cycling apparel brand for the people who have a sick rig mounted above their bed. The clothing can be be loud or subtle, but above all else, you’ll be seen on the road (for safety reasons).
Search and State’s premium apparel is made in New York City, one of the most stressful places to ride your bike. The brand features a lot of camo, but if you’re more on the toned-down side, you’ll find a nice selection of sleek and minimalist pieces, too. Either way, you’ll be ripping through the streets like a cab trying to drop off a fare.
If you’re a fabric nerd and love a deep dive into how your workout gear is designed to perform, you need to check out Path Projects. The brand was founded with the mission of creating a superior running short system and—guess what—they did it; their shorts are out-of-this-world comfortable. Two-in-one shorts are excellent, don’t get us wrong, but Path Projects did something miraculous—they made base liners and shorts that function perfectly together. Don’t get it twisted, the pairing is no simple Hanes-and-Mesh-Gym-Shorts combo; it’s a highly technical system that lets you define how you want to wear it. In the years since their inception, they’ve mastered shorts, but also mastered running tees, hats, hoodies, and travel apparel.
For Running Gear With Fashion Bonafides: On Running
On Running is a running brand first and foremost (hence the name), but it somehow feels like their performance running shoes have finally caught up to the hype. Their famous, or infamous, casual-leaning Cloud trainers have been a mainstay on the feet of Upper East Side dads, but, in our opinion, the brand is just now coming into its own as a performance and style mainstay. Their latest running shoes and technical sportswear are well worth the cash, but even if you don’t care about performance, On is putting some weight behind its lofty fashion ambitions, most notably with its recent Loewe collab that debuted on the back of American tennis phenom Ben Shelton. They are a running brand, but they’re becoming so much more.
If you’ve been running the streets of New York at any point in the past couple of years, you’ve probably seen Bandit. What started as a project to make the best running sock possible, Bandit took a community-based approach to development, handing out their prototypes at Brooklyn Track Club workouts, which let them soak up actionable feedback in real time. Its socks are still pretty much perfect, but its assortment has grown to include some of the best shorts, tees, and outerwear a runner can buy—all worthy additions to your gym bag.
If you prefer that your strenuous activity happens on the water, whether that means paddleboard yoga or hitting your local point break, Florence has you covered. Founded by North Shore legend John John Florence, the eponymous brand blends surf, sail and the outdoors with technical fabrics and aquatic-focused sensibilities. While obviously inspired by surfing and surf style, their designs look more at home in the local SCUBA shop or atop a beachside lifeguard stand, which gives them an air of technical prowess and functionality that surf shops might be lacking. The drapey, lightweight UPF hoodies are excellent and their shorts toe the line (or should we say hang ten) between fitness and surf, making them ideal for hitting the waves or the local gym.
We say that with love, for the record. If you’ve been to a gym squat rack, you’ve seen Gymshark, no doubt. The brand features bold, out-there graphics alongside more discreet pieces to help you squat lower than you ever have before. Everything from their joggers to their pump covers is also pretty affordable—which is good, because all of your money’s going towards your gym membership and tape for your torn calluses.
For the Swoosh-Lovers: Nike
No athleticwear discussion would be complete without including Nike. From running gear to shoes for your next HIIT workout, Nike has your bases covered. Dri-FIT is where it’s at, keeping you dry while you get your sweat on, and no one can deny the power of the swoosh.
Just like the swoosh, Under Armour’s developed quite the legacy for its hard-wearing, built-for-athletes workout gear. Its base layers make up the foundation of many a weightlifter, though you shouldn’t sleep on any of its other wares.
As other sports—like running, lifting, and even cycling—have developed stylish athleticwear, climbing gear might not have been on the list to get the next fashionable facelift. Since 1982, Gramicci has been focused on clothing for climbers, from durable pants to warm fleece. While function was the priority for the brand, an interest by Tokyo tastemakers helped to turn the brand into something more fashionable. Its cozy materials and rugged silhouettes have helped propel Gramicci into an athleticwear brand that looks as stylish on the streets as it does against a mountain cliff.
Maybe you just left the office and decided it was time to head to your gym. Whether it’s because you’re actually going to get a sweat on or you’re there for social hour, Literary Sport’s range of workout-ready apparel will make sure you look good even if you’re only scoping out the squat rack instead of actually, you know, squatting. Its clothes are perfectly apt for casual days or workout nights, highlighting modern silhouettes and high-end fabrics. Literary Sports is the kind of brand you scope out first when you decide you’re in need of good-looking workout gear.
Most know the OG outdoor company for Snap Fleece pullovers and bomber duffel bags, but deeper in the Patagonia catalog are super-lightweight, breathable shirts and shorts that are made to handle sweat. They might’ve been made for crags and trails but we can attest they’re right at home in the gym.
The Simplified Sock Drawer Pick: Courier
Multi-sport activists face a quandary when stocking their bureaus with duds for running and cycling. Courier delivers a solution with socks dedicated to both and knit with the company’s trademark FlowPODs, which are like soft Candy Button studs that provide texturized cushion and allow for additional breathability on runs and rides. Get the HiFi for extra feel and the LoFi for max cushion.
The Compression Pick: 2XU
2XU’s signature compression clothing uses something the company calls “muscle containment stamping” to bolster your muscles and joints when workouts get tough. The design is meant to reduce fatigue and injury and, hey, we could all use little extra support during those last few sets.
Like a secret handshake, wearing Ciele’s GOCap used to be a sign among runners of who was clued-in. Then word got out and now everyone wears ’em, they’re that good. Few know that Ciele also has an incredible apparel line built on the same foundation as the hat, namely, the best technical materials out there and functional, aesthetic design.
4 Gym Outfits We Can’t Stop Wearing
Your engorged bis and tris need their time in the light, so you better believe it’s a sleeveless day at the gym. Complement that with some sweats (because maybe you’ve missed a few leg day sessions) and you’ll be spending more time checking yourself out in the mirror than working on curls.
Every major muscle group is getting its time in the hot seat, so you’re going to want to stay cool, fresh, and ready. Just make sure you opt for pieces that wick away sweat so you don’t quit halfway through your workout because you’re being weighed down my water-packed tops and bottoms.
Whether it’s the elliptical, treadmill, or StairMaster, you’re going to be getting your steps in. Our favorite running brands make all the best apparel for your cardio-heavy day, able to help you go further for longer.
It’s never OK to skip leg day, and even if you absolutely dread doing squats, maybe donning a fit this good will actually ensure you hit your lower half.
