Men are wearing jeans to the gym – but why?

They’re giving athleisure a whole new meaning

The gym bros are back with another questionable trend, but this time, instead of abstaining from sex before a workout, they appear to be abstaining from appropriate activewear. Here’s why men are weightlifting in jeans.

Choosing a cute, matching activewear set before any kind of exercise is by far my favourite part of any workout. And yes, while cute colour schemes and flattering cuts play a big part in my decision process, I’ll always find myself reaching for my favourite tried and tested thread mixes of polyester, nylon, and spandex. 

Because whether I’m sweating it out in a cardio class, or working out with weights, being able to move freely, while feeling supported, is my main priority. 

Of all the characteristics one usually looks for in a perfect workout fit – sweat-wicking, flexible, quick-drying and breathable – denim – a material famously designed to give structure to the body, inhibiting movement more than your average Lululemon go-to's – possesses very few.

But according to a growing number of male weight-lighting enthusiasts, no workout is complete without a faded pair of straight-leg jeans. 

Upon hearing that men are actively choosing to work out in denim jeans, I was understandably confused.  

I’m not going to pretend to understand the intricacies (or lack thereof) of the male psyche, but wearing a material that feels so counterintuitive to their overall fitness and strength goals is frankly mindboggling. So why oh why are men rocking their favourite cut-off shorts and jeans at the gym?

And it’s not just the lazy men who clearly skipped laundry day who are sporting their straight-leg Levis around the weights rack, but rather the crème de la crème of the powerlifting community. 

Denim is rapidly gaining popularity in gyms around the world, endorsed by countless celebrities too. Image: Pexels

In a world where even the most amateur of exercise enthusiasts have access to the most elite (and affordable) workout wear, denim is rapidly gaining popularity in gyms around the world, endorsed by countless celebrities too. 

Lenny Kravitz, who sent the internet into a spiral last year after posting a video of himself wearing leather pants during a high-intensity workout, regularly dons denim – a material not typically associated with high-performance athleticism – as well. 

Former presidential candidate and health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a divisive figure in American politics (to say the least), occasionally takes breaks from sharing his pro-trump agenda online to update his five million followers on his upper body callisthenics – all while wearing his favourite slim-cut straight-leg jeans. 

But it’s not just celebrities – who famously do and wear whatever they want – rocking their denims on leg day.

@lennykravitz

Another day… another life. Give thanks.

♬ Human - Lenny Kravitz

Recently, a new breed of denim-clad fitness influencers has emerged online, with world record holder for pull-ups, Truett Hanes, and boxy strong grip specialist Daniel Strauss leading the charge. 

Each viral clip they share showcasing their impressive skills feature – you guessed it – their denim-clad legs rising to every challenge their followers set them. 

One of the most popular faces of the movement, a creator who goes by the moniker @Atlaspowershrugged, says while his decision to don jeans during his workouts began as one of convenience as a dad juggling kids, work and a raging pandemic, it quickly became an easy way to grow his engagement online with his curious followers. 

“During my kids’ nap, I’d run out and do a workout, and I happened to be wearing jeans during the nap,” Atlas tells GQ.

“If I post a cool lift in jeans, there’ll be five people asking why I did it in jeans, which is engagement,” adds the weightlifting father, who has since secured every content creator dream; a brand sponsorship and boost to his online following. 

But it seems for the average Joe, the decision to work out in denim is far more straightforward. More than anything, denim-clad weightlifters are prioritising exercise over aesthetics – an ode to the way traditional weightlifters and strong men trained over a century ago. 

Long before polyester hit the scene in the 1950s, leading to the existence of our favourite athleisure and sportswear brands, people – regardless of their talent and ability – exercised in whatever they could find. Even when outfits were designated for certain activities, they were far less about promoting maximal movement than they were about introducing a formal design.   

While it may seem counterintuitive for weightlifters to sport denim jeans during a workout, traditional strongmen once donned Merino wool pants to lift weights – a trend I doubt will ever resurface, bids for engagement aside. 

Ultimately, is this resurgence of denim in the gym nothing more than an example of men doing whatever they can to get out of frequent trips to the laundromat? You’d be hard-pressed to convince me otherwise. 

Originally published as Men are wearing jeans to the gym – but why?