Men’s activewear has undergone a quiet revolution that the women’s activewear conversation has somewhat overshadowed. The training short that passes for running gear and casual wear simultaneously. The performance t-shirt that works for gym and social contexts without announcing its technical credentials. The tracksuit that reads as a lifestyle choice rather than an athletic concession.
The brands worth knowing are those that achieve genuine performance credentials alongside design quality sufficient for the dual-purpose use that modern men’s active wardrobes require.
Available at: Lululemon (lululemon.com), in stores
Best for: Those who want a performance-fabric trouser that works across gym, office, and social contexts.
Lululemon’s ABC (Anti-Ball Crushing) Trouser is the brand’s most successful men’s product — a slim chino-profile trouser in Warpstreme fabric that provides four-way stretch, moisture management, and the drape of a quality trouser at the performance of athletic wear. For men who commute, sit at a desk, and want to go directly from office to gym without changing, the ABC provides the specific wardrobe versatility that standard office trousers and standard gym trousers both fail to offer.
Available at: Reigning Champ (reigningchamp.com), END Clothing
Best for: Those who want the finest quality mid-weight French Terry sweatwear for training and lifestyle.
Reigning Champ produces the most technically considered sweatshirts and track trousers in the premium activewear market — their mid-weight Terry fabric is constructed to specifications rarely found outside athletic heritage brands, and the construction of each piece reflects genuine investment in craftsmanship. For those who want a sweatshirt that genuinely earns the “premium” positioning, Reigning Champ is the reference standard.
Gymshark’s short range for men is the most consistent quality-to-price proposition in the gym-specific category. The Crest short uses a polyester-elastane blend with four-way stretch and moisture management appropriate for HIIT and strength training. The built-in liner provides support without a separate compression short. The length options accommodate different preference and activity requirements.
Available at: Tracksmith (tracksmith.com)
Best for: Men who run and want a running short designed specifically for running performance and aesthetic.
Tracksmith builds running-specific clothing with the aesthetic consideration of a heritage brand rather than a performance brand. The Reggie short uses a lightweight four-way stretch fabric in a split hem that provides full range of hip flexion during running without the restricted feel of shorter inseam alternatives. The design references 1970s American running culture in a way that reads as genuinely considered rather than retroactively nostalgic.
Available at: On Running (on-running.com), Selfridges
Best for: Men who run and want a performance top that reads as a clean lifestyle t-shirt when not running.
On Running’s performance tops are the most successful activewear items in the brand’s range beyond footwear — the clean design language, the breathable mesh panels in structural positions rather than decorative ones, and the fabric quality produce a running t-shirt that doesn’t announce itself as technical wear in social contexts.
Available at: Patagonia (patagonia.com), outdoor retailers
Best for: Men who want a versatile short that functions for light hiking, swimming, casual wear, and light training.
The Patagonia Baggies is the cross-context short that works for more activities simultaneously than any other single short. The quick-drying nylon, the 5-inch inseam, the packable construction, and the built-in brief liner produce a short appropriate for water sports, hiking, gym warm-ups, and casual summer wear. For those who want one short that handles everything without specialisation, the Baggies is the answer.
Men’s activewear rewards buying from brands that design for dual-purpose use — the pieces that perform in training and read correctly outside it. Lululemon ABC Trouser for the cross-context performance trouser. Reigning Champ for premium sweatwear with genuine technical construction. Gymshark Crest for accessible gym short quality. Tracksmith for running-specific design with heritage aesthetic. On Running for the performance top that doubles as a lifestyle piece. And Patagonia Baggies for the most versatile short available across activity contexts. Build the men’s active wardrobe around versatility — the pieces that serve multiple contexts produce more daily value than the specialised pieces that serve one.