Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Men’s Activewear Review: Stylish Apparel that Won’t Break the Bank

So much of today’s men’s activewear is abysmal when it comes to appearance. Cheap cuts and even cheaper fabric have relegated men’s gym wear into the realm of fashion’s ugly step-sister. But fear not, designers are now taking the time to blend functionality and fashion-forwardness. Let our men’s activewear review upgrade your gear with these six stylish pieces that won’t be a weight on your wallet.

Nike Dri-Fit Training T-Shirt $25

Nike-Dri-Fit-Training-T-Shirt
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ditch your plain white tee for this activewear upgrade. Made with Nike’s own Dri-FIT, sweat-wicking fabric that keeps you cool while you conquer the concrete. With a simple design and a wide selection of hues, this workout shirt should be a given in any gym bag.

Recommended Videos

UnderArmour CoolSwitch Baselayer Shorts $26

UnderArmour-CoolSwitch--Baselayer-Shorts
Image used with permission by copyright holder

No man enjoys his junk swinging around his trunk. UnderArmour’s Coolswitch Baselayer Shorts keep your nethers cool all while holding your family jewels firmly in place. Slap these on under your shorts and take to the track, free of life’s uncomfortable jumbles.

GAP Soft Brushed Jersey Hoodie $45

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Don’t let a little summer wind or rain dampen your efforts to get swoll. Cut from breathable brushed jersey made with moisture-wicking technology and designed with thoughtful thumb-holes and nearly no-feel seams, this hoodie from GAP is a perfect outer layer for outdoor late-evening exercise.

Old Navy Active Run Short $17

Old-Navy-Active-Run-Short
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Manual’s Editor-in-Chief took these bad boys to yoga and couldn’t stop singing their praises. Featuring side vents along the legs and a stretchy outer-shell, these Active Run shorts definitely held their own during a few downward dogs. And pockets—a rarity in running shorts—let you keep your keys and credit card at the ready for that post-workout refuel.

Silvertech No-Show Socks by Rhone $14/pair

Silvertech-No-Show-Socks-by-Rhone
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sweat-soaked and smelly socks have no place in a gentleman’s gym bag. Rhone’s Silvertech no-show socks, made with a silver-threaded fabric, claim to oust odors without washing. But please, wash them anyway.

Kit Culture Influencer Stretch Twill Pants $79

Kit Culture Influencer Stretch Twill Pants
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Anyone who makes time for an active lifestyle knows that it occasionally entails running (maybe literally) between work, play and social engagements. With these lightweight cotton pants with a 5 percent stretch, you may be able to wear them all day, no matter what’s on the schedule.

Mack Weldon AIRKNITx Boxer Briefs $28

Mack Weldon AIRKNITx Boxer Briefs
Image used with permission by copyright holder

For its first ever active wear line, Mack Weldon teamed up with gym chain Equinox to make performance underwear and socks. These microfiber boxers feature 4-way stretch, a no-fly design for seamless comfort, and a smooth waistband.

Olivers Apparel All Over Short with Liner $88

AOS_Lined_Graphite_Shorts
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Olivers recently rebooted one of the brand’s best sellers — and one of the most successsful crowdfunded clothing campaigns ever — the All Over Short. Known for its breathable polyester blend liner, these 4-way stretch shorts are water repellent, ridiculously comfortable and better looking than pretty much every other gym short out there.

Chase McPeak
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Chase McPeak is the former Lifestyle Editor. Chase regularly appeared on Beards, Booze, and Bacon: The Manual Podcast where…
Don’t ruin your cigars: here’s how to properly season a new humidor
Seasoning secrets every cigar lover could use
faceless man presenting a cigar humidor with cigars inside with gloved hands

If you're a newcomer to the world of cigars or just bought a brand-new humidor, you'll need to season it. And no, I'm not saying to add salt and pepper to it. If you've never heard of it, you might ask, "What is seasoning for a humidor?"

Don't think you need to flavor the box or anything — seasoning is really about getting the wood inside your humidor so as not to rob your cigars of precious moisture. Easy to understand, and getting it done is relatively straightforward as well. The trick is figuring out the "why," and we'll get into that in a bit. But let's first discuss seasoning a humidor.

Read more
The NBA’s ultimate celebration tool: The victory cigar
A look at the players and coaches who smoke to celebrate
Jordan smoking a cigar image on a bag

Sports are synonymous with celebration. After winning the biggest trophy of their lives, athletes want to indulge in the payoff that comes with seeing their dreams realized. Teams go into the locker room, where a waterfall of champagne hits them in the eyes, and swimming goggles seem to be a requirement, lest you walk around on the best night of your life half blind. While drinking is often the activity of choice after winning a championship, the NBA has an alternative symbol of greatness that other sports don't use nearly enough: the victory cigar.

Basketball is a team game, but it's also an individual canvas for solo superstardom. After winning an NBA championship, the coaches and players who sit atop the throne have long smoked a cigar in the locker room, during the parade, or even on the bench before the clock has hit zero. There's nothing quite like a good stogie to signify the ultimate win over the rest of the league, but how did the victory cigar get so ingrained in NBA championship celebrations? We want to take a walk down memory lane and look at some of the historical moments and people who made the cigar what it is within the NBA today.
Red Auerbach's victory cigar on the bench
Red Auerbach: The Story Behind the Victory Cigar + His Disdain of NBA Officials - Red on Roundball

Read more
The best medical shows of all time to binge now
From ER to The Pitt, these are the best medical shows ever made
Noah Wyle in the Pitt

Throughout TV's long history, the medical drama has occupied a somewhat unique place in the landscape. Medical shows are often some of the most reliable on TV precisely because there's so much drama built in to working in a hospital.

Personally, I've found the medical drama to be deeply comforting for years, even if I have no desire to be a doctor myself. Understanding the stress of people in the healthcare profession is fascinating in and of itself.

Read more