Holiday Gift Guide: Men’s Workout Apparel

The secret’s out. Well-conceived workout apparel can go from gym to trail to travel without breaking a sweat. Active Junky’s run through dozens of options this year to narrow the field to these favorites to give or get for fashion that’s fast.

Showers Pass Short-Sleeve Body-Mapped Baselayer: Going hard

This Portland-based brand dominates nasty weather with outerwear, socks and gloves born in some of the most hypothermia-inducing conditions in the world. Growing their reach beyond road cycling and commuting products, Showers Pass pushes into a crowded market space where panelized apparel contributes to temperature regulation and blood circulation improvement. Sounds scary for them, but outdoor athletes looking to ride, run or paddle hard across the finish line will find the podium with this longer torso baselayer. Testers took to the water on an ever-warming summer afternoon to train on SUPs. The seamless B-M and raglan sleeves not only promoted agility and aggressive stroking, but readily shed heat through the open knit pattern under the arms as well as down the back. The multi-sport look is trim with a Dream Team fabric build of Merino wool, modal, Coolmax, nylon and Spandex. Here, sweat is replaced by maximum propulsion.

Best For: Run, ride and paddle training and competition in warmer weather, layered for cooler conditions

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PBS Men’s Sport Shorts (with Liner): Smarter rider

PBS Men’s Sport Shorts (with Liner)

Doubling up on outside MTB training rides and indoor spinning warm-ups, this value-minded style from Performance Bike checks the boxes for solid on-bike goodness. The single-layer chamois brings enough protection home without bulking the short up to the point of being (overly) obvious. Dual zip side pockets make the under-$60 Sport Shorts suitable for recreational touring where I.D., energy bar and sunscreen are all that’s needed besides on-bike water bottles. A generous waist drawcord is enough to turn the elastic band into moderately secure comfort while reflective accents add built-in protection. Ten-inch length is a solid choice between athletic and MTB shorts to permit free-spinning legs. Riders who are taller from crotch to waist – or have large glutes – may need another option given this style’s design. Active Junky testers put four PBS pieces to work including a Short-Sleeve Sport Active Tee and two women’s parallel Sport collection options. This piece is far superior in its category than the other three although they represent solid, hardwearing value if not excellent temperature and moisture management. 

Best For: Training, recreational riding on paths and moderate trails given the shorts’ minimal abrasion resistance

Lululemon Block Out Men’s Long Sleeve: Be the wave, defy the rays

Battleship and Arctic teal. It sounds like either a) the names of two bands, one death metal and the other indie folk, 2) failed mixologist-fabricated cocktails or 3) colors used by Lululemon for their Block Out apparel. Answer #3 is correct, and the grey body and contrasting side panels of this long-sleeve, UPF 50 model are ideal for managing sunlight along with the UV rays it brings. Testers took this one to the gym before getting on the trail as summer skies dawned clear, bright and piercing. Covering up rarely looks as good as with Block Out, Active Junky learned while testing this one for multi-sport applications. As such, an underarm gussets conceals the shirt’s ability to paddle an SUP without binding at the shoulders. The overall design stays trim without restricting torso movement associated with paddling, plyometrics or competitive pie eating (scrambling for another “p” word here). At $10-$15 more than competitive models, Lululemon wins on the details including bar tack accents on the left shoulder, diagonal sleeve stitching, double-stitched hem and a wear-reducing inside neck “pillow.” 

Best For: Outdoor training and adventure, paddle and surf, double-duty for shorter gym workouts 

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