Leggings? For men? Yes, we know, but hear us out. For far too long, we men have been depriving ourselves of the comfiest, most practical legwear there is. While women walk around in total spandex comfort all day every day, we make do with jeans for the day to day, shorts for the gym and joggers for lounging around.
It works, but when you consider that societal norms are the only thing standing between us and a single wonder garment that can cover all of the above, it starts to feel like it might be time for a rethink. Compression pants have been embraced by athletes and fitness enthusiasts for decades for their health and performance benefits during and after physical activities. That being said, they’ve always been considered an undergarment to be worn with shorts over them. Well friends, times are changing.
Matador Meggings
Whether you’re hitting the squat rack at the gym, crushing the WOD at Crossfit, running a marathon, perfecting your yoga poses, or just running errands around town, a pair of tights will allow you to do it in comfort, with added support for your muscles, and greater freedom of movement than even the techiest pair of sweatpants.
For those ready to make the leap into a new, comfier way of life, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite leggings options for men below, along with some pro buying tips to ensure you end up with the right pair.
The Best Leggings For Men
Matador Meggings
Matador is an innovative men’s athleisure brand primarily known for its men’s leggings specifically designed for the male anatomy featuring a no-VPL (visible penis line) modesty pad concealing the groin department, multiple pockets, a T-shirt/towel loop at the back, an inner drawstring and high performance sweat-wicking silky fabric.
The brand offer dozens of options ranging from subtle plain black through to bold colours and out-there prints.
Lululemon License To Train Tights
Featuring a neat bonded construction for flat seams, these training tights are the work of arguably the biggest name in leggings and the brand that started the athleisure movement. They’re made from abrasion-resistant “Luxtreme” fabric, and have added Lycra for stretch and shape retention.
Nike Dri-FIT ADV AeroSwift Tights
Part of Nike’s flagship racing range, these streamlined leggings are designed with speed in mind. The fabric is breathable and moisture wicking, and there’s extra ventilation in the waist for increased airflow and comfort. There’s also a number of concealed pockets featuring a moisture barrier to keep your valuables dry on the go.
Under Armour HeatGear Armour Leggings
These understated leggings from Under Armour are the brand’s original performance baselayer. They’re packed full of technical features like strategically placed mesh panels for ventilation, and ergonomic seam placement to keep high-wear areas irritation free.
Adidas Techfit 3-Stripes Training Long Tights
Made with 60% multiple recycled materials, adidas brings AEROREADY to the leggings game which manages your body’s moisture to keep you dry. Low to medium Techfit gives you a sleek and compressive feel for no-interference comfort and optimal support in all the right places.
Puma Favourite Long Men’s Running Tights
Constructed with Puma’s signature dryCELL technology these tights will keep you cool and dry via strategically placed mesh inserts for breathability. Complete with a zip pocket at the back, reflective design elements and an internal drawcord at the waist for a custom fit.
2XU Light Speed Compression Tights
2XU’s Light Speed Compression Tights boast Muscle Containment Stamping (MCS) technology, which were developed with the impact running has on the legs in mind. The result is reduced muscle movement, damage and fatigue. They’re lightweight, flexible, quick drying and feature graduated compression.
Matador Biker Meggings
These cycling leggings are designed to cater to all abilities, from professional cyclists to casual bikers, making them ideal for a long bike ride or spinning class.
As with all Matador’s products, these biker meggings are designed with men’s anatomy in mind, aiming to offer an incredibly comfortable experience. The built-in soft and fluffy padding will keep your bum comfy (during and after your session), while the modesty pad will conceal your goodies using the brand’s NO-VPL (No Visible Penis Line) technology.
Buying Considerations
Material
Under Armour
Most leggings are made from a nylon-lycra blend. This makes them super stretchy, light, sweat wicking and quick drying. That said, lots of brands use slightly different variations, and some even have their own proprietary fabrics, particularly when it comes to high-performance activewear. Nike, for example, has its Dri-FIT polyester material that’s designed specifically to keep the wearer dry during strenuous workouts. There are also fleece-backed fabrics that are great for training in cold weather.
Colour & Pattern
Matador Meggings
Most men’s leggings come in black, which is a solid option if you’re just interested in the practical benefits of compression legwear and prefer to keep a low profile. That said, there are certain brands out there that specialise in bold and bright leggings geared towards anyone looking to make a statement. Matador Meggings is one of the key players here, and has plenty of vibrant block-colour and patterned options for brightening up your gym sessions.
Pattern
2XU
Again, men’s leggings from many of the big brands tend to be black or at least fairly understated, but there are options out there for those who want a bit of pattern on their leggings. Matador is the main name when it comes to punchy printed leggings, and has become a popular choice for festival goers and party people, as well as fitness fanatics.
Special Features
Under Armour
Leggings are technical garments designed for athletes. As such, many of them are jam packed full of special features and tech to take workouts to the next level while optimising comfort, performance and looks. Brands like Nike and Adidas are always competing to come up with the best new fabric technologies, while Lululemon has no less than nine proprietary materials in its range. There’s also the likes of Matador, which has incorporated a padded cup into the crotch of its leggings to protect the wearers modesty when working out – a nifty idea, and one that might appeal to those who’ve been on the fence about leggings due to how little they leave to the imagination.
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