What men should wear to the gym in India: tees, tanks, shorts and the fabric that matters
Cotton is fine for lifting in an air-conditioned gym, and for most men it is the comfortable everyday choice. For cardio, HIIT, outdoor sessions and India's hot, humid months, wear a nylon-spandex tee instead, because it moves sweat off the skin rather than holding it. On the bottom, choose shorts or pants you can squat to full depth in, and a tank or a tee depending on the session.
The one choice that matters: cotton or nylon-spandex
Most gym wear decisions come down to the fabric next to the skin.
Cotton is soft, holds its shape and feels good to train in. It also soaks up sweat and keeps it. In a cool, air-conditioned gym where you lift and rest between sets, that does not matter much. In a hot gym, on a run or in a HIIT class, a cotton tee gets heavy and wet within twenty minutes and stays that way.
Nylon-spandex is a close-fitting knit that moves sweat to the surface, where it dries. It is the better choice whenever you sweat steadily: cardio, circuits, football, outdoor sessions and the April-to-October heat across most of India. The summer guide covers why fabric matters more than cut in the heat.
| Session | Top | Bottom |
|---|---|---|
| Lifting in an air-conditioned gym | Cotton or cotton-spandex tee or tank | Training shorts or baggy pants |
| Lifting in a hot gym | A tank, or a nylon-spandex tee | Training shorts |
| Cardio, HIIT, circuits | Nylon-spandex tee | Training shorts |
| Running or football outdoors | Nylon-spandex tee | Training shorts |
| Leg day | Any tee or tank | Shorts or baggy pants with room to squat |
| Cold mornings and the walk to the gym | A tee with a layer over it | Baggy pants over shorts |
Tops: tee, tank or compression
- For cardio and hot days: the Apex Compression Tee is a close-fitting 180gsm tee in 88% nylon, 12% spandex, with micro-mesh chest panels. It is the one to wear when you will sweat steadily, and it also works as a base layer under a sweatshirt in winter.
- For everyday lifting: the Vertex Training Tee is a fitted 180gsm tee in 95% cotton, 5% spandex, with raglan sleeves and a curved hem. The touch of spandex lets it stretch through presses and pulls.
- For lifting with the arms free: the Core Training Tank has wide shoulder coverage and a longline body, and the Cutoff Training Tank has deep armholes and side splits for the hottest days and upper-body sessions. Both are 180gsm, 95% cotton, 5% spandex.
- For the walk there and leg day: the Oversized Street Tee is a 235gsm, 100% cotton tee with dropped shoulders and wide sleeves. It suits leg day, machines and the street. For bench and overhead work, a fitted tee keeps the fabric out of the way.
A tank or a tee is mostly a matter of heat and comfort. Wear a tee for bench work, where your back is on a shared bench, and for the walk home.
Bottoms: shorts or pants
- Training shorts: the Flux Training Shorts are a relaxed, knee-length short with an elasticated drawcord waist, in a heavyweight 400gsm, 100% cotton. They give room to squat and suit lifting; for running in the heat, a lighter short is more comfortable.
- Baggy pants: the Terrain Baggy Pants are a 210gsm, 95% nylon, 5% spandex pant with a loose fit, so they stretch through a squat. They are the pant for leg day, cool gyms, winter mornings and the walk there, and they go over shorts so you can take them off once you are warm.
Whatever you choose, squat to full depth in it at home first. Shorts that pull at the knee or ride down at the back, or rigid fabrics like denim, get in the way of the lift.
Through the year
- April to October: a tank or a light tee with shorts. Choose the nylon-spandex tee for cardio or a gym with weak air conditioning, and carry a second tee if you have a long commute back.
- November to February: the same kit, with the baggy pants and a layer over the top for the walk there and the warm-up. The winter layering guide covers what to wear on cold mornings, and in the north the guide to training when Delhi's air is bad covers the smog weeks.
The small things
- Shoes: a flat, firm sole for heavy squats and deadlifts; a cushioned trainer for running and cardio.
- Water: a large bottle you can refill at the cooler. The GX Handled Tumbler has a stated capacity of 40oz and a straw lid.
- Outdoors: a cap for runs in the sun, like the GX Classic Cap in 100% cotton.
- Washing: wash training kit the same day and dry it in the shade; the washing guide explains how to stop it smelling.
Check your size on the size guide, or see the full men's range.
The short version
Cotton or cotton-spandex for lifting in an air-conditioned gym; nylon-spandex for cardio, heat, humidity and outdoors. A tank for hot days and upper-body work, a tee for bench work and the walk home. Shorts or baggy pants you can squat to full depth in, a layer and pants for winter mornings, and kit washed the same day.
Questions people ask
Is cotton good for gym clothes?
For lifting, yes. A cotton or cotton-spandex tee is comfortable and holds its shape, and in an air-conditioned gym with rest between sets the sweat it soaks up is not a problem. For cardio, HIIT, outdoor sessions and humid days, a nylon-spandex tee is better, because it moves sweat to the surface and dries instead of turning heavy and wet.
Should I wear a tank top or a t-shirt to the gym?
Either. A tank keeps you cooler and leaves the shoulders free for pressing and pulling, which suits hot days and upper-body sessions. A tee covers more and is the better choice for bench work, where your back is on a shared bench, and for the walk to and from the gym. A tank with wide shoulder straps sits between the two.
What should men wear for leg day?
Shorts or pants with room to squat to full depth without pulling at the knee or riding down at the back. Knee-length training shorts or baggy pants in a stretch fabric both work. Avoid rigid fabrics like denim, and check the fit with a deep squat at home before the first session.
What should I wear to the gym in summer in India?
A tank or a light tee and shorts. If the gym has weak air conditioning or you are doing cardio, choose a nylon-spandex tee over cotton, because cotton stays wet in humid air. Carry a second tee if you have a long commute back, and wash the kit the same day.