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"Few lifestyle choices come with as much cultural baggage as when to eat dinner. There are all the national stereotypes: Americans eat early, Italians eat late, and Spaniards eat even later. An early dinner opens up the evening. A late dinner can be an event in and of itself. But is there a best time to eat dinner from a health perspective? Sort of. What you definitely want to do, says, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California, is finish your food at least three hours before you plan to go to sleep. If your usual bedtime is midnight, for example, you’ve got a 9 pm deadline. This is because eating too late can disrupt the circadian rhythms which govern how our body transitions from day to night and back again. “If you push your dinner later and later, the message to your system is [that] you should still be active,” says Longo. It might negatively affect your sleep (the same way being exposed to bright light before bed will do) and how efficiently you burn calories. When you eat dinner also dictates the total time you fast between the last meal of one day and the first one of the next. This is what “time-restricted eating”—a type of that involves keeping all your day’s meals in a window of 12 hours or less—is concerned with, says, associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey. If you extend your overnight fast between dinner and breakfast, “then you’re allowing your body to go into the more catabolic phase, where you’re shifting to oxidizing fats. You’re training the body to do what it’s designed to do: burn carbs when you’re eating carbs, and then burn fat when you’re not.” This can help with weight loss and is generally good for your metabolic health. Should eating in a restricted window mean making your breakfast later or your dinner earlier? “The consensus seems to be that you get more bang for your buck if you restrict your calories to earlier in the day,” says Collins. “That makes sense from a circadian perspective, because you’re geared up to deal with food in the early period of your active phase.” The most common habit among centenarians, says Longo, is a “light dinner” early enough to allow 12 hours to pass before breakfast the following day. Eating less later in the day healthy too, at least if we believe the old saying instructing us to “eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” This isn’t always realistic. “It’s quite difficult to eat a big breakfast because you just haven’t got the hunger,” says Collins, partly because your body has “started to export glucose out into the blood” as you wake up, so your energy levels are already high. And given that many people have sandwiches for lunch—how many of us have cooked meals the office?—it’s inevitable that most of us calorie load in the evening. Don’t stress about this, though, Collins says. Calorie loading at night is fine as long as you give your body a “period of rest” with a low-carb breakfast the next day. Having an early dinner is one thing, but it’s also important to make sure you’re “not sitting in front of the TV having [chips] and chocolate and alcohol” afterwards. If an early time-restricted eating window is unrealistic, then a later one is still better than letting your mealtimes sprawl across the entire day. And if you’re doing exercise in the day—particularly the resistance-based kind, like weightlifting—then a big, carb- and protein-rich dinner can be just the thing to help your muscles recover. Ultimately, says Longo, the key is to keep your meals in a 12-hour window and finish dinner three hours before you go to bed. Altering your eating habits any further than that is only necessary if your body isn’t reacting well to your existing schedule. “If you do have a bigger dinner, and you’re sleeping well, your cholesterol and blood pressure [are] fine, then you’re good,” he says. “But if you’re sleeping poorly, and you have [health] problems, maybe you should move to having a bigger breakfast, a bigger lunch and a smaller dinner, which usually seems to be the healthiest [pattern] of all.” British GQ."
"for the summer takes serious commitment. But it can be easy to burn out on an overly ambitious plan to look like, say,. So we consulted experts on how to find a good middle ground between couch rotting and. Here’s a summer body workout to help you you feel confident without going to extremes. We’re all built different, so trying to achieve a version of what a “beach body” looks like in one's mind is impossible. But, for arguments sake, let’s think about what men usually think of when they hear the words “beach body”. “When men picture their summer body, they usually aspire to be toned with lean muscle mass that’s highly defined and ripped with a low percentage of body fat, or they prefer to by having more muscle mass to emphasize their athleticism with a slightly higher amount of body fat that contributes to the mass of their muscles,” says personal trainer and founder of The training method Farren Morgan. Even within that definition there are two different versions which would be impossible to achieve simultaneously. Figuring out what your goals are shouldn't be based on society's standards, but your own fitness goals. “There shouldn't be an idealistic summer body,” says English CrossFit athlete, fitness model and television personality. “Everyone's summer body can be totally different. You could have someone who struggles to gain weight, who wants to increase muscle mass. Then you could have someone who's overweight and their summer body might be just to go from [238 pounds] down to [210 pounds] and they're really proud because they've lost [28 pounds].” So, the ideal summer body is subjective. Ask yourself what you want? Maybe you feel great and all you need is a and a cold and you’re good to go. All power to you. But if you do want to add muscle or tone up for summer, it’s important to pick a realistic goal that you know you can achieve in a given time frame. If you have trouble staying accountable to your workout schedule, consider hiring a personal trainer to help you with your goals. Or, if that's out of your price range, George suggests setting a goal with a friend and keeping each other accountable as you work toward it. If you’re already an active person, getting into summer shape might be less about a huge lifestyle overhaul, and more about adding some little tweaks to your day-to-day. Morgan suggests: There isn’t anything drastic here. It’s just a more measured approach to a training regime, and one that will help you hit your goals sooner. Of course, sticking to a plan is difficult. While we wouldn’t suggest a restrictive regiment, even hitting the gym a few times a week can be tough for most of us. Not quite on track? Don’t beat yourself up. “As a PT, you'd try and drill that fear of failure out of clients; within four weeks, you're not going to have a drastic change,” says George. “When you take before and after pictures you're not going to set any expectations whatsoever. We just want to make sure—in this first four weeks—that we're that we put in place, we're sticking to the nutrition that we put in place.” In other words, even turning up is progress. Be as consistent as you can, and the results will eventually come. “You're always gonna have weeks when you don't feel great at the gym or you don't want to eat your specific nutrition or you want to go off the rails a little bit,"" says George. “I think it's an important process to know those weeks or those days will be part of the journey. And you've just got to accept them for what they are and appreciate that you need them to enjoy all the positive days that you're having.” That holiday approaching faster than you’d like? If you’re down to the wire and in need of a final push, dial in your diet. “Both your diet and exercise routine go hand-in-hand when it comes to getting in shape within a short timeframe,” Morgan says. “If you want to lose weight, your focus should be ensuring that you maintain a caloric deficit.” Cutting about 300 calories a day should do it. You’ll still want to hit all of your macros and maintain a balanced diet, though. If you already eat well, try cutting down portion sizes instead of opting for chicken breasts and nothing else. It’s vital you’re still eating enough to fuel your workouts. “Your diet would be the main focus, while your exercise routine becomes the catalyst to amplify your weight-loss results,” says Morgan. Whatever your goals, if you’re looking for a workout to mix things up and alter your shape in a hurry, the below is a great place to start, especially since you can do it while on summer vacation, too. “I’d strongly recommend calisthenic workouts for those looking to get stronger, loose excess calories, develop lean muscle mass, and make noticeable developments to achieving their summer body,” says Morgan. Aim for three rounds of: If this feels easy, Morgan recommends grabbing a kettlebell during your squats or, if there are none in sight, a rucksack filled with your beach reads. Remember that summer comes every year. Instead of waiting until the first sunny day of spring to start exercising, then putting pressure on yourself to get fit by June, aim to maintain a moderate fitness routine as a year-round hobby. That way you’ll always have a decent base level to work from. So, with that in mind, don’t ditch your exercise routine as soon as summer’s over. “Find another goal,” suggests George. “Don’t say 'Right, I've done it. Now I'm gonna fall back into old ways and eat junk every week.’” Instead, George says it’s important to reflect on your journey: appreciate the highs and lows, and what you can improve on next time. A great way of keeping fit is to work toward a new milestone, like a half-marathon, or even a competition in your gym. “Just find that goal that you want to work towards,” George says. “Make sure you put it in place and set another plan for yourself so that you stay motivated. Make sure you still have something else to aim for and don't let yourself go off track.” Do this and instead of obsessing about summer, you’ll foster year-round fitness, leaving you healthier, happier, and yes, ready to whip your shirt off at a moment’s notice, whatever the season."
"Every morning for the past three weeks I have spent five minutes chewing on a smooth piece of plastic the size of a small egg. It's called a Jawzrsize, and, at least according to hundreds of online testimonials and more than a few viral videos, continuing to regularly chew on this thing will grow and sculpt more than 50 muscles in my neck and jaw, leaving me with a sharper and more “masculine” appearance. Which is easy enough to laugh at—but not when you've still got a minute to go and your jaw is burning. It's a real workout—it feels like I'm trying to lift a weight that I'm not quite strong enough for. I first became aware of Jawzrsize through a video on my Instagram discover page. (It's that kind of product.) In the video, CEO Brandon Harris held forth on the “forgotten value of biting” before chomping down on the product and flexing his neck. It was completely bizarre—and I couldn't help but click for more. When Harris speaks he sounds like Matthew McConaughey after four Red Bulls, quickly shifting between surf-bro philosophy to impassioned sales pitches. Harris created Jawzrsize after a series of intense accidents. In his early twenties, he broke his jaw in five places and lost a portion of his ear after a brawl broke out during an MMA event in Alaska. His jaw had to be wired shut for several months. Almost immediately afterward he moved to Hawaii—where he crashed his motorcycle and landed in a coma. During rehab, he wanted to find a way to strengthen his face the same way he was strengthening the rest of his body. ""My older brother had a pit bull we called Kane. He had the meanest bite. And all he’d ever do is gnaw on his Kong toy,"" Harris told me from his Maui home. “I’d sit there and watch him use his masseter muscles and see his neck engaging. And I thought…I want something just like that.” According to Harris, who repeatedly points out that he is not a doctor, the science behind the Jawersize is simple. The soft foods in the current Western diet have divorced us from the way our ancestors ate. That in turn gave us weaker facial features. The resistance that Jawersize offers builds the muscles in the jaw and face through repeated use, resulting in a sort of primal connection to our historical lineage and a more defined and handsome jawline. Using himself as a guinea pig, he tested prototypes until he found a design that he was happy with, touting his facial transformation post-coma as proof of concept. A successful Kickstarter campaign in 2016 propelled the company forward, and after a years of growth—including coverage on and Dr. Phil spin-off —Jawzrsize claims annual sales in the seven figures. I am not particularly self-conscious about my jaw, nor have I recently had it broken in a fight, but my curiosity quickly got the better of me. Jawzrsize While it was in the mail, I asked, a clinician with specialization in kinesiology, about his thoughts on those claims. He was skeptical. “Your jaw is not just made up of muscles, but the mandible—the jaw bone—largely determines the shape of the jawline,” he said. “Training the masseter muscles could, in theory, give you the appearance of a wider, more defined jaw. But this will not affect other aspects of the jawline. While it is possible to get some change in how the jaw looks, you will will be limited by the bones that you were born with.” Another contributing factor to a person’s face shape is their body fat percentage. Even if you are able to grow the masseter muscles, a change is less apparent if you’re carrying more weight. It’s like trying to build your abs when you’ve still got a beer belly. On Reddit and Youtube you’ll find people championing Jawersize and showing off You'll also find about as many insisting that Jawzrsize is a or could potentially cause injury. The small print on the Jawersize website does say that the transitions they showcase are not typical results. They also offer a money-back guarantee to anyone unsatisfied with the product. But for lots of guys, it seems a theoretical shot at a slightly more defined jawline is worth it. In fact, there are even enough true believers to support a second facial fitness product,. Dmitrii Vasiukov was inspired to create the device after seeing a demo of Jawersize online. He was fascinated with the potential of the product, but he thought the chew toy aesthetic of Jawersize was too silly to be taken seriously. The Chisell promises similar results to Jawersize with a more discreet design—users chew on a smaller piece of plastic positioned over the back molars. But it's the way Vasiukov talks about what getting a better jaw can do for your life that really got my attention. ""Historically people with wider bigger jaws are automatically perceived as more dominant,"" he said. “The dominance aspect is not only felt by girls. It’s also felt by your peers. The majority of interactions have a dominant and submissive, even if the difference is very small, and what I’ve noticed since I trained my jaw is that people perceive you as a bit more dominant.” This seemed more than a bit too good to be true, but I asked Harris if his jaw had been a factor in attracting the opposite sex.""You should have seen the girls at the conventions coming up to me,"" said Harris. ""It was like having abs for your face."" The idea that you could unlock some secret level of manhood through the power of chewing was both laughable and sort of intoxicating. Here were these people achieving big things: starting companies, getting laid, and fulfilling their dreams, through the power of a stronger jaw. On the first day of my facial fitness journey I completed 150 reps—bites—on my Jawzrsize in five minutes. There was an undeniable pump—I knew that something was happening. Within a week I was clearly making gains: The chewing had gotten easier and I'd managed to up my rep count to an even 200. But I doubted whether or not that feeling was going to actually lead to any changes in my face. Each day in the mirror I kept looking at myself wondering if there were any discernible changes, like a middle schooler hoping for that first peach fuzz of a mustache. I took a picture before I started, and another after three weeks of chewing. If you really squint, my jaw does look slightly more defined in the “after.” Maybe. It might just be the lighting. What I do know for sure is, shortly after starting my facial fitness journey, a co-worker from an old restaurant job hit me up on Instagram to confess a crush. Could that be a coincidence? It's hard to say, really. GQ grooming columnist Phillip Picardi asks: If face rollers are bullshit, how come they deliver such sweet, cool relief?"
"It is 2024, and we're talking about macronutrients as if they're star athletes. You know about protein, carbs, and fats—they get all the attention. Fiber, on the other hand, is flying under the radar, but if (and when aren't they?), it is about to climb the ranks as the macronutrient du jour. This is all to say: Americans are ignoring their fiber intake: Recent research estimates that only are getting the recommended amount of fiber in their diets daily. And by neglecting the nutrient, they’re sleeping on some major health benefits. “There are so many benefits to fiber,” says author and celebrity holistic health coach (who has worked with the likes of Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, and Emmy Rossum. “[They include] normalizing bowel movements and preventing constipation, maintaining bowel health, lowering cholesterol levels, inflammation and blood pressure to support overall heart health, and helping to control blood sugar levels and increasing satiety to manage weight and hunger.” Technically a type of carbohydrate, “dietary fiber, also known as roughage or bulk, includes the parts of plant foods your body can't digest or absorb,” says LeVeque. “Unlike other food components, such as fats, proteins, or [other] carbohydrates—which your body breaks down and absorbs—fiber isn't digested by your body.” Even though the body doesn’t digest fiber itself, its presence in your diet helps your digestive system function in top form, says, a functional medicine nurse practitioner and author of. According to LeVeque, this is because fiber acts as a prebiotic, promoting the growth and health of good bacteria in the gut. “The human gastrointestinal tract is home to a complex community of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiota or microbiome. This community includes various bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microbes,” she says. “When we consume dietary fiber, it travels to the colon undigested, where it becomes a source of nutrition for the gut microbiota.” To get sciencey real quick, LeVeque explains that the undigested fiber is converted to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the gut. “These SCFAs … play a vital role in supporting both gut and overall health because they act as an energy source, maintain intestinal barrier function, fight inflammation, and support our immune system,” she says. There are two types of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble, and each has a role to play. “Soluble fiber attracts water and turns to gel during digestion. This slows digestion,” LeVeque says. You can find soluble fiber in foods like beans, lentils, nuts, and some fruits and vegetables. Insoluble fiber, meanwhile, “adds bulk to the stool and moves it quicker through the stomach and intestines,” says LeVeque. Insoluble fiber is rich in foods including whole grains, veggies, and wheat bran. As mentioned, dietary fiber is great for your gut: It keeps your bowel movements regular and helps prevent bloating and GI discomfort. But the benefits don’t stop there. Research shows that by helping regulate blood sugar levels and aiding with the release of gut hormones, adipokines (a type of anti-inflammatory protein), and bile acids. These are all factors in the onset of Type 2 diabetes; so in this way, fiber is protective against the disease. High-fiber diets have also been linked to a reduction in the risk of,, and. Berghoff notes that the recommended amount of fiber will vary based on your sex and daily calorie intake, but the (USDA) recommends 14 grams of fiber per 1,000 calories of food. “If you're at 25 to 35 grams of fiber per day, you are in fairly good shape,” Berghoff says. Some signs you might not be getting enough fiber include bloating, constipation (and hemorrhoids), irritable bowel syndrome, or diverticulitis, says LeVeque. LeVeque says she recommends getting your fiber from whole foods like produce, nuts, and seeds before turning to supplementation. “Embracing a holistic approach to nutrition, I find that incorporating these wholesome options not only contributes to my daily fiber intake but also offers myriad [other] essential nutrients,” she says. Here’s what you can load up on to reap the health benefits of dietary fiber: “Fruit has a bad reputation often with dieters because of its sugar content, but fruits are high in fiber,” says Berghoff. “I want you to your fiber, eat your fruits and vegetables”—preferably with the skin on. “When you juice them, it takes away most of that fiber and then leaves just the high sugar, which … spikes your insulin levels.” LeVeque says some of her favorite fruits include berries and avocados (yes, avo is a fruit). Pears, apples, kiwi, and pomegranate also pack a punch of fiber. Shocker, I know, but fiber is another reason to eat your greens. Peas (8.8 grams of fiber per serving) and broccoli (5.2 grams) are really high in fiber, says Berghoff. Other expert-recommended high-fiber veggies include cruciferous vegetables like kale, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts; carrots; and sweet corn. Artichokes top the (9.6 grams per serving), and potatoes and sweet potatoes are also great sources. The USDA recommends cooking most of your vegetables to maximize their fiber content (although there are some instances where raw is the better choice, such as for red bell peppers, carrots, and jicama). High-protein beans and legumes include navy beans, white beans, lima beans, mung beans, lentils, and chickpeas—each of which has 7 to 9 grams of fiber per standard serving. Berghoff says that oats are her top pick for an easy way to reach your fiber goals. “Most people are eating oats in some form anyways, and that's a really good high fiber choice.” According to the USDA, many ready-to-eat cereals are high in fiber, including shredded wheat and bran flakes., quinoa, bulgar, spelt, and barley are also fiber-rich whole grains (clocking 3 to 7 grams per serving). In addition to being rich and fiber, LeVeque says she loves nuts and seeds because they “offer a satisfying crunch along with healthy fats,” says LeVeque. Pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, coconut, almonds, and chestnuts are at the top of the USDA’s list., which are also rich and omega-3 fatty acids and help promote hydration by absorbing water, are an easy way to add a fiber boost to your meal. “Chia seeds are my secret sauce,” says Berghoff. “I will put them in drinks, I will put them in meals. If I'm doing an Instant Pot recipe, I usually add chia seeds.” Nutrition experts, including Berghoff and LeVeque, say that it’s best to get your nutrients from whole foods. But if that’s difficult for you to do consistently, supplementing your food with fiber powder—from a source like psyllium, inulin, or methylcellulose—may be a good way for you to go. “A daily non-negotiable for me is adding to my smoothie as a main fiber source because it provides six grams of soluble fiber in one serving,” says LeVeque. Just remember to check with your doctor before adding any supplements to your regimen. Supplements, even something as harmless-seeming as a fiber supplement, could exacerbate certain health conditions or impact medications you’re taking."
"Rich, 33, has always admired butts—on everyone. As a kid, he grew up reading superhero comics and sketching exaggerated physiques, so a shapely backside was just part of the package. “When I started taking fitness more seriously, a nice butt became my top goal,” he says. “I can’t lie, I like it when close friends grab or pat mine. It’s oddly comforting to know that all that hard work—and it’s so much work—has paid off.” He feels more comfortable in shorts, too, because butt workouts have helped to build his thighs and hamstrings. Queer men have long appreciated a good butt, and are often trailblazers when it comes to male aesthetic trends. But recently straight men have been catching on. And the tides are slowly shifting, one shapely bottom at a time. After decades of gym culture prioritizing biceps and six-packs, glutes are finally having their time in the spotlight. In 2023, more than 400 men in the US got Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), and interest in male glute enhancements is growing. Brands are rolling out butt-enhancing,, and even. Popular fitness influencers are now speaking directly to men about, and guys are like Pilates that prioritize glute strength. ""It is trending more the last few years than the last few decades in my career,”, the physical therapist and personal trainer behind, says. “It was once laughed at. And now people are standing in line at commercial centers to use the hip thrust machine.” Not only that, but the male butt is increasingly a bona fide thirst object. When I (very informally) polled my Instagram friends, 81% of respondents—people who date men—said that they love a good man butt. The remaining 19% said they didn’t care either way. (Unsurprisingly, no one chose the “prefer a flat ass” option.) Conversations with the people who responded backed this up: One person told me she has to actively remind herself not to smack her boyfriend’s ass every time he walks by. Another bragged that her husband’s “unfairly excellent booty” is something she could talk about for hours. Someone else said a woman once told him he should model for an underwear campaign—and he still thinks about that compliment years later. As the appetite among men to be caked up rises, it’s bumping up against decades of gym culture that treated the lower body as an afterthought. So what shifted? And what does that tell us about the world’s ever-changing body expectations for men? While the ideal female body has whiplashed through trend cycles over the years, the “ideal” male body, as cosigned by pop culture, advertising, and other popular iconography has remained suspiciously consistent. (With the brief exception of the.) Broad shoulders. Big chest. Strong arms. Legs that don’t draw attention. “The ability to have a bigger, broader shoulder, a V taper-style of torso—it’s the separator from men and women many times,” says. “Many men think it’s more masculine to be able to have bigger, broader shoulders, big chest, biceps, upper body. The lower body just goes to the wayside.” You can see it in the classic weekly “bro split” weightlifting routine: chest and triceps one day, back and biceps another, then a., if they happen at all, are begrudgingly squeezed in once a week. Even ’s famous six-day program only gave them two days. But the consequences are visible, especially when hot weather hits and you can’t hide behind baggy sweatpants. “There’s nothing worse than a guy that has a great upper body but two toothpicks for legs,” says Taylor, 29. “My boyfriend has a literal shelf butt and looks really strong. So much of the power when he’s doing sports—or having sex, TMI—comes from the lower half of his body.” Kevin, 33, says that his butt is the body part he gets complimented on the most—by men and women. “I have a huge ass that has been used as a pillow,” he says. He doesn’t target it directly in the gym—that attention goes to his calves—but the payoff comes from his well-rounded routine: strength training, reformer Pilates, Muay Thai, and yoga. He’s not trying to sculpt a shelf butt on purpose, but he’s aware of how it plays in dating. People notice, he says, and he’s definitely into it when other guys have one, too. A good butt isn’t just nice to look at, it’s also a sign of physical competence. Athletes with explosive lower bodies, like sprinters, soccer players, and football stars, aren’t skipping glute day. Their power, agility, and resilience all come from below the waist. “The glutes are the powerhouse of the entire body,” Rusin says. “They sit on the backside of the hip, which is the second most mobile joint in the body, and are really active in every single movement that you could possibly think of.” When Rusin works with clients, he programs glute work into every single lower-body training session—hip hinges, single-leg work, activation drills. “We’re training from different angles and different planes of motion,” he says. Strong glutes also help you move better: protecting the knees; supporting the hips; reducing lower back pain; and making lifting, carrying, running, and jumping more efficient. “Whether you’re a man or woman, you can’t afford not to train them,” Rusin adds. Even Rich, who started training his glutes mostly for the aesthetic, says he feels more powerful on the squat rack now, and that confidence has carried over into other lifts. “I can handle more weight, and I don’t second-guess myself,” he says. In recent years, the rise of training programs that prioritize functional strength training and sports-specific movements, like and, have laso pushed more men to take glutes seriously. “I’ve seen a major evolution in how men approach glute training, and we’re seeing a growing focus on functional glute strength,” says Juddy Ferguson, F45 headquarters senior athletics educator. “We’re incorporating more unilateral movements like single-leg RDLs and split squats, as well as sled pushes and hip-dominant step-ups. This is becoming more popular with our athletes who train at F45 exclusively for competition prep."" Despite both the aesthetic and health benefits, a lot of guys still dread leg day. The main reason? It’s brutal. “Honestly, it’s fucking painful,” commented one Reddit user in a. “I do it 2 times a week but it fucking sucks. It takes a hell of a lot more mental energy to go to failure on legs than upper body.” But even when they commit to lower-body training, many men still avoid direct glute work, says Rusin. They might crank out a few barbell squats, but ask them to do a set of hip thrusts or cable kickbacks, and you get a dismissive shrug or a visceral aversion. Certain male fitness influencers have even expressed their distaste for glute exercises on social media. In a video clip that has made its way, an Australian bodybuilder named Jeff Myth went so far as to say: “If you’re a man doing hip thrusts, you should be very upset. Because it upsets me.” That aversion, shared on social media or elsewhere, has a way of trickling down to the average male gymgoer. “Before I understood how important strong glutes are to almost any athletic hobby, I was probably hesitant to train them,” says Alex, 36. Part of the hesitancy to take part may be due to the fact that some exercises can be seen as more masculine or feminine, says Rusin. “Men just love the ego drive of throwing a bar on their back and acting like squats save everyone from cancer,” he says. “I think [direct glute work] has been polarized with Instagram culture where nobody wants to be mistaken for a booty chick.” But Rae, 39, says it’s a huge green flag when a man gets over that hang-up. “If they’re doing hip thrusts or other glute-focused workouts, their desire for health outweighs their hang-ups with masculinity,” she says. “Maybe it’s a little biology, but they look healthier. Healthy men take care of themselves, and somewhere in my brain, it’s connected to the idea that I won’t have to nag them to take care of themselves. And they’re just hotter—point blank.” In the basic big box gym I go to (Blink Fitness), I’ve been seeing more guys sliding glute bridges or machine kickbacks into their workout without looking around self-consciously first. Slowly, the stigma is breaking down—not just around the exercises, but around the idea that men can train for power, longevity, and yes, a little cake, without it threatening their masculinity. There’s something liberating about that shift, about owning a part of your body that used to be ignored. As Alex puts it, “it’s honestly really empowering to have a fat ass."""
"Even if you spend the entire night on your back, ( ), you probably wake up feeling a little creaky and stiff. Any prolonged time you spend being sedentary can make you feel that way, sleeping included. That’s why it’s good for your body to have a short morning routine. Stretching in the morning helps loosen stiff muscles and joints, which will help set you up for success whether you’re headed to the gym or to sit at your desk for the next eight hours. (And if it’s normally the latter, at the end of the day too.) We talked to leading stretching experts who help athletes and average Joes alike avoid injuries about what a good morning stretch routine looks like. The 13 stretches rounded up here get their expert seal of approval as the best ones to start the day with. One of the main pros of having a morning stretch routine is that it primes the body for movement. “It allows the muscles to get a bit warmer as we start to walk around to make coffee and get ready for the day,” says physical therapist and owner Syd Young. That’s in part because moving around after you wake up helps mobilize the muscles and joints, says, a physical therapist and owner of Graham Therapy and Fitness. She recommends starting your morning stretch routine even before getting out of bed as a gentle way to get the body moving. “A morning stretch while in bed allows the initiation of range of motion in a non-weight-bearing position,” she says. “This can help make those first steps a little easier before applying weight bearing through the joints.” When you’re sleeping, blood flow is slowed down, so Graham says that stretches done in bed and out of bed also help restart that flow of blood to the muscles. If you have a physically demanding job or are about to work out, she says that stretching in the morning is associated with muscle activation, injury prevention, and reduced perception of effort. Simply put, the strain you put on your body won’t feel as intense and you’ll move easier throughout the day. “Stretching in the morning helps to improve your freedom and ease of movement, or how far you can bend, reach, and turn,” says stretch coach and sports injury specialist, who is also an exercise scientist at the Stretching Institute. “It also reduces aches, pains, and muscle and joint tightness. Plus, it helps to improve posture and coordination, promotes circulation, and increases energy.” With all these benefits in mind, give the below routine a shot. These are the best morning stretches to prime your body for the day—no matter what it holds—according to the experts we interviewed. You can start your morning stretch routine while you’re still in bed. “It’s a great lower back stretch that allows for slight hip movement and is good for desk workers because the lower back stays in the same position all day as we sit,” Young says. Plus, it can help prevent lower back pain, according to Walker. The first stretch flows nicely into this second one. Though you can still technically stay in bed for this one, you might find more stability doing it on a surface that isn’t as soft. “It helps to improve rotation through the spine, making it easier to turn and bend without restriction,” Walker says. This is a beneficial stretch for people who sit all day because the hip flexors are constantly shortened as we sit at a desk. “It’s a great hip flexor stretch as well as a continued lower back stretch,” says Young. Okay, time to officially get out of bed to finish stretching. This stretch improves range of motion in the chest, shoulders, and arms while supporting good posture, per Walker. If you work a desk job, Young says that this morning stretch is a must. Show your neck some love before it spends the next several hours slightly forward toward your screen. To prevent back and neck tension, Graham says this stretch can work wonders. It can also relieve stress, so try it before you dive into your inbox. “[This move] stretches the shoulders, back, and feet—and if you add in a little self-traction by leaning the hips back you can also elongate the spine as well,” Graham says. “It benefits mobility of the shoulders, back, and feet, which can help with overhead reaching activities.” If you’re about to go for a morning run, Graham recommends the wall lunge stretch to warm up. “It helps with quad, hip flexor, and ankle mobility,” she says. “This stretch helps to open up the hips and improve posture,” Walker says. Other benefits of doing this stretch after you wake up include increased quad and hip flexibility and better joint circulation. Walker recommends the standing leg-up hamstring stretch for improving flexibility, reducing muscle soreness, and preventing lower back pain. It keeps your hamstrings and hips nice and loose, which also supports posture. You’ve likely moved through cat-cow in a. And for good reason: Young says this classic stretch is great for stretching the middle part of the back, a.k.a. the thoracic spine. They say that this part of the back tends to get supertight after sitting around, which is why it can be a good one to do before you start the work day. Don’t forget to give your wrists a good stretch in the morning. “This is super important if you type all day,” Young says. “The tendons of the wrist muscles attach to the hand and fingers, so it’s important that we stretch this area to avoid pain.” While finding time to add anything else to your morning routine might be a (sorry, we had to), spending a few minutes moving through these poses will keep you moving freely and help you avoid getting injured as you get older. It’s one of the easiest ways to support your body—no matter what you spend the rest of the day doing."
"GQ’ Hacking one’s health in the name of longevity can often lead to an unyielding assortment of trends, takes, and tips each one more unaligned with each other. Do a cold plunge. Sit in a sauna. Walk 10,000 steps a day. Bryan Johnson,, pops supplements like candy—but, of course, he’s not eating any candy. When it comes to eating, and specifically how what we eat affects how long we live, the information out there regarding any links between diet and longevity can be equally conflicting. Some people will tell you to eat lots of meat. Others are on record saying that isn’t exactly the case. (“Meat is like radiation,” Walter Willett, a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health nutrition researcher,. “We don’t know the safe level.”) Walter Longo, director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California, even spells out precisely what to do if you want to live a long time. It’s, where the first line reads, “Eat mostly vegan.” ? Low. ? Stick to a, confining all meals between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. What, you might ask, are we supposed to do then, if the idea is to optimize a diet in the name of our health so that we can live a long, healthy life? “Certainly there is no one-size-fits-all diet that’s best for everyone,” says Dr. Frank Hu, Harvard professor of nutrition and epidemiology. “The good news is there are different patterns that can help prevent chronic disease and improve longevity.” By far, the overarching principle across all diets, if you’re looking to live a long life mostly free of disease, should be the. Packaged snacks, cookies, fast-food burgers, soda—all are examples of the sort of food that will do more harm to your body, regardless of how good a sleeve of chocolate chip cookies might taste in the moment. “Nowadays ultraprocessed foods are everywhere and ubiquitous in our food supply, but they’re very high in sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats,” says Hu. The is commonly promoted as one of the best diets out there for preventing chronic disease and preserving cardiac health. Limiting the intake of dairy products while upping the amount of fish and foods high in omega-3s, are. Meanwhile, the diet’s other key feature is paying attention to the types of fats and carbs you eat as opposed to eliminating them entirely. Consuming extra virgin olive oil is a big part of eating like you’re in Italy. “It’s not just beneficial in terms of lowering your cholesterol,” Hu says. “It may prevent other chronic diseases, like dementia or Alzheimer’s.” Red meat. If you’re a person who likes cooking up a steak every now and then, keep it to something like a strip or a flank, which are both lean cuts that contain key nutrients like zinc, heme iron, and B vitamins. Blue Zones around the world—Okinawa and Sardinia, for instance—are famed for the exceptionally long lives of their inhabitants. People there, who tend to get regular physical exercise and lead rich social lives, are known for living well past 80. Their diets are generally a 95-5 split. That is, just 5 percent of their meals contain any animal protein, while are composed of plant-based foods. In Loma Linda, California, where more people 100-plus years old live than anywhere else in the world,, and. So is. The, which has followed 96,000 Americans and Canadians since 2002, that people who eat vegetarian or mostly vegetarian diets have lower levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure, as well as lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes. As Hu says, however, that doesn’t mean you need to radically change your diet. What the Blue Zones have in common is that they follow a key principle. “You don’t have to follow a rigid regimen,” he says. “Basically, you want to eat minimally processed and whole foods: fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds.”"
"Whether you're new to or just ready to upgrade the cheapo mat you impulse-bought before you were sold on this whole asana thing, the very best yoga mats are a major upgrade to your practice. Think of them as your safe harbor—the little plot of land that's all yours—no matter what happened in your day prior to. So long as your mat stays grippy, the surface isn't sticky with debris and sweat, and it has just enough give to support your body weight, you've got a solid landing pad for nailing any posture. Once your feet and hands are planted firmly on that squishy surface, all you've got to do is ""follow your breath""—that's yoga speak for chill out and move a little—and you're more or less guaranteed to walk out feeling at least somewhat rejuvenated and at peace. While it can be a bit overwhelming to stay present amidst the sweaty, athleisure-clad chaos of a crowded yoga class, a modest investment in a good yoga mat can make all the difference. There are as many quality mats out there as there are classes, so it can be an equal challenge to find the one that’s right for you. To point you in the right direction, we tested a number of mats and consulted yoga teachers on their favorites, too. As a bonus, we’ve also included options for accessories that can round out your practice. Feeling pressed about finding the right mat? Cut to the chase with this lineup of our top recommendations, according to us and a panel of experts: Manduka Pro Amazon : PVC : 6 millimeters : 71 x 26 inches : 7.5 pounds Now you may be thinking, Well, we're here to tell you that the Manduka Pro will last you a lifetime—literally. It’s the preferred mat of many veteran yogis (including pretty much everyone we chatted to for this story) due to its superior grip and supportive six millimeter thickness for wrists and knees. Lamb notes that he's practiced on many Mandukas over the years and can vouch for their longevity. “Each Manduka Pro is basically a tank: sturdy, durable, and weighs accordingly."" Justin Temple—co-founder and co-director of and a practitioner of yoga for the past 15 years—adds that the mat only gets better with age, too. “I practice Ashtanga yoga six days a week, which is a dynamic way to spend my mornings—and the Manduka Pro's thickness provides just the right amount of extra support,” Temple says. One caveat: This thing is heavy (we're talking over-seven-pounds heavy). Another downside for sweaty-palmed folks, Lamb says, is that the mat can be something of a slip-and-slide if you're engaging in more rigorous practices. Temple suggests using a practice rug or non-skid towel on top in humid weather or during sweatier sessions, though if you feel the mat starting to lose its grip over time, you could also restore it with a little salt scrub. If that’s not doing the trick, Manduka offers a so you can trade yours in for a fresh one. Jade Yoga Amazon Natural rubber 3.2 mm 68 (or 74) x 24 inches 3.2 pounds If your idea of a perfect shavasana includes ocean views or hotel blackout curtains, the JadeYoga Travel Mat is the one you’ll want tucked in your carry-on. It’s ultra-thin and featherlight compared to your average studio mat, but unlike most travel options, it still offers impressive grip, whether dry or sweaty. That traction is especially useful if you're practicing on slippery hotel tile or an uneven Airbnb balcony. This mat has gone the distance, literally. It’s a longtime favorite of seasoned yogis for everything from weekend retreats to international teacher trainings, and it folds flat into a compact square, making it easier to pack than traditional roll-up mats. It doesn’t bunch or curl at the corners, and it stays in place during transitions, whether you’re flowing through sun salutations or settling into seated twists. During testing, it performed best in more active vinyasa and hatha practices, where lightness and stickiness matter more than plush support. That said, you’ll probably want to double it up for longer holds or kneeling poses. The thinness that makes it packable does mean you’re sacrificing some comfort, especially if you have sensitive joints. But if you’re used to making the most of what’s available (think: beach towels, borrowed mats, or hotel carpeting), the tradeoff is more than worth it for the ease of travel. And just like every other mat from Jade, this one gives back. The brand plants a tree for every mat sold. Stakt Nordstrom : EVA Foam Blend : 12 mm : 69 x 24 inches (Flat), 12 x 3 x 24 inches (Folded) : 3.4 lbs Plenty of mats promise extra cushioning, but the Stakt Mat Pro takes it a step further with a smart, foldable design that allows you to layer up support exactly where you need it. It opens like an accordion, which means you can easily double or triple it under your knees, wrists, or seat without breaking flow or digging through your closet for props. If your joints tend to bark during tabletop, lunges, or kneeling poses, this mat makes a noticeable difference in comfort. The thick foam design gives it a supportive, almost Pilates-mat feel, but it still offers solid grip for a wide range of flows and functional training moves. During testing, it stayed put on both hardwood and tile, and the textured surface kept our hands and feet from slipping even during longer holds and low lunges. Unlike some plush mats that turn into balance nightmares, this one strikes a good middle ground between cushion and control. It also folds flat, which makes it way easier to stash than standard roll-up mats. If you’re tight on storage or don’t like the look of a yoga mat permanently propped in a corner, this one tucks neatly into a closet or even under a bed or couch. While it’s not the lightest option out there, the added structure makes it ideal for anyone who practices regularly at home and wants a mat that multitasks as a bolster or cushion. The one downside? Because it doesn’t roll, it’s not the best pick for studio-goers who need something to sling over a shoulder and commute with. But for anyone who mostly practices at home—or wants to build a mini gym in their living room—it’s one of the smartest designs on the market. Carmu Carmu microsuede top and eco-rubber base 5 mm 72 x 27 inches 4 pounds If you practice hot yoga regularly, you’ve probably slipped, slid, or sweat-soaked your way through more than one mat. The Carmu EchoMat is designed specifically to solve that problem, combining a velvety microfiber suede surface with a grippy natural rubber base that stays planted no matter how steamy your practice gets. Unlike traditional PVC mats or towel-topped options, this one blends comfort and function into a single layer, meaning no need to carry a towel separately or adjust mid-flow. During testing, the surface became noticeably grippier as practice went on, especially once sweat entered the picture. The mat lays flat without curling at the edges and feels secure during standing flows and transitions. At five millimeters thick, it offers a solid balance of cushioning and stability, and the slightly wider dimensions give extra room to move through wider stances and reclined poses. The EchoMat is also machine-washable, which is a huge plus for anyone practicing regularly in heated studios. Just toss it in on a cold cycle and hang to dry. The weight makes it more suitable for leaving at home or in your car than for commuting on foot, but for dedicated hot yogis, the ease of cleanup and consistent traction might be well worth it. Carmu also offsets carbon emissions for every purchase, and the brand’s mats are made without PVC, silicone, or phthalates, which may appeal to eco-conscious buyers. Lululemon Lululemon FSC-certified natural rubber 5mm 26 x 71 inches 5.2 pounds If you practice several times a week and expect a mat to deliver studio-grade performance, The is your next-level staple. It rolls out sleek and stable with a smooth, tacky top layer that grips immediately and keeps improving as heat and moisture build during hot flows. You’re not asking it to replace an eight-pound studio tank, yet it still feels anchored under both handstand drills and low lunges. One of the most impressive parts of the test was its consistency. Whether used in heated vinyasa, weekend workshops, or on slick hardwood floors, the mat stayed right where we left it. Transitions felt cleaner, poses felt tighter, and hands didn’t slip out from under us in peak stress positions. That balance of grip and cushioning makes it truly stand apart from lightweight travel mats or wobbly gym slabs. That said, it's not perfect for everyone. At just over five pounds, it's heavier than some travel-friendly mats, and the deep rubber scent can be noticeable at first. Also, because it absorbs moisture for traction, you’ll need to commit to wiping it down after sweaty classes to avoid mildew or lingering smells. But the antimicrobial finish helps minimize that, and a quick wipe and air-dry routine usually does the trick. For serious practitioners who aren’t hauling mats around daily but want studio-level feel at home or in class, The Mat is a rare find. It’s the kind of foundation that doesn’t just stay out of the way of your practice—it elevates it. JadeYoga Amazon : Rubber : 4.76 millimeters : 68 x 24 inches : 4.2 pounds Long a favorite of yogis and yoga instructors, Jade’s Harmony mat strikes the ideal balance between grip, support, and sweat absorption. Unlike other thick, squishy mats out there that can feel comfy underfoot for a winding-down but can actually cause problems for your joints, the natural rubber on this yoga mat provides a solid base—with enough springiness and resistance to keep your wrists and ankles safe. Other perks: Jade manufactures all of its mats in the U.S. and has vowed to plant a tree for every mat purchase (to date the company has surpassed more than two million trees). With a variety of lengths and colors to choose from, you also won't be stuck with the exact same mat as everyone else in class. Lamb—a long-time user of Jade mats for their sponginess, eco-friendly production, sweat absorption, and variety of widths/weights and colors—confirms that the Harmony mat is a “solid investment” for the price. Manduka Pro Manduka : Rubber : 6 millimeters : 78 x 78 inches : 26 pounds Yes, holding downward-facing dog for 10 breaths is challenging, even for experienced yogis, but a downward-facing dog on a mat that is too small is even more challenging. Luckily, Manduka makes this extra-long, almost comically wide version of its Pro Mat that's perfect for tall guys, or for doing yoga in pairs. With nearly seven feet of real estate (compared to the standard six for most yoga mats), you can spread those limbs out comfortably without worrying about rolling off the mat. It also offers the same bona fides as the original Pro, including the dense six millimeter thickness, closed-cell material that keeps bacteria and moisture from seeping into the mat, and the enviable lifetime warranty. The only hangup? It weighs, uh, fully over 25 pounds, so it's not exactly the kind of mat you roll up for class. If you've got the square footage in your home gym for it, though, it is the perfect way to embrace the sprawl. JadeYoga Amazon REI : Rubber : 7.5 millimeters : 68 x 24 inches : 7 pounds Even some of the squishiest yoga mats can be harsh on your joints and bones over time, which could be remedied by folding your mat over for extra cushioning under your knees, but this PVC-free mat is already almost twice as thick as Jade’s Harmony mat—no folding required—at nearly eight millimeters thick. With that thickness comes extra weight, so this 8.5-pounder mat won't be your top choice for a travel mat, but it's still endlessly supportive underfoot, whether you're planting your feet into a chair pose or digging into a side plank. lululemon Lululemon : Rubber : 6 millimeters : 26 x 71 inches : 4.4 pounds Lululemon has a huge following for its aesthetic-minded, reversible yoga mats and accessories, and we'd be remiss to not at least give them a nod here. We think Manduka still has an edge over the athleisure giant overall with its lifetime guarantee, but Lululemon recently released a thicker mat with a textured surface that's a great option if you're looking to buy one foundation for everything from pilates to HIIT to yoga. The rubbery top layer of the mat is designed to give you a better grip during precarious poses like a half-moon asana, while still remaining durable enough to hold up to the treads of your sneakers during jumping jacks and burpees. This one's also supposedly stain-resistant and uses a closed-cell design to keep sweat from soaking into its upper layers. But be warned that any of the brand's rubber mats are going to take a couple days to release their strong rubbery odor, so stick that sucker in a room with good ventilation and crank the air purifier up. Manduka Eko Amazon : Rubber : 1.5 millimeters : 71 x 24 inches : 2 pounds If you're cool with slightly thinner mats, the Eko is a very popular alternative to Manduka's Pro Lite travel series. Wilson says he always travels with the Superlite for a couple reasons: “The natural rubber surface offers grippy contact. And it’s ultra-thin at 1.5 millimeters which means it can easily roll and even fold when you need to save space.” Just a head's up that the thin density is going to be tough on joints, but you can always double up with a towel or blanket on top if you need more cushion underneath your feet. JadeYoga Target : Rubber : 1.6 millimeters : 68 x 24 inches : 1.5 pounds You don’t want to be on the subway during rush hour, hurrying to make your evening class while your mat is sticking awkwardly out of your bag primed to get stuck in the closing doors or the turnstile or knock over a small child. For those on the go, Jade Yoga’s ultra-light, ultra-thin, Voyager Mat is perfectly portable. Weighing just over one pound, it folds up to about the size of a yoga block, and easily fits inside,, and. It’s only 1.6 millimeters thick, so if you need a little more support, just throw it on top of a rental mat from the yoga studio and you’ll still get premium grip without the germs or the fuss of a sweat towel. Liforme Amazon : Rubber : 6 millimeters : 71 x 26 x 0.24 inches : 7.5 pounds For absolute yoga beginners, knowing where to plant your feet in a warrior one versus a warrior two pose can be challenging to master, especially in crowded classes where teachers are less inclined to offer hands-on adjustments. Just short of arranging private lessons, a mat like Liforme's can at least provide a helpful blueprint so you can measure out the distance between your hands and feet in a downward dog, for example, or set your alignment in any of the sun salutations. It doesn't come at a beginner price, for sure, but it might be worth it to get you up to speed during a fast-paced vinyasa class. For what it's worth, we prefer the markings on this mat to Lululemon's similar Take Form mat, which we found a little tougher to follow. Oko Living Oko Living : 6-ply cotton : 5 millimeters : 72 x 25 inches : 3.4 pounds Whether you’re into Bikram or you just sweat a lot, it can be difficult to find a mat that gives you enough support without feeling like your hands might slip out from under you at any moment during downward dog. Laying a towel on top of your mat can sometimes do the trick, but can also be a hassle to fumble with throughout your practice. If this sounds like you, try out a woven mat instead. It's not only a stylish, easily portable choice for grounding down into your practice, but can also be helpful for gaining traction during a sweaty hot yoga class. —an ashtanga yoga practitioner at Brooklyn's —appreciates the look of Oko Living’s Herbal Mat for at-home yoga, and the feel-good knowledge that the woven material supports artisans and preserves an ancient craft. “It's hand-loomed from super soft cotton, which offers fantastic stability especially when you work up a sweat,” Wilson says. “The underside is coated in natural rubber which keeps the mat from slipping,” he adds, and it all rolls up into its own woven carrying bag. 42 Birds 42 Birds : Cork : 5 millimeters : 72 x 26 inches : 1.9 pounds Some people prefer the sturdy, tactile feel of cork under their palms in a downward dog, and 42 Birds specializes in accessories and mats made from exactly that. Its five-millimeter “Robin” mat weighs in at just under two pounds, so it's a good combo of supportive and lightweight. Cork is also recyclable, which gives it an edge over PVC mats. The only downside is that these type of mats really need moisture to help you maintain a better grip, so give it a spritz of water before class so you don't topple out of a pose midway through. Gaiam Gaiam : Synthetic rubber and foam : 10 millimeters : 24 x 72 inches Gaiam wouldn't be our first pick for yoga mats since its options tend to be less grippy than we'd like, and don't hold up as well over long periods of time. But for first-timers or people who want a thick yoga mat for all sorts of floor exercises, we'd recommend this 10 millimeter Fitness mat. It's even thicker than the Jade Fusion above for toggling between a variety of exercises comfortably—from running jacks to burpees to vinyasa poses—without pissing off the downstairs neighbors. Blessedly, it even includes its own carrying strap for toting it elsewhere, or just hanging it up after your latest sweat session. Your choice of a yoga mat will be dictated primarily by price point, since even a cheap $20 surface can give you a place to move through your flow. But if you're getting more serious about developing a practice, you should also consider the sustainability of the materials and which ones will provide the best grip for your sweaty hands. Our top pick the Manduka Pro uses a polyvinyl chloride (or PVC) surface, for example, that's known for its grippy exterior. That said, PVC isn’t your only option. Natural rubber is another widely used material that offers excellent traction and a more eco-conscious profile, especially for those looking to avoid plastics. Cork mats are naturally antimicrobial and resist slipping as you sweat. TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is another lightweight, recyclable option that’s free of PVC and latex. Each has its pros and cons—some are better for grip, others for weight or sustainability—but if grip is your top priority, you’ll find solid choices across both synthetic and natural materials. That feature becomes especially critical in styles like hot yoga, where sweat can turn an average mat into a slip-and-slide. For this reason,, a certified yoga instructor based in New York City, emphasizes grip as one of the most important features in a mat, especially for hot or dynamic practices. She notes that an ideal mat for hot yoga is one that absorbs sweat in real time. While some yogis use towels, her preferred options are mats with built-in sweat absorption like those from or. Thicker mats offer more cushioning for your joints, which can make a big difference during kneeling poses, long holds, or slower-paced practices. If you have sensitive knees or wrists, or if you’re recovering from injury, a mat with more padding can help reduce discomfort. That said, thicker mats tend to be heavier and less stable for balancing poses, especially in faster flows. If portability or stability is a priority, a thinner mat might be the better fit. Cooke notes that thickness is especially important for people managing chronic discomfort or joint sensitivity, while others may prefer the grounded feel of a slimmer mat with stronger floor connection. : Kevin Lamb—a New York-based, Yoga Alliance-certified instructor who's been practicing for over 20 years—also suggests thinking about whether you'll be using your mat at home or rolling it up to tote to your nearest studio. A lighter-weight, foldable mat will be easier to carry-on to a plane or roll into a duffel bag, though it won't have the same support for your limbs as a thicker, heavier mat. Cooke also encourages buyers to consider size, especially for larger-bodied practitioners. Standard yoga mats are typically around 68 inches long and 24 inches wide, which may not offer enough surface area for taller people or those with broader frames. For more comfort and coverage, she suggests looking for mats that are at least 72 to 84 inches in length or labeled as “extra-long” or “oversized.” She notes that she’s worked with basketball players who needed longer mats and adds, “In this case size actually matters,” she says. “If you are a larger human get a bigger mat to support your whole body. This practice is about taking up space, being fully yourself.” Lamb adds, “A lot of this is knowing how your body is inside your practice, what exercises you’d like the mat to support, the size of your home space to practice in, floor type (different mats will respond differently on wood or concrete floors than they would carpet), and whatever other atmospheric factors you are working with.” For anyone who wants to dabble, Lamb says it might be a good idea to visit local studios and gyms to get a feel for which in-house mats they prefer. Cooke advises looking for a non-toxic mat and warns against mats with strong chemical smells right out of the packaging. “If you open the packaging and first practice get you high from the smell of toxins this defeats the purpose of your practice,” she says. It’s worth considering the materials your mat is made of—both for comfort and sustainability. PVC, which is used in mats like the Manduka Pro, is a high-density material designed for durability and long-term use. It tends to last longer than most biodegradable options and is backed by lifetime guarantees. Natural rubber, which is popular in mats from brands like JadeYoga and Lululemon, is biodegradable and offers excellent grip but may degrade faster with regular use. If you have a latex allergy, rubber mats may not be the best choice. Cork and TPE are other alternatives, each with their own trade-offs in terms of grip, weight, and longevity. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference and how often you practice. A yoga mat gives you a non-slip surface to practice on and provides some cushion for your joints. It helps define your personal space, absorbs impact, and makes standing, balancing, and seated poses more stable. Even if you're not flowing through a full class, it offers a consistent surface for stretching, core work, or meditation. You can, but it probably won’t feel great. Practicing on hardwood, tile, or carpet means more sliding, less support, and a higher chance of aggravating your knees or wrists. Yoga mats are designed to provide grip and cushioning in all the right places, especially as your body heats up and the sweat kicks in. Most mats can be wiped down with a gentle solution of water and mild soap or a store-bought mat cleaner. Some higher-end mats, like the Carmu EchoMat, are machine washable on a cold cycle. Just make sure to let your mat dry fully before rolling it up again. Cooke advises letting mats dry before putting them away. “I wouldn’t roll up a wet mat,” she says. “Even if it’s just wet from cleaner. Let it dry a bit then put it away. Or if you roll it up to leave class try opening it back up to air out when you get home. Moisture can facilitate growth of germs.” Natural rubber, cork, jute, and TPE are popular eco-conscious choices. Natural rubber offers great traction and cushion but may have a strong smell at first and can degrade faster than synthetic options. Cork is antimicrobial and resists odors, making it ideal for hot yoga. TPE mats are lightweight and recyclable but may not hold up as long with daily use. PVC mats last the longest, but they are less sustainable and can release chemicals during manufacturing or with heavy wear. It depends on how often you practice and what your mat is made of. PVC mats can last five to 10 years with proper care. Natural rubber or cork mats may need replacing every one to three years, especially if you practice frequently. If your mat starts to lose grip, show signs of thinning, tear easily, or develop an odor that won't go away, it's probably time to retire it. To figure out which yoga mats were actually worth rolling out again and again, we combined firsthand testing with expert insight. We spoke to certified yoga instructors to get their recommendations on what really matters in a mat, whether you're sweating through a hot vinyasa class or stretching it out in your living room. We also tested mats ourselves over the course of several months (and in some cases, years). That included home practices on hardwood and tile floors, group classes, heated sessions where grip really mattered, and packing mats into suitcases for yoga retreats. We paid attention to the little things that start to matter after week 10, like how a mat holds up to daily wear, whether it curls at the corners, how fast it dries after cleaning, and how annoying it is (or isn’t) to carry around. We evaluated each mat for traction, cushioning, durability, portability, sweat absorption, and overall feel. Some were immediate standouts. Others didn’t make the cut. And the best of the bunch? They’re the ones listed here, mats we actually want to practice on again and again."
"VO2 max is among the most elusive terms in fitness. You may have heard of it, as it’s often heralded as number that defines your cardiovascular fitness. Yet for many, the concept is confusing and misunderstood—a pinnacle of athletic prowess for elite endurance athletes, sure, but not for average folks without access to a performance lab. Well, this metric is still important for those of us who are just hitting the gym, going for runs, or trying out a new fitness class from time to time. “VO2 max affects your ability to sustain exercise,” says, sports medicine program director at the University of Western States. Want to cycle faster without feeling winded? Finish a round of boxing without getting gassed? Or keep up when you challenge a D1 track star to a foot race? “For runners or swimmers or cyclists or anyone working on their cardiorespiratory fitness, [improving VO2max] can help them have longer and more productive workouts,” he says. But it’s not just about your fitness; it’s also a really good predictor of overall. Improving your VO2 max has daily benefits even away from the sport, says Donna Cennamano, manager of training at Cyclebar and personal trainer and certified breath coach. “It promotes a sense of calm and increased awareness. When you improve your aerobic capacity, you have greater mental alertness, increased energy, and more stamina.” And who couldn’t use a little more of all of that? Ever wondered what fuels your body during a long run, brisk hike, or any activity that you sustain for more than just a few minutes? You’re in what’s called an aerobic state, and oxygen is the predominant fuel source for your muscles. This is different from anaerobic activities, like sprinting or lifting heavy weights for a few reps, where your body relies on other sources, like glucose, for quick bursts of energy. VO2 max is a measure of your aerobic capacity, or “the amount of oxygen we can consume during physical exercise,” says Cennamano. Basically, the more oxygen that your muscles can use during workouts, the easier it will feel and the longer you can go. But here’s the thing: VO2 max is not just about how much oxygen you can breathe in. It’s all about how efficiently your body can. Your heart and lungs need to be working in sync to deliver this oxygen to your muscles. Naturally, this process becomes harder as you pick up the exercise intensity and your breathing becomes labored. So that threshold before your body switches over to an anaerobic process—where you have to dig deep to keep going and push through the pain—that’s your VO2 max. VO2 max is quantified in millimeters of oxygen consumed per minute per kilogram of body weight—the higher the number, the more aerobically fit you are. But it is notoriously hard (and rather expensive) to measure precisely, requiring clinical testing, specialized equipment, and the somewhat daunting task of wearing an oxygen mask as you perform a grueling workout. So, this rigorous protocol has been relegated to the realm of elite athletes who are serious about crunching numbers to improve their performance. Today, modern fitness trackers, like a, also have VO2 max predictors, and can give you a ballpark figure of your VO2 max. Although, this estimate is based on your heart rate and how fast you’re moving, it is as in-lab testing. You can also judge your perceived effort during exercise to gain useful insights into your aerobic capacity. Marshall recommends a basic running or cycling test as a simple yet effective method. First, choose a pace that challenges you but is sustainable. For beginners, this might mean a brisk walk or light jog that you can maintain for five minutes before your muscles start to burn and legs turn to Jello, he says. The goal here isn’t to push until you drop but to find a steady, challenging pace that you can maintain for a set period. You can track your workout with a fitness tracker or apps like or to determine your pace and how long you can hold it. In about a month after training regularly (which we dive into below), you can repeat the same test again under similar conditions. The aim is to see how much longer you can maintain at the same pace. If your muscles gave out at the five-minute mark last time, you might now be able to push through to 12 or 15 minutes. While you won’t have a number to reference, “you can really see those gains in fitness,” says Marshall. Whether you measure it or not, you can improve your VO2 max. It comes down to two things: high-intensity training and breathing. According to Marshall, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is for improving VO2max. This is highlighted across research, including a 2023 study that found that interval runs were much more effective than moderate-intensity continuous running to boost VO2 max in soccer players. During interval training, you perform a short bout of really intense exercise, then rest and repeat. “Essentially, what this does is push your body in and out of the aerobic-anaerobic range,” Marshall explains. “You’re going up to that threshold—maybe a little bit past it.” By oscillating between the two, you challenge your body to adapt to both aerobic and anaerobic demands. We won’t lie—this type of training is very physically demanding: You need to put enough load on your body to get a response. “If you’re not pushing yourself hard enough, you might see some improvement, but it won’t be as efficient as if you’re pushing yourself to the upper end of those ranges,” Marshall says. For the most effective interval training, aim to perform exercises at about 80 percent of your maximum heart rate during the high-intensity phases, Marshall says. You can estimate your max heart rate with the formula 220 minus your age. And although running is a great method, you can perform any dynamic movement that gets your heart rate up, like jump squats or burpees, instead. Initially, work within shorter intervals (45 seconds to a minute), but as you progress, you can push your intervals longer to result in to VO2 max. According to a, the most effective interval length was between three and five minutes. Remember when I said it isn’t about how much oxygen you consume but how well you use it? Well, efficient breathing plays a critical role in maximizing oxygen uptake and utilization, and it may be the most overlooked factor for improving VO2 max. You don’t need to take in more air to increase your VO2 max, Cennamano says. Instead, you need to slow it down and learn to lighten your breath. This will help improve your, which helps deliver more oxygen to your tissues. But because breathing isn’t instinctual for everyone (myself included), you need to train it. When you’re first developing a breathwork practice, Cennamano recommends doing it separately from exercise to stay intentional and mindful. First, just perform a check-in. Ask yourself how you’re breathing, she says. Are you using your nose or mouth more? When you take a deep breath, are you a vertical breather—bringing it all the way into the stomach—or a horizontal breather—expanding your ribs? Once you know your tendencies, you can start to incorporate common techniques, including nasal breathing, which was found to be effective for increasing sub-maximal power output in cyclists, and diaphragmatic breathing. Cennamano also recommends the if you want to take a workshop. After you feel in control of your breath, you can start incorporating it into exercise, like during a walk or light jog. You don’t have to breathe through your nose the whole time, says Cennamano; just focus on it for five to ten minutes of your practice and then start to increase that as you become more comfortable. The goal is to build a foundation that will support you when you ramp up the effort: “You need to build the tolerance so when you are venturing into higher intensity workouts, you’re not over-breathing,” she says."
"Rejoice, irritated bowels! We're living the halcyon days of gut health drinks. No longer the exclusive domain of crusty health food stores, gut health is serious business for a major range of big businesses and cool smaller producers all looking for a slice of the probiotic pie. Most people now know that is one of the most important things to get right for a healthy, happy life. But why is your gut so central to health, and do gut health drinks help or hinder the process? To put it bluntly, a healthy gut helps you live better and look younger for longer. According to epidemiologist and founder Tim Spector's landmark, our diet, the microbes in our guts, and our general health are inextricably linked: what happens in our guts supplies a more accurate picture of our risk of heart disease, obesity, and diabetes than even genetic predisposition. A 2019 study also demonstrated “ ” in the link between diet and disease. “Gut health has become a hot topic in recent years and for good reason,” Sas Parsad, founder of, earlier this year. “Our gut is home to trillions of microbes that are crucial to our overall well-being. Good gut health is about maintaining a diverse and harmonious ecosystem in our gut. Our gut is not just responsible for digestion, but it also influences our immune system, metabolism, brain function, and even our mental well-being. Caring for our gut health is like nurturing a within us.” puts it rather neatly: “If you have a million-dollar racehorse, you're going to make sure you know how to train it and feed it and take care of it so it's fully optimized, right?” Think of yourself as the new Secretariat and get your gut in order. The best way to keep your gut happy is by focusing on a diet rich in a variety of plant-based foods, encouraging healthy bacteria to flourish. However, if you find yourself struggling to get enough of the good stuff, pre- and probiotic drinks and supplements can help boost your gut flora without much effort. “The effectiveness of gut-health drinks largely depends on their ingredients and the individual’s gut health,” says James Cunningham, coach at. “Many gut health drinks contain probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that can help balance the gut microbiome. These bacteria aid in digestion, support the immune system, and can even impact mental health.” ‘Good' bacteria was first discovered in the early 1900s in a drink favoured by centenarian Bulgarian villagers—the aptly-named was present in the yogurt they consumed every day. Fast forward a hundred years, and that Yoplait lost at the back of the fridge is a proud descendant. As you'd expect, much of the food and drink you'd associate with gut health—yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and more—has been around for centuries, and is usually linked to the fermentation process. It's not just about probiotics, either. It's all well and good topping up your good bacteria, but they'll need something to eat, and that's where prebiotic fiber comes in. “Prebiotics are important always—they’re the bedrock of gut health because they’re feeding and nourishing bacteria that are part of your gut flora,” says Rory Paterson, co-founder of. “Prebiotics create the setting for a healthy microbiome to flourish.” Prebiotics are found in foods like onions, garlic, bananas and whole grains, and are a vital lifeline for the billions of bacteria lining the gut. For those of us whose bodies might not with onion and garlic, a prebiotic-focussed drink is a good way to get our bacteria-feeding hit. The main issue is that everyone's microbiome is different, based on genetics and lifestyle, so what works for your kefir-laden friend might not be as effective for you. A good rule of thumb, though, is to look for a high bacteria count. “Look for a drink that's got a high CFU (colony-forming units) count,” advises Cunningham. “This guarantees the number of live bacteria in the drink, ensuring they'll survive the journey to your gut where they can do their job. Look for drinks with a CFU count of at least 10 billion. Anything less, and you might not be getting the full benefits.” Probiotic drinks aren't traditionally the sweetest, so it can be tempting to go for a drink that curbs some of the more bitter notes. This, however, is one of the most counterproductive moves you could make. “I would advise looking for a gut-heath drink that is low in sugar, as sugar can negatively impact the gut microbiome,” says Maz Packham, consultant at. “ While gut health drinks have been around for hundreds of years, the technology behind getting your gut flora to its best has evolved, with pre- and probiotic pills a quick and easy alternative. “In today's fast-paced world, eating a perfect diet is only sometimes feasible, with very few of us consuming probiotic foods like kimchi and sauerkraut on a daily basis,” says Emily English, founder of gut health capsule brand. “That is where the right supplements can fill nutritional gaps. Supplements can provide that safety net,"" she says, ""for you to be able to know that you're doing the best for yourself without having to overcomplicate it.”."
"In its annual Best Diets ranking, has for the seventh year in a row. According to the publication, this style of eating—inspired by the eating habits of people living in the Mediterranean region—has such serious staying power because it’s easy to follow long-term and has been shown to support heart health, bone, and joint health, and help prevent certain diseases, such as diabetes. But “diet” is really a misnomer, says, author of and a member of. “It's less of a diet, more of a lifestyle, an eating pattern,” she says. “[It] can be customized based on the individual's likes, dislikes, personal preference, religious needs, and access.” “The Mediterranean diet is really a long-term dietary lifestyle…versus another kind of restrictive time-period diet,” agrees, a functional medicine nurse practitioner and author of. Rather than cutting out certain food groups or counting calories, “it focuses on [eating] a lot of healthy fats, healthy oils, and plant-based foods,” she says. The Mediterranean diet started to gain attention as a healthy way of eating in the 1950s, when scientist Ancel Keys, PhD, of the the University of Minnesota School of Power discovered a. “What the research found was that people who followed Mediterranean patterns of eating actually tended to have better cardiovascular profiles, so lower cholesterol, better lipid markers, good cholesterol,” says Feller. Dr. Keys didn’t invent the Mediterranean diet, of course; he simply began to popularize a way of eating and enjoying food that people in the Mediterranean had been following for centuries. “The biggest tenets of that are seafood; lean proteins in the form of beans, nuts, and seeds; whole grains; ancient grains; fermented dairy; fruits,” says Feller. “And then alcohol is consumed in moderation.” When looking for inspiration for your Mediterranean menu, Feller says it’s important to consider all 22 countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea—not just Greece, Italy, and France. “The countries of North Africa and the Middle East are not often highlighted [when talking about the Mediterranean diet], when in fact, their patterns of eating are credible and really centered on legumes, grains, seeds, fermented dairy, and really interesting types of fruits,” she says. “We often are told: cucumber, feta, olives, tomato, and red onion—that's the Mediterranean diet. Yes, that's wonderful, but it could also be couscous and chickpeas in a curry with berbere. There's so many different ways that it can show up.” Great news, folks: With the Mediterranean diet, it’s a very “you do you” approach to healthy eating. That being said, the Mediterranean lifestyle does encourage you to load your plate with particular foods and food groups. Alcohol should be consumed in moderation, if at all, on the Mediterranean diet, says Feller. Wine is not a health food, let’s be clear. But there is research to support that a “ ”—or drinking no more than one glass of wine per day with food—may have certain health benefits for adults over 35, including. In addition to alcohol, the Mediterranean diet asks you to limit ultra-processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and foods that are super high in sugar (excluding fruits), says Berghoff. According to Berghoff, many of the Mediterranean diet’s health benefits stem from the ways this eating style reduces inflammation within the body. On the one hand, you’re cutting back on foods that are known to cause inflammation, such as high-sugar foods, highly processed foods, red meats, and alcohol, she says. On the other, you’re increasing the amount of inflammation-reducing foods you’re eating, including plants, omega-3 fatty acids, and monounsaturated fats (largely from olive oil). As mentioned, the original draw to the Mediterranean diet for many people was the research that supported its positive impact on heart health. And since Dr. Keys’s work in the 1950s, new studies have continued to support the Med diet’s ability to improve cardiovascular fitness. In one study published in 2013, approximately 7,500 people with a high risk of cardiovascular disease in Spain were asked to either follow a Mediterranean style of eating or a controlled diet. After following the participants for nearly 5 years, the diet’s impact was clear (so clear, in fact, that the study was ended early): for those following the Mediterranean diet, the risk of cardiovascular disease was reduced by 30 percent. The also supports the Mediterranean diet, saying: “This style of eating can play a big role in preventing heart disease and stroke and reducing risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.” “What the current research says is that a plant-forward type of eating is also supportive when it comes to blood sugar management,” says Feller. A 2017 meta-analysis of studies that included a total of 1.5 million people found that the heart-friendly Mediterranean diet has a “.” In 2020, research published in the journal concluded that following a Mediterranean-style diet was effective for (or blood glucose) levels and could also play a role in managing the progression of type 2 diabetes. Recent research also shows that adhering to a Mediterranean diet that’s rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients can improve bone mineral density, muscle mass, and movement ability—and could, therefore, slow the onset of osteoporosis and sarcopenia (loss of muscle strength). According to the, the Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce cancer-related deaths and also play a role in preventing certain cancers, including colorectal, breast, stomach, pancreas, prostate, and lung. “There is some around high intakes of plants as well as seafood-rich patterns of eating [having an impact on] some cancers. So this is thought to be an anticarcinogenic pattern of eating,” says Feller. Feller also makes clear, however, that while the Mediterranean diet may be protective against some cancers, it is not a cure for cancer. Put all these benefits together, and you’re looking at the potential to live a longer, healthier life. In fact, two of the original five —or regions that are home to the longest-living people in the world—are within the Mediterranean: Ikaria, Greece and Sardinia, Italy. We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again: The Mediterranean diet is more of a way of life than an actual diet. According to Feller, a Mediterranean approach to food focuses on seasonal ingredients and slow food—and she means slow literally. “A lot of these dishes take a long time to make!” she says. “Think about fermented dairy…[fermentation] is a process.” Taking time to create and enjoy your meals comes with another benefit: connection. “When we eat in community, we generally tend to be happier and do better,” says Feller. Beyond eating habits, Berghoff says that a Mediterranean lifestyle encourages physical activity. “[It doesn’t require] a specific workout, just generally moving your body and being a more active person,” she says. One of the best things about the Mediterranean diet is its “choose your own adventure” approach to eating. But because of this, Berghoff cautions, it’s important to get in touch with what makes your body feel and work in tip-top shape. Take grains, for instance. Grains, including bread and pasta, are on the menu for the Mediterranean diet, Berghoff says, but not everyone can stomach them. “You want to be sure that you are paying attention to how you feel,” she says. If you’re experiencing bloating or irritated bowels, you’ll want to adapt your choices to avoid the foods that cause this discomfort. With that in mind, if you’re interested in trying the Mediterranean diet, Feller recommends starting with foods you already know and love. “Think about what you’re eating: What are the vegetables that you like? What are the grains you like? What is the seafood that you like?” she says. “Go back to foods that [you] already eat and think about the ones that fit with [the Mediterranean diet’s criteria].”"
"If you’ve ever walked away from with the poise of an immortal gladiator, only to wake up two days later feeling like you’ve been run over by a horse-drawn chariot, you’ve experienced what experts call delayed-onset, or DOMS. Unlike the acute muscle soreness you usually feel during your workouts—toward the end of a tough set, for example—DOMS has nothing to do with buildup. Rather, it is the result of caused by or other forms of. It isn’t quite as painful or ominous as it sounds (actually, it’s a good thing), but it’s not exactly a picnic. No surprise then, as more people have found their way to fitness, it’s become increasingly common to hear about folks using over-the-counter pain relievers to get themselves over the DOMS hump. But while that might sound like a simple fix, the experts say it is anything but. “Generally speaking, what I would say is I advise against routine use of these,” says Dr., assistant professor of sports medicine in the department of rehabilitation and regenerative medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. “It actually works against the intended point of the workout, so to speak,” says Dr. Stacia Woodcock, pharmacy editor for. “You’re working against your body.” Here’s why experts recommend you pop the cap back on the bottle and ride out post-workout muscle soreness the old-fashioned way. If you’re taking OTC pain medication to treat post-workout muscle soreness, you’re most likely turning to either nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. The former is a category that includes drugs like ibuprofen, Advil, and Aleve; the latter, also known as paracetamol, is the generic name for Tylenol. While NSAIDs work at the source of inflammation, acetaminophen steps in downstream. “It’s more of what we call a central inhibition,” says Dr. Singh. “It kind of tells your brain that there’s less pain.” While NSAIDs are considered to be more potent than acetaminophen when inflammation is involved, they can be hard on the stomach and pose potential risks to, among other things, your kidneys and heart. But the thing is, for all their various pros and cons, neither type of drug has actually been found to be very good at soothing aching muscles. “Most of the clinical studies actually show the opposite—that taking anti-inflammatories can delay the muscle healing that is causing that soreness,” says Dr. Woodcock. As for acetaminophen, “it’s good for pain and fever, but doesn’t really do much for inflammation—and again, isn’t likely to do much for post-workout pain.” Still, that doesn’t stop wounded weekend warriors from reaching for the ibuprofen. “As a knee-jerk reaction, that’s what people tend to turn to when they’re in pain,” says Dr. Woodcock. “It’s almost like a placebo effect. As a society, I think we’re much more inclined to take a pill for things as opposed to looking for holistic treatments.” isn’t a prerequisite for getting big, but inflammation is. As mentioned, strength training causes microtears in the muscle tissue; this, in turn, triggers an inflammation response in the body. Basically, your body increases the supply of blood and nutrients to the area in order to help the muscle rebuild bigger and stronger. So, because NSAIDs work at the muscular level to, they’re probably one of the last things you’d want to lean on if your goal is to —or even if you’re just hoping to bounce back soon from a workout. “Muscle inflammation brings blood supply, and with that blood supply comes growth factors and nutrients that your body needs to build the muscle back up,” says Dr. Singh. “If you were to decrease inflammation, it’s almost like dehydrating or closing off that fluid supply to an area.” In other words, whatever minimal benefit you might be getting from your pain reliever right now, you have to weigh that against the potential gains you could very well be sacrificing in the process. “In the long term, maybe you are doing yourself a disservice,” says Dr. Singh Even though OTC relievers lack the firepower to fully mask muscle pain, they don’t do. In fact, they can do just enough to plaster over symptoms indicating your muscle soreness might not be DOMS at all, but rather a serious condition called, or “rhabdo” for short. “Rhabdomyolysis is essentially where you get so much muscle breakdown—because you’ve done a really intense workout that your body’s just not capable of adapting to—that the muscle product then starts to get absorbed into the body,” says Dr. Singh. Left untreated, it’s a potentially fatal condition that can also have devastating effects on not just the kidneys, but your entire renal system, as well as your heart. Rhabdo isn’t super common, but it’s not unheard of—especially among beginners who are still getting to know their limits. Generally speaking, the symptoms are hard to miss: debilitating muscle pain accompanied by noticeably darker urine. ""It’s something that kind of gradually just gets worse and worse and worse,” says Dr. Singh—compared with DOMS, which usually kicks in around 48 hours after a workout and can be gone just as soon. The most important thing, once you clock the symptoms of rhabdo, is to get to an emergency room or urgent care as fast as possible; and that’s where a pain reliever can complicate things. “It could potentially decrease your symptoms enough to the point where you’re not feeling it, even though there’s muscle breakdown happening,” says Dr. Singh. If you can fully avoid taking pain relievers to ease post-workout muscle soreness, that’s your best bet. That said, they can be useful when used sparingly in special circumstances. “If there’s a scenario where you did an activity or an exercise and then you need to get to work, or you’ve got a long commute or you just need something to treat the pain so you can do what we call your ADLs—your activities of daily living—that is a situation in which I might say, ‘Okay, yeah, then I would take something,’” says Dr. Singh. “If it’s just once in a while, that would be okay, but and NSAIDs are not meant to be used regularly,” says Dr. Woodcock, who cites increased blood pressure, heart attack, heart disease, stomach ulcers, and digestive issues among the many potential risks of regular use. “There is no pain medication that is safe to take on a regular basis over the long term without any risks,” she says. “It should really only be few and far between for severe pain that doesn’t respond to other treatments.“ Another risk of using these drugs for an extended period is that the research is still ongoing, and the medical field doesn’t currently hold all the answers—especially for acetaminophen, which was and continues to baffle pharmacists to this day in terms of how it actually works. “I would say that there’s a lot we don’t know about this—a lot that we’re still learning,” says Dr. Singh. “I’d be curious to see, if we have this conversation 10 years from now, what that would be like.“"
"I’ve been told by a reliable source (my husband) that: “We all want ups.” After conversations with multiple fitness experts and a scroll through TikTok—where videos with the hashtag #verticaljump have over 1.9 billion views—I’m convinced he’s onto something. “Jumping is commonly associated with athletes, but this type of training has benefits that extend to everyone,” says, founder of Par Four Performance. “Improving your vertical jump height can help you feel more athletic, improve coordination and balance, reduce fall risks as you age, and help improve strength levels.” Certified strength and conditioning specialist, who is also a personal trainer and soccer coach in the UK, agrees, adding that showing some love to the muscle groups associated with getting more height in your jumps has functional benefits as well. Developing your lower body strength, for instance, “will also enhance general mobility and balance,” he says. And you’ll notice the payoff when you climb stairs or reach for something high on a shelf. Jumping higher can also—and here’s the kicker—help you feel younger. “Strength and power levels do begin to drop every decade of our lives after 30, so improving vertical jump can help minimize this loss, helping you feel like your younger self as you get older,” says Gambino. If increasing your vertical jump height just skyrocketed to the top of your list of 2024 fitness goals, here’s everything you need to know about how to get more air. Your lower body does most of the heavy lifting when you jump, says Los Angeles-based, lead trainer at celebrity-fave personal training gym (, and Hugh Jackman, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber are known fans). Specifically, Gambino says that in order to jump higher, you want to strengthen your glutes, hamstrings, quads, calves (both the gastrocnemius and soleus, the two main muscles that comprise your calves), and tibialis anterior (which runs down the lateral side of your tibia). “Your calves, your hamstrings, your quadriceps, your glutes—these are the muscles that help propel your body upward when you jump,” says Antoni. “Your calves help with stability and ankle extension. Your hamstrings help extend your hips and flex your knees, and your quads help you have a strong takeoff.” But jumping is a full-body exercise, and jumping will require strengthening not just your lower body but also your core, back, shoulders, and arms—all of which need to be engaged to get you off the ground, says Antoni. Beyond strength training, “mobility and flexibility are also going to be key factors on how high your vertical can become,” says Washington. So it’s important that you incorporate exercises that improve the range of motion in your hip, knee, and ankle joints into your workout plan. Last but not least, “vertical jump height is dependent on your power output, which is your ability to produce high amounts of force quickly,” says Gambino. “A combination of both strength and power training can boost your vertical jump.” Let’s back up for a sec: In order to jump higher, you first need to learn how to do a proper jump—period. Because according to Antoni, there’s a lot that can go wrong in a jump, and he’s seen it all. Antoni breaks down proper vertical jump form: Landing, Antoni says, is where he sees a lot of injury-causing mistakes. “What you find is some people will try to land on their toes or their heels,” he says, which can put too much pressure on your knees or cause you to roll an ankle. To land correctly, Antoni says you want to roll through the foot as you make contact with the ground. “Come down to your toes, drop to your midfoot, and then your heels,” he says. “Then land by bending your knees so you’re not landing on straight legs. Keep your head straight forward.” Washington recommends you stick and hold your landing—essentially in a squat—in order to ingrain proper form into your body. This sort of isometric, or static, hold will also help build strength in your lower body and core. First things first: “Figure out where your starting point is,” says Gambino. “If you have never worked on strength before, you should probably start here. Haven't jumped in years, you shouldn't be scrolling through Instagram and selecting the coolest jump variation you could find or performing the ones your favorite athlete is performing right away. Large changes in the demands placed on your body can increase your injury risk. So starting slow and building up as your body tolerates this type of training is the key to success.” Gambino says that if he were putting together a training program for someone who wanted to learn how to jump higher, he’d approach it in four pieces: You’ll want to do your homework before going to the gym. “Don't make it up when you get there,” Gambino says. “Pull a program from the internet if you have to, but follow a plan and stick to it.” If regularly exercising hasn’t really historically been your thing, it’s a good idea to speak to a certified professional before embarking on a new fitness program. (Many gyms will offer a consultation when you sign up.) “This doesn't need to take forever,” says Gambino. “Go for about 10 minutes of movement that gets your heart rate up and engages the muscles that will be worked in your training session. You’ll want to train both strength and power within each workout you do. But, Gambino says, the order you do these exercises matters. “Your power movements should be performed early on in your workouts so that your nervous system is fresh,” he says. “Speed and power are the primary goals when trying to jump higher. If you are working on these qualities fatigued and your speed is reduced because of it, the benefits won't be there.” Accessory exercises, also called secondary or auxiliary exercises, are meant to complement your workout’s primary, compound exercises. According to the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), “The idea is that the right smaller, more focused isolation exercises will build some of the individual muscles, or smaller groups of muscles, used in the compound moves.” Another pro tip: “When it comes to jump training, I like to focus on unilateral movements, which means working one side of the body at a time,” says Washington. “So that could be single-leg step-ups, single-leg lunges—anything single-leg is really going to [help] increase our vertical jump simple because, when we’re working one leg at a time, we’re able to really build up that strength for our take-off.” Now for the meat and potatoes. What specific moves can help you jump higher? For power training, Antoni recommends (exercises that involve, usually different types of jumps, skips, and hops) and ballistic exercises (training in which an “ ”—most often throwing or swinging a weighted object). There are a lot of options for power exercises, says Gambino, but “the key is that these are things that allow you to move.” Some examples of power exercises that can help with jumping higher include: Zooming in a little, there are two buckets of speed exercises that can help increase your power. “Speed-strength is an exercise with no weight, done quickly—like fast squats, fast pushups, fast jumping up and down,” says Antoni. “And then you’ve got strength-speed, which is those exercises, but under stress.” Examples of strength-speed exercises include using a light load (or small weight) during squats or jumps. We’ll get to the lower-body exercises, I promise—but not until we talk about your core. “Where most of our power stability [for jumping] comes is through the trunk,” says Antoni. When it comes to core work, think beyond the crunch. Antoni recommends plank variations, including side planks, which work the obliques, while Washington says his go-to exercise for a stronger core is the. When building strength in your lower body to help you jump higher, Gambino breaks the movement down into two main parts: the squat and the hinge at the hips. According to Gambino, key exercises for strengthening your squat pattern include: To strengthen the muscles used in the jump’s hinge motion, try: For your auxiliary training, Gambino says you’ll want to “train your quads, hamstrings, and calves in isolation.” “Any lower body exercise really works here,” says Gambino. “The key for strength-building is that it needs to be heavy—think at least an 8/10 on the difficulty scale. [What this means] is that you can perform the weight, but you stop when there are about three more reps to go before you feel like your technique would start to break.” At first blush, jumping straight in the air seems easy—we’ve all been doing it since we were kids, no? But in actuality, vertical jumping is a complex, full-body exercise; and if it’s done incorrectly or mindlessly, you put yourself at risk of injury. In addition to nailing the form, Washington says it’s important to be cognizant of the amount you’re training. “We just want to be mindful of the amount and the frequency we’re going at,” he says. “You want to make sure that you’re tallying the amount of jumps that you’re giving yourself within a single period.” While the overtraining threshold will be different for everyone, Washington says a good benchmark is 50 jumps in a single week period. If you’re looking to increase your vertical jump height for bragging rights, that’s one thing. But, Antoni says, if your air is in service of something specific—a particular sport, for instance, versus better overall movement function—it’s best to work with a professional to tailor a training plan to your individual situation."
"Let’s get one thing straight. When someone goes in for abdominal etching—the procedure that uses liposuction to suck fat out of the stomach and —those abs are not fake. “‘Fake abs’ is really not fair,” said Dr. Joshua Korman, a Silicon Valley-based who regularly performs ab etching. “The whole idea is to have them better. They are not fake; they are real. But they can be helped along.” Abdominal etching, but after posted a new mirror selfie on Instagram showing off a chiseled stomach (and a massive collection of top-shelf liquor), the procedure has. This content can also be viewed on the site it from. So how do you spot an ab etching in the wild? I sought the expert opinions of people who see this kind of thing every day for some much-needed perspective. Dr. Daniel Markmann—a plastic surgeon in Ellicott City, Maryland said that it can be “tough to tell” if they’re enhanced or not when the patient already had some nice ab definition. Similarly, guys who were already working out like crazy but were struggling to see the results will look a bit more natural when their abs get carved out. But when someone with a protruding gut thinks they can have a doctor wave a magic wand and give them the washboard of their dreams, that’s when things get a little visually inconsistent. “When people have that belly, it’s not like you can just do this operation and get the abs,” Korman cautioned. “That’s a misconception.” The ideal patient, according to Markmann, is already fit with a. As Korman explained, the very well-defined and noticeable vertical line you can sometimes spot going through a person's abs is called the linea alba, or what is essentially the border between the left and right rectus abdominals. Like abs themselves, the linea alba is naturally occurring phenomenon in all humans, and it becomes more pronounced the more the fat around the stomach is removed. Of course, if one undergoes an ab etching surgery—which can take multiple hours and cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $13,000—that line can seem like it came out of nowhere. “The objective when you do this surgery is to suction down the midline, so you define it more,” Korman said. Anyone who’s thinking about getting the procedure should also be prepared to lay low for at least 72 hours. “It’s a very aggressive surgery,” Markmann says. “Usually [patients are] in a lot of pain [afterward]., I usually recommend a week off. Don’t shower for a couple days.” Should you find yourself in the same room with someone who you suspect has done the procedure, Markmann has some advice for determining whether their are “fake” or real. “When you feel it, you can actually move it up and down or side to side. With real muscle, the skin would slide over the bulge, whereas if it's a liposuction six-pack, it will move with the skin. In many cases you can tell just by touching it.”"
"From skating pools on Oahu to walking for Bode at this year’s to melting television sets on the recent reboot, pro-skater has been collecting hyphens his whole career. “I've always kept my options open, and I've never closed doors or shut things down—even things that I maybe thought I was uncomfortable with,” says Mock, who admits that acting was never on the agenda. Beyond acting, Mock’s island-inspired lifestyle label,, debuted a new collection this month, with a second drop coming June 20. Speaking to via Zoom from Denmark—in between shredding at the Copenhagen Open and DJ’ing the contest’s afterparty—Mock, who is using 2025 as an opportunity to maximize his well-being, spoke about his farm-to-table dining habits, how his inner circle helps him take risks, and his new obsession with. There is definitely a balance, but I'm not one to be in the gym every day, or on a crazy diet regimen. Growing up in Hawaii, we didn't really think about that ever—like, at all. Surfing was such a big part of my life growing up, and it still is. I didn't really think about my physique too much. That comes naturally with the things that I have passions for and I have an appreciation for. It was just a natural thing. Like, you're just outside being active, surfing, skating, hiking. Walking in the sand is a workout in itself, honestly. I'm not 18 anymore, though—I'm 28 now—and I'm thinking about it a little bit more. But I haven't really reached that point where I'm like, Oh my God, I need to get into the gym. My lifestyle requires having to be slender and fit, I guess, but it has just kind of come naturally with the things that I've been doing. It was crazy. If someone random just made a mannequin of you, that's, like, a bizarre experience. But the fact that we flew to Nice, to the factory that makes all the mannequins, and it was for Louis Vuitton, and it was during Virgil's era—that whole time was already special. Looking back at it, now that Virgil's passed, it's become so much more of a thing that I think about often. But it was a surreal experience, getting to see that and having friends go into the Louis Vuitton store in multiple different places around the world and taking photos next to my mannequin. It’s been cool to see my friends send me photos from different parts of the world, where they were with “me” under their arm. Honestly, no. It's a carbon copy. It's exactly the same. Like, their whole process of doing scans of your whole body for it to be 3D is—I forget exactly how many cameras, but it was upwards of 250 cameras in a circle that all take a photo at the same time. And so you have that 360 view above and below and you're just standing in the middle of the circle. It was just cool to see how they actually make it come to life. You know what? Yeah! That's more of an old trick now, but I was definitely doing it as a kid. Pros back in the day would microwave their shoes, and it would kind of mold them. So, here's the trick: It's one minute straight on one side of the shoe—left or right. Then, after the minute, you take it out and put your foot in it. Then you put it back in for another 30 seconds, and then you put your foot back in the shoe, and you just walk around and it kind of molds to your feet as if they've already been skated in for a couple of sessions. My microwave didn't have settings like that at the time. Back when I had to buy my shoes, so probably when I was like 14 or 15. Exactly. It’s just one less task. It goes back to having a great friend group, or circle around you, with people that you know are going to support you in anything that you do. The people who say negative stuff are either jealous or they're too afraid to do it. But the people who are saying that are the people that don't necessarily matter in your life. If you have a great circle and you feel the freedom to do whatever you want, why wouldn't you? Look, I'm just full of clichés today, but life is short. I don't want to waste time doing things that other people say to do. Sometimes in our careers we have to do some of that stuff, but I think it’s about finding a balance. You’ve got to play the game a little bit, but you also have to put your own flavor on it as well. I've been traveling for the last two or three weeks, and everywhere has been no longer than three days, so I don't know if I'm the best representation of good sleep right now. But I haven't been drinking alcohol for the last month or two, so my sleep schedule would be way worse if I had. The fact that I'm traveling a lot, it doesn't seem as bad as it would be if I were also drinking. I've been falling asleep really well, and I've been having crazy vivid dreams—and waking up refreshed as well. So, considering how much I've been traveling the last couple of weeks, my sleep schedule has actually been pretty good. Definitely, definitely. Well, now it's It's crazy; I don't know when these kinds of electrolyte things were created, but I feel like I've wasted so many years of my life not drinking them, because it just hydrates your body faster than anything. The beer at the time was just for theatrics and the interview. But sometimes it just calls for a beer in the morning, you know? If you wake up hungover—I believe they call it the “hair of the dog”—you’ve just got to do it sometimes, and it'll somehow get you back to feeling better than when you woke up. We don't question it. But I’m usually not waking up with a beer. Yeah, I've just been wanting to feel better every day. I’m trying to see what I can cut out of my life that has been hindering it. And it’s a bunch of things. It wasn't just alcohol. It was social media, it was just being on my phone too much, watching stuff on my iPad too much. I want to really take a stab at this year and be the best I could possibly be. I'm not the healthiest cookie in the bunch. But, definitely as I get older, I’m thinking about it more consciously. Also, I've been kind of blessed in the places that I've been going recently; they just have really great food. A lot of farm-to-table places. There's a bigger kind of conversation happening about people growing their own stuff locally and living off the land. In Hawaii, we grew up seeing that, but as I travel more I’m realizing everyone else is doing it as well. There are amazing restaurants here in Copenhagen that have been blowing my mind this past week, just with how good everything is and how vegetables actually taste like vegetables, you know? Living in New York City, there's obviously an endless plethora of options, but coming out here and it being a lot more normal to have farm-to-table stuff, it's refreshing. They’ve got it figured out over here. It's kind of crazy, right? And late nights, nothing healthy is open, so it's really easy to get into that. Man, I would say a Coca-Cola with a lemon wedge on a sunny summer day. It just hits the spot. Even if I'm in New York, I don't really stay in the house. And I do leave quite frequently. So, the last few months, I have been really bad with grocery shopping. My fridge, right now, if we were at my house, I'd open it for you and show you. It's probably just filled with hot sauce, bottles of water, coconut water, and electrolytes. That's literally it. There's no food. When I said I'm working on myself, I truly am. Like, every single day is a challenge to be better. And, I think, coming from a skate background, you are always trying to improve and get better at skating. You want to be the best you can be, hopefully, and when you're in that mentality of wanting to be better, it just makes you better. There are a lot of people who don't think about making themselves better every day. They kind of just take whatever they can get, and that's their life. But I'm working towards doing better, especially with skating. And so I think that's just kind of the fire that I've lit under myself, to just continually be better, and it translates into life as well—not just skating. But skating is my blueprint for how to do life., "
"Aldis Hodge knows that an actor’s work extends far beyond their physical form. While audiences might look at him and simply see the 38-year-old playing homicide detective Alex Cross, legendary rapper MC Ren, or football players Jim Brown and Brian Banks, they may not know that behind the scenes, Hodge has endured multiple back surgeries and intense mobility exercises that “whoop his butt.” But, thanks in part to his background—Hodge grew up in a military household and still believes that a disciplined mind is the key to finishing a grueling workout—there’s no physical challenge too daunting for him. The second season of is in the can but does not have a release date yet. Before it drops, we caught up with Hodge about embracing painful workouts, how he makes room in his diet for his favorite Japanese candy, and gaining 30 pounds for a movie role. It depends, man. Sometimes I’m diligent, other times—my health, I think like many people’s health—is often tied to their. So, if I’m in a good progressive state, happy, flowing, everything’s good, it’s easier to keep a schedule. When emotions are down, or when you’re distracted, or dealing with some weight, or some stress, then it runs away a little bit. I think that’s an interesting thing to discuss, because your emotional state has a high effect on your, which then affects your physicality. Sometimes I will get away from that I need to drink. Oftentimes we run around dehydrated, not realizing that we are. Sometimes you won’t carve enough time to prepare the right meals, so you start relying on quicker meals, or even restaurants, but you can’t control what goes in there. So, you’re ingesting a lot of different things that you’re not necessarily aware of as it relates to your physical needs. I think emotional health is what dictates your physical. It’s a state of mind. When I talk to my fellas who do this on a regular basis—like, who’s a friend of mine, he’s a trainer, he’s also an actor, but he’s made a big presence in the training world. Every time we talk, he’s like, “Look, prioritizing physical health will help you maintain a better state of mental health.” And there’s a balance there. I think there are different properties to physical health than just looking at one’s physique. There are different effects. It should always be a part of the conversation when people think about why they want to get fit or why they want to eat this way. It’s going to help improve everything mentally, emotionally, spiritually. It will! Yeah, both my parents were Marines. It informed everything on discipline. I was raised in a single-parent household by my mom, and yeah, discipline was everything. To be on time, you were late. To be early was to be on time. I had to prioritize reputation, decorum, cleanliness, had to hit those chores. We had a disciplined environment growing up. We had to do our best at it. We had to give it our all. When it comes to physical training and working out, I don’t really think about what I’m doing in the moment. I think about the goal I’m doing it for. That’s what helps you push through a couple of those last reps that hurt like hell. Growth is in the pain, not in the ease. Sometimes you have to switch your brain, discipline your brain to know that when your body starts feeling that strain, or when your body starts feeling weary, you can push further. A disciplined mind is going to help you get there. That’s where your growth really starts. If you do 10 push-ups and you don’t feel it, you ain’t doing nothing. When you start feeling something, that’s when you start actually doing the work. Your limits are, to a degree,. How disciplined are you going to choose to be? How intentional are you going to choose to be about pushing past those limits to reach your goals? Absolutely not. No. No! My mother was very open with my brother and I about her experience in the military and never wanted the military for us. Granted, we have a great deal of respect for soldiers out there doing their thing. We know what it’s like with the soldiers on the front lines, and it’s scary when you don’t know if they’re going to come back home to their families. But within that world, there are a great many threats and dangers that my mom and father both faced. There’s some things people talk about, some things people don’t talk about. But yeah, [my mom] was like, “Nah, y’all going to have a different path.” Yes, but from a different point. I wasn’t so much into the physique side of bodybuilding or anything like that as a kid. I came up with martial artists. I watched a lot of films. So, for me, the physicality came from always wanting to just do. That was part of my culture growing up. My mother and father met in Japan. They were stationed over there, and my mom was actively practicing. So it’s been with my brother and I since we were kids. For me, the physicality came from that, from fighting. I still love it. Then wanting to, that was always there throughout my childhood, because I had asthma and things like that. I always felt limited physically by my body’s natural defaults, and I wanted to find a way to push past that. I was not a big, still not a big runner. Endurance in that space is a big priority. But physicality has always been there since I was a kid. I only got to the bodybuilding later in life when I was given that green light from a job. I’d always wanted to get bigger, but the jobs I was on were contractual: “We want you to stay this size.” I’d work out and they would literally tell me, “You got to stop working out.” There was one job where I was playing Brian Banks, an actual former football player who studied the law and exonerated himself of a false charge that he caught. My first real time getting in the gym and going through some heavy bodybuilding stuff was with Brian. I had to put on some size. I was like, “Bro, how did you do it?” That’s where I started learning the foundation of how to build my body. I think I went from 185, 190 [pounds] up to, like, 215 in a couple months. Yeah, it is in a very small amount of time. That’s something you want to stretch out over—not two or three months, [maybe] six months to a year—to put that on gradually. The first thing is massively changing your eating habits. This is probably going to sound stupid, but also I feel like there’s some truth in it. There’s a lot of people who maintain a wonderful physique without actually going to the gym on a regular basis, because of how they eat, and regulate eating habits by paying attention to the sugars and all that kind of stuff. It’ll help you do the work without you having to physically get in there and do some heavy stuff. Now with I obviously got to maintain the physique there. So, anytime that I have a job that forces me to maintain the physique, I get happy, because now I have no excuse. What you learn is there’s a way that they organize and prioritize their lives to maintain the goals. There’s a huge discipline that goes into that. is the most energetic person I’ve ever met in my life. He’s got this trailer that’s a traveling gym. That dude would be up in there, I don’t care what time of the morning it is! I don’t know when he sleeps—or he sleeps—but he’d be up in there getting it. I was training with him in his trailer gym as well. When we were shooting some of the core work I realized I had no grasp of. You think, Then they’re like, “Okay, stand on this ball.” You’re basically balancing yourself while you’re kneeling on a rubber ball, trying not to fall. It put a focus on actually strengthening my core. I realized I didn’t know shit. But he’s got a great team around, and he motivates. And DJ [Dwayne Johnson] is the same. He puts people in place to maintain the discipline that he knows he needs to reach his goals on a daily basis. That really matters. Strength ain’t got nothing to do with size. There’s a lot of cats that are little, itty bitty! A lot of times we have lazy muscles because we don’t know how to engage them. Particularly, a lot of people will say, “I’m going to do. I’m going to do. I might do here and there.” But when you really engage your glutes, that actually helps to support your back. If you know how to do it the right way, then you’re going to increase your maximum potential for results everywhere else. If you don’t know how to engage your glutes on certain exercises, you’re going to fail. Same with. If you don’t know how to engage your core in certain exercises, you’re not setting your body up to reach its peak potential because you’re not connecting the dots. I’ve had. I had two back surgeries. Severe sciatica, herniated discs, all that kind of stuff. I mean, there was one period in my life, I walked around with pain every day for about three years straight. That was off of the sciatica. My mobility is mostly back. I’d say I’m a cool 90% now, but I had to learn how to engage my glutes to support my back. The healing was long, it was slow, it was painful. There’s no quick route to it but consistency. So, core, glutes, those are the oftentimes missed or neglected areas when you’re talking about thinking about getting into the whole body building game. Those are key to doing whatever else you want to do. Oh, I’m lazy, man. I will do all day. Now, I quite enjoy just hitting the treadmill. I thought to lose weight, you had to do high-intensity training. You had to do some crazy cardio running this, that, and the other.. All you have to do is get on the treadmill, hit the highest incline you can at a good walking pace—usually around 3.5—and you keep that steady pace for 30 minutes to an hour every day. It’s going to cut your fat but maintain your muscle and your size, so that you can thread the needle of losing the bad weight while gaining and maintaining the big, good weight. It’s a hard thing to do. Usually you have to pick one. Either you’re going to lose weight and slim down, or you’re going to build muscle. But usually trying to do both at the same time is lunacy. Hitting that treadmill on the daily? It does wonders, man. It’s magic. But yeah, the bench press for me is—I’m chilling, lying down. You know what I mean? It’s also a competitive thing for me, trying to figure out how much I can max out on that daggone bench without breaking my arms. But it’s easy and comfortable, I don’t really feel much of a strain there. Everything else, though? The mobility work is what kills you. Having to stretch. The pre-workout is what whoops my butt, literally just and. I like it when I stretch. Some of us over here old, bro. I was doing for a minute. I had just gotten into that because everybody had been telling me about Pilates forever, especially my wife. I got into Pilates late. I still need some discipline there, I ain’t going to lie. But it’s great. All those muscles that you didn’t know you had, Pilates targets those. This ain’t no game. It is not for the meek! But I love that, because it educates me further on my body’s capabilities and what I actually can achieve. I live on a plane these days, I’ll want to get back into it just to give my body some sense of normalcy and consistency. I do love to cook, [but] I don’t get to cook often because I am on the go a lot. I grew up cooking in my house. My father is Caribbean and my mom is from the South, so that’s just automatic. My brother and I loved cooking shows growing up. I want to own restaurants. I have four or five different ideas. But I keep it simple. If I’m on a training regimen, honestly, it’s really down to rice and chicken on a daily basis, or ground turkey, because you can get creative with it.. But when I’m going for quick, truncated results, I go hard and heavy, cut out the processed sugars and things like that. I start doing the fasting. But that’s when I’m training. When I’m not training, I eat whatever the hell I want to eat! Right now, it’s cutting back on ramen. Dear Lord, I love ramen. In New York, there’s a spot called Ichiran. God-dang, it’s good. I love food. I be out there But now I’m trying to feel better mentally and physically. So, it’s back on the waters, it’s back on eating my clean meats, my, all that. I love fruit to death. Vegetables, depends. When I’m doing, I usually won’t eat until about 3 o’clock. if I’m trying to drop weight fast. If I don’t have to be as severe, it’ll usually be around 12 o’clock. The challenge with fasting is you’re not taking in a lot of carbs and your body gets to do more rest, which is great. However, you need to find a way to meet your protein goals on a regular basis. And if you’re eating between 3:00 and whatever time I stop eating—8:00 or 9:00—I got to find a way to pack in that protein. Usually, people get big and then drop. I’m the kind of person where I like to just cut fat and then build muscle. For me, getting super, super big and then having to cut weight for some reason is harder. I think it’s mentally harder for me than to just keep a smaller frame and go get bigger from there. When you put on massive size and you’re intensely trying to drop that, it’s the cardio. I got to get into a lot of heavy cardio, and it’s just not my favorite thing. I just prefer weightlifting. It’s simpler. If I’m going to cardio, cardio’s going to be fighting. Like I said, I’m good with the treadmill. My basketball knees are bro. They’re dead. I actually already mentioned it. Ramen. My vice comes down to carbs for some reason. I used to be a sweet-tooth guy. Now it depends. But my vice is definitely some carbs, man. Pastas, it’s a beautiful thing. But once that gut gets a little wobbly, you’re like, “Hey, bro, it might not be worth it. Those last little bites, you might want to chill.” I’m trying to think of anything else that is a vice. They got these little candies called Hi-Chews. It’s a problem. They’re addictive. I’m like, I’m sure none of it is good for me. I eat it anyway., "
"William H. Macy is one of the more revered character actors of his time—whether he comes to mind as a dopey Minnesota car dealer in or busting out of the small screen as a deadbeat on Macy embodies his onscreen characters in a way that’s as memorable as he is. Macy, who turns 75 on March 13, primarily calls Roaring Fork Valley, Colorado, home. He and his wife, actor Felicity Huffman, purchased the house that she grew up in, which is situated next to. This proximity led to Macy becoming a partner and “spokesdude” for the distillery. Macy told us via Zoom all about the trainer whom he and Huffman have been working with for more than two decades, speed-sledding down Colorado mountains, and why he quit oat milk. : I’m in Woody Creek right now, and things are going well. I’ll probably go to the distillery. There’s a bar there. I do hope you can come by someday if you find yourself in the Roaring Fork Valley. It’s a lovely little bar that’s attached to the distillery, and I go there and I play ukulele songs about Woody Creek and alcohol, and sometimes birthdays. Well, you don’t. I wrote songs for my wife and two daughters for a couple of years, and so every once in a while, I throw one of those birthday songs into the mix. I’ve been doing backing tracks so it’s got a pretty good sound to it. You can go to our website, go to the, and they’ll hook you up with me. I’ve got things on SoundCloud, but I haven’t added to it in a while. I’ve got two new songs, too, but there’s a bunch of songs on. That way is Mark Kleckner, one of the owners. I can’t see his house because there’s leaves on the trees, but on a good day I could almost hit a baseball that far. And the next house up is Pat and Mary Scanlan—they’re the other two homeowners—so we all live in Woody Creek. And you know, this place is sort of lousy with celebrities, but I guess everyone was busy, and they came by one day about six years ago and said, “Do you want to be the spokesdude?” I said, “Yes, I really do.” What spurred it was I looked out the back there, and there were all these potatoes growing, and they’re beautiful. I don’t know if you’ve seen potatoes when they go into bloom—it’s a beautiful white flower, and it was magnificent. I asked my brother-in-law, Moore Huffman, what’s with that? He said, well, Woody Creek uses one of our fields to grow potatoes for their vodka and we’ve been doing that for a couple of years. When Mark came down and talked to me, he brought me a bottle of vodka that had come just from that field. I wish I’d saved it, but I drank it. It’s true. We all live here. We all know each other. Everything in a bottle of Woody Creek spirits comes from Colorado. With the exception of the gin, there’s some botanicals that are kind of rare, but it’s all from Colorado. Some of the greens travel less than three or four miles before they’re in the bottle in our warehouse. I’m a big fan of Mary’s gin. It’s a blue gin, and it’s a potato-based gin, and it’s got a delicious taste. I went to Africa riding horses a couple years ago, and I got hooked on gin and tonics. I just love them, and Mary’s gin makes a fabulous gin and tonic, but it’s also great on the rocks with just a little squeeze of lemon. My other great passion is the rye whiskey. I put out a signature bottle. It’s got a special package. The mash bill was 80% rye and 20% malt, and I chose it in a blind barrel tasting. We tasted eight barrels, and that was my favorite and so we put it out. It’s sold out pretty quickly, but you can still find this in places. I’m a skier. I’m a hiker. I’ve had the same trainer for 22 years. Her name is Kristen Hultreen, and she’s a genius. She’s been training Felicity and me for 23 years? Something like that, and it’s weight training. Our home in L.A. has stairs, and we do these stairs, and if you do this little loop, it’s a little under a mile. So, do two of the two of those, and you’ll have a teenage butt. I mean it’s stair after stair—there are 444 of them. I know that because I’ve climbed them and I built them all. No, but it’s on the side of the hill— we can hear the Hollywood Bowl. We can hear it when almost anything’s playing. When The Who was there, you could hear the lyrics. So that’s where we are. It’s all terraced with all these places, and I’m a bit of a carpenter and that’s been great. I built all these stairs and now I run that. I’ve been running them for a long time. I used to be a jogger and my feet are a bit FUBAR’d, but with stairs you get so much more of a workout. Well, we live in Woody Creek officially, and we go back to LA for work. Every once in a while the girls like to go there, my two daughters, but the majority of the time is here in Woody Creek. Exactly. She invented this 30-minute workout, which is mostly strength training, and I get all the aerobics by hiking or biking or skiing. I’m in pretty good shape for an old guy. At least three, sometimes four when I can—we add a Saturday in there. And lifting the [resistance] bands we do that. I like to hit a speed bag, that’s great for the shoulders. Yeah, getting back to Woody Creek, not to be indelicate or anything, but I do like to drink. And when you drink fine spirits like Woody Creek, you can have a rocking good time and get out and go to work in the morning. I mean, you gotta drink responsibly, but you know, one man’s responsibility is another man’s boring night. I’m still an actor, so I have desk work to do for a couple of hours every day. I read scripts—I finished writing a script which we’re trying to get made. Since the pandemic, you don’t have to live in any particular place since there’s very few in-person meetings anymore. So I do Hollywood business, as we call it, and just paperwork, paying bills and all of that kind of stuff. Then I like to work out or take a hike if I’m not working with Kiki, as we call Kirsten. We hike a lot. In the summertime, we’ve got fabulous bikes and we ride. In the winter time, well, I only skied 11 days last year, but I skied 11 days. We go to Snowmass because it’s a 20-minute drive from our house. But I ski Buttermilk a little bit, and Ajax, which are in Aspen. And I ski cross-country every once in a while. That’s jogging. You know what Flicka [his nickname for his wife, Felicity] loves to do? They’ll let you do this [on the ski mountain]—you hike up at the end of the day with these nasty, gnarly little sleds. They’re about the size of your butt, not much bigger. You hike up there and sled down, and they’ll let you bring your dog there. So we take Gus with us, and you just hit breathtaking speeds. I’ve been skiing a long time, so it’s not pretty, but I can get down anything. These days at my age I say, “Slow down, Bill!” And that lasts about half the run. And then the next thing you know, I’m going pell-mell, so much faster than I should. You should see Felicity ski. She grew up in this house—we bought her childhood home—and she would walk across the fields there to the community school. And at the community school, you’d go to school three days, and you’d ski two days. So she is a magnificent skier, and her brother’s even better. I get up and I have coffee, and I’m a snob about coffee. We have a Breville coffee maker which grinds the beans and steams the milk. You know, last year we were in Europe, and the year before, we were traveling around, and as far as I can tell, if you want a good cup of coffee, you have to go to my house. I mean, we went to fancy restaurants, and they had those little pod things at a fancy restaurant! That’s not coffee. That’s not what God had in mind when he invented the coffee bean. Not those pods. Come on! That’s instant coffee! Anyway, I have one cup of coffee with whole milk. I’m boring with my meals. I eat the same thing pretty much every day for breakfast. We call it. I don’t know where the word came from. It’s a made-up word. It’s granola, and Felicity makes it for me. I wrote it down: It’s got almonds, cashews, pecans, it’s got coconut flakes. It’s got rolled oats, raisins, sometimes currants, other dried fruits, and some oil. She gets the nuts raw and roasts them on a big pan and makes them nice and toasty, and then mixes them all together with a little salt and some kind of oil. Maybe coconut oil? I don’t know what kind of oil she puts in it. She makes a huge vat of it and she’ll make enough to last me for three months and you put ’em in the freezer. I do—I used to drink oat milk, but the word is that that spikes your insulin. And so people are off of oat milk. From what I can read, and this is what I’m doing now, even skim milk kind of jacks your body around. So I’m having whole milk on my. You know, I don’t eat meat. It was perhaps eight years ago that my daughters came to us and said, “We’ve got to go vegan—it’s good for the planet, it’s good for our bodies.” They made us watch that movie called and it’s pretty convincing. I lasted longer than anybody [as a vegan], which was about two years. One of my daughters was eating meat a week after, but Flicka and I were pretty strict with the vegan diet. Although, I’d rather be dead than to not have my latte in the morning, so I always had the milk in mine. Then Felicity was worried we weren’t getting enough protein—you really have to work at it if you’re going to do that—so we added in fish and some dairy. That’s kind of where I am now. It’s really good. I read somewhere that we should all eat purple foods, and so I’m a fan of blueberries. I usually put the blueberries in it with the whole milk, and not in a giant bowl, but as you can well imagine, that holds me pretty well. If I eat that at eight o’clock in the morning, I’m not hungry until four o’clock in the afternoon. It’s a little too rugged for some people, but I love the taste of it. I’m a nut for nuts. I eat so many almonds that when I get my cholesterol checked, they said your bad cholesterol is a little higher than we would like, but your good cholesterol is literally off the charts. It goes to 100% because I eat almonds all day, and peanuts. My wife is a great cook. And she’s a salad aficionado. We’ve had guys come to dinner, like five of them, and all that is on the menu is three salads and you can see it in their eyes. They’re going, “Oh man, we’re gonna have to go to a restaurant after this.” But these salads are so fantastic that you’re full. Even the manly-men carnivores among us go, “That was a great meal.” She makes a romaine-and-egg sort of a salad. There’s a great arugula and black bean salad. She gets these from ; she’s gotten some from Gwyneth [Paltrow’s recipes]. A kale salad with brussels sprouts in it, with the brussels sprouts sort of chopped up. That’s a great salad. Oh, me too. You remember 10 years ago? Nobody ate brussels sprouts, and now they’re on every menu. There’s another salad she makes—you know the actor Titus Welliver? Well, he made this up. It’s called Mr. Bear’s Nobody Salad. I think his son named it. And it’s mostly avocado, but it’s got about 12 other things in it, and it is stunning and so filling. In our home in LA, we have a pretty big orchard with a lot of fruit trees and three mature avocado trees, so when the avocados hit around Christmas time, we got avocados out the wazoo. I mean, we take a bag of them, go to our neighbors, put them on the door, knock on the door, and run away. There’s just avocados everywhere. Oh yeah. She gets them from cookbooks. She’s got a food processor and a lot of fresh ingredients and mustards and stuff. Some are sweet, some are sour, some are salty, and she’s always playing with them. She makes a vat of it, so we get two meals. She’s also great at soups. She does a lentil ginger. And again, we’ve got these giant pots—the Le Creuset pots—you get a work out just washing the things because they’re cast iron. She makes a wicked cool chili—sometimes we use Impossible meats, Impossible Burger, in it. But I’ll eat bison. I’m not strictly anything. I’ll eat ice cream. I’ll eat anything. The Woody Creek guys are restaurant aficionados and for business we’ll go to some of the finest restaurants. I mean, places that it takes a year to get a reservation. It’s a little wasted on me, but they always get the finest steak you can. But you know, I’ll eat anything at a restaurant. That’s usually where I get my protein. My go-to is to order a fish. I try to eat the fatty fishes, the ones that are good for you. We’ve got a freezer full of it, because first of all, the elk have huge herd numbers. They come down off the hill and there are 400 of them. It takes them 40 minutes to pass our house. I mean, you wake up and they’re on the back porch. Just six of them. They eat you out of house and home. You’ve got to put wire mesh around everything in the winter time and they knock the fences down. We have horses, and they knock the fences down. My brother-in-law, Moore Huffman, lives with us, and he’s got three horses, and so he’s constantly fixing the fences. It’s magnificent to see the horses go by, but the good Lord ran out of pretty when he invented the elk. I’ve been working on my garden all morning, and I had to build a six-foot fence to keep the elk out. But it’s almost planted, so in about four weeks, we’ll start eating., "
"Look up ‘fat burning exercises’ on your favorite social media platform and you'll find a fount of chiseled individuals extolling the virtues of their trendy workouts. Some do the trick (the, for instance, is a pretty effective low-impact fitness boost), but for every success story, there are a thousand abandoned workout routines. Sometimes, it's best to. There's no one-stop shop for the perfect body. Everyone has their own pace, shape and limits. No matter your unique personal goals, we're here to help you burn the fat–and keep it off. There are two main factors behind, and they both (unsurprisingly) concern calories. The good news is that we burn calories even when we aren’t exercising, simply by existing. Even better, workouts with a big ‘afterburn’ effect—like those targeting your biggest muscle groups—can ramp up this sedentary fat burning activity. “Basal metabolic rate is the number of calories your body burns simply to sustain life,” says Anthony Maritato, a physical therapist and personal trainer at. “Your body requires energy to power your brain, pump your heart, and simply maintain normal resting posture. Several studies have shown that increasing muscle mass also increases BMR resulting in greater calorie burn over while you rest.” A suggested that ten weeks of resistance training could increase lean weight by approximately 3.1 pounds and increase resting metabolic rate by 7%, and reduce fat weight by 3.9 pounds. This means that “a person who gains 3.1 pounds of lean body mass could burn an additional 150 to 300 calories per day at rest,” explains Maritato. How do you achieve this body composition? As is usually the case, ‘best’ and ‘quickest’ don't go hand in hand. “The quickest way to burn belly fat is not also the most effective,” warns Rachel MacPherson, an ACE-certified trainer and nutrition coach at. “If you want sustainable results, you need to pace yourself and take it slowly.” It's simple math: to lose weight, burn more calories than you consume. However, to burn fat, the type of exercise you do is key. “A 20-minute jog will burn calories, not fat specifically, which will help you lose overall weight,” MacPherson says. ""However that weight can come from fat and muscle. It’s vital to also perform weight-bearing activities like strength training to preserve muscle and keep your metabolism up while focusing on fat loss.” There's a that for the best fat burning potential, you should aim to reach somewhere between 67.6 and 87.1% of your max heart rate. “At too high an the human body burns more sugar than fat,” Maritato says. “At too low an intensity workout the body burns mostly fat, but not enough to make a measurable difference.” To sum up: the best fat burning exercises incorporate big muscle groups, will get you mildly sweaty and your heart pumping at a healthy rate. Twenty minutes focused on the below circuit (with an eye on your heart rate) will have the fat melting away, and provide the added bonus of getting your abs sculpted. Don't know where to start? Below are a list of exercises to try: Start in a plank position with arms extended. Jump your feet forward so you can stand up straight. Jump on the spot, and return to your starting position. Get into a plank position. Raise your leg so that it forms a 90-degree angle with the corresponding elbow, then return to the start. Repeat for the other leg. Hold a medicine ball at chest height. Hinge at the hips as you drive through your, twisting the ball to one side then the other. Lie on your back and cycle your legs in the air, forming a 90-degree angle to the ground and bringing your elbow across the body to meet the opposite knee. We all know that too much junk food is bad for us because it's high in calories, but it may also interfere with your progress in ways you might not realize. “Fat loss is not just about burning calories through exercise, but about optimizing the body’s metabolism and hormonal profile as well,” Maritato says. “Minimizing processed foods and simple sugars may help reduce gut inflammation and fluid retention. While further research is needed, a suggests gut inflammation is linked to fat gain and difficulty burning fat.” Again, there's no single solution for each individual person, but a good way to start is by ensuring your : fresh fruit and veg, lean meats and nuts. Studies have also shown that. Now switch off your phone and get to bed."
"Even before I stepped into a first the first time, I had to look up the best gym clothes for men. Sadly, the results page yielded all the usual suspects, none of which were up to my standards. Am I seriously trying to get a fit off at the gym, all sweaty, hot and bothered? You better believe I'm trying to look my best while I'm hinging at the hips to deadlift two plates. Clearly I'm not alone in the pursuit of galactic-level gym fits, because a whole crop of fresh workout apparel brands have made it easier than ever to have outfits that are as hot as a gym packed with after-hour office warriors. To help you look good while going after it, we went deep on cutting-edge athletic labels we love—each a top-notch purveyor of the best gym wear for men—to keep you feeling motivated and ready to smash your next PR—and sure, we threw in some stalwarts, too. Just maybe don't mix and match your and. Longtime Recommends readers know how we feel about Rhone. Its breathable, odor-fighting tees have held down the top spot on our list of for years now, and we're such big fans of their thoughtfully designed shorts that we made them the flagship product of the a few quarters ago, too. Rhone Rhone Rhone Rhone Despite its reputation as an athleisure brand, Lululemon does in fact make workout clothes that's actually pretty good. Think: stretchy pants, excellent fits, and classic silhouettes. And heck, if you do end up at a post-workout bar with your workout fit on, you won't look too out of place. Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon Before designing cycling gear, Pas Normal Studios founder Karl-Oskar Olsen was behind Danish clothing brand Wood Wood. Beloved for its minimalist designs and Scandinavian styles, Wood Wood's design aesthetics could be applied to Pas, which is equally stylish (but more functional) for coasting down the streets of Copenhagen, New York, or London. Pas Normal Studios Ssense Pas Normal Studios Ssense Mall brand Abercrombie has long been on its come-up, and after branching into athleticwear, we can say A&F has reached peak form. YPB, which stands for “Your Personal Best,” features a mix of tees, tanks, and other workout gear for achieving just that: your personal best. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie and Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Who says distance running can't feel punk rock? Satisfy's moth-eaten muscle shirts and leopard-print shorts reflect their 's roots in skateboarding and hardcore. Satisfy Haven Satisfy Haven Need to feel completely free in order to really hit your stride? Ten Thousand's featherlight Session training shorts and Distance tees—both some of the brand’s best sellers—are built to be as efficient as possible—and stay out of your way in pursuit of that next PR. Ten Thousand Ten Thousand Ten Thousand Ten Thousand Boston-based Tracksmith transplants -era aesthetics onto modern marathon-ready gear in a way that feels natural, stylish, and not the least bit kitschy. Its singlet (a fancy tank top) might be its most famous piece, but it’s hard to go wrong with literally anything from this brand. Tracksmith Tracksmith Tracksmith Tracksmith After with its ultramodern Japanese frames, District Vision has turned its attention to apparel. The brand's latest innovation is a stretchy, lightweight mesh called Air-Wear, with thousands of tiny pores that open and close as you move to regulate your body heat and sweat. District Vision Mr Porter District Vision Mr Porter If hand-feel is your number-one criteria, then Vuori is the move. Its buttery, sumptuous, stretchy sweats make all other pants feel like sandpaper by comparison. Vuori Vuori Vuori Vuori Reigning Champ is Canadian through and through, focusing on high-quality materials (its French terry is ) and high-functioning performance details. Everything is made and designed in Vancouver, Canada, yielding year-round staples that will take you from couch to crunch with comfort and ease. Reigning Champ Nordstrom Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Ever wondered what it would feel like slanging weight at Gold's in its sweat-soaked heyday? Y,IWO harnesses the endearingly cheesy energy of -era Schwarzenegger—think retro graphics, bicep-hugging cuts, and bright, saturated colors—to imbue your gym selfies with a healthy jolt of '70s-era sleaze. It’s about time you tried a anyway, especially when you’re. Y'IWO Y'IWO Y'IWO Pacsun All it took for Miler Running to take home a was equipping its top-notch shorts with a couple of damn pockets; they're that good. To absolutely no one's surprise, the rest of the brand's murdered-out wares—made in New York with fabrics sourced from the European capitals of the world—are equally stellar, too. Miler Running Miler Running Miler Running Miler Running Chances are you've seen Rapha if you've ever come close to someone speeding away on a bicycle. It's arguably the most popular cycling apparel brand for the people who have a sick rig mounted above their bed. The clothing can be be loud or subtle, but above all else, you'll be seen on the road (for safety reasons). Rapha REI Rapha REI Search and State's premium apparel is made in New York City, one of the most stressful places to ride your bike. The brand features a lot of camo, but if you're more on the toned-down side, you'll find a nice selection of sleek and minimalist pieces, too. Either way, you'll be ripping through the streets like a cab trying to drop off a fare. Search and State Search and State Search and State Search and State If you’re a fabric nerd and love a deep dive into how your workout gear is designed to perform, you need to check out Path Projects. The brand was founded with the mission of creating a superior running short system and—guess what—they did it; their shorts are out-of-this-world comfortable. Two-in-one shorts are excellent, don’t get us wrong, but Path Projects did something miraculous—they made base liners and shorts that function perfectly together. Don’t get it twisted, the pairing is no simple Hanes-and-Mesh-Gym-Shorts combo; it’s a highly technical system that lets you define how you want to wear it. In the years since their inception, they’ve mastered shorts, but also mastered running tees, hats, hoodies, and travel apparel. Path Projects Path Projects Path Projects Path Projects On Running is a running brand first and foremost (hence the name), but it somehow feels like their performance running shoes have finally caught up to the hype. Their famous, or infamous, casual-leaning Cloud trainers have been a mainstay on the feet of Upper East Side dads, but, in our opinion, the brand is just now coming into its own as a performance and style mainstay. Their latest running shoes and technical sportswear are well worth the cash, but even if you don’t care about performance, On is putting some weight behind its lofty fashion ambitions, most notably with its recent Loewe collab that debuted on the back of American tennis phenom Ben Shelton. They are a running brand, but they’re becoming so much more. On Running Nordstrom On Running On Running If you’ve been running the streets of New York at any point in the past couple of years, you’ve probably seen Bandit. What started as a project to make the best running sock possible, Bandit took a community-based approach to development, handing out their prototypes at Brooklyn Track Club workouts, which let them soak up actionable feedback in real time. Its socks are still pretty much perfect, but its assortment has grown to include some of the best shorts, tees, and outerwear a runner can buy—all worthy additions to your gym bag. Bandit Bandit Bandit Bandit If you prefer that your strenuous activity happens on the water, whether that means paddleboard yoga or hitting your local point break, Florence has you covered. Founded by North Shore legend John John Florence, the eponymous brand blends surf, sail and the outdoors with technical fabrics and aquatic-focused sensibilities. While obviously inspired by surfing and surf style, their designs look more at home in the local SCUBA shop or atop a beachside lifeguard stand, which gives them an air of technical prowess and functionality that surf shops might be lacking. The drapey, lightweight UPF hoodies are excellent and their shorts toe the line (or should we say hang ten) between fitness and surf, making them ideal for hitting the waves or the local gym. Florence Florence Florence Florence We say that with love, for the record. If you've been to a gym squat rack, you've seen Gymshark, no doubt. The brand features bold, out-there graphics alongside more discreet pieces to help you squat lower than you ever have before. Everything from their joggers to their pump covers is also pretty affordable—which is good, because all of your money's going towards your gym membership and tape for your torn calluses. Gymshark Gymshark Gymshark Gymshark No athleticwear discussion would be complete without including Nike. From running gear to shoes for your next HIIT workout, Nike has your bases covered. Dri-FIT is where it's at, keeping you dry while you get your sweat on, and no one can deny the power of the swoosh. Nike Nike Nike Nike Just like the swoosh, Under Armour's developed quite the legacy for its hard-wearing, built-for-athletes workout gear. Its base layers make up the foundation of many a weightlifter, though you shouldn't sleep on any of its other wares. Under Armour Under Armour Under Armour Under Armour As other sports—like running, lifting, and even cycling—have developed stylish athleticwear, climbing gear might not have been on the list to get the next fashionable facelift. Since 1982, Gramicci has been focused on clothing for climbers, from durable pants to warm fleece. While function was the priority for the brand, an interest by Tokyo tastemakers helped to turn the brand into something more fashionable. Its cozy materials and rugged silhouettes have helped propel Gramicci into an athleticwear brand that looks as stylish on the streets as it does against a mountain cliff. Gramicci Gramicci Gramicci Gramicci Maybe you just left the office and decided it was time to head to your gym. Whether it's because you're actually going to get a sweat on or you're there for social hour, Literary Sport's range of workout-ready apparel will make sure you look good even if you're only scoping out the squat rack instead of actually, you know, squatting. Its clothes are perfectly apt for casual days or workout nights, highlighting modern silhouettes and high-end fabrics. Literary Sports is the kind of brand you scope out first when you decide you're in need of good-looking workout gear. Literary Sport Literary Sport Literary Sport Literary Sport Most know the OG outdoor company for Snap Fleece pullovers and bomber duffel bags, but deeper in the Patagonia catalog are super-lightweight, breathable shirts and shorts that are made to handle sweat. They might've been made for crags and trails but we can attest they're right at home in the gym. Patagonia Patagonia Patagonia Patagonia Multi-sport activists face a quandary when stocking their bureaus with duds for running and cycling. Courier delivers a solution with socks dedicated to both and knit with the company's trademark FlowPODs, which are like soft Candy Button studs that provide texturized cushion and allow for additional breathability on runs and rides. Get the HiFi for extra feel and the LoFi for max cushion. Courier Socks Courier Socks Courier Socks Courier Socks 2XU's signature compression clothing uses something the company calls ""muscle containment stamping"" to bolster your muscles and joints when workouts get tough. The design is meant to reduce fatigue and injury and, hey, we could all use little extra support during those last few sets. 2XU 2XU 2XU 2XU Like a secret handshake, wearing Ciele's used to be a sign among runners of who was clued-in. Then word got out and now everyone wears 'em, they're that good. Few know that Ciele also has an incredible apparel line built on the same foundation as the hat, namely, the best technical materials out there and functional, aesthetic design. Ciele Ciele Ciele Ciele Your engorged bis and tris need their time in the light, so you better believe it's a sleeveless day at the gym. Complement that with some sweats (because maybe you've missed a few leg day sessions) and you'll be spending more time checking yourself out in the mirror than working on curls. Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Y'IWO Pacsun Kapital Canoe Club Nike Nordstrom Every major muscle group is getting its time in the hot seat, so you're going to want to stay cool, fresh, and ready. Just make sure you opt for pieces that wick away sweat so you don't quit halfway through your workout because you're being weighed down my water-packed tops and bottoms. Path Projects Path Projects Ten Thousand Ten Thousand Bandit Bandit Reebok Amazon Whether it's the elliptical, treadmill, or StairMaster, you're going to be getting your steps in. Our favorite make all the best apparel for your cardio-heavy day, able to help you go further for longer. Miler Running Miler Running Satisfy Huckberry Tracksmith Tracksmith Nike Nike It's never OK to skip leg day, and even if you absolutely dread doing squats, maybe donning a fit this good will actually ensure you hit your lower half. 2XU Amazon Gymshark Gymshark Lululemon Lululemon NoBull NoBull"
"You've probably seen a man with a latte in your feed recently. The creamy has emerged as, more eye-catching alternative to coffee, gaining so much international popularity that there may be in our midst. But is it acceptable for men to enjoy what many have deemed a girl drink? This is the latest question making the rounds online thanks to a handful of posts about the bright green beverage. It’s sparked conversations about food and gender. But most notably, it has given us a new type of guy: a matcha man. A matcha man is simply someone who enjoys the glorious bitter hit of some pulverized green, preferably on ice and, if they've properly developed their palate, an alternative form of milk. Given the fact that matcha has been around, men who drink it have always lived among us, and, for a lot of Asian cultures, that's completely unremarkable. But the gendered conversation comes at a moment of a, and the concept of the matcha man appears to have originated here in the U.S. from two viral videos earlier this year, the first from digital creator Kyle Umemba declaring his and riffing that “it’s cooler, it’s smoother, it’s matcha.” (He has since with the catchphrase.) The second is from and his impersonation of what he described to as a mosque board member who is suspicious of the beverage: “You are a man? You're getting a matcha?” goes the audio, which has since been used for many a matcha-themed TikTok. Why not can you be a macho? His character goes on to lambast oat milk. In all corners of the internet, people are repeating the phrase: “Men used to go to war, now they drink matcha.” Some are doing so in what appears to be an assertion that the drink is feminine. In one, one woman writes, “Don't let no man who drinks matcha raise his voice at you. You talk to him…woman to woman.” Unfortunately, we've been here before. Drinks have been assigned unofficial genders for ages, so much so that one on gender and food showed that men avoid food seen as delicate and sweet, as a way to protect their masculinity. (Of course, gendered food discourse is a scourge that women are also taught to internalize with often disastrous effects.) On the internet, these trends manifest as,, and promoted. In contrast to all that, drinking matcha has become a way to coolly buck gender expectations. TikToks of men as the finishing touch are everywhere. So are posts of them with their friends or with their girlfriends. In, a creator with the handle @yngjefe_95 weighed in on the backwards nature of matcha men detractors: “Once men get outside of their bubble, you critique them and try to call them names.” Hussain, who has watched his matcha man TikTok launch this debate between genders, thinks people should be able to drink what they want. “I genuinely do not like the taste of matcha alone,” he tells “But I don't see any problem with drinking it as a man.” The growing swarm of matcha men might be a sign that guys are freeing themselves from gender conformity. Or, at the very least, enjoying what is undeniably a delicious beverage."
"Wondering what the new 75 Hard is all about and whether you should try it? You've come to the right place. Allow, the host of podcast, to explain. Like most busy young creatives, Larbi's fitness schedule was fine, but also somewhat sporadic. “I was going to the gym two, three times a week, but I wasn't doing much of the stuff that you should be doing for functional health, such as stretching, mobility, cardio,” he says. Larbi's focus was on and not much else. Wanting to challenge himself and broaden his fitness horizons, the 26-year-old turned to 75 Hard, one of the many new floating around on the internet. Not only did Larbi try it, but a few months after finishing, he’s still kept in shape. Here’s what he learned along the way, and his advice to set you on your own 75-day levelling up odyssey. 75 Hard is the brainchild of fitness beast who created the challenge in 2019 as a way to develop a stronger sense of discipline. “I don’t care how good looking you are, how much your mom loves you, or how good your GPA is; at some point, life will kick your ass, and put you in a choke hold,” Frisella on his website. The program lasts for 75 consecutive days and entails two 45 minute per day (one of which must be outside),, a gallon of a day and reading 10 pages of a non-fiction each day. Miss a day and you have to start over again from day one. Frisella created the challenge after interviewing, who is known for completing 50 Ironman races in 50 U.S. States across 50 consecutive days. His key takeaway from the conversation was the necessity of repeatedly placing oneself in uncomfortable positions to develop mental fortitude. Frisella took this as his starting point to create a fitness challenge that was also a “transformative mental toughness program.” For Larbi, it was this mental challenge that was most rewarding, but sticking to a strict routine also showed him how far he could push himself, further building his fortitude and sense of self-belief. “I really wanted to prove to myself that my word matters,” says Larbi. “It was a mental challenge, nobody's making me do this. Nobody even knows that I'm doing this. So if I stopped, there'll be no big deal. But I told myself I was going to do it.” Apart from that, the benefits are obvious: stick to any fitness routine and your body will thank you; your brain will benefit from the 750 pages you might not have otherwise read; drinking enough water and sticking to a meal plan will help you and eat a more ; and you’ll develop discipline to take into your next challenge. Larbi reports feeling more and more energized by the challenge. That being said, this is an intense regime and might not be for everyone. Maybe you have a bum knee, or you're living with a condition that makes harmful. If you still want to try it but aren't sure if it's safe for you, consult with a doctor. Luckily there are 75 Soft and 75 Medium programs you can adopt in lieu of 75 Hard. Naturally, a regime like this takes planning. So Larbi wasn’t stuck downing most of his gallon of water last thing at night, he made sure to keep a full glass handy during his morning workout, thereby making a solid dent in his water consumption for the day. In terms of the themselves, Larbi swapped his few-times-a-week heavy sessions for lighter daily sessions that he knew he’d be able to maintain long-term. Often his first session of the day would be a weights session with added mobility work. As the days progressed, he found he preferred. He invested in a press-up board on which he’d perform 30 press-ups as a warm-up before typically working through a mixture of pull-ups, lat pull downs, and cable rows, aiming for light weight, high rep to ensure he didn’t burn his muscles out given the volume of work they’d be performing throughout the challenge. The next session would be cardio-focused, be that walking, stretching, yoga or a run. Larbi found this a refreshing approach to fitness. “Before this, I was prioritizing the aesthetic muscles,” he says. “I’d do a push day, a pull day, legs and that would be it. I wasn’t doing much. I wasn't doing much. But doing a challenge like this, you have to look at the bigger picture. It made me respect exercise across the board, as well as think more about taking care of my body. It forces you to vary your approach, too; I probably did more mobility work in those 75 days than in my entire life before that."" One word:. “Stretching before and after every session was absolutely non-negotiable,” says Larbi. “No matter how I felt.” Larbi’s approach to maintenance used to be “cure over prevention” but his 75 Hard journey taught him otherwise. It makes sense; if you’re working this hard day in, day out, you need to look after yourself. And treat yourself. “ with Epsom salts was also super, super useful,” he says. As for diet, there is no hard and fast rule, but it makes sense to. Larbi made changes as he went depending on his daily schedule, while still keeping everything healthy. Setting aside the thought of having to start over again should you slip up, Larbi says the key to surviving is taking it day by day. “At the beginning, I thought that by the time I’ve done a month I’m going to be exhausted, but I was surprised by just how much I was capable of,” he says. “You don't know how strong you are until you give yourself no other option. The more I did, the better I felt. And because it’s quite intense and because I had so much going on with work, I was only thinking about completing today, not that I had X many days left.” Depending on how you look at it, there’s also a nice reward waiting for you at the end of each day, which is when Larbi chose to get his reading in. “I am an avid reader anyway,” he says. “75 Hard does specify non-fiction, so I read: by Malcolm Gladwell, by Mikaela Loach; and by Philippa Perry, which is really good.” As anyone who’s ever put themselves through a fitness transformation knows, maintaining your pace after an initial push is tricky. Larbi did spend days 76-80 mainlining junk food but eventually cut himself off, saying he “didn’t want to get used to it again.” A few months on, his diet remains “much healthier” if not quite as strict as it was during the program. He’s mostly sticking to his newfound fitness schedule: more sessions a week, but of less volume. Plus plentiful mobility and cardio. “If I’m having a busy week I might go back to my previous way of doing two or three heavier sessions, but generally I prefer doing half an hour every day,” he says. The biggest change has been to his mental state. “Working out for me now feels just as emotional as it does physical,” he says. “You never feel worse for working out.” Larbi points out that 75 Hard worked for him because of his flexible schedule. It might not fit with yours. But that’s no reason not to set your own goals. “If you do any one thing for you for 75 days in a row, it'll make a big difference to your life,” he says. “It doesn't have to be something as intense as this, just sticking to something you told yourself you were going to do for two and a half months, whatever that thing is, will have a huge impact.”"
"Every night, once I get tucked into bed and start counting sheep, my brain is flooded with the same thought: As a single, childless person in my late 20s, I admittedly have very few barriers to slumber. There’s no snoring, blanket thief on the other side of the bed or overzealous tyke who wants to start their day with an episode of at 5 a.m. Still, I rarely get the type of I so desire. And I can’t shake the feeling that someone with my incredible sleep privilege should be waking up far more refreshed. In the past, I’ve done several things to improve my sleep hygiene, a term that describes your sleeping environs. Everything from the actual time your head hits the pillow to not exercising or consuming caffeine too close to bedtime are part of the sleep hygiene equation. A few years ago, I turned to (which I still take five milligrams of every night, and did so for each night of this endeavor), and more recently adopted the (which I highly recommend). During a particularly construction-heavy period in my neighborhood last year, I even resorted to (which fell out pretty much nightly, causing my surrender). The only thing I refuse to try is going to bed earlier, because all the fun stuff happens at night. But amid all my sleep hygiene improvements, one radical option still loomed large in my imagination: what I’m calling the “honk shoo” method. Partially inspired by a, I went Ebenezer Scrooge on my sleep routine, purchasing a polyester cotton old-timey pajama set, complete with the nightcap, candlestick, and holder. My logic here was threefold. One, sleeping in this garb for a week was funny as hell. Two, I figured there had to be a reason people used to sleep like this. Before smartphones, screens, or even electricity, were these people getting a tranquil eight hours every night using the honk shoo method? I had to ask an expert—Joshua Tal, PhD, a sleep and health psychologist—for his thoughts. “I would imagine having any clothes dedicated to sleep would be beneficial for sleep,” Tal said. “It is a signal to your body that it is time for rest and relaxation, similar to a nice blazer giving you a feeling of competence when presenting to your company board, or a sweatband giving you the extra edge in sports.” Perhaps, by wearing a gown and cap, I could unlock the wisdom of our ancestors and get the most serene sleep of my life. To monitor my experiment, I secured a Fitbit tracker to log all my nighttime statistics. Remembering all the things I learned in childhood about the scientific method, I knew I would first have to establish a sleep baseline by gathering one week of data without employing the honk shoo method. Once that was over, I slept in the honk shoo fit for a week—Monday night to Friday night—and compared the metrics. In the category of aesthetics, the early data was undeniable: I looked phenomenal. Someone told me I was “holding the candle like a glass of wine.” A few things to mention before getting into the experimental weeds here: For the control week, I was sleeping without air conditioning; instead, just cracking the windows and turning my ceiling fan on, which creates my preferred snooze temperature. Every night was spent wearing basketball shorts and no shirt, which has been my sleepy-time move since I was a teenager. The weather was much cooler this week than it was when I wore the honk shoo fit, which usually makes for the most placid sleep conditions, but interestingly, my average sleep score was a modest 71.3. I should point out that the first two nights of the control week did not render a sleep score, which is probably because I didn’t fully understand how to use the Fitbit yet. I was able to gather data on my average amount of REM, light, and deep sleep every night though, as well as the amount of time I spent awake each night: 67.8 minutes 55.25 minutes 4.83 hours 69.25 minutes In thinking about all the circumstances that would change once I started the Scrooge cosplay, the thing I was most worried about was going from the liberation of sleeping shirtless to the tyranny of being fully draped in cloth. While I presumed that would have a negative effect on my sleep, ending every night of the honk shoo method with candlelight seemed like it would be quite charming, the same sleepy-time effect as a warm, soothing cup of tea. Below is a daily diary of my week wearing the honk shoo fit. The material of the honk shoo fit forced me to ditch my beloved basketball shorts, which I was planning on wearing underneath. Instead, it was just underwear down there. Wouldn’t you know, this was the jackpot. Sobriety unquestionably aided this pristine sleep score, but I like to think it was also the ridiculous paraphernalia I shrouded myself in. 7 hours, 6 minutes (12:00 a.m.—8:01 a.m.) 54 minutes 1 hour, 21 minutes / 4 hours, 30 minutes / 1 hour, 12 minutes 82 My evening uniform felt more worn in after its first night of usage, which made it marginally more comfortable to wear. I decided to try basketball shorts underneath it this time, and also could not avoid the devil’s lettuce’s temptation. Surprisingly, while under the influence of ganja, I achieved my highest REM score. As for candlelight, I used the candles that normally adorn my coffee table, because I’m a man of taste. Those became a weeklong stand-in for the melted husk I thought I’d be relying on. 6 hours, 52 minutes (12:17 a.m.—8:00 a.m.) 51 minutes 1 hour, 41 minutes / 4 hours, 29 minutes / 41 minutes 79 My notes just say “hat is easily the worst/most annoying part” and “had dream about going to Quizno’s,” which was notable because I rarely have dreams, or at least rarely remember them. This was a no-weed night, though, which was probably the catalyst. 7 hours 27, minutes (11:40 p.m.—8:00 a.m.) 52 minutes 1 hour, 15 minutes / 5 hours, 17 minutes / 55 minutes 78 There was some strange beeping noise happening on the street below my window in the morning, which produced a prolonged period of being awake. For the second consecutive night, I was back to just wearing underwear beneath the gown, which had just been cleaned (along with the hat) by the lovely couple who owns my neighborhood laundromat. It took me a while to calm down for bed here because this was the night that Tyrese Haliburton hit his, and I had to consume a bunch of content about that, naturally. The whiplash of hootering and hollering about modern basketball and then strapping on pajamas from the 1840s really made me chuckle. 6 hours, 45 minutes (12:18 a.m.—8:19 a.m.) 1 hour, 16 minutes 49 minutes / 5 hours, 15 minutes / 40 minutes 70 Finally, the last night of this wildly silly endeavor. Hilariously, my notebook tells me I dreamt I had a lab report due, a fitting take on the classic recurring dream. (I also wrote “dreamt of grape lollipops,” for what it’s worth.) Once again, with nothing to do on Saturday morning, I slept in, and woke up without that foolish hat being anywhere near my head. This was on the heels of seeing T-Pain, Mk.gee, and Tyler, the Creator’s sets at, so the exhaustion of standing for so long is part of the stew here. At long last, I knocked out for eight hours, and was in a state of deep sleep for two of those, a new personal best! Thank you, music. 8 hours, 14 minutes (1:21 a.m.—10:59 a.m.) 1 hour, 24 minutes 1 hour, 1 minute / 5 hours, 5 minutes / 2 hours, 7 minutes 79 The main item in the honk shoo ensemble—the long nightshirt—was a bit like a hospital gown, with three buttons and a breast pocket on the front, and then more snap buttons on the back. It was made, as many a novelty Amazon purchase are, from an imported polyester cotton. Wearing it made me feel stifled, so I usually wore it with the bottom two buttons on the back undone for optimal comfort. The worst part was the hat. It refused to stay put as I slept. I’d wake up at various stages of this exercise to find the hat lying next to me, tucked between pillows, or banished deep into a hard-to-find cavern of sheets. The little ball that dangles from it, while cute as hell, provided its own challenges. It would get stuck underneath my shoulder blades—I’m a side sleeper—and always required some care when I’d roll over to find a more comfortable position. Boy, I hated that thing. Though the hat had an elastic band to fit scalps of all shapes and sizes, I didn’t want to pull it down over my ears. That would’ve made it too snug, and me unbearably sweaty. As for the candle, well, it sucked. On the very first night, I lit it while I powered down for the evening. It sat nearby as I journaled, did some dishes, went through my usual bathroom procedure, and eventually listened to a baseball game on the radio for my last bit of entertainment. All told, it was lit for about an hour and a half, and at some point while I was immersed in the radio broadcast, I looked over to see that the candle had partially collapsed. This candle was not ready for prime time. You get what you pay for, I suppose, and the honk shoo fit, candle, and holder came in a set that cost $39.99 altogether. Ironically, after the devastation of losing a major part of my research on the very first night, I enjoyed my best dozing, when I put up an 82 sleep score on Monday night just minutes after the candle debacle. From both a scientific- and feelings-based perspective, my sleep was only slightly improved when I wore the dumb clothes. My average sleep score when drifting off regular-style was 71.3. In the honk shoo regalia, it was 77.6. While my longest total night of sleep my longest period of deep sleep were both in the flimsy striped outfit, I averaged two more minutes of deep sleep when I was not wearing it. However, my average REM sleep per night leapt from 55.2 minutes without the honk shoo method to 73.4 with it. I’m choosing to believe my eyes were moving so rapidly because they were delighted by my little outfit. So, what have we learned? First, I will do pretty much anything for content. Second, if you want a surefire way to get better rest every night, you’ll probably need to do a bit more than a bizarre wardrobe change, especially if that comes in the form of an internet acquisition that cost less than $50. Beyond that, I decided that Ebenezer Scrooge was a hack, and just because he’s the face of the honk shoo community doesn’t mean he knew what he was doing. Sometimes the past should remain just that, the past. All of the sleep-maxxing technology we have today has become popular for a reason: It’s more effective than a candle and a frock. In conclusion, if you want to get better sleep, you absolutely do not need to try the honk shoo method. Hopefully I saved you $39.99."
"For most of your life, you probably didn’t think much about beef tallow. Yet these days, the use of the substance as a cooking fat or isn’t just a lifestyle choice. For many of the subcultures united by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, it has become a marker of identity. Months before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was appointed as the US Health and Human Services Secretary, he posted a to “Make Frying Oil Tallow Again,” singling out as a key driver of the American obesity epidemic. While it’s true that obesity rates and seed oil consumption have both in recent decades, this is mere correlation. There are countless additional factors—including but not limited to, as well as —at play in American diets. Even so, franchises including quickly took note and made the switch. Meanwhile, other chains such as have since decided to ditch seed oils, in favor of extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil, for their fries and cooked items. The symbolizes a handful of larger health and wellness trends, according to, a registered dietitian in Brooklyn, New York. These include the growing politicization of food, an emphasis on simpler ingredients and fewer processed foods, and the desire to. Simultaneously, beef tallow—which is created by cooking down beef fat to separate it from tissues and impurities—as skincare has become big on TikTok, with proponents touting it as a dew-inducing, moisturizer. But is beef tallow actually any good for your skin or your health? It turns out that beef tallow is one of the lesser evils circulating on SkinTok. That’s because it has emollient properties that soften and smooth the skin, says, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. “Its fatty acids closely resemble the natural oils of the skin, allowing it to effectively replenish moisture,” she says. “Linoleic acid, a type of fatty acid in beef tallow, also has known anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce redness and swelling.” Though more research is needed to determine beef tallow’s safety and efficacy in moisturizing skin, a of 19 studies found that beef tallow offers hydrating and moisturizing properties. On top of nourishing dry skin, it may also improve conditions including dermatitis, psoriasis, and wounds. Beef tallow is best to apply to parched or rough areas without sebaceous glands, such as the elbows, knees, and heels, says, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of in Birmingham, Alabama. But because it’s comedogenic (read: pore-clogging), he advises against using it on your face. “If you have oily skin, which men tend to have, using comedogenic products is,” Dr. Hartman says. “When products get stuck in pores and mix with oil, acne is almost guaranteed.” Those with sensitive skin should also exercise caution, adds Dr. Green, as irritation, inflammation, and allergic reactions are all possible. All things considered, safer, more vetted alternatives exist to cover what beef tallow might potentially offer. Per Dr. Green, these include and glycerin—humectants that attract and boost hydration—as well as to lock in moisture and support the skin barrier. Fans of beef tallow say it is rich in healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K2, which “support everything from thyroid health to estrogen metabolism and even liver detox,” says, a double board-certified physician in Corona, California. However, she says there’s no clinical research to date attributing hormonal health benefits to tallow specifically. Beef tallow is high in saturated fat content—typically around 50%—which risks increasing LDL cholesterol, according to, a cardiologist specializing in preventive cardiology in Charlotte, North Carolina. “LDL cholesterol is responsible for plaque buildup in arteries, especially arteries that supply blood to the heart,” says. “For this reason, beef tallow and saturated fats should generally be avoided as much as possible.” Individuals with diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels, and/or a personal or family history of cardiovascular disease should be extra cautious. If you absolutely indulge in fried food on occasion, Dr. Dabhadkar still deems seed oils—which primarily contain unsaturated fats—as a better option. (FWIW, a found that higher intake of plant-based oils—including olive oil but also canola and soybean oil—was associated with lower cardiovascular, cancer, and total disease mortality compared to higher intake of butter, itself another high source of saturated fat.) Pasquariello agrees that any purported benefits of beef tallow—hormonal or otherwise—don’t outweigh the risks. “Tallow is also by no means a healthier, ‘cleaner,’ or ‘less toxic’ alternative to seed oils, nor does it contain higher levels of any fat-soluble vitamins than you can find elsewhere,” she says. For example, sweet potato, spinach, and carrots are all good plant-based. Yes, —but consuming more fat is far from ideal, as most Americans already. You’re better off prioritizing unsaturated fats with proven health perks, including but not limited to oily fish, avocados, nuts, and seeds. And, if you’re so inclined, seed oils. “Culinary-wise, I have no problem if people want to cook with tallow from time to time due to flavor or application,” Pasquariello says, “but claiming there are extra health benefits to doing so is not accurate.” After all, whether you’re eating potato chips with seed oils or beef tallow, the fact is that they’re both still high in fat and sodium and won’t meaningfully offer micronutrients or fiber, which. She suggests that the fervor over beef tallow may be informed by ulterior motives. “It's a tactic to tug at people’s emotions, to create fear, and to drive [clicks and] sales by capitalizing on a trendy moment,” she warns. Despite its recent airtime, beef tallow won’t magically transform your skin or your diet. But if you want to smear some of it on your dry elbows, or use it to add some flavor to a dish, go right ahead. Just remember: It’s not the miracle fat that MAHA says it is."
"Pick any season of, the Travel Channel program that ran from 2006 to 2015, and the titular chef, food critic, and restaurateur probably ate something you didn’t even know was edible. One episode he’d be in rural Pennsylvania munching on snapping turtle soup, two episodes later he’d be sampling the local beetles and river eel of Madagascar. Eventually, the show inspired a spin-off focused on delicious destinations rather than the wacky and exotic. But all the while, food remained the centerpiece of both Zimmern’s professional and personal lives. Now 63 and settled into life in the Upper Midwest, that remains true of Zimmern, who hosts the show on Tastemade, and is also set to take part in the multimedia company’s Grill Week, which kicked off yesterday and will run to July 4. Staying fit can be a struggle for anyone who spends as much time in the kitchen as Zimmern, but after an injury to his lower leg, he invested in a classic sit-down workout machine for his home. Zimmern shared how he stays fit post-injury, his decades-long sobriety, and his most underrated food cities in a recent conversation with Oh my gosh. I wish there was a great secret to it. You hate to say genetics, because I’m not a rock-star athlete, but I certainly stay active. It’s very funny that we’re having this conversation. I’m at the age where I belong to a concierge medical service because I hoped I would save money. As you age, you have more medical needs. I’m a big believer in preventive medicine, and I just got 99% of the results back. I’ve been able to talk with my physician—who has looked at a day’s worth of tests with every department you could imagine for all my body parts—and for all the big things (brain, central nervous system, neural response, heart, lung, vascular), they said I have all the health and wellness of someone younger than you. Especially my stress test, which is not where they scare you—where they say your wife is leaving you, your kid is in an accident—which is what I always thought the stress test was going to be before I did my first one. But they have a million things strapped to you, and you basically run uphill for five minutes until your heart rate gets to something nearly unbearable. They’re like, “Can you go for another minute?” You go for another minute, and then you literally fall backwards onto this bed, and they put what looks to be the kind of scanner that lets couples see their first baby images. They roll it around your heart area, which has all this gel on it, and they’re like, ""Wow, you’re amazing."" I went back down to normal as if I was 20 years younger. [It was] shocking to me, because from an aerobic standpoint, I guess I do enough. Or, more than most people my age. Maybe it’s genetics, maybe my rituals are enough, but I’m very lucky. I guess maybe I am a little more fit for my age than I give myself credit for. But if I could lose 30 pounds, I would be a happier camper. Which gets back to the gist of your question, which is, food is my life. I’m always cooking it. I’m always eating it. I’m always around it. I try to be pretty mindful. It’s difficult to say no to a lot of things simply because I enjoy them. I am a lotus eater in the mythological sense. I do things for pleasure. Whatever makes me feel good, I like. That’s probably my biggest battle, which is why my most successful health and wellness stories are all on the mental health front. I’m a. I broke my ankle and my leg simultaneously at the same moment, on ice. I guess it was three years ago. And I loved to. I did not like running outside. My friends all thought I was crazy. I loved a treadmill. I loved the focus of it. I loved the ability to slightly cant the treadmill. I had read a long time ago that you get much more benefit running up a grade at three miles an hour than running flat at five miles an hour. You get your heart rate up faster, and it stays higher longer. I loved all that, and I really haven’t been able to do that since, because I have some permanent ankle issues. However, I do a ton of walking. I’m on my feet working a lot. That helps tremendously. It sounds like a little thing, but at one point last year I started doing the step [counter] thing on my phone. I was going to buy a fancy thing for my wrist, but then why bother when I realized my phone started to do it for me. I was stunned at what I walked on a given day. Between [walking the] dogs, work, and then my purposeful walks—I live in Minnesota: Even when it’s 10 below zero, we bundle up and go out because the dogs have to go out. I guess I am very active that way, and I love to play sports where you can keep score. I am insanely competitive. I love racket sports, so and recently, although I have to be careful with my ankle about my side-to-side movement. One of the few sports that I do where you don’t keep score is skiing. That’s a lot of fun as well, and I play a lot of disc golf. Now, everyone laughs at that, but you’re walking five miles on a decent course hauling a 25 pound bag! I don’t use a cart. If you play with pace, and not take hours and hours and hours to play 18 or 27 holes, you actually get a decent workout. It is really, really nice. And you can give a ton of shit to your friends. At the end of the day, that’s why I do 90% of the things that I do. No, it’s the exact opposite. My mental health issues are the catalyst for seeking things that give me peace of mind, that are true yogas in the literal sense of the word. I will pursue anything that takes my mind off of my mind. There’s that old cliche that my mind is a terrible neighborhood, and I try not to go in there alone. I try not to even bring people in there with me. My mental health has increasingly gotten better with every passing year for the last 33 and a half years. I hit a very serious bottom in my life in 1991, into the first three weeks of 1992. At that point, I entered the sobriety that I’m currently enjoying. I usually refer to the ’80s as my lost decade. I was very much a user of people, and a taker of things. I was an active drug addict and alcoholic. I was homeless for a year on the streets of New York, sleeping at night in an abandoned building with a local bottle gang that I had met in an alley. I’m a suicide survivor. So, getting well for me was not just about putting a cork in a bottle or giving up drugs. Getting well for me was adapting an entire ecosystem of life change, becoming a contributing member to first, my own life, then my family, then my community, and then everyone else around me. I think I’ve been able to do that. Things like disc golf, I go and play for three hours, and I do not think about my little petty problems. I love cooking. The other day we were doing a shoot at my house. I was cooking from about 7:30 in the morning till about 7 o’clock at night. Some of the crew was still packing out an hour later, and one of them said, “Why are you cooking? Wouldn’t you just order in?” I was like, “Oh, I would never do that.” After a busy, stressful day where I’m so focused on work, when I get back into my kitchen and I’m cooking, the magic there is that I’m also not thinking about me. I actually decompress. That half hour of putting together a family meal is another yoga for me. I’m constantly engaged in all these small practices that allow me to not get attached to thoughts inside my head, which are usually telling me lies. I just started. My son lifts, and we have weights in the house. I have to be very, very careful when I run. No potholes, leaves, gravel, or things that could alter my gait and hurt myself again. But I got a Hydrow rowing machine. I can’t recommend it enough. It is a full-body workout. It does work out your legs, your core, your shoulders. It also works out your brain. There is a pacing to it, and a form to it, and I happen to be a big fan. I love it because it has a screen, and I can row down famous bodies of water. Weightlifting and rowing, those are the new things. I tell people, if you want to be a better, you have to be a better shopper. I get asked the question: You have to make a quick from what you have on hand. I describe something, and people are like, “You have that on hand?” It’s like, of course I do! I have a process for cooking for my family that I’ve been committed to for over three decades. If all you have is dry pasta and tinned sauce in the cabinet, then guess what you’re making for dinner? Pasta with sauce, right? If you keep the most basic and rudimentary of vegetables, the ones that traditionally keep longer—carrots, rutabagas, parsnips—you can do a vegetable saute. You can take a vegetable shaver, mimic the pasta shape, and toss them with noodles, and a little olive oil, and actually have a very healthy pasta dish. If you have a dry-aged cheese, whether it’s a pecorino romano, a parmesan, or any of the other dozens of dried cheeses from all around the world, then guess what? You would be able to use those as well. If you put certain cuts of meat or into Ziploc bags and freeze them flat, they’ll defrost in 45 seconds to two minutes, thereby making weekday choices a breeze. You can saute a few cutlets, or scallopini of fish, or a protein to have with these vegetables if you choose not to have any pasta at all. If you have those vegetables in your house, and you happen to have a few salad items—lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onions—you can make yourself an extremely with just a four-ounce piece of chicken. Pound it out on Sunday while you’re watching sports, and freeze it in stacks. I have a stack of probably 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs that I lightly pounded out, put between paper, and put them in a big gallon Ziploc, and froze them. They probably take, I don’t know, 15 minutes, 18 minutes to defrost while I’m getting everything else together. So, you can set yourself up for success. I would caution people: You are what you eat. That is probably the biggest piece of wellness that’s not discussed in doctor’s offices these days. I wish it were. It’s the cornerstone of Eastern medicine. I have a doctor of Eastern medicine that I see, and the first question that he asks me all the time is, “What are you eating?” Well, this is going to sound like a setup, but I think I live there. Yeah, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. We don’t have the depth that other cities have. We don’t have 700 Korean restaurants like New York, but we finally have some really good ones. When you look at the entire breadth of what we have, I think Minneapolis can compete food-wise with any city. The biggest trends right now are what we call hobbyist cooking. [Chefs] don’t buy bacon, they make their own, right? They make their own pickles. They make their own pies. Pies are very in right now. You sit down in a restaurant that describes itself a certain way. It’s almost a given that if there’s a jam, or a jelly—let’s say with a pate, or a terrine, or with your eggs and toast in the morning—it’s made in-house, right? These are all big things. It’s usually said in a very obnoxious way. All of those things are things that people in Minnesota have been doing for 150 years. The farm-to-table movement is something…I laugh at that phrase. I live in an ag [agricultural] state. If I want to reconnect to a family farm, I just have to reach out and touch the person next to me. We have a farm a mile and a half from our house. We’re buying from the farm stand almost 12 months a year. There’s always something that’s available here. Our big mission here is to connect more deeply to it. We don’t need to go far for it. I think all of those things make our city one of the most exciting and vibrant food environments. I travel everywhere, and I could actually throw in cities like Madison and Milwaukee. I had an incredible meal driving through Sioux Falls, South Dakota! Staggering. I’ve never heard that one before. It really depends on what I am thinking of on the spot. The fact of the matter is that for 15 years, I traversed the globe endlessly in search of the most outrageous traditions. We never ate something gross just for the sake of it being unpleasant. We were just recording food culture, wherever it was. One man’s weird is another man’s wonderful. I guess at the end of the day, it always comes down to the rotten and fermented foods that if you ate them after a month, they would kill you. But after three months, the good bacteria eats the bad bacteria, and it leaves behind all the stink and decomposition. In fact, it’s almost probiotic. It’s almost good for you. Whether those are stinkheads in Alaska—fish heads allowed to rot in burlap bags, buried in the sand right at the tide’s edge so that it stays moist—or hákarl, fermented Greenlandic ice shark that is consumed in Iceland. Dama mein, the rotted pork of the mountainous hill tribes of Taiwan. These are foods that other people would run out of the room to avoid. But once I ate them, I was surprised at the flavor. I ate them a second time, and I was like, I could see why people do this! You eat it a couple more times, and you realize it’s just like pork chops. I think the rule there for me, or the learning through all of that experience, was not to practice contempt prior to investigation. Too many to mention. I am a relentless booster for the industry that I love so much, the restaurant world. The hospitality business, it does not mean that the guest is always right. What it means is to take care of that guest to the best of your ability. I think people in our industry oftentimes forget that they’re a restaurant. They’re not a We don’t have customers, we have Someone who walks up to me, says, “Hungry?” and licks their pencil, does not have my attention. But someone who goes up to me, and says, “What can we make for you today?” That’s a whole different attitude. There is a graciousness when it comes to hospitality that has me coming back to places again, and again, regardless of the food. My favorite restaurants all over this country are not the ones where the food is the best. It’s because they treat me nicely. I like the way I feel in the room. The people are kind—the servers, the cooks in the kitchen, everyone—they’re smiling. They’re having a good time. That attitude is infectious. I don’t take food too seriously, despite appearances to the contrary. I would rather have a good meal in a great restaurant than a great meal in a good restaurant. I think that has more to do with hospitality than how perfect the scallops are done., "
"For those holed up at home, the pandemic has stripped away the given minutiae of everyday living—the commutes, the casual asides, the inessential errands. In so doing, it has also provided a rare opportunity to get outside the slipstream of movement and productivity, the doing, doing, that can keep you feeling like a tumbleweed in a strong wind. Right now, things are oddly still. And if you’re privileged enough to have health and work—and to not have your stillness disrupted by anxiety and fear—inside the carousel of monotony you might find some space for self-reflection, to consider what you want “normal” life to look like when isolation lets out. I’ve been lucky enough to get to do some of that self-examination as part of my job at GQ (mostly in the name of health and wellness coverage for our vertical and ). In that time, I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time reading books that have helped me do it. They’re about everything from building better habits to getting better at being bored to the therapeutic, healing power of psychedelics. And though a fair number, perhaps unsurprisingly, stress the importance of (you can’t swing a cat in a self-help section of a bookstore without hitting this Blaise Pascal quote: ""All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone”), each is really about autonomy: in a world of constant noise and distraction, how can we live a bit more intentionally? The idea here isn’t that you should use your time in isolation productively— can lead right back into the whitewater of busyness (not to mention that, as ever, any type of self-care or self-improvement remains the province of the privileged). Right now, the only prescription should be to protect your mental health in whatever way is best for you. Over the past couple of years, these books have afforded me a deeper sense of agency and control in an unpredictable world. In this “,” if that’s something you’re looking for, I hope they'll do the same for you, too. Amazon The title of Odell’s book is misleading. (A bit of intentional trickery: “By the time you figure out that it's not [self-help], it's too late,”.) It’s less “a guide to being idle that will help unlock the secret to inner joy!” than it is an examination of why we all feel so existentially unmoored (hint: it has to do with how we spend our attention) and how we might go forward from here (hint: pay a different kind of attention). is a book about letting go of the idea that all of your time must be used to something, a mindset that keeps us constantly toppling forward into the next thing. Instead, Odell proposes ways to deepen your attention to your immediate environment and the moment, explaining that doing so can actually expand both: “Tiny spaces can open up small spaces, small spaces can open bigger spaces."" Right now, maybe you're searching for a release from the pressure to do more, or maybe you’d just like to see your small space expand— can point you in the direction of both. Amazon Norwegian explorer has summited Mount Everest and walked to both poles. (Those combined feats are known, in adventure circles, as the “Three Poles Challenge”). In his book he says the hardest part of walking to the South Pole was getting himself out of his tent on mornings when the temperature was 50 below. The second hardest part? “To be at peace with yourself,” he writes. With so many of us thrown into extended periods of solitude, Kagge’s reflections on his own solitary adventures into frozen places—combined with thoughts from a deep reservoir of writers, poets, and philosophers—might help you navigate this coronavirus wilderness. “I tend to think about silence as a practical method for uncovering answers to the intriguing puzzle that is yourself, and for helping to gain a new perspective on whatever is hiding beyond the horizon,” he writes. Amazon In this meditation on the “positive power of silence,” a worthwhile companion to Kagge’s book, Maitland searches for places of solitude to reflect on what happens when we get quiet. What she learns is that a lack of noise does not lead to an emptiness: “I increasingly realise there is an interior dimension to silence, a sort of stillness of heart and mind which is not a void but a rich space.” Now, not only is Maitland’s aloneness self-imposed and spent in sublime, natural places (like the Scottish Hills and the Isle of Skye), she also clarifies that “there is a chasm of difference between qualities like quietness or peace and silence itself.” Many of us have been driven into small spaces that don’t feel at all tranquil. That said, even if you can only find brief moments of peace at an anxious time like this, Maitland will have you thinking differently about what to do with those pockets of open air, why you might resist the impulse to fill them, and how you can work silence, instead of silence. Amazon The Georgetown computer scientist has become one of our leading thinkers on tech’s increasing influence. In, Newport encourages readers to reclaim autonomy over by developing a “philosophy of technology use” that he calls “digital minimalism.” It involves forgoing “optional technologies” (tech you can give up without causing harm in your professional or personal life) for thirty days, reconnecting with your values and desires (developing a game plan for your life, essentially), and then intentionally introducing tech back into your life by selecting whichever platforms will help you achieve those things. Even if you’re not worried about your screen time, Newport's book is a useful reminder of the importance of attention and intention—two of our most undervalued currencies—in a modern society largely designed to steal them from you: “The sugar high of convenience is fleeting and the sting of missing out dulls rapidly, but the meaningful glow that comes from taking charge of what claims your time and attention is something that persists.” Amazon As the host of WNYC’s “Note to Self,” Zomorodi led her listeners through a week of challenges that—similar to Newport’s —were meant to get participants to disconnect in order to reconsider the role devices had come to play in their lives. The result? Less time plugged in meant more time. But. to Zomorodi’s surprise, the boredom her listeners reported wasn’t the dull monotony we’re so accustomed to running away from; in their boredom, they’d found a new source of imagination. So Zomorodi took that anecdotal feedback, buttressed it with recent psychological and neuroscientific research, and wrote a book that will help you understand that boredom isn't a problem, it's an opportunity. Amazon You probably remember this 2018 book as the one that had all your friends talking about doing shrooms. In it, Pollan sets out to explore the emerging research on the, does some himself, and pens a fascinating exploration into the nature of consciousness: how we create meaning, how our own perceptions deceive us, what it means to be human, and how reflecting on all of those things—which, surprise, is often what happens on a psychedelic journey—can change our experience of being alive. Take, for instance, this thought, which comes after Pollan smokes “The Toad” (that is: 5-MeO-DMT, a psychotropic substance found in the venom of the Sonoran Desert toad): “Everybody gives thanks for ‘being alive,’ but who stops to offer thanks for the bare-bones gerund that comes before ‘alive’? I had just come from a place where being was no more and now vowed never to forget what a gift (and mystery) it is, that there is something rather than nothing.” is a welcome balm at a time when we’re stuck in one place and a literal trip into the philosophical wilds of your mind, and reading it proves consciousness-altering in its own right. Amazon Humans are very bad at being wrong, which makes sense: it feels great to be right. So we generally default to assuming we know what we’re talking about. But years of playing professional poker taught that, in a game of cards, assuming you’re right is a sure path to losing all of your money. She learned quickly to be more open-minded, to question what she thought, and to accept that, ultimately, luck and risk would play a role in any decision she made at the table. She’d go on to win $4 million. In, she channels those lessons in an effort to help readers fix a fundamental problem with human cognition: Self-righteousness might feel good, and admitting you’re wrong might feel bad—but it’s only the latter that gets us closer to an accurate view of the world. Getting better at being wrong won’t just help you acquire more knowledge; it’ll also help you be less defensive (you’re not so worried about proving your point) and more compassionate (you’re less dismissive of beliefs that discredit your own), and get you accustomed to the reality that, in poker as in life, uncertainty always plays a role. So if you’re looking for a challenge to complete in isolation, how about this: learn to be critical not just of others’ thoughts, but of your own, too. Amazon ’s book helps you be more productive precisely by taking aim at our cultural obsession with productivity. In his eyes, we’ve become so obsessed with being busy, that instead of “doing what matters to us” we’ve become content to stop merely at “doing.” The result? An inability to prioritize or focus, which keeps us not just from doing meaningful work, but from living present lives. “If there's one thing that I realized over the course of writing this book, it's that the state of our attention determines the state of our lives. And so if we're distracted in each moment—and that leads us to feel overwhelmed—those moments accumulate day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, to create a life that feels distracted and overwhelmed. The real reason to [manage your attention well] is to increase the quality of our lives.” Amazon If building better habits (or kicking old ones) has been on your to-do list for a while (e.g. your whole life), just might finally light the under-ass fire you need to actually get started. Why? For one, it hammers home the point that habits—like interest—compound. The sooner you start, the more outsized your rewards. And two, we like to think identity influences behavior (“I am an active person, so I will exercise”), but, often, it’s our behavior that creates our identity. “Pretty much everybody thinks they have integrity,” Clear said,. “And it's not that often that there's one grave mistake that wrecks you. It's usually a bunch of, just this one exception—’Well, this time it's a little bit different.’ And then you turn around five or ten years later and your habits aren't lining up with the type of person that you thought you were.” Amazon Poet Ross Gay opens his 2019 book with a straightforward statement of purpose. “One day last July, feeling delighted and compelled to both wonder about and share that delight,” he writes, “I decided that it might feel nice, even useful, to write a daily essay about something delightful.” And it is simply that: a collection of delightfully snackable essays (rarely longer than four pages) recorded over the course of the year, each detailing a suspended moment in time—in a garden, on a plane, at a book reading—before unspooling into a short meditation on how the episode weaves into the themes of life’s larger tapestry, investigating everything from death to race. Disjointed as that may sound, the real joy comes in developing what Gay calls a “delight radar.” The more he wrote about delight, the more he noticed it everywhere. A similar thing happens when you read the book. Pick it up, read for ten minutes (start anywhere, really), put it down, and you’ll find that the delights of Gay’s world illuminate the delights of yours, that his wonder is contagious and has caused you to deepen your own. A Q+A with the computer scientist about his new book, why future workplaces may go email-free, and why tech backlash is about to go mainstream. Introducing the exercise snack. "
"Last year, I spoke to Manoush Zomorodi about the importance of. In her role as host of WNYC’s “Note to Self” podcast, conducted an experiment with 20,000 of her listeners, encouraging them to spend less time on their devices and more time being idle by issuing a week of simple smartphone-related challenges (like going a day without taking a photo on your phone, or deleting your most-used app for one day) and then polling her audience for any changes in how they felt. Over the course of that project, Zomorodi discovered something interesting among the feedback she was receiving from those participating: boredom, widely dismissed as an uncomfortable and useless state of being, was proving to be a great wellspring of creativity and, counter-intuitively, productivity. Looking to neuroscience for an explanation, she’d discover that when you turn your mind off, it doesn’t actually turn off. Instead, what’s known as your brain’s “default mode” flips on. With the default mode engaged, your mind wanders into all manner of imaginative places. It makes novel connections between all of the information stored in your noggin, and engages in “autobiographical planning,” which helps you imagine your ideal future and work backwards through the steps that you need to take to get there. (These conclusions—and the supporting evidence—became the basis of Zomorodi’s 2017 book.) When we had our discussion on idle time, there was no way to know then what resonance that conversation might have in the time of coronavirus. Of course, most people probably wouldn’t describe their current mental state as “bored” so much as anxious, worried, or scared. And those that would describe themselves as bored likely have the privilege of being healthy and financially stable. But regardless of your situation or your employment status, if you’re not an essential worker, you probably find yourself with more time and less things to fill it with. So I called up Zomorodi, who wrote the book on boredom (and is now the of the on ), to see what insights she might have on the merits of boredom and productivity in our isolated world. At first, I was like, ""Oh my god. Everything's canceled."" Part of me—I'm a little bit sheepish to admit—was relieved. My schedule was packed through June, and I was having trouble breathing when I looked at it. Suddenly, all those problems were gone. Clearly, the rest of it felt terrible, but that part kind of felt good. When we talk about the powers of technology, the one thing that it really can't give us more of is hours in the day. Suddenly, we had more time. That was never something I ever expected to be given. Clearly that time fills up pretty quickly when you’ve got two kids, and you’re cooking three meals a day, when [before] you tried to get away with one, if that. The other thing I was surprised by: my inbox went quiet at the very beginning, and then it just exploded with online invitations—to Zoom art classes and exercise classes and virtual meetings and streaming conferences and newsletters. I was like, ""Oh my god, everybody wants to be heard during this."" This is an incredible experiment. In some ways, it's horrible, in that people are losing their jobs and clearly losing family members as well. But it's also an opportunity to observe ourselves and see how we respond in different scenarios. What if when things go back to “normal,” you don't go back to what normal was to you? I'm thinking of it as the Great Reset. I think there needs to be some of us who sit quietly and watch and see what is needed down the road. I think that's where I am right now. That is something I definitely had to unlearn. Because it's a process. I do think an artist will tell you—or writers definitely will tell you—that some days you sit down and it just comes out of you and you don't even know where it's coming from. And other days… nothing. The nice thing about getting older is that you can look at the data from a bigger picture. You see that even if there are jags up for productivity some days, and big dips other days, the line, hopefully, trends upwards in your life. Generally, you are coming up with things that sustain you and sustain your work. Ira Glass has a where he talks about the importance of the editor, and how your first draft wants to be terrible. You're like, ""I have to bow to the gods of the first draft. Then, clearly the next one also probably will be pretty shitty. But, then the third one..."" It's just the way it is. You can't skip a step. You just can't. I think the key to me is observing our own behavior in a dispassionate way. The message of was: nest with your digital habits, change them, to be more bored, and don't judge it, just observe what happens. Are you more creative? Does it make a difference? One of the things people said most in that project was how hard it was for them to be alone, particularly for younger folks. I hope that we are in a period where people learn to live with themselves a little bit more, to take it slower, enjoy the small moments. It sounds so cheesy. But, I hope that people are finding the deliciousness of solitudes, as opposed to thinking of it or finding it to be lonely. That would be an amazing thing to come out of this: that people are more comfortable with themselves because they spend time with themselves, and have gotten to know themselves. At first, maybe it was a bit boring, but then maybe they crossed over into that wonderful place of daydreaming. You can essentially time travel. Even if you're not going anywhere, your brain can time travel. It's awesome. To be clear, some daydreaming is not great. It can lead to rumination, and, especially in times of great anxiety that can be tough for people. ""What's going to happen to me? What's going to happen to my loved ones?"" That can spiral. But there's also what's called positive constructive daydreaming, and that's the good kind. I think of boredom as like, ""Oh my god. My mind is wandering, I don't like where it's wondering. That's boring.” Or, I'm walking outside because I know I should and [then I go], “Maybe I'll just listen to the news the whole time because my legs hurt and it's uncomfortable, and, actually, I'd rather just go lie down."" [Boredom] requires discipline. The more you do it, the more you can trust that the process will work. What happens after you cross through the boredom, through the threshold to daydreaming, you activate this network in your brain called the default mode. Not only is the default mode the place where we do our most original thinking and we come up with creative ideas and problem-solving, it's also where we do something called autobiographical planning. That’s essentially looking back at your life, remembering the highs and lows and writing the story, making sense of all the things that have happened to you and how you got to this very moment. Then we project into the future and we start to imagine different scenarios. We start to choose the ones that we like and we set goals and work backwards to where we are right now, and figure out how we're going to achieve those goals and what steps we'll need to take. This time traveling in your brain—from your past, to your future, back to the present—it’s about a sense of possibility, if you allow it to be. I think that's really powerful. I actually did another project called Infomagical, which was about information overload and how to cope with it. The problem with Twitter is there's no schema. It jumps from one idea to the next. You burn through glucose in your brain because of that, which is why you are so depleted. Also, not having a schema is bad for memory and retention. You probably don't remember anything you read anyway. News consumption is a conversation going on in this household right now. My brother just did a 48-hour news fast. But I am a journalist and my husband is a journalist, and I'm also a control freak. I need to know what's going on. I think it's important that this be a very, very, very personal choice. What is right for you, needs-wise? For me, knowing what's happening and going on relaxes me. I'm also an extremely curious person. I'm fascinated by how this is unfolding. So it's actually relaxing to read and relaxing to have information from my trusted sources. Being informed is very empowering to me. But I can totally see how it puts some people in a panic or makes them anxious. It's really important that people set an information goal and decide: when you go online, what is it that you're hoping to achieve, and when will you know if you've achieved it? Is it trying to find out whether New York is flattening its curve or not? Okay, great. Go find that out, and then turn it off. Do something else.."
"You might reasonably suspect that Tim Ferriss is having the most productive quarantine of all time. After all, his first book— —was, in his words, “a toolkit for maximizing per-hour output.” Released 13 years ago, it turned him into one of America’s most popular productivity gurus. Four other best sellers and a hit podcast, not to mention 1.6 million followers, have come in its wake. But when we speak, via phone, toward the end of May, before historic protests rolled across the country, Ferriss assures me that productivity is not on his mind. “I am not focused on maximizing productivity because that begs the question: to what aim?” he says. “I'm revisiting those questions and my answers to those questions during this time. That does not mean that I wake up every morning sitting on a Lotus flower, meditating for six hours and then producing masterworks as Isaac Newton and Shakespeare and others supposedly did during quarantine. That is decidedly what is happening in my life day-to-day.” In fact, the very morning we speak, he’s just lost his shit. He says there were a handful of issues in his “home slash oasis slash prison”—a broken fridge, for starters (not ideal during a time of isolation), a handful of small professional fires, and a general lack of sleep. “I just became a pouty three-year-old, who felt the need to throw a tantrum,” he says. “There’s nothing glamorous or justifiable about it—I just hit my threshold.” Ferriss is forthcoming about his tantrum as a penance of sorts. He knows that much of the noise in the self-improvement or self-optimization space—plenty of which he has been responsible for—presents a rosy picture of people always functioning at their highest capacity, leaving little room for the messy fuck-ups and tantrums that characterize most everyday lives. Particularly in the time of Covid-19. “There’s a lot of struggle right now, whether that’s lowercase ‘s’ struggle or capital ‘S’ Struggle,” he says. It’s that struggle that Ferriss has turned his attention to in recent years, both with his last two books— and, tomes of crowd-sourced wisdom and advice from the type of world-class talents he has on his podcast—and with his recent venture as an ardent backer (both vocally and financially) of research into the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. Whereas Ferriss was once in search of answers to questions about how to do more (and do it more efficiently), he says he’s now focused on going inside and helping you get comfortable being with yourself. That professional pivot is, of course, tethered to Ferriss’s own personal trajectory. After spending much of his career chasing after external markers of success—money, time, skills—he says he still knew something was missing. (He’s also been vocal about a lifelong struggle with his own mental health, specifically bipolar depression.) “Certainly I found myself, after checking a lot of those boxes, still suffering,” he says. In a rare interview while promoting the Audible exclusive version of, Ferriss reflects on what he’s learned throughout his career, and how the success he set out to find 13 years ago looks very different from the success he’s after now. I’d say that’s the biggest change that I have focused on, and seen in myself over the last five to six years—that change in the inner voice. And there are many things that have contributed to that, including interactions with people like Tara Brach, who wrote an outstanding book called, which was recommended to me by a neuroscience PhD who is as anti-woo-woo as possible. That's a great starting place for learning to accept and be friends with the emotions and thoughts that you would otherwise label as bad. Another is, by Anthony de Mello. I've gifted at least a hundred copies of this book to people, and it makes the point very early on that most of us say we want to be healed or we want to change, but that, in fact, is not true. What we want is a reprieve. What we want is a salve to remove pain. But there's a big difference between looking for a reprieve and looking for a solution. The solution involves focusing on things that can be very uncomfortable. [I’ve also used] tools like “turnarounds,” from [author] Byron Katie. It’s where you take a phrase that is a belief of yours—I don’t have a sister but let’s just say, —and you turn it around by saying,. Or, In each case of rephrasing, you are required to produce two or three points of evidence to support this restructuring of a statement. I've seen some incredible transformations just with that alone. So it's a toolkit, and certainly there are other tools that are difficult to recommend given current legal status. But psychedelic compounds also provide a vehicle for stepping outside of your normal egoic self so that you can see the stories that govern your life more accurately. When otherwise trying to examine how these made-up narratives control your life, it’s a bit like trying to look at the lens of your eye by looking out through your eye: It's not quite possible. With a true psychedelic experience, when you experience ego dissolution or you become an observer of what you consider your “Self,” you're able to really see the bugs in the software that have governed so many of your decisions and so much of your life. That can be incredibly powerful. And if it's done in an unsupervised fashion or in an irresponsible way—putting aside the legal risks—it can be profoundly painful and difficult and even dangerous. Having said that, there are very good reasons why my largest contributions to anything really, are funds for scientific research of psychedelic compounds. I have. It’s important to underscore a few things. It was not a one-and-done process. Secondly, the value of psychedelics comes both in session, and then pre- and post-session. There are many people who find tremendous insights about what they could and should do, who then proceed to do nothing with those insights. They're back to their normal behaviors 48 hours later, trapped again in the ruts and loops of old behaviors. It takes effort and concentration and commitment to piece it all together. The way I recommend people think about it is much like a shoulder reconstructive surgery. Surgery is really only part one. You want an incredible surgeon. You want the right tools for the job. You want it to be, in some sense, personalized to you. You want all of the right care. You want prep, and then you need to do the rehab. It doesn't matter if you have the best PT in the world, if you don't actually go to the office to do the rehab. Those are all very important for solidifying the structural changes that have taken place. If you don't do that, not only will the outcome be suboptimal, but you can end up worse off afterwards. If you have a window of plasticity and in that window you solidify the negative, it’s a bit like concrete drying. I do think it's possible to come out worse for wear. Therefore, when friends ask me about psychedelic experiences, if they're unprepared or unwilling to commit to, say, a month of prep and at least a few weeks of concentrated follow up, I advise against them pursuing the experience. But to come back to your comment, yes, it's true that my family and close friends have a number of sad stories related to addiction. And then major depressive episodes at least once or twice a year for me, going back as far as I can remember—at least beginning in adolescence. Once I started making a concerted effort to study and deepen my understanding of psychedelics, and incorporating all of these various tools that I've mentioned—like the work and awareness—I have not had a single extended major depressive episode in the last five or six years. To me, that is nothing short of miraculous. It defies our current mechanistic explanations for how drugs and psychiatry can work. That’s in part why I'm putting funding into the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research, and Imperial College London. It’s not simply to determine the potential value of psychedelics curing, in some cases, what are thought to be intractable or incurable psychiatric conditions, like OCD, PTSD, chronic anxiety, treatment-resistant depression, eating disorders, and so on. But if they are all close cousins and reflective of certain underlying issues that can be addressed with psychedelics, that changes the entire scope of our understanding of how the mind and psyche functions. There’s a famous Czech psychotherapist, Dr. Stanislav Grof. Going back decades to when this was legal, he supervised somewhere between 1,500 and 5,000 LSD-assisted psychotherapy sessions. His quote, which I'm going to paraphrase, was that what the telescope was for astronomy and what the microscope was for biology, psychedelics will be for the mind. is—based on the title, understandably—often misunderstood. The objective was to provide a toolkit for maximizing per-hour output. It's not necessarily about working four hours a week. You could choose two hours a week, one hour a week, or 80 hours a week. But the reason that book found such a toehold in Silicon Valley is because it was focused on evaluating different currencies—money, time, mobility—and how you can pull levers to change these variables to maximize per-hour output. That toolkit was very much time- and income-focused. was providing a toolkit for physical optimization and body recomposition. was a toolkit for accelerated learning. and combine all of those, plus the toolkit of psycho-emotional health or psychological fitness. Because it doesn't matter how much money you have, doesn't matter how effective or efficient you are. It doesn't matter what types of fancy toys you collect. It doesn't matter how hot your significant other is, if your inner world—your internal monologue or dialogue—is that of anger or despair or frustration or sadness the majority of the time. Almost none of these other things matter very much. You can't wield money or time effectively. You can’t deepen relationships, repair relationships, deescalate instead of escalate conflict, unless you have a certain degree of self-awareness, emotional resilience, and emotional acceptance. That only comes, in my experience, through transcendental, transformative blocks of time touching the timeless, in a sense. Where the ego is dissolved. Or—because I don't think those are necessary or recommended for all people—using a toolkit to cultivate that. Without a baseline of psycho-emotional health, all of that is for naught. I know centi-millionaires and billionaires who are utterly miserable. As Derek Sivers, one of my friends and podcast guests, once said, “If more information were the answer, we'd all be billionaires with six-pack abs.” Information is not necessarily the answer. And if that isn't the answer or it's not the whole answer, what is missing? The inescapable fact that if, at best, you tolerate yourself, and more often berate, hate, or criticize yourself, how can you possibly fully engage with others, accept and love them, and find peace of mind and life? I think the answer is you can't. Yeah, it's one hundred percent personal. All of my books, all of my podcast episodes are personal. I'm trying to figure something out, or I'm trying to learn more about something, or I'm trying to achieve a goal or remove a pain. Everything I do is scratching my own itch, because if I do that, at least I know I have a guaranteed audience of one. Certainly in the beginning you might think that money is the answer. After that, you might think that more time is the answer. After that, you might think, I simply need to care more for the physical vehicle, or I want to learn more. Then it's really just about acquiring skills, maybe they're productive skills, or maybe they're just for fun. And then, at some point, you have to sit in a room and be able to live with yourself. And with COVID, I want to say that suicide hotline volume is up 600 percent right now. I think I read that on. At the end of the day, you would want to be able to sit with yourself and not suffer. If you've checked some of those boxes I just described and you're still suffering, that says to me that something has been missed. Certainly I found myself, after checking a lot of those boxes, still suffering. It doesn't mean you have to go through that process in that order. In fact, it's much more helpful to dedicate part of your practice and your energies to viewing the psycho-emotional health as a foundation for everything else. And paying more attention to that from the very beginning. Assuming that I didn't have to love myself—that I was really by nature not a happy person and that was okay as long as I was good at competition—was a way to plaster over cracks that needed to be dealt with sooner or later. Compartmentalizing pain and rationalizing it sometimes works. But as I’ve said to a lot of my friends who will sometimes say, “I don’t want to deal with that. I don’t want to open up that Pandora’s Box,” I try to emphasize that, at least from my experience, no matter what, you dealing with it. But you get to choose if you want to deal with it head-on in a proactive way. Or if you want to have these odd side effects leak out the edges, unbeknownst to you, subconsciously sabotaging you day to day. How do you feel when you wake up and before bed and how easily do you fall asleep? [ ] The time in bed in the morning and at night tells you all you need to know. It's not a purely intellectual reasoning. It's not a pro and con list. It's not a spreadsheet. It’s not a Venn diagram. It's like, ? And are you even aware of how you're feeling? How much energy have you spent blocking out feeling, because you don't want to feel certain things? To borrow from Tarah Brach, she said to me once, “There was a wise old sage who said, ‘There's really only one question worth considering and that is: What are you unwilling to feel?’” So I really check in, in the morning and at night. Do you wake up with a sense of foreboding and anxiety and a desire to stay in bed? When you go to bed, is it full of anxiety and worries and preoccupation about what happened, or what's going to happen the next day? If so, that's an issue. I would find it difficult to call myself successful if I'm experiencing anxiety, fear, regret when I'm in bed in the morning or before I go to bed. So that's simple—and it's not so much a metric because not everything that is meaningful can be measured easily. And you can force fit it, sure. You could give yourself a 1 to 10 scale and blah, blah, blah—you could do all of that. But this is an exercise in really truthfully feeling whatever is present. And deep down, you know if it's good or bad, you know if it's hurtful or helpful, you know if it's healthy or unhealthy, and not a lot of analysis is required. There are plenty of things to measure, there are plenty of things to track. There are lots of things in my life that I do track with my businesses and elsewhere. But this is one place where simplicity pays off."
"No herb’s health halo shines as brightly as. While the bright orange powder has long been a cornerstone of cooking and medicinal use in India, of the herb. Why? Tumeric's health benefits. You may know someone who takes turmeric supplements for their arthritis or as part of their post-workout recovery plan. Or maybe your FYP on TikTok is getting flooded with ads for Perhaps you’ve had it in one of the cold-pressed bottled juices sold near the checkout stand at Whole Foods or clocked its presence. Is it worth the hype? The benefits of turmeric are legit, but if you want to use the herb medicinally, it’s important to know how much to consume and the best way to do it. We talked to registered dietitians and clinical herbalists to learn about the five major ways you can benefit from consuming turmeric and how much it takes to make a notable difference on health. One of the biggest health claims related to regularly consuming turmeric is that it can help with arthritis and joint., a medical herbalist, clinical nutritionist, and director of the, says that’s true, citing repeated evidence published and improvements he’s observed at his own health clinics. He says that people can experiment with replacing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin or ibuprofen with turmeric to see if the herb works as a natural alternative. “When this is effective, it is very beneficial because turmeric [works differently] than NSAIDs and doesn’t have the risk of intestinal bleeding presented by those drugs,” he says. a functional registered dietitian and clinical herbalist, also says that people with or arthritis can benefit from consuming turmeric regularly. “ which compared turmeric to NSAIDs, turmeric is significantly more effective than a placebo and equally as effective as NSAIDs for relieving knee arthritis pain and improving knee function,” she says. Volpe explains that turmeric regulating inflammatory pathways in the body and preventing the release of a pro-inflammatory chemical called, which is known to contribute to symptoms of arthritis. While relieving joint pain is typically turmeric's most celebrated benefit, the ingredient also supports gut health. And. “Turmeric can help bring balance to the microbiome by supporting the growth of beneficial bacteria,” says, a registered dietitian at Northwell Health’s Huntington Hospital. that turmeric supports gut health in two major ways. First, as Schiff explained, it ups the amount of good bacteria in the gut. Second, it makes the intestinal barrier stronger. Having prevents harmful substances from entering the gut, which protects the body from infection and inflammation. It also helps with nutrient absorption. Essentially every health woe comes down to inflammation. While inflammation is beneficial in small amounts, experiencing high levels of inflammation for a prolonged amount of time, both short-term and long-term, including chronic diseases. If you want to prevent inflammation from plaguing your body, it’s important to consider your entire diet and lifestyle, but Schiff says that integrating turmeric into your meals can help. “Eating an anti-inflammatory diet can potentially reduce the risk for chronic diseases because it can reduce inflammation in the body and strengthen the immune system,” she says. Turmeric’s inflammation-fighting superpowers are due to its active ingredient curcumin. Curcumin targets specific molecules and pathways that can cause inflammation in the body. Not only does it block the pro-inflammatory chemical prostaglandins to relieve joint pain, it, such as cytokines, and the enzyme COX-2. This directly benefits the immune system and lowers the risk of chronic diseases. There are two key ways that consuming turmeric regularly supports brain health. Since it lowers inflammation, Volpe says it’s especially beneficial for supporting people with such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She explains that the curcumin in turmeric, which are abnormal clumps of proteins that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. At the same time, turmeric helps regulate intracellular pathways that are important for preserving cognitive function. The second way turmeric supports brain health is by. “Curcumin has been shown to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, two hormones that contribute to feelings of well-being,” Schiff says. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should ditch your meds for turmeric, but it does mean that if you want to optimize your diet with mental health in mind, including turmeric in your meals is a good way to do it. If you’ve been told by your doc to watch your cholesterol—or heart health risks run in your family—incorporating turmeric into your diet can work in your favor. “ that consuming turmeric can help reduce cholesterol in the body,"" Schiff says, adding that it does this because curcumin decreases the liver’s production of LDL cholesterol. “It may also increase the excretion of cholesterol by the body and its antioxidative properties can help reduce plaque formation in arteries,” she adds. Volpe issues a reminder that cardiovascular disease, which is the in the US,. “On a preventive level, to help significantly reduce the overall risk of developing acute cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack,” she says.\ If you do want to consume turmeric medicinally, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. First, all three experts spoke to emphasize that your overall diet and lifestyle habits matter; turmeric is powerful but it won’t cancel out other unhealthy behaviors. It’s also important to know how much to consume if you want it to make a noticeable difference in your health. Bergner says that a standard dose of turmeric powder is one teaspoon. If you want to consume turmeric for a specific health reason (like to relieve joint pain), he recommends consuming that dose three times a day. Volpe says that even less than that can have a noticeable impact. “, a daily dose of 1,000 milligrams (⅓ teaspoon) of curcumin is likely effective in the treatment of arthritis,” she says. Just don’t go beyond eight teaspoons a day, which is when Schiff says it consumption starts to backfire and can cause nausea and diarrhea. While turmeric supplements can be beneficial for getting your daily dose one and done, all three experts advocate for getting the herb through diet, if you can. Volpe explains that the, so you’ll get more of its benefits by integrating an element of fat into your meals or snacks featuring turmeric. For example, using it in a tofu curry or on top of eggs or avocado toast. While you’re cooking, she says to add some black pepper too, which to increase curcumin’s bioavailability and potential benefits by up to 2,000%. Something Bergner has seen first-hand is that people who start consuming turmeric regularly eventually develop an aversion to its taste or dryness. It is pretty potent, after all. This is why, he says, golden milk lattes in their many forms are so popular; they cut the dryness and bold taste. While golden milk lattes have only recently began appearing in trendy cafés across the US, Bergner says that this is one of the traditional ways turmeric has been consumed medicinally, specifically in Unani medicine of Pakistan, where turmeric lattes have been consumed for centuries. Bergner says that pairing turmeric and is also popular, both for the taste and also because they complement each other medicinally. The bottom line is this: The hype behind turmeric is real, but you’re better off integrating it into your diet and pairing it with other than taking it in supplement form. When consumed regularly, it lowers inflammation, benefitting your entire body: brain, heart, guts, and joints included."
"If your have begun to feel more like maintenance sessions, with few results to show for your endless reps, it might be time to change things up. Despite the dizzying to choose from, the muscle’s relatively small size and simple structure means you can max out its growth with just a small handful of carefully chosen exercises. “It’s really not super complicated,” says Alex Corbett, physical therapist at. “If we’re looking at the shoulder’s anatomy, you’re going to have three different heads of the deltoids: You’ve got the anterior portion, the medial portion, and the posterior portion. And if you want to hit each of those, it’s going to require a different exercise per section.” Fortunately, you don’t have to do all of the shoulder exercises below every time you work out, although you should aim to rotate through them regularly, says Luke Carlson, founder and CEO of. “You could do one or two in each workout, and over the course of two weeks of training you’re rotating through all of them,” he says. Also, feel free to hit your shoulders more often than you would other muscles. “Unlike other muscle groups, the shoulders,” says Dr. Corbett. “You can hit your delts twice a week, three times a week, four times—maybe even five. If you’re doing five days of per week, that is going to bang you up, but lateral raises aren’t.” If you do exercises like the or, you’re already working your anterior deltoid—the front part of your shoulder muscle. However, a dedicated exercise to isolate your front delts is the key to spurring new growth, says Dr. Corbett. “The most bang for your buck is probably going to be an overhead press,” he says. “You’re also going to get some of that functional carryover of being strong in an overhead pressing position, which I think is important not only for building a good physique but also being strong and functional in general.” If you deal with elbow pain, Dr. Corbett suggests the dumbbell front raise as a pain-free alternative for hitting your anterior deltoids. “If you’re having some pain and you’re not tolerating something like a shoulder press, go for a lighter-weight front raise, and that will hit your front delts pretty well,” he says. Next up is the medial deltoid, or what Dr. Corbett calls, “the thing that really makes people’s shoulders pop.” The lateral raise is the well-established meta for developing thick middle delts, but people commonly squander the exercise’s potential by using dumbbells. “If you think about doing dumbbell lateral raises, when you have the weights right at your side, essentially there’s no resistance,” says Dr. Corbett. “You can lift a massive amount of weight for the first 20 degrees of range of motion, but as your arm starts to travel up higher, the weight just becomes too heavy,” says Carlson. “So you have to use a relatively light weight from the bottom position just so that you can handle the top position.” Enter the cable lateral raise, which keeps even tension on the muscle throughout the full range of motion. If grip strength is holding you back, bigger gains could be just one attachment away. “Some people actually take an ankle strap and put it over their wrist so they’re not physically gripping the weight.” says Dr. Corbett. “That way they can just focus on that mind-muscle connection, and that works for a lot of people.” The posterior deltoid is the rear swath of your shoulder muscle, and it also contributes to a. To bulk up your shoulder’s back end, Carlson recommends the reverse fly. “There’s no more effective way to isolate that muscle,” he says. “You’re just not hitting the posterior deltoids with a lateral raise or overhead press. You have to do a posterior deltoid isolation.” You can do this one using a cable station or even just a pair of, but Carlson still prefers machines. “The best variation of it is a machine where your arms are bent and you’re driving your elbows back into a pad. That way your hands are taken out of the equation,” he says. Each of the exercises above targets one of the main portions of the shoulder muscle. Your rotator cuff isn’t going to get you any likes on Instagram, but maintaining this crucial stabilizing muscle is key for shoulder and avoiding injuries. “It’s important to add a rotational exercise, just so people are strong through a full range of rotation,” says Dr. Corbett, who recommends the face pull. “All the other exercises are either working on flexion and the sagittal plane or abduction—the shoulder joint isn’t actually rotating, it’s only going forward or out to the side. This is going to add that 3D motion of rotation.” “A lot of times people use the default rope attachment, but usually that’s too short,” says Dr. Corbett. “Ideally you either have a long cable attachment, or you can use two separate handle attachments to allow you to get to full external rotation.”"
"is one of the few hormones that’s broken out of biology textbooks and into the popular consciousness. For years it has been a shorthand for all things stereotypically male—ever notice how are often touted as “testosterone—fueled?”—but thanks to social media, in recent years men have become more aware that the word also has a medical meaning. So what does it mean to have low testosterone, what are the symptoms associated with that, and what should you do if you have them? First, the basics: Testosterone is the main male sex hormone. It powers a man’s sex drive and helps him and sprout body hair. Having low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism, means your testicles aren't producing enough testosterone. Getting diagnosed with hypogonadism requires a couple of steps, including a blood test to measure your testosterone levels. But because what might be low for one man might be normal for another, other symptoms are important to look for. The earliest and most telltale of the low testosterone symptoms is a lack of sex drive, says, lecturer in biochemistry at Sheffield Hallam University. ""Things like loss of morning erections, loss of spontaneous erections, difficulty maintaining erections, declining libido, and a general loss of interest in sex,” he says. A decline in mood, motivation and physical strength, and increased tiredness, are also linked to low testosterone. is a general practitioner and director of men’s health at, a U.K.-baed company that provides testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), mostly to middle-aged men. He says his patients are often perpetually tired and “rely on caffeine to get through the day.” They also get gain more fat on the same as before. Mentally, they might feel unconfident, irritated, anxious, and have trouble remembering and focusing on things. One 42-year-old patient “put name tags on all his employees because he couldn't remember their names anymore,” he says. This age-based decline in testosterone is distinct from more cut-and-dry medical conditions, like Kleinfelder syndrome, where men are born with an extra X chromosome. These medical conditions are often treated with TRT; how far the therapy is applicable to others who have low testosterone symptoms is more controversial. Healthy men generally only have a “slight decline” in testosterone levels as they age, says Kelly, and only when they’re in their 70s and 80s. Testosterone levels declining earlier and more severely usually happens because of other health issues, like inflammation, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Things in your diet like and endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in some plastic packaging can affect testosterone levels too. The important thing is your average level, Kelly stresses, as it changes throughout the day and even between seasons. It’s true that over-exercising can cause your testosterone levels to drop, he says, “but it’s a transient thing”. In most cases, Kelly thinks the crucial thing for keeping your testosterone levels up is just a healthy lifestyle:,,. In short, all the things we know we should be doing. An exception where TRT “might be a really useful and beneficial therapy for some men” is to help break the cycle of poor health— because if you’re obese, “and then that lowers your testosterone, your lower testosterone contributes to you not processing sugar and fat as well, so you become more obese.” Foster is more bullish about the benefits of TRT. He views the testosterone decline in middle-aged men as akin to menopause in women, and something that lifestyle changes will help, but can’t fix. “You can eat all the and selenium [supplements] you want,” he says, “but it’s not going to make your testicles the same as they were 10 years ago.” He cites—as Kelly does—studies that link low testosterone in men to an increased risk of mortality. A healthier lifestyle might push you up to the lower end of what the NHS considers a “normal” testosterone level—about eight nanomoles per litre—but “all those risks associated with your health aren’t going to suddenly resolve.” He’s very wary, though, about prescribing TRT to younger men under 30 who don’t have an obvious medical condition. Your natural testosterone levels “keep going higher each year to the age of 30ish,” he says. “If we start disrupting this when you’re 22, how do I know I’m not causing damage for when you’re 40, 50, 60?” He finds the trend of under-30s getting on TRT, especially in the world, absolutely terrifying. The obsession in some corners of the internet with maximizing your testosterone can lead to some weird habits. On Reddit’s, one user offers a unique prescription: “Carnivore diet. Semen retention (no porn). Heavy lifting. Lots of sunlight exposure… especially on the testicles.” As Kelly tells me, it’s a minefield out there. Abstaining from masturbation has been proved to raised testosterone only among “a handful of people”—and that has to be weighed against the much clearer benefits of regular orgasm. If you’re concerned about low testosterone, d and get your diet sorted, and possibly, depending on your age, consider TRT. And try to tune out all the strange advice you come across online."
"You’re likely familiar with the anxious pull of productivity. Maybe you’re sensing it right now, thinking about the unread emails or Slack messages that are piling up as you read this, instead of doing whatever it is you're paid to do. For many of us, that sense that we have to be constantly “on” drones in the background of our brains, the ambient hum of our professional lives (and, let’s be honest, our personal ones too). It has become such a given that we don’t often stop to think where and how it started. Was it with the smartphone, when we first began carrying our inboxes around in our pockets? Maybe the invention of the internet, which connected—and allowed us to work—across time and space? In his newest book,, James Suzman, Ph.D., goes back much, much further than that. Ten thousand years, in fact, to the agricultural revolution, and to the beginning of food insecurity. In the case of drought or pests, farms would be destroyed and famine would ensue. Effectively, this was the beginning of the complementary notions of scarcity and productivity: You can never have enough, and so you should always be working to produce more. Sound familiar? To explain why and how this happened, Suzman draws heavily on the decades-long work he has done studying the Bushmen of southern Africa. In particular, the Ju/’hoansi, a tribe whose members, up until the latter half of the 20th century, were still hunting and gathering like their ancestors some 200,000 years before. (To pronounce Ju/’hoansi without the click they use, Suzman advises combining the French “jus” with “waahsi.”) By juxtaposing this anomalous foraging community—where members worked only 15 hours a week—with the farming societies that followed, Suzman highlights the shifts that ushered in the ideas that now define modern work. It’s not just that we became obsessed with productivity, but that we fundamentally changed our relationship to things like time, history, the land, and one another. During a pandemic, when we’ve all been forced to reconsider the givens of our work-crazed culture, and to reckon with the economic inequality and environmental degradation it has wrought, Suzman isn’t just showing what life was like before. He’s also putting forth an idea of what it could still be. This is kind of the root of it. Before agricultural people, hunter-gatherers had work that, in a sense, fed them. People found the work very satisfying. People now say, ""How is it that they worked 15 hours a week? Weren't they bored afterward?"" Hunting captured the heart, the soul, the mind, and it was this extraordinary fusion of everything—your intelligence and your nerves. People were really satisfied after. It's the same as us. If you play a sport, or do some kind of work, or go for a hike, you feel this satisfaction. It's much easier to relax and unwind. What happened with the transition to farming was that suddenly the work day just got extended, massively, because people were hostage to a whole set of new risks. Suddenly, scarcity became a real thing, and work became this all-encompassing, virtuous thing. “Laziness is bad, work is good.” Part of the reason hunter-gatherers could get away with working so little was because they actually had such a well-adapted system for provisioning themselves. They were always confident that they could meet their needs in a few spontaneous hours of effort. As soon as people got sucked into farming, they suddenly were dependent on a couple of high-producing crops. A farmer's job is basically to try and mimic the ideal environmental conditions for whatever crop it is. When the rain isn't enough, you try to get water to it. When there are too many bugs, you take the bugs away. It's this constant cycle of trying to mimic control over landscape, and effectively working against the grain of the landscape. It demanded a huge amount of work, and the risk of doing that work was that every year, you could get hit with a catastrophic famine. The whole thing with farming is that there are just so many vulnerabilities that people began to really fetishize scarcity. How do you mitigate that risk? Create surpluses. So there's never enough. You can never have too much in reserve, which underwrites, in many ways, our thinking about money. People are prepared to acquire more money than they could ever possibly spend in a lifetime. It all comes down to the psychosis of scarcity. No, it wasn't. For the Bushmen, and I think pretty much all small-scale hunter-gatherers—obviously, though, you’re dealing with huge periods of history, 300,000 years of hunter-gatherers—all the evidence suggests that probably most of these cultures thought about this in the same way. The Kalahari [Desert, in Botswana] is a rough place. It's basically a desert, it's dry. If I were to dump a random person there, they would die within three or four days. For the Bushmen, in that environment, they were all utterly capable, and it was almost second nature because it was so familiar. They had roughly 100 different plant species that they could make use of. They could hunt a huge number of things, and understand where they were, why they were there, simply because it was what you lived and experienced every day. As a result of that, they didn't really experience the kind of vulnerability farmers experienced. When you farm one or two crops, you're effectively putting all your eggs in one basket. Whereas if you're depending on 100 wild plants, each of which responds slightly differently to slightly different environmental circumstances, you're able to adapt with your environment's own dynamic responses. A year with poor rainfall, or a year with too much rain. Really bad droughts can, of course, be difficult for everybody. But in really bad droughts, some things thrive at the expense of others. In the Kalahari, in a really bad drought, lots of the animals get less forage and they stay closer to water points, so it means that people can eat more meat during a drought year. So they're able to respond dynamically to the environment. Even in the worst times of the year, generally people were confident that they could always meet their daily energy needs on the basis of a few hours of basically spontaneous efforts. This seems to be pretty much the norm for all small-scale hunter-gatherer societies. I write about a place in the Cape Coast in South Africa, where there's evidence of people living in some caves called Blombos, 100,000 years ago, where there's the first evidence of art. These guys were able to exploit the surf-and-turf environment, picking cockles on the beach, foraging, fishing inland. They were able to meet their basic needs very quickly and far easier than the Kalahari. They basically had this confidence in the providence of their environment. I suppose it's not quite as ostentatious, but in terms of their needs and ambitions, it was a bit like living inside a massive Walmart, where you just took whatever you wanted from the shelves. Suppose people could do that. If you’re in a Walmart and everything's free, then everything in a sense loses the value. There's no value in accumulating. There's no value in trying to control the flow of resources. That’s why, in turn, they were so hugely egalitarian. As far as they were concerned, the environment shared with them, so they shared with each other. It was a fundamentally different way of engaging with the world around them. Living with the Bushmen, it was one of the first strange things that I struggled to get my head around. It was 30 years ago, and things have changed a lot since then, but when I started I was like, “I want to get historical story,” and people would say, ""Actually, we don't have any."" They just didn't care about the past, and they didn't think a great deal about the future either. Life was incredibly present-focused. It was a very different way of engaging with the world, and incredibly refreshing. In terms of how they described history, there was yesterday, the day before yesterday, long ago, and then there were first times, which was this kind of mythological space where animals were people and people were animals. There just really wasn't this kind of obsession with time. As soon as you get cultures of ownership and property accumulation, suddenly things like lineages become really important, history becomes really important. People talk to the past to justify the present. For the Ju/’hoansi, they almost viewed time in this fourth-dimensional space, as if it was something people existed in, rather than through. And the world just didn't really change a great deal. Sometimes I'd be talking with a group of old men and women, and I'd ask who was older than the other. They'd say, ""I actually don't remember.” They just didn't really care. There was this extraordinary disengagement with time. I've written about it a little bit in the context of things like meditation, and this aspiration we have in the West—or many of us do—to somehow exit from time, to be fully present. To an extraordinary sense, foraging cultures were utterly present because life was life. Nobody was hostage to outlandish ambitions. If you're a good hunter and you got pleasure from hunting, you hunted. If you're a good artist and you got pleasure from doing art, you made art. But there wasn't this ""I want to be,"" or ""I have to get to this point or that."" Nobody was hostage to ambition, hostage to predictions of the future, hostage to aspirations that they hadn't yet met. No, laziness definitely exists. People can be hard workers or lazy workers. There is work to do. It's just not viewed as a massive deal. In post-agricultural societies, we have the obsession with freeloading. The freeloaders are a universal villain. If you're left-wing, the freeloaders are the idle rich. If you're on the right wing, the freeloaders are the idle poor. But everybody agrees the freeloader is a baddie. Freeloading in hunter-gatherer societies wasn't a big deal. For example, meat was by far the most important thing. Distributing the meat, because it was viewed as the most valuable thing, caused people endless grief. The way they organized things was that the owner of the meat was whoever made the arrow that was used to kill it. That meant that the club-footed, the lazy, and the elderly could all actually be the owner of an animal killed by the best hunter in the village, who'd go and hunt every day while the others didn't want to. Again, using that extended Walmart analogy, if there's somebody who just can't be asked to get up and pull their bag of cookies off the shelf, eventually it was like, ""Oh, you lazy sod,"" and somebody else would go and do it. But the costs are not so big. In a sense this was, I think, the key to humanity's success. The fact is that most of us aren't intrinsically that lazy. We actually feel a bit lost and listless if we don't have anything to do. So most of us work anyway. But our ability to look after others who aren't particularly good at doing something was the success. This was what enabled our species to eventually colonize all the earth, the fact that we could support people who weren't equal contributors. And true to form, people weren't lazy! You didn't need to sanction people to make them not lazy. We are, in a fundamental sense, born to work. We miss it when we don't have that purpose. But for Ju/’hoansi, doing two or three hours of really intense, purposeful activity in a day is satisfying. Then take it easy. We're on a much tougher lockdown [in England] than you guys are, but we've had these endless furlough schemes. We haven't had stimulus checks. We've got furlough schemes. The government’s effectively picking up salaries for everybody. There's a lot of talk about, if we'd known a year ago where we'd be now, would we have done experiments on something like universal basic income? Everybody gets a lump sum of money, and that's a way of beginning to break out of this productivity-obsessed cycle that we're in. For me there's a single big issue. Twenty-first-century capitalism has issues about inequality and all the rest. But the main reason to move beyond it is that our productivity-at-all-costs mindset—our determination to keep everybody in work, to keep the growth cycle going—has environmental consequences. The honest truth is, scarcity just doesn't exist anymore, for some—certainly not in the industrialized world. In agricultural economies, you had 85% of people working the land, including children, and scarcity was real and visceral. Not working, you died. Now, in the United States, 1% of people are involved in food production, and they produce so much food that as much food ends up in landfills as it does in everybody's bellies every year. In the 1950s, John Kenneth Galbraith, a Harvard economist, wrote ""The Affluent Society.” He wrote that he was terrified that the U.S. was beginning to squander the wealth it had won. He talks about how scarcity had become manufactured, in the form of products that people buy. In an agricultural civilization, scarcity was real. Now we manufacture scarcity. The vast advertising industry is trying to persuade us that there’s something we need, even though we'd never heard of it a week ago. We do that, in a sense, to keep the world economy grinding on. It’s not about renewal, it's about replacement. We're living in a fundamental contradiction. We've organized our economy on the principles of scarcity, yet the reality is that our economy is one of astonishing abundance, to the point that we have to manufacture scarcity. This is also where the whole interesting thing about inequality comes in as well. Often, we're chasing our neighbor. We measure ourselves, in a sense, not by what we need, but by what we aspire to, and what we aspire to is often shaped by the person next door. You get this avariceness amplified. There is this section in the book about cities. Countryside people are focused on producing. In the cities, it was all about monopolizing and controlling the expenditure of energy. Money is a proxy for energy. In cities, you got confronted by the gold-plated ostentation of the riches down the road. It's all about this iconography of wealth, success, power, having more. The Trump Tower psychosis. Who needs a gold-plated shitter? You just don't.. A conversation with neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett on the counterintuitive ways your mind processes reality—and why understanding that might help you feel a little less anxious."
"Back in March 2020, told a joke that I still think about all the time. “My dad has no friends, and your dad has no friends,” he quipped. “If you think your dad has friends, you’re wrong. Your has friends, and they have husbands. Those are not your dad’s friends.” A typically sniper-precise Mulaney observation, and about as succinct a synopsis of the male loneliness crisis as you’re ever likely to hear. That bit was especially top of mind a few weeks ago, when my wife Sumer told me she was planning to host a girls’ night at our place that Friday and I’d need to make myself scarce for a few hours. At first, this felt like a sublime opportunity to revisit some of my single-guy pastimes of yore: dining solo at the bar of some fancy restaurant, optimistically toting a book along before spending the entire meal watching NBA highlights on my phone; going to see the most brain-dead action movie possible, blowing the GDP of a small island nation on candy, and taking bathroom breaks during the boring parts to watch NBA highlights on my phone; aimlessly strolling the streets of Manhattan while watching NBA highlights on my phone. Then I realized that Sumer’s friends all being preoccupied on a Friday evening meant that their husbands were probably also gearing up for solitary, nights of their own. And, unlike John Mulaney’s dad, my wife’s friends’ husbands, in fact, my friends. In 2019, not long before Mulaney took the stage in Studio 8H, I moved to NYC from Toronto on the cusp of 30, leaving behind a tight-knit circle of pals in the process. The existing friends I had in New York, mainly from college, were largely in different stages of life than I was then—already married, having kids, preparing to move out to Jersey, Long Island, Westchester. I barely had time to get to know my new coworkers IRL, meanwhile, before the pandemic reduced them to just another set of distant faces on a Zoom call. All of which conspired to leave me, like many men in their thirties, struggling to forge meaningful new connections. Meeting my now-wife Sumer in 2021—genuinely the best friend I’ve ever had and the person I want to do most everything with—solved that problem in myriad ways. Among the biggest was that my new partner came complete with a fully-formed social scene of her own, one that I managed to slot into relatively seamlessly. Like her, Sumer’s friends were smart and funny and cool—and their partners were, too. Suddenly I had house parties to look forward to where I could reliably expect to talk at length about baseball, pro wrestling,, Larry McMurtry novels, and the relative merits of Mount Rushmore. You know, guy stuff. Eventually, many of those large-gathering conversations gave way to genuine friendships. These guys became, as an astute tweet once put it,. So when I group-texted a few of those fellas about organizing a counter-hang for that Friday night—some of whom I now consider among my closest buds, some of whom I’d yet to hang out with partnerless—it hardly felt out of the ordinary. Four of us wound up going to see together (a movie well-paced enough to not require any -assisted bathroom breaks). It was a blast, as good of a time as our wives all had goofing on back at my apartment. That’s when I realized it: The homies-in-law had simply become the homies. I understand that my —finding the love of your life, lucking out when said love’s friends are supremely chill, and then becoming friends with those friends’ also-chill spouses—isn’t exactly an easy-to-replicate, one-size-fits-all solution. Take this more as a gentle suggestion that, the next time you dutifully attend a function with your partner, you give the teensiest bit more effort to push past the and get somewhere real. Then, rather than waiting for the birthday party or group date to crop up, take the initiative to reach out to your new bro(s) with concrete plans. Maybe it’s a movie or watching a big game, maybe it’s just a couple laidback Tuesday beers somewhere. It might just mean the difference between becoming a dad with no friends and becoming a dad with plenty of ‘em."
"So you're wondering where to buy online, since buying in a store isn't always an option. You're too busy (same). Or a bit shy (no shame in that). Maybe there isn't a great sex toy shop near you—or you want an online sex toy site you can peruse from the comfort of your couch. The only problem is that there are so many sex toys on the market that shopping for them online can get overwhelming fast. How can you know what to trust when you're looking for where to buy sex toys, especially in an industry that’s ? The answer: shop from retailers you trust. We've already found all the,, and, as well as any kinks. And with this list, done the legwork to pull together the best sex-toy shopping sites on the internet. Consider this your mall directory for all the best places to buy sex toys online. You are here, and we're so glad that you came. Together, they carry everything—from and dildos to paddles,, and beyond—but each retailer has its strength. Some have a massive selection and a deep well of trusted customer reviews. Some have a great return policy, in case you're on the fence or looking to try before you commit. Some are our favorite spots for specific types: fetish gear, maybe, or affordable sex toys. Here are our favorite online sex shops, along with a couple top-notch product picks from each one to get you started. A massive selection of sex toys and lingerie What started out as a tiny business run from the founder’s apartment in the UK has now expanded into a global sexual wellness empire. Lovehoney’s many partnerships are impressive. The business partnered with author E.L. James to produce a line of toys inspired by her trilogy, for instance. Lovehoney also carries an incredible variety of toys, as well as lots of cute and affordable lingerie for people of all genders. Happy Rabbit Lovehoney Happy Rabbit is one of Lovehoney’s subsidiaries, and this is the bestseller from its range. It’s easy to see why: this toy stimulates the clitoris and G-spot simultaneously, enabling intense blended pleasure. Try different combinations of its 12 vibration settings and three G-spot stroking speeds to find what works best for you. It’s waterproof, too, so you can even take it in the shower or bath. High-quality toys at a variety of price points First opened in 1993, this Seattle-based shop set out to create a retail environment that would be comfortable and welcoming for all. Since then, it's opened a few more brick-and-mortar stores and offers a ton of great toys online. Whether you’re hoping to spend $20 (or less) on a beginner-friendly vibrator, or ready to splurge on a pricier item, Babeland carries most of the best sex toy brands on the market and its selection is curated for quality. Babeland Babeland Rose-shaped clitoral vibrators blew up on over the past few years, and this one truly deserves its flowers. The soft, silicone bud of the One Rose makes it easy to cup in your hand and maneuver around the clitoris, while the tiny circular opening uses three speeds and seven patterns of sucking and pulsing to recreate the feeling of oral sex. At just over two inches in length, it’s also the perfect to take on any upcoming sexcapades. More vibrators than you can shake a stick at Founded by San Francisco sex educator Joani Blank in 1977, this shop and its employees have been championing sexual health and pleasure for decades. Its staff sexologist, Dr. Carol Queen, even curates an for them. So, needless to say, Good Vibrations knows a lot about vibrators—and if a fantastic vibe is what you’re looking for, its site is definitely worth checking out. Magic Wand Good Vibrations We adore this ultra-powerful vibe, both for sex and for muscle massage. Good Vibes has been carrying the Magic Wand since the store’s inception in the late ‘70s; these two go back. So, naturally, if you’re looking to add this “Cadillac of vibrators” to your collection, there’s no better place to buy it from. Pro tip, though: get this rechargeable version, not the original plug-in one. It’s got more speed options, a smoother head that’s easier to clean, and can be used plugged in wireless Hardcore kink and fetish gear For kinksters who’ve been in the scene for a while (or for anyone who just wants great-quality kink products) visiting the Stockroom website is a must. From well-known kink toys like restraints and nipple clamps, to more niche and extreme stuff like electro-stimulation wands and chastity cages, Stockroom carries everything you might need for an evening of deviance. KinkLab Stockroom This 4-Point Restraint System is a superb introduction to bondage for those who enjoy the finer things in life—and if you end up loving it, you can pick up some other accessories from the Stockroom, like the JT Signature Collection and. A mix of toys from both mainstream and indie companies Launched by a husband-and-wife team in 2006, this retailer has become a go-to for those in the know. They stay on top of the latest industry trends, and are often some of the first to carry wild experimental toys from smaller brands that end up blowing up in popularity. The site still sells a lot of old faithfuls from more established companies, so you can fill your cart with a diverse array of pleasure products. Uberrime SheVibe Florida-based small business Uberrime is known for their colorful, handmade dildos. SheVibe carries many of their products, but this one stands out, with its wide, flat head that curves directly into the G-spot or prostate. It wears well in a harness for strap-on sex, too. A huge, affordable selection for buyers who take care Obviously Amazon is one of the most common and convenient places to buy just about anything, and are no exception. It doesn't usually carry the indie brands and artisanal pieces you’ll find at smaller shops, but if you’re just looking for a basic vibrator, dildo, or butt plug, the Everything Store has got you covered. The normal rules of shopping on Amazon apply here;, because the selection isn’t quality controlled and curated the way it is at many specialty shops. Lovense Amazon Every toy in the Lovense line can be paired with the company’s phone app, so you can control your toy from your phone or invite someone else to control it from afar. We think this plug is one of the best products in their whole collection, because it has two powerful motors—one to stimulate the prostate and one for the perineum—and its angle can be adjusted as needed to suit your preferences. It’s a must for anal play aficionados in long-distance relationships, but just about anyone who likes anal sensations can enjoy it. Luxury vibrators When this Swedish manufacturer launched in the early Aughts, it helped break sex toys out of “never talk about sex toys” prison with sculptural, luxe designs. may be the epitome of a grail toy, but the brand’s “everyday” offerings are some of the most thoughtful, well-made toys on the market, with beautiful packaging and sophisticated designs. Which is why you’ll find them in almost every list of the best sex toys—for,, or —that we curate. Lelo Lelo Is it a Jeff Koons sculpture? A horny alien? At first, the Lelo Enigma lives up to its name with a design that’s equal parts enigmatic and ethereal. Here’s how it works: Insert the bulbous portion of the vibrator into your (or a partner's) vagina for pleasurable G-spot stimulation, and then, enjoy the suction vibrator element on the clitoris. The result? Hopefully, the elusive blended orgasm, which combines the two for deeper, more toe-curling experience. Quality engineering and minimalist design from a women-owned company Dame was founded in 2014 by two women—engineer —who were tired of seeing the quality of sex toy engineering fall to the wayside. Instead, they focused on bringing top-notch value engineering to a new range of devices that were designed to feel contemporary and accessible. The result is Dame, a color-popping brand whose minimalist, aesthetic vibrators range from to (recently, it has branched out into sex-related as well) that will actually look pretty damn chic on your nightstand. And while Dame has remained ever-focused on bringing we, the horny, more sex toys, it has also made waves for its efforts to fight for sexual positivity in court. Dame Dame Amazingly, did not design this chic, bean-shaped vibrator from Dame. This aesthetic blob is known as a palm vibrator, because it fits snugly in the palm of your hand for external stimulation on your clitoris, anus (note: external ), nipples, and perineum. It can also dually function as a lay-on vibrator. If sound discretion is also important to you, Pom boasts a quiet motor, which is impressive given its five rumbly vibrations speeds and patterns. Holistic pleasure and relaxation products Maude understands that great sex begins before the actual sex happens, and that foreplay can start hours before the friction—maybe with a fragrant shower, a serene bath, a slow massage. The company makes products that set the mood, from body wash to massage oil to libido-boosting gummies. And yes, it also offers sex toys to help you enjoy the mood you worked so hard to set. Maude Maude This little toy is so pretty that it’s been featured in the MoMA Design Store. It’s an excellent introduction to vibration for beginners, because it’s easy to use and its shape allows for both pinpointed and broad stimulation of external hotspots like the clitoris or perineum. Cute, friendly-looking toys Just about every toy Unbound sells is brightly-colored, fun-looking, and inviting. This makes it ideal for newbies who are intimidated by sex toys, as well as for people of any experience level who appreciate a cute aesthetic. Unbound makes vibrators, dildos, butt plugs, and some surprisingly great beginner-friendly kink toys, all of which would look adorable on your nightstand. Unbound Unbound This petite toy (no, it's not a vape) has gotta be one of the cutest clitoral stimulators ever, but it’s not cute—it’s earned over 2,300 five-star reviews from Unbound customers, so clearly it’s doing something right! True to its name, this toy provides clitoral pleasure via little puffs of air, which create a vibrating suction sensation. It’s small enough to comfortably fit between bodies during sex, but works just as well for solo play. Eco-friendly toys This shop is committed to never carrying toys or lubes that contain toxic or irritating ingredients, like phthalates and parabens. A lot of its products are also organic and/or sustainable, so if helping to preserve the environment is a priority for you, have a look at Organic Loven's selection. Leaf Organic Loven We love the leafy-green aesthetic of this vibe, but it also performs amazingly well, with a thrillingly rumbly motor that somehow also manages to be super quiet. Rather than having discrete speed settings, this toy features incremental speed control, so you can press and hold its button to get to the exact speed you’re looking for; we’ve found that this degree of direct control makes orgasms all the more satisfying. Its unique shape is suitable for using on just about any sensitive zone, from the clitoris to the penis to the G-spot to the prostate. Quirky “as seen on Instagram/TikTok” toys Lovers keeps up with the times, so if you’ve seen a toy being raved about in a viral TikTok or Instagram post, check this shop first. It's got a lot of standard sex toys along with more unique stuff, like the spiraling SnailVibe and a dildo full of rainbow confetti. Lovers really puts the “toy” back in “sex toy.” Snail Vibe Lovers The innovative spiraling shape of this dual-stimulation toy allows it to maintain contact with your clitoris, even as you thrust the internal part in and out. That would be impressive enough on its own, but this toy’s two motors (one in each end) offer a wide range of intensities, and can be controlled separately from one another to customize your experience. We’ve never found another toy that feels quite like this one—just make sure to apply water-based lube to your clitoral area liberally before using it, so the spiraling arm can spin freely. Expert-vetted, gender-inclusive, top-quality picks Sex educator and journalist Zoë Ligon founded this shop and personally curates its inventory, meaning that every single toy on the site is body-safe and expert-approved. Notably, the site avoids unnecessary gendered language and carries many products that can be used by anyone regardless of gender, experience level, and level of ability. Romp Spectrum Boutique Anal is kinda like a marathon: You've gotta train for it, and no matter how much you prepare, there's a chance that. (Luckily, if you're just starting your backdoor journey, we've got on.) These training plugs have flared bases to help avoid unnecessary ER trips and three different sizes to get you acclimated at your own pace. Ethically-made toys and accessories Smitten Kitten works to create a shame-free environment both on their website and in its brick-and-mortar store in Minneapolis. It's careful to only stock body-safe products whose makers are deemed ethical and sex-positive. Check it out if you want to feel really good morally about anything you buy, from dildos and vibrators to harnesses and massage oil. Smitten Kitten Smitten Kitten rock. Whether you’re not into vaginal penetration or just prefer clitoral stimulation, a lay-on vibrator provides an easy, intuitive (raise your hand if you grew up humping firm throw pillows!) way to climax by simply mounting and grinding upon the vibe. This ergonomically-designed toy is called the Techno Trap Grinding Pad—which feels very Ibiza DJ-core—because the vibrator boasts nine vibration levels under its smooth silicone exterior. And while these toys are beloved by vulva-owners, they can also feel fabulous on your anus (note:, not ) and perineum. Fetishwear and kink gear aimed at gay men Founded over 40 years ago, Mr. S has been a fixture of the gay male kink scene for a very long time. It stocks kink gear that can stand up to intense play, as well as fetishwear made of commonly eroticized materials like leather and rubber. Whether you shop online or at its brick-and-mortar store in San Francisco, Mr. S Leather is a kinkster’s dream. Mr. S Leather Mr. S Leather This handmade flogger would make a lovely addition to any sadomasochist’s toy box. You can take your pick from a selection of luscious materials, including cow leather, suede, elk leather, and rubber, depending on how “thuddy” or “stingy” you want the flogger’s sensations to be. The handle is wrapped in texturized rubber, ensuring you can keep a good grip on it during use. Inventively shaped vibrators Since 2003, sex toy company Jimmyjane has been cranking out in elegant shapes that have never been seen before, winning various design awards along the way. Still to this day, their toys look like, and feel pretty damn good, too. Jimmyjane Jimmyjane This mini wand vibrator comes with three different attachments you can try out. One is two-pronged, to envelop the clitoris in sensation, one is covered in an extra-stimulating bumpy texture, and one narrows to a pointed tip that’s perfect for targeting specific external spots, like the frenulum or the tip of the clit. Unique and playful vibrators from a disabled- and queer-owned company Cute Little Fuckers (CFL) was founded by Step Tranovich in 2019, and it remains one of the most prominent and successful disabled-, queer-, and trans-owned and operated sex toy companies out there. CFL understands that pleasure and sex should feel inclusive for all bodies and needs, and specializes in toys that reflect its vision. Think, hybrid, or the versatile, a vibrator that can be used as a butt plug, clitoral toy, hand vibrator, and more. If you grew up loving Pokémon (and who didn’t?) you’ll love CFL. Cute Little Fuckers Starsi is just a delight. This horny silicone starfish is designed to stimulate all of your horny holes (but please, don’t insert it in your anus) with its textured arms and center point. Use it as a humping and grinding vibrator, or cup it in the palm of your hand to apply its vibrations to your lover’s body. As CFL explains, “Starsi is particularly loved by transgender and non-binary folx or those with genital dysphoria, as it can cover the entire genital region, offering a euphoric experience that aids in reimagining the body.” Sustainable and non-toxic vibrators and body care products Founded by a sexologist, Bloomi takes great care to make their toys with all body-safe materials, to omit allergens and irritants from their lubricants and massage oils, and to use only sustainable, compostable and recyclable packaging. Their products are surprisingly affordable for how eco-friendly they are, too. Bloomi Bloomi Massage this luxurious oil into sensitive areas at the start of sex, and it’ll act as lube while increasing arousal. It contains ginger root oil to boost bloodflow, plus some other ingredients thought to have aphrodisiac qualities like damiana, and skin-soothing ingredients like chamomile flower oil. Risk-free shopping This sex shop has been around in various forms for over 50 years, which is impressive enough on its own. But Adam & Eve gets our nod for having one of the most permissive return policies in the biz: you can return any item sold on their site, for reason at all, as long as you do it within 90 days of purchase. If there’s a product you’ve been eyeing eagerly and a bit nervously, because you aren’t sure it will work for you, Adam & Eve is a godsend. Adam & Eve Adam & Eve Again, Adam & Eve has such a fantastic return policy that you might as well lean into your yeehaw fantasies with The Cowgirl Cone Sex Machine. This ridable beast provides up to 20 vibration modes, speeds, pulsation, and patterns. It also comes with multiple attachments, including the “Nubby Saddle” attachment and the penis-shaped “Alamo."" Plus, it'll stay secure and in one place thanks to the strong suction cup base that sticks to hard surfaces. On-site reviews Given it sells sex toy products, it’s no surprise that PinkCherry has become a go-to for sex toy shoppers across the spectrum. What makes that ocean of fun really functional, though, are the 109,000 product reviews, which makes your life easier when you’re trying to narrow down which toys are worth buying, or figure out if the experience you’re hoping to have is what you’ll actually get. PinkCherry PinkCherry This toy is designed to hit the G-spot and vibrate the hell out of it, and it achieves that goal. Its upturned, oval-shaped head gently curves into that spot with minimal effort, whether you choose to thrust the toy in and out or just leave it still. Unusually, it has a dial instead of buttons, so you can micro-adjust the speed to suit your whims at any moment. The narrow shaft is also a plus for sex toy beginners or folks with a narrower vaginal canal. Toys aimed at lesbians and queer women This lesbian-owned company specializes in toys for queer women of all stripes, but they’re quick to emphasize that people of all genders, genitalia, and sexual orientations can use their products. Their selection is amazingly wide-ranging, and includes strap-on harnesses, dildos, vibrators, lubes, gender affirmation gear, informational sex books, and so much more. Wet For Her Wet For Her This dildo is another workhorse, because it is designed to give pleasure to the receiver via the dildo, as well as the giver/wearer (who presumably has a vulva) with its bulb attachment, which is designed to stimulate the G-spot. The toy is flexible in shaft and bulb, too, so that you and your partner can adjust it for a custom fit. It’s not compatible with silicone-based lubricants, but it is harness-compatible. Sexual wellness toys and items for menopausal women “It’s about damn time” were the words we spoke when we learned about Tabu, the sexual wellness brand founded in 2020 and geared towards menopausal women. As founder and CEO Natalie Waltz Fretwell, “Tabu was born to help women remedy the common symptoms that get in the way of a healthy, vibrant sex life. We started with women over 45 (women like my mom).” Tabu developed its signature wand vibrator,, in partnership with clinicians and therapists for an ergonomic design, and it uses heating technology to provide a more pleasurable experience. Equally important is the brand’s water-based, which uses a sensitive, extra-moisturizing formula to calm and soothe (as well as lubricate). Tabu Tabu The dream bundle. Your minimalist Nuri massage wand is designed to feel extra lightweight and ergonomic to hold—it was actually modeled after —and can heat up to 97 degrees Fahrenheit to help the user’s body feel more relaxed. Navigating the wand’s 5 intensities is as easy as pressing the power button (and turning it off is as easy as holding it down for two seconds). As for the lube? It’s enriched with organic (anti-inflammatory), peony root (also a purported anti-inflammatory and ), passion flower (rich in Vitamin A and C), hyaluronic acid (for ) and a handful of more soothing ingredients. Ultra-luxurious toys It’s true: Gwyneth Paltrow’s infamous wellness brand carries a surprising amount of sex toys in their online shop. As you might expect, their selection skews bougie, and much of it will be financially out of reach for the average shopper, but it’s a must-visit site if you’re looking to drop some serious cash on a gold-plated dildo or a ludicrously high-tech vibrator. Goop Wellness Goop Is this a vibrator or a fancy paperweight? Well, technically, it can be both—but we recommend using it for its intended purpose, which is to get you off, chicly. The cool part about this toy is that one end has a ball for deep, rumbly vibrations (designed for external stimulation) and the other side features a slim, flexible, tapered point for clitoral or internal stimulation. Sex furniture and positioning aids We all need a little extra support in the bedroom sometimes, and while you could just stack up some pillows to help you achieve that perfect angle or a more comfortable position, it’s much easier to use a product built for that purpose specifically. Liberator makes a huge array of foam “shapes,” from slim pillows to wide wedges, that make sex easier and more fun—and because they’re designed for sex, many of them have a moisture-resistant liner to protect the inner core from lube and bodily fluids, and a cover that can be zipped off and machine-washed after you’re done. Liberator Liberator One of Liberator’s most iconic products is the Wedge, a broad shape that can help you achieve better angles for penetrative sex, oral sex, or whatever else you’re in the mood for. It’s wide enough to fit a variety of body sizes, and conveniently works well as a reading pillow when you’re not having sex. CBD and hemp lubricants made with organic, plant-based ingredients through sustainable practices Foria uses organic botanicals to create relaxing, broad-spectrum (meaning, it includes ),, and, perhaps most iconically, its CBD lubricants that don’t include alcohol, petroleum-based ingredients, phthalates, glycerin, parabens, or dyes. Foria Foria Foria’s Awaken Arousal Oil with CBD is its true showstopper product. I have always thought that the coconut oil-based lubricant smells faintly of Thin Mints, albeit in an even more refreshing and botanical way. The lube is also made with libido-boosters such as kava (as well cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, cardamom, and cacao absolute), but it’s the that is supposed to be key in helping folks feel even more relaxed and, well, horny. Going to an IRL sex shop isn't always an option—maybe you're swamped, shy, or you don't live near one. In an industry that’s fairly unregulated, it can be tough to find reputable purveyors online, which is why we did some digging and assembled a horny -style list of the best online sex shops in the game. The picks above will have everything your horny heart desires, but each retailer has its own specialty, whether it's an with pages of TMI reviews, unbeatable customer service and return policies, or a niche toy lineup you can't find elsewhere. But no matter the vibe of the retailer (so to speak), know this: We firmly stand behind all of these online sex shops as high-quality, reputable places to load up your cart with toys, toys, toys."
"At the end of a long day, you're tired. All you want to do is let your head hit that pillow so you can drift off into a restful and deep sleep. But, no luck. Like clockwork, you're unable to cash in on optimal REM because of a persistent nighttime cough. And if you're one of the estimated 27 million people in the world with asthma, you might not be dealing with a cough; it might actually be nocturnal asthma at play, which can seriously mess with your sleep. Nocturnal asthma is exactly what it sounds like—. Just as there is exercise- and allergy-induced asthma, nocturnal asthma is one specific form of the general condition, characterized by nighttime airway constriction that can lead to sleep disturbances. Research, approximately 75 percent experience nocturnal asthma symptoms at least once a week, and 40 percent experience nightly symptoms. In plainer terms, a whole bunch of people are not sleeping well at least once a week because of nocturnal asthma. The real number of people who deal with nocturnal asthma might even be much higher,, according to research. Allergist, says it's common for patients to mistake nocturnal asthma for something else altogether. ""The symptom is typically coughing and being woken from sleep,"" she says, while ""many asthmatics are used to being triggered by allergens and exercise."" If you have no idea you have nocturnal asthma, you probably wouldn't address it. Instead, you're likely to pay attention to the symptoms you are aware of. So, if a cough keeps you from sleeping, it would only make sense to treat it with cough medicine and then call it a night, right? Wrong. ""It'd be like treating pain with some pain medicine, but if the pain is due to a serious medical problem, like an ulcer, just taking pain medicine is not the answer,"" says, medical director and allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network. With nocturnal asthma, your best bet for preserving a future of sleeping well and managing your symptoms comes with understanding your triggers and then treating the underlying issue. ""There can be a variety of causes,"" says, professor of medicine, allergy, and immunology at Hackensack College of Medicine. Just like your sleep-wake cycle, your hormones follow a circadian rhythm, which can, in turn, impact your nocturnal asthma symptoms, particularly with regard to epinephrine and cortisol. ""Cortisol is a steroid with which we treat asthma,"" says Dr. Bielory. ""Your body produces from the, and it has its highs and lows. It's not constantly at a single level, but it peaks and decreases."" Its lowest level is around midnight when you might be trying to sleep, which may be connected. It's similar to epinephrine, a hormone connected to your body's natural fight-or-flight response. ""You normally produce epinephrine, and it relaxes the muscles in the airways,"" says Dr. Berger. "", which is the chemical that causes a lot of mucus secretion and bronchospasm."". (Your mind might conjure the familiar word, which block the effects of histamine and are common for treating allergy and asthma symptoms.) ""So epinephrine levels are very, very low during the night and,"" he adds. While these spikes and dips of hormone levels are natural processes, Dr. Cox says seeking medical attention is important if they contribute to nocturnal asthma episodes. ""Different approaches include having the patient monitor their lung functions with a —they would get a reading first thing in the morning and later in the afternoon,"" she says. ""Their physician will review and make recommendations."" Such recommendations might include medications like antihistamines. Whenever you have a cold, it's harder to breathe when you're lying down. This is partly because of the mucus and post-nasal drip that can accompany common viruses. Those two symptoms are also hallmarks of nocturnal asthma. ""When you recline, you have increased blood flow to your lungs, which causes more congestion, and the,"" says Dr. Berger. ""That can lead to an increase in the airway resistance."" And if you have reflux, lying down isn't doing your body any favors, either. ""The reflux of acid up through the to the larynx may stimulate a bronchial spasm,"" says Dr. Cox. Dr. Berger says common ways to treat reflux include medications like proton pump inhibitors, which help reduce stomach acid production (Prilosec and Prevacid are common brands). H2 blockers (a form of antihistamine) like Pepcid are another common treatment route for reducing stomach acid. Hormones and sleeping position aside, if you're sensitive to dust mites or pet dander and those allergens in your bedroom, they may trigger a nocturnal asthma response. ""You're exposing yourself to inhaling certain allergens in the bedroom, and that would be a true allergic response,"" says Dr. Bielory. The best way to ease sleep-environment symptoms is to address the triggers. ""If you've been outdoors, take your clothes off and jump in the shower because there's pollen on your body, and also, there can be pollen in your hair,"" says Dr. Berger. He also recommends getting allergen-proof protectors for your,, and —and to stay up-to-date on cleaning schedules. ""As far as the linens, wash them at least once a week in hot water—,"" Dr. Berger says. ""You don't want cold water—you want to kill allergens."" Finish off by putting everything in the dryer for at least 15 minutes on a hot cycle. Most importantly, if you are experiencing a chronic cough at night, seek medical care so you can troubleshoot the immediate symptoms and underlying issues most effectively. ""Cough is a symptom; it's not a disease, and it can be due to one or many different things,"" says Dr. Berger. ""If you have a chronic cough, you should see an allergist or a pulmonologist who can then do the proper testing, make the proper diagnosis, and treat you."""
"The best for men have come a long way in the last decade or so. Gone are the days when the only toys for guys were cheap, low-quality “pocket pussies” and standard —now the market overflows with sexy gadgets and gizmos aplenty for all genders and anatomies. You might be wondering:, if your hand already does the job just fine? But that’s sort of like asking why you should bother going to a restaurant when you can cook yourself a meal at home—variety is the spice of life, and sex toys can get pretty spicy. Using a sex toy is “an opportunity to experience new pleasures beyond your own hands,” says, a sexologist and host of the. “[Toys] allow you to enjoy those sensations even when your partner is not available or simply not in the mood.” And when they, with new sensations and even help you go a little longer. “They can be used as a stamina training device to help men become more acclimated to the pleasurable sensations of sex, so that [their] nervous system isn’t as overloaded as it would be when having sex with a real partner,” Gerek explains. Fleshlight Lovehoney SuperSkin and ABS plastic Lubricate the inside and entrance of the stroker with a water-based lube, slip it onto your penis, and stroke. Sexologist and sex coach says, ""There is one toy that I most often recommend to [clients]: a stroker or masturbation sleeve, such as the Fleshlight Flight Pilot."" Not only is this toy pleasurable, due to its bumpy internal texture and squishy SuperSkin material, but it may even improve your sexual performance: ""Using a toy like this can help you re-condition yourself to experience pleasurable sensations from stimulation that is closer to that of sex with a partner, thus helping you have more reliable erections and even ejaculations when you're with them,"" Fraser explains. He also likes that the hard case of this stroker makes it easier to mount it to a surface, by using a mount or (for instance) wedging it between your mattress and boxspring so you can thrust into it hands-free. Tenga Lovehoney Thermoplastic elastomer (sleeve), polyethylene (case), and polyurethane (lubricant ring at the entrance of the toy) Lubricate the inside and entrance of the stroker with a water-based lube, slip it onto your penis, and stroke., a registered psychotherapist and relationship issues specialist, recommends this for guys who want a toy that's straightforward and easy to use. ""It’s simple but effective, washable, and inexpensive... A nice starting point for most guys,"" he says. Like the Tenga Egg (more on that below), this toy is designed to be disposable, but can be used up to a few times if you wash and dry it properly between uses. This particular one has a multi-chambered texture on the inside that's meant to mimic the sensations of a deep-throat blowjob. For an even more realistic oral-esque sensation, you can cover up the air hole on one end using your finger, to introduce some suction into each stroke. CalExotics Amazon Silicone Apply water-based lubricant to the inside and rim of the toy before sliding it onto the clitoris. Stroke up and down as desired. Garrison often recommends this toy to his transmasculine clients. It's a stroker that'll work for many trans guys' anatomy. He loves that it's relatively affordable, but notes that it's likely to work best for larger clits, especially those that have experienced growth from being on masculinizing hormones. “Additionally, it is fully reversible—one side is smooth and the other is more textured,” Garrison says, “which allows users to chose the level of stimulation that feels good for them.” Hot Octopuss Amazon : Silicone and ABS plastic : About 1 hour : Apply a water-based lubricant (optionally), place toy against the underside of your penis so it wraps around the shaft and presses against the frenulum, and turn it on. You can hold it in place or stroke it up and down. This vibrator comes highly recommended by Garrison, who says “The Pulse is designed to be slipped over the glans, or end of the penis, and—once things are in place and turned on—is essentially hands-free.” The toy wraps around your shaft, and you can position it so that the vibrations stimulate your sensitive frenulum directly, leaving your hands available for other activities. (Nipple play? Prostate massage? Touching your partner?) Oh, and one other nifty thing about this toy: “It does not require an erection for use,” Garrison says, “making it a great pleasure option for guys who may have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.” Tenga Amazon : Thermoplastic elastomer : Remove stroker from the plastic case it comes in. Apply the included lubricant to the inside and entrance of the stroker. Slip the toy onto your penis and stroke as desired. A disposable stroker like this one is a great first foray into the world of sex toys for newbies. I've bought Tenga Eggs for many past partners and they've always been a hit. Made of soft, squishy elastomer, these toys have various different textures on the inside that range from gentle to intense; variety packs are available if you want to try some different options. Their cute egg-shaped packaging makes them travel-friendly, and each one conveniently comes with its own packet of lube tucked inside. Using one of these is a super fun (and cheap!) way to mix up your masturbation technique—or your handjob technique, if (like me) you enjoy using strokers on partners—and, with careful cleaning after each session, you can usually get three to five uses out of each Egg. We-Vibe Lovehoney Silicone Up to 2 hours Press the main button on the toy to turn it on, and repeat to cycle through the toy’s vibration modes. You can also control it by pairing it with the We-Vibe app. Apply some water-based lube to the inside of the ring before sliding it down to the base of your penis. Position the vibrating part either facing up or facing down so it’ll stimulate your partner’s clitoris or perineum (depending on their anatomy and preferences) during sex. Vibrating cock rings are impressive multitaskers: They beef up your boner by restricting blood flow out of your penis, while the vibration provides pleasure for both you and your partner. I love this one, by We-Vibe, because of how deep and strong the vibrations are; it's fantastic for hands-free clit stimulation during sex. It's also pretty quiet, which allows me to almost forget it's even there and just enjoy the pleasure. One word of warning, though: This cock ring has stretch to it, but it may feel too snug around large dicks; it's better suited for those in an average size range. Lovehoney Lovehoney Silicone Adjustable (fits up to 8.5 inches) You won’t need as much lube as you might with a thicker cock ring, but apply a dollop of water-based lube on your flaccid penis, push down on the toggle, and tighten the ring to your liking. Press the toggle once more to loosen. Cock rings can feel intimidating for the uninitiated, and a —no matter how stretchy—can still feel a bit claustrophobic around a beginner’s penis. Time and time again, I will toss a breezy, adjustable C-ring like this into my bag or back pocket. It’s discreet, and works for pretty much all penis sizes (the max adjustment level is 8.5 inches), and when you’re done using it, the release toggle is just a push away. Blush Novelties Amazon SheVibe : Silicone : 1.5-inch diameter : With a healthy amount of lube, slip onto the base of a flaccid or semi-flaccid penis to help maintain an erection. Our pick for the best basic cock ring is the Performance Pro Silicone Cock Ring: We like this one because it's super affordable and the stretchy, soft silicone material can expand to fit most penis sizes. Plus, its flat design prevents any potential slippage off the shaft. This is a great cock ring for those just looking to dip their toes (or their penises) into the category, but it's also a great choice for experienced cock ring users. We-Vibe Amazon Amazon Pinkcherry Silicone 3.5 inches of insertable length, 1.1 inches of insertable girth, 3.5 inches of girth at the base. 2 hours Apply lubricant to anus and vibrator, then gently insert We-Vibe has been at the forefront of long-distance partner play toys, from to. But all of those frills would feel fruitless if the vibrator in question, the Vector+, wasn’t an absolute banger (luckily, it is). This workhorse is equipped with two motors and 10 settings for a variety of vibration and speed combos, whether you want more rumble towards your balls, the toy’s shaft—you name it, simply adjust the settings on the body of the toy itself, or via the remote control or smartphone app. At 3.5 inches in length and just over 1 inch in girth at its max, this is a solid intermediate toy, but it’s designed to handle even your most raucous smash seshes thanks to the extra-long, extra-secure base. Here’s an idea: Once inserted, rock back and forth while sitting on your butt while your partner blows or strokes you. Ideal Valentine’s Day weekend date! Prisms Amazon Borosilicate glass Small: 4 inches of insertable length, 1.15 inches in diameter Medium: 4.5 inches of insertable length, 1.35 inches in diameter Large: 5 inches of insertable length, 1.55 inches in diameter. Start off with the smallest plug. Apply the lube of your choice to the plug and your anus, while gently inserting the plug. If and when you would like to graduate to a bigger plug (this can take as much time as you like, be it five minutes or an hour—no set rules here), apply more lube during the swap. Every chef has their set of go-to knives, every carpenter, their trustiest tools. This set of glass anal plugs is one of my most trifectas for sex, whether I’m aiming for some backdoor foreplay or gearing up for full penile penetration. If the concept of glass sex toys sounds counterintuitive, fret not; these borosilicate glass toys are actually far toys, and will have less friction when entering your anus. The glass also provides a satisfying, slightly weighted sensation in the anus that can stimulate the P-spot. Each of these plugs is a star in its own right, but I find myself using the smallest size the most. At 4-inches of insertable length, it’s more small-medium in my book—but the narrow design makes it great for anal beginners. Lovense Amazon : Silicone : Up to 90 minutes Apply water-based lube to the plug and slide it into your anus. Control it via the buttons on the toy or the Lovense app. As someone in a long-distance relationship, I love the way Lovense toys can be controlled from near or far using the Lovense app, which is packed with fun features like video chat and the ability to create your own vibration patterns. This particular plug is one of Lovense's best products, IMO: The angle is adjustable, so this toy can apply exactly as much (or as little) pressure as you want. There are two motors, one on the prostate and one on the perineum, allowing for precise control over your experience. Aneros Amazon Plastic Apply lubricant to the toy before inserting it. ""For guys who are first-timers looking to explore anal play, I would generally recommend a traditional prostate stimulator such the Aneros,"" Garrison says. ""It's compact and easily inserted for newbies, and also includes touch points for perineum stimulation."" Yep, those little balls on either end of the base actually have a practical purpose: They press into your taint while the plug's inside you, so your prostate gets massaged from the inside and the outside at once. As with many other Aneros toys, this one doesn't vibrate or anything, but is instead made to rub against the prostate whenever you squeeze your sphincter muscles. Many users report reaching explosive hands-free climaxes this way. CalExotics Amazon Silicone and ABS plastic 30-60 minutes Press and hold the toy’s button to turn it on or off. Short-press that same button to cycle through the toy’s 12 settings “For guys who are first-timers looking to explore anal play, I would generally recommend a traditional prostate stimulator such the Aneros,” Garrison says. “It's compact and easily inserted for newbies, and also includes touch points for perineum stimulation.” Yep, those little balls on either end of the base actually have a practical purpose: They press into your perineum while the plug's inside you, so (if you have one) your prostate gets massaged from the inside and the outside at once. As with many other Aneros toys, this one doesn't vibrate or anything, but is instead made to rub against the prostate whenever you squeeze your sphincter muscles. Many users report reaching explosive hands-free climaxes this way. Njoy Babeland Amazon : Stainless steel : Apply lube as needed and insert vaginally or anally. Thrust or rock it in and out however feels best. This elegant metal toy has a lot to offer for both cis and trans guys, says Richards. “For myself and my other vulva-having partners, curved metal wand toys are almost universally a guaranteed orgasm,” he says. “The curved shape stimulates the G-spot and often leads to squirting, while the slick heaviness of the metal itself provides a full feeling of satisfaction.” For men with prostates, this toy can target that zone instead, its curve and firmness allowing it to apply direct, unrelenting pressure. Richards likes that there's a small end and a larger end, so you can experiment with different sensations. We-Vibe Amazon Lovehoney Silicone 10.6-inches long, 2.5-inches wide at girthiest point 2 hours Externally, always, but otherwise there are many possibilities for a wand vibrator for clitoral and anal (again, exterior) stimulation; folks with male anatomy may enjoy sitting on the wand with the tip positioned on the perineum. As it would turn out, the best beginner’s wand vibrator is also one of the most high-tech—but precisely because that tech’s benefits are so effortlessly accessed by the user. We-Vibe’s Wand 2 uses haptic technology, which is just a fancier way of saying that it will respond to pressure from your hand or body with equally-intense vibrations. The result is a very intuitive user experience, as well as an impressively quiet one; as far as wand vibes go, the Wand 2 makes very little noise, and it’s easy to maneuver with one hand thanks to the bendy body. Finally, because this is a We-Vibe toy, its 10 intensity levels and 10 vibration patterns can also be accessed from the app for some long-distance play. Magic Wand Amazon Silicone and ABS plastic 3 hours Press the power button to turn the toy on or off. Use the patterns button to cycle through different vibration modes, and the middle button to ramp up the speed settings. Richards recommends this classic toy, which he considers “the gold standard of vibrators,” for anyone who wants to introduce strong sensations into their sex life, regardless of their gender or anatomy. “If you find [it] a bit intense, using it over underwear is a way to enjoy the buzzing sensation on clits and cocks without excessive direct stimulation,” he suggests. There are various versions of the Magic Wand, including an old-school one that plugs into the wall, but this rechargeable version is more convenient and has more settings than the electric model. Wand Essentials Amazon While the Magic Wand (above) works just fine on its own for penises and vulvas alike, you may as well throw this attachment into your cart along with the wand if you want your (or someone else's) dick to be enveloped in vibration. This inexpensive add-on turns a wand into a vibrating stroker. I love using this toy on partners because of the intensity of the ridged and beaded texture on the inside; it's fun to watch someone react to it as I stroke it up and down with the vibration turned on. THRUST Lovehoney Ah, the classic anatomical stroker. This genre of sex toy will always be GOATed to me, because the realistic design elements make them feel extra kinky and fun, especially if you’re bringing them into partner play (talk about a soft-launch threesome). The 6-inch-long, textured internal chamber of this model is meant to recreate the feeling of realistic vaginal penetration—thus, the name and description—with a tighter chamber than your average stroker at.25 inches in width (most strokers run around ). Apply ample lube, start off stroking slowly, and enjoy. Fleshy Amazon Gerek vouches that this toy makes for “explosive climaxes” with its combination of sucking, stroking, and vibration. Yes, there's even a “climax button” you can deploy when you're getting close to coming, and the toy will suck you in even deeper, mimicking a deep-throating sensation for an intense finish. It's got a cool space-age aesthetic, too, so it's kinda like getting a blowjob from a robot. Icicles Babeland “For anyone who enjoys backdoor play, it's hard to beat glass butt plugs,”, a sex educator and porn performer, says. ""Glass toys are easy to clean, compatible with all lubricants, and provide a pleasurable sense of fullness and weight."" They also hold temperature really well, so if you want some especially interesting sensations, dip this plug in a bowl or warm or cold water for a few minutes before using it. The looped handle on this one makes it much easier to insert and remove, even with lubed fingers, and the plug itself is shaped perfectly to nestle into the prostate. There are so many different categories of toys that it can be tough to know what’s what. Here’s a breakdown of the major types of male sex toys available for people with penises and prostates to enjoy. We tried out as many toys as we could, but we also wanted some input from sexperts so that they could share their recommendations for you. Here's who gave us a hand in compiling our picks."
"When I was in college, my roommates and I briefly owned a miniature pot-bellied pig. The purchase was not mine, but I supported it, partly on account of having always read that pigs were much smarter than dogs. Being a rural only-child dog-lover, that sounded great to me. I’d trained many dogs. Pig training must be a breeze! Or so I assumed. One thing I factored into this mental calculation was that pigs, while more intelligent, are also Dogs might be stupider, but they’re also eager to please. Pigs, so far as I could tell from ours (whom we named “Beefcake”), are not. Tug a dog’s leash, and the dog naturally thinks, “Oh, they want me to go this way,” and goes in that direction in an attempt to please you. A pig does not do this. When I would gently tug on Beefcake’s leash, he’d emit a shriek loud enough to paralyze a team of henchmen and would pull hard in the opposite direction. I quickly learned my lesson and just let him go where he wanted to go. This eventually led to the realization that pigs very intelligent. Smart enough that when you try to train them, sometimes they end up training you. As a father, I’ve begun to learn that children, perhaps especially toddlers, are more like pigs than dogs. (They’re certainly.) I have a three-year-old. He does many things well, like invent new insults (when he was barely two I called him a fartknocker and he said “I’m not a fartknocker, you’re a knocker!”) and engineer situations I never could’ve anticipated. Like taking off his own shoe and throwing it out the window of a moving car—an act I only discovered when he started crying because he wanted to go back and get his shoe. One thing he does do well, as you might imagine, is follow a preset schedule. We’ve gradually gotten to the point that brushing teeth doesn’t feel like something the CIA does to extract information from a terror suspect. But otherwise, his (and by extension, my) daily life still mostly involves a constant stream of dillydallying, lollygagging, and generally being sidetracked by things while I try to get him to participate in society through a complex system of threats and incentives. Partly, I blame myself for this. It’s quite likely that my son inherited the ADD that prevents from being able to do things most people consider normal, like close cabinet doors and remember where I parked a car, which very likely inherited from my father, who is “quirky” in ways too numerous to expound upon here. Every time my son grinds T-ball practice to a halt so that he can pick a flower or use the ball to squish a worm instead of throwing it back to his waiting coach, I wonder, “Is it my toxic genes that are responsible for this?” The answer is probably yes, but he’s also a toddler, and they’re all more or less like this. What I’ve learned in my relatively short time as a toddler dad (and no one gets many reps at it, unless you’re some kind of insane pro-natalist or Alec Baldwin) is to do my best to embrace it. When my son tries to retrain me like an ornery pig, what this parenting take presupposes is: Maybe let him? Yes, it’s my job as a father to do my best to produce a caring, well-adjusted, valued member of society who is not a drag, danger, or constant source of annoyance to those around him. All that is true, and yet easily the best part of fatherhood has been the way it has naturally reconfigured my priorities. Every day I get to vicariously experience anew hundreds of things that I’ve long taken for granted. Parenthood is a lot like microdosing, if you let it be. Sure, getting to a dinner reservation on time is important, but so is seeing a snail inch its way across the sidewalk. They have their eyeballs on the end of slimy little tentacles! How wild is that? Adult priorities are not kid priorities, and that’s the central difficulty in parenting a toddler. You want them to put on shoes or eat food or go to bed, when they’re more interested in finding a toy or eating Fruity Pebbles off the floor or doing absolutely anything besides going to sleep. We adults tend to live in a world of rigidly regimented schedules. We allot limited blocks of time to certain activities, often without being conscious of it. This should take this much time, that should take this much time, and then I’ll be to eat, sleep, work, shit, and die, having foreclosed most opportunities for epiphanies or experimentation. Toddlers, obviously, do not live in this world. They live in a world where everything is new and cool and you can enjoy a color so much that you only want a yogurt color, even if you don’t know where yogurt comes from or what it is or how much it costs, or that the new yogurt tastes exactly the same as the old one why can’t you just try it first!!! I’m doing my best to let my son retrain me about which things are important at the same time as I’m (mostly impotently) attempting to shoehorn his whims into today’s prefab slots. That doesn’t mean I’m advocating for some hippy-dippy style of parenting where I just let him run around naked eating food off the floor and trying to bash lizards with a hammer. It’s just an acknowledgement, a sort of internal mantra, that recognizing the limits of your own control are as important a part of parenting as the enforcement of them. I’m training him to become an independent entity, which means he frequently does things I can neither control nor sanction. I have to remind myself that it’s part of the deal. So that when I’m trying to get him to pay attention to his T-ball coach hitting him grounders (he’s a toddler—they’re very soft grounders) and he’s more interested in the goose feather that he found on the field, I can at least take a beat to acknowledge that, yes, it’s a cool feather and, in fact, feathers in general are pretty fuckin’ cool, before I get frustrated at him for not doing what he’s “supposed” to do. Life can’t wait forever, but it can usually wait a A lot of times the schedules we’ve created for ourselves aren’t actually as rigid as we’ve made them out to be. They’re built on internal assumptions that sometimes we haven’t even taken the time to acknowledge, let alone question. Many of the invisible contracts that order our lives aren’t so ironclad. They’re much more negotiable than we allow them to be. And parenthood is as important for teaching us that as it is for us to teach a tiny human how to wipe his ass."
"It will probably come as no surprise that acne is one of the more common skin disorders out there. Most of us have either experienced it firsthand or know someone who has. While acne is more prevalent among teens and young adults—impacting around 85% of those between the ages of 12 and 24, according to a Yale Medicine estimate—it affects men and women of all ages, including more than 12% of men in their forties. Given its ubiquity, along with the fact that acne can present a range of symptoms that vary in both severity and appearance, it makes sense that other skin conditions could easily be mistaken for acne, and vice-versa. The thing with that is, while another skin condition may look or feel like acne, it could be something else entirely—and potentially something more serious that requires different treatment altogether. “For example, if it comes on suddenly, especially where there is minimal or no history of acne, that could be bacterial folliculitis,” says, board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor in the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai. “Similarly, if it doesn’t respond to typical acne treatments, it could be fungal folliculitis or even rosacea.” “Or it could be something more serious, like hidradenitis suppurativa,” says Dr. Shaikh. Hidradenitis suppurativa is an autoinflammatory condition that shares some of the same characteristics as acne, but if left untreated—or mistakenly treated as acne—can spiral out into a painful, self-perpetuating cycle of cystic flare-ups and complex scarring. “I've seen a lot of patients that self-treat, that self-diagnose, and what you end up seeing is things like a contact rash or more severe irritation or worsening of the condition, because it's actually not acne,” says Nicole Lee, MD, MPH, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and owner of. The good news is that, while hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic condition, effective treatments exist, and getting a handle on it early can make all the difference, says Dr. Lee. “Go see a dermatologist as soon as you suspect anything. Don’t wait.” Here are three signs that your “acne” might actually be hidradenitis suppurativa. “The first thing I would point to is the areas of the body that are affected,” says Dr. Shaikh. One of the similarities between hidradenitis suppurativa and acne is that they both originate at the site of an obstructed or occluded hair follicle. So both conditions are really only going to show up—only show up—where hair follicles exist. Hidradenitis suppurativa, however, tends to impact an even smaller subset of locales. “Compared to even an extreme form of cystic acne, I would say what's unique to hidradenitis suppurativa is the locations,” says Dr. Lee. “Acne is typically on exposed areas, like your face, your arms, your chest, and your back, whereas hidradenitis suppurativa typically is at the folds of your skin where you have the most sweating, like the armpits, groin, or butt. I've even seen patients who have it on the back of the neck.” If your symptoms are manifesting in an area that gets a lot of skin-on-skin friction, that’s your first sign that it could be hidradenitis suppurativa. When you’re dealing with acne, you often tend to have comedones—blackheads and whiteheads. That’s not always the case, but it’s pretty standard. “To be clear, you can have just purely cystic acne; that's a thing that exists,” says Dr. Shaikh. Hidradenitis suppurativa, in contrast, presents mostly as nodules and cysts under the skin. “The idea with acne, which also involves the hair follicle, is we think about all of its manifestations as kind of outward. You see a whitehead or a blackhead, or you see a bump or something on the skin. With hidradenitis suppurativa, much of that process is going on within,” says Dr. Shaikh. “You can have deep, painful cysts in both diseases, but if someone came to me and said, ‘Listen, I only have cysts, and I have never had a single blackhead or a single whitehead, and I've never had a pustule; it's all just like these deeper nodules,’ and they happen to be on an anatomical area that is not classic for acne, I would be raising my eyebrow.” While acne can cover patches of skin, those areas are essentially comprised of discrete, individual lesions. In other words, you could rub your finger over an affected area and feel where one bump ends and another begins. Hidradenitis suppurativa may start out like this, with cysts spaced out by areas of healthy skin, but over time they can connect, forming a subdermal network of scar tissue, says Dr. Lee. “That usually gets us saying, “OK, we're in a whole different category right now. We need to manage this differently.” When a cyst bursts, it creates what is called a sinus tract— “a little hole in the skin where you'll see drainage of pus or potentially blood,” explains Dr. Shaikh. While sinus tracts will sometimes route directly to the surface of the skin, in the case of hidradenitis suppurativa they’ll often connect to the site of a previously ruptured cyst, leaving behind a tunnel of scar tissue. Over time, without intervention, that can become a complex network of scar-tissue tracts beneath the skin. “Acne scarring can certainly happen, and it's something that we see a lot, but sinus tract formation—a collection of all these ruptured cysts and scar tissue underneath the skin—is classic for hidradenitis suppurativa,” says Dr. Shaikh. “I've never seen acne do that.”"
"Imagine someone who is suffering from migraine: If film or television depictions here, then you’re seeing a woman squeezing her temples and frowning. Her eyes are locked shut. That representation is narrow enough to perturb researchers in headache medicine. Advances in migraine research have proven that the condition—and the ways it can present in people—are far more complex and varied than the treatment it gets on screen. As the true nature of migraine becomes more clear to doctors, its pop culture counterpart feels further and further off the mark. (Along those lines, the medical community refers to the condition as migraine, rather than “,” because it’s a whole condition rather than a single experience. You wouldn’t say “a diabetes.”) “I think there's actually a lot of misunderstanding of what migraine is, even within the medical community,” says Dr. Niushen Zhang, chief of the headache division at Stanford University’s Department of Neurology. “We think of it as sort of an invisible disease.” As a consequence, it often eludes diagnosis, despite being the most common cause of disability in people under the age of 50. Of the 36 million people in America who experience migraine, only around 12 percent are properly diagnosed. So, what is migraine? “Basically, it's a recurrent headache,” says Dr. Teshamae Monteith, a fellow at the American Academy of Neurology. When it appears, migraine persists for between four and 72 hours, sometimes concentrated on one side of the head. Other symptoms often come along: nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or movement. Fatigue, irritability, stiff neck and an aura—a sensory disturbance such as zigzagging lines across vision or tingling hands—can signal coming migraine. Not to mention, a series of comorbidities commonly accompany migraine, like anxiety, depression or even gastrointestinal disorders. Because any combination of those symptoms and conditions can undergird someone's migraine, it takes many distinct forms. Even migraine’s causes vary: The environment can spur migraine, but it’s also genetic; with migraine have it in their family medical history. As a condition taking many forms, it can be difficult to pin down. “It's surprising how migraine can be under-diagnosed, or misdiagnosed, despite how common it is,” says Dr. Monteith. Regressive gender politics don’t help, either. Roughly three women experience migraine for every man. Downplaying the pain of women remains an. In fact, sexism may have delayed attention for migraine by the medical field on the whole. “Perhaps if it were affecting men and women more equally,” says Dr. Zhang. “Perhaps there may have been more attention paid to it earlier.” Its reputation as a women’s condition—rather than a condition that more frequently affects women—has consequences for men, too. Doctors may be less likely to diagnose men with migraine, while machismo or misinformation may preclude a man from sharing concerns with a physician. “Men with migraine are stigmatized because they have a woman's,, disorder,” says Dr. Michael Oshinsky, director of the Office of Preclinical Pain Research at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. “That is probably at least one of the reasons why they're not reaching out for treatment.” “That's really too bad,” says Dr. Oshinsky. “Because the treatments we have today are really good.” He’s not bluffing. The last few decades have seen not just the emergence of headache medicine as a field, but also a greater understanding of migraine down to the molecular level. There have been parallel strides in technology to treat migraine. The biggest splash came in 2018, with the first FDA-approval of an (CGRP) drug, a treatment option that targets signaling molecules in the brain that are tied to migraine. Anti-CGRP drugs join a phalanx of existing treatments. The bigger challenge is delivering them to those who’d stand to benefit. “The most important thing is to reach out to your physician,” Dr. Oshinsky told me."
"Creatine’s main sales pitch is already. The single-ingredient supplement—among the most thoroughly researched in the nutrition category—is scientifically shown to accelerate muscle growth and strength gains in particular, making it a staple in supplement stacks of weekend warriors and elite athletes alike. Creatine acts at the cellular level, where it is stored as phosphocreatine and spurs production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—an energy source used by cells. Most of the creatine that we consume (and produce naturally, albeit slowly) is stored in our muscles. But creatine is stored in other areas of the body as well, such as the brain, where it initiates cellular processes that do much more than build bigger biceps. Years of research show that the knock-on effects of creatine include everything from boosting brain function and warding off cognitive decline to balancing blood sugar and increasing energy levels. “While creatine is renowned for enhancing physical strength, its cognitive, mitochondrial, and metabolic benefits are equally compelling,” says, naturopathic physician and researcher. “As public interest shifts toward supplements that enhance both performance and longevity, creatine stands out as a cost-effective, research-backed option for improving health at a cellular level. Yet, its benefits for brain function, energy, and metabolic support remain under-discussed.” Here are some of the lesser-known ways creatine can benefit your body, mind, and more. Your body uses ATP to do much more than just get you yoked. Often referred to as the “energy currency” of the cell, ATP is utilized as a universal energy source throughout the body. As a precursor to ATP, creatine can help keep all systems firing by combating fatigue and supporting energy metabolism. “If we're thinking of ways to give us a jolt, other than our morning caffeine or the numerous energy drinks out there, I would recommend creatine probably right up there with them—maybe even higher, just because the risk profile is a lot lower,” says, a sports medicine physician with OSF HealthCare. suggests that creatine can help regulate glucose metabolism, which means steadier, more sustained energy levels throughout the day. “[Creatine] can really help kind of even it out, which in turn overall makes you feel more energized, just because you're not crashing all the time,” says. Dr. Rai. It’s also particularly useful for those using weight-loss medications, such as GLP-1s, which can deplete energy stores and muscle mass, says Dr. Nick. “Creatine can help counteract these side effects by preserving lean tissue and supporting cellular energy,” she says. ( ) Around five percent of your body’s phosphocreatine stores are in your brain, where cells rely heavily on ATP for energy. When you supplement with creatine, brain cells make good work of the excess fuel, resulting in optimized output. “You're able to build up that store, and that is going to impact cognition, mood, memory, and emotion,” says, registered dietician nutritionist and spokesperson for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. One saw improvements of up to 50 percent in cognitive and memory test scores among people supplementing with creatine. In another, creatine helped sleep-deprived subjects improve their performance significantly on short-term memory tasks, along with improved mental processing time and reaction speed. In addition to giving your brain a boost, creatine may also help bolster its defenses by playing a neuroprotective role in fending off cognitive decline and more. Clinical suggest creatine may help delay the progression of certain neurodegenerative diseases, and several have found it to be a powerful ally against depression. “I think the cognitive aspect is really under-publicized,” says Dr. Rai. Creatine is widely known as a tool for building muscle and strength, but the supplement can also provide a valuable advantage for cardio and even endurance athletes. “I hope this myth [of creatine just benefitting strength building] will continue to be dispelled,” says Dr. Rai. “From an endurance standpoint, if you think about your slow-twitch versus fast-twitch fibers, they still utilize the creatine pathway for energy production.” Creatine increases the muscles’ capacity to store glycogen, a type of fuel used to support high-intensity and long-duration exercise. According to a 2012, creatine may also improve aerobic endurance and power output (take note, triathletes) and potentially increase the body’s oxygen consumption efficiency. “There is also data out there that creatine supplementation, when used in conjunction with exercise that is meant to improve your, has been shown to have a greater increase than just exercise alone,” says Rai. There’s even showing that creatine can help endurance athletes extend their time to exhaustion when performing in the heat by lowering their core body temperature. Whether you’re into strength training, cardio, endurance sports, or weeknight pick-up games, creatine seems to be an effective way to speed up muscle recovery between sessions. “What we know is that it helps the muscles store glycogen—even better than other post-workout supplements that you can take—and that's what allows the body to recover from exercise,” says King. We also know that creatine helps power the cells responsible for repairing muscle fibers after workouts. Combined, these factors have a quantifiable effect on accelerating post-workout recovery and getting you back on the bike, bench, or basketball court faster. A recent found that creatine can accelerate recovery after bouts of intense exercise while also reducing muscle soreness in the hours and days following. The study’s authors suggest it may even be a helpful tool for speeding up recovery from injury. Most of the creatine in our bodies is stored in our muscles, which, of course, includes the heart. In fact, ATP is the heart’s primary energy source, and research has found that creatine supplementation supports a healthy heart rhythm and even increases overall heart efficiency. Creatine has been shown to help lower levels of triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood. At high levels, triglycerides can play a role in the hardening and thickening of the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke while impacting everything from cognitive function to sexual performance. In that same vein, literally speaking, creatine also helps bring down levels of homocysteine, a naturally occurring amino acid that can damage the arterial linings, potentially leading to blood clots or coronary artery disease down the line. “One of the big positives from an efficacy standpoint is the fact that [creatine] has been shown to have a relatively quick time to onset, as in you're seeing improvements within one to four weeks,” says Dr. Rai. Just check with your doctor before getting started, he says, particularly if you have any known kidney or liver issues."
"What is NAD? If you’ve been finding yourself more and foggy than usual, Google results and Reddit threads might have led you to this three letter acronym. NAD, aka nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is thought of by many as a one stop shop for,, and even immune system boosts. Supplements can either be ingested orally or delivered intravenously. But, as with any new or health trend, information is king—as is a good dose of sensible reason. We consulted the experts to answer your questions, including,,, and the. “NAD” is an acronym for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a molecule that has multiple important functions., an advanced nurse practitioner, says that, at the top level, it “helps keep our cells functioning properly.” “It plays an essential role in energy production by converting the food we eat into the fuel our cells need,” says Wedgwood. “NAD comes in two forms, NAD+ and NADH, both working together to ensure that our bodies have the energy they need to perform vital functions. Beyond energy, NAD also supports processes like DNA repair and immune health. As we get older, NAD+ levels tend to drop, which can affect our energy and cell regeneration, making it a focus in and wellness research.” This is why NAD is a popular health supplement for those over 30 and are starting to see their energy, metabolism and immune support decline. You’ll likely have seen two options in NAD offerings: NAD+ and NADH. As to the difference between the two, Wedgwood says it’s all about the roles they play in the body. “NAD+ helps create energy by turning food into fuel and supporting cell repair. It’s like the ‘starter’ for energy production,” says Wedgwood. “NADH, on the other hand, is the form that carries and delivers the energy where it's needed in the body. Think of NAD+ as the builder of energy, and NADH as the transporter, ensuring cells get the power they need. Both work together to keep everything running smoothly.” Because it’s a vital part of how your DNA works, NAD has a variety of different and useful functions in the body. A couple of the main ones are energy levels, metabolism support, skin health, and DNA repair. But how exactly does that all work? As Dr. Rishi Mandavia, managing director at, says it’s all about energy conversion. “NAD plays a big role in your metabolism, which is how your body turns food into energy. It helps with key processes that produce ATP [adenosine triphosphate], the energy your cells need to function. Without enough NAD, your body's ability to create energy slows down, making it harder for your cells to do their jobs.” NAD can also be an anti-aging boost as well. “NAD is linked to anti-aging because it helps repair cells, protect against damage and support healthy function in things like DNA repair and mitochondrial health,” says Mandavia. “Since NAD+ levels naturally decline as we age, keeping those levels higher might help slow some signs of aging—though more research is needed.” There’s more: NAD can also have an effect on “, immune function and regulating your body's internal clock, or circadian rhythms,” says Mandavia. “It also helps control how genes are expressed, which can impact overall health and longevity.” Here’s where it gets a tiny bit more complicated. NAD supplements can be delivered in both an oral form (usually as a tablet, but also a powder) as well as an intravenous or intramuscular injection. The benefits of correct supplement taking should include higher energy levels, boosted metabolism, better stress management and, among other things. But health professionals have differing opinions on what is the most effective, if effective at all, way to take NAD. Dr. Harpal Bains, a longevity doctor and the medical director at (which ), says IV is more effective than oral supplements, as “NAD+ supplements in oral form are unstable and have poor bioavailability, as it has to bypass your gut acid and enzymes to reach your cells. When taken by injection or intravenously, bioavailability is much better and most people can feel its effects straight away, especially with intravenous NAD+ infusions.” Mandavia’s opinion is that there is not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of NAD intravenous injections, saying: “There is currently a paucity of evidence to support NAD injections or intravenous infusions. This may be because NAD is an unstable molecule that does not survive long in a solution. Furthermore, NAD+ itself does not easily cross the cell membrane due to its large and charged structure. However, cells can take up precursors of NAD+, such as nicotinamide or nicotinic acid, which can then be converted into NAD+ inside the cell.” Those precursors are usually what are found within supplements. “There is very little evidence on the effectiveness of injections,” says Mandavia. “Oral supplementation of precursors has been shown to increase blood levels of NAD+ and this is thought to confirm the increased production of NAD+ in the cells. However, we do not yet know what impact this has on cellular function.” For Wedgwood, both oral and intravenous supplements have their pros, but she says it’s the long-term effects on that are still up for debate. “More research is needed to fully understand NAD’s long-term benefits and safety. While some evidence suggests NAD can support increased lifespan and promote longevity, the idea that it can completely stop aging is a myth not supported by current research. NAD can help slow down the aging process by improving cellular function, but it’s not a miracle cure for aging.” Despite their differing opinions on the best intake method, all three experts agree on who should sit out NAD altogether. “People with liver issues, low blood pressure, or those on blood thinners should avoid NAD unless advised by a doctor,” says Wedgwood. “ and breastfeeding women should also consult a healthcare professional before use.” Mandavia also says that, “before trying NAD supplements, it's important to talk to an expert. Some people experience side effects like fatigue,, or nausea. Also, it's key to know the correct dose and whether it might interact with any medications you're taking or health conditions you have.” While they are sometimes marketed as ‘NAD supplements,’ it’s important to note you can’t package up actual NAD into a tablet. Instead, these supplements actually contain “ingredients like nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which help your body produce more NAD+,” says Mandavia. Here are a few of recommendations. Nutricost Amazon BulkSupplements Amazon Charava Charava Qualia Zealth Amazon Nuchido Nuvision Life Extension Amazon"
"Dealing with skin conditions like acne or psoriasis can be hard enough when you know what you’re working with. But some maladies come with the additional challenge of a tricky diagnosis process to begin with, potentially sending you on a wild goose chase of treating inconsequential symptoms or, even worse, a misdiagnosis that only makes matters worse. Hidradenitis suppurativa is one such condition. A chronic, autoinflammatory skin disease, it borrows symptoms from a range of other common skin issues. It’s typically found in areas where skin folds onto itself, such as the armpits or groin, and symptoms can include boils, abscesses, drainage, and even scarring. And the longer it runs untreated, the worse it can get, making life increasingly uncomfortable and awkward for the afflicted. Similar to acne, hidradenitis suppurativa initiates at the hair follicle. Except, unlike acne, which tends to express outward, much of hidradenitis suppurativa’s activity happens beneath the skin—which makes sense, given the condition’s alias: acne inversa (as in, inverted acne). “It's not just the follicle, but also the associated sweat gland. And those glands are what allow this larger, deeper, more inflammatory process.,” says Nicole Lee, MD, MPH, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and owner of. “Oftentimes, people will come in with recurring abscesses or infection. You’ll treat them, and yet they keep getting recurrences of it in specific areas. That triggers you to think that this is more than just an isolated event,” says Dr. Lee. While there’s some data to suggest the cause of hidradenitis suppurativa could be linked with variables like increased visceral fat and smoking, dermatologists told that it is most likely genetic, with these environmental factors simply helping to stimulate the condition’s progression. “Most importantly, and I really emphasize this to patients, is that this is not hygiene related,” says, board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor in the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai. “A lot of times, people go to the emergency department and they're told, ‘Oh you have a boil, you need to wash yourself or shower more.’ This is not that.” Turns out, misdiagnoses are pretty common in cases of hidradenitis suppurativa. Here’s why. One of the most frequent complications in diagnosing hidradenitis suppurativa is that it gets mistaken for other conditions. Up until the point of eventual scarring, the condition’s unequivocal calling card, it presents mostly as a collection of symptoms that may not even appear to be related to one another. “A lot of patients are told that they have a recurrent staph infection,” says Dr. Shaikh. “Another thing that it can be confused with is folliculitis. And again, patients are told, ‘Look, you need to clean yourself better, you need to shower more.’ I've had patients come in who are showering two or three times a day. They're rubbing their skin raw because they've been convinced that they're not cleaning themselves correctly.” To be clear, dermatologists can and will more than likely get it right, but the problem is that a lot of people tend to go instead to their primary doctor or local urgent care, who lack the specialized expertise to pick up on the condition’s nuances. “No one else in medicine can really make this diagnosis, because they're not trained to,” says Dr. Shaikh, who notes that an initial misdiagnosis can create an anchoring bias that only serves to waste time and allow the condition to get worse. “You’re told you have an abscess, or you have folliculitis, or you have really bad acne, and then at that point hidradenitis suppurativa is not even on your radar.” In a perfect world, when you notice something weird going on with your body, your first instinct is to see a specialist. Or maybe, if your insurance requires it, you go to your primary care provider first, because you need an in-person referral in order to get coverage. In reality, however, more often than not we all start at the same place: Google. In the case of hidradenitis suppurativa, due to the uncomfortable and often socially awkward nature of the condition’s symptoms, there’s an especially strong tendency for people to privately seek solutions on their own, such as over-the-counter remedies or even DIY hacks. “The social impact and embarrassment is one of the hardest things for patients,” says Dr. Lee. “These nodules and boils are constantly draining, so you're like bleeding through your clothes, it can smell very badly, and imagine having these extremely swollen painful boils where you can't put your arm down, or you can't wear your underwear.” Unfortunately, the internet will only get you so far—which is to say, not far at all—in diagnosing hidradenitis suppurativa, because you really do need to see a doctor who can put the pieces together. “It's entirely a clinical diagnosis,” says Dr. Shaikh. “It's entirely based on the physical exam that we do as a dermatologist, and the history that we take on the patient based on their description of what's happened in the months or years prior.” Hidradenitis suppurativa, compared with other skin conditions, has one of the longest diagnosis latency times—in other words, the time from when a person first starts presenting symptoms to the time they wind up with a formal diagnosis. Oftentimes, it’s several years. One reason for this is that hidradenitis suppurativa is not always clearly discernible to the naked eye. “Much or all of the disease is going on underneath the surface of the skin,” says Dr. Shaikh. “So you may feel it before you see it. It's less readily apparent than other skin diseases.” Another factor in delayed diagnoses is that symptoms can show up weeks, months, or even years apart, making it virtually impossible to put two and two together until much later. “The chronology of the disease is highly variable,” says Dr. Shaikh. “You might be like, ‘Oh, I had this thing under my arm for a few weeks, like three years ago, and then it kind of went away, and then recently I got a spot just popping up in my groin, and that lasted a week.’ And so people may not realize that they're even related to each other.” The best thing you can do is to remain vigilant about noting changes in your body and bringing any concerns to a dermatologist as soon as possible. “Don't be afraid to go see an expert,” says Dr. Lee. “It's okay. Realize that you are not the only one, and there are things that can be done.”"
"You’ve heard that eating less red meat can improve your heart health, and loading up on calcium will make your bones strong. If you want to build muscle, you’d be well served to pile your plate with protein. But what about eating for pulmonary health? Research supports the idea that your nutritional habits can also impact your lungs, particularly if you have asthma. “Asthma is a chronic illness. We don't have a cure, but ‘control’ is the word that we use,” says board-certified pulmonologist, clinical associate professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. “And if you can incorporate a healthy lifestyle, which includes a healthy, nutritious diet, your chances of control are so much better.”, professor of nursing at Columbia School of Nursing and spokesperson for the (AAFA), also says that in her clinical experience, she’s found that patients who prioritize whole, nutritious foods “report less problems with their asthma.” Because there’s so much to gain, Dr. Adams says it’s important for asthmatics to speak with their doctor early and often about their diet. “I think [diet] is just as important as allergy-proofing” for controlling asthma, he says. “Some people don't ask the question: ‘What should I eat, what shouldn't I eat?’... Don’t be shy about exploring this area because it can really be a big help.” Below are seven eating habits that research shows could help control your asthma symptoms—but please talk to your doc before making any big changes to the way you eat. “Healthy weight” will mean something different for every person, and it’s important to remember that you can never tell how healthy someone is just by looking at—or weighing—them. However, Dr. Adams says, “It's worth noting that obesity is a real risk factor for asthma. So if we can avoid that or if we can reduce weight, that alone will improve the outlook or the prognosis for a patient with asthma.” People with asthma experience a swelling of the airways, so it makes sense that in the body would help with symptoms. “If you can combat the inflammation and do it naturally through the diet, you're going to just help the outlook of your asthma tremendously,” says Dr. Adams., author of, agrees. “There are a litany of anti-inflammatory nutrients and antioxidants, like vitamin A, C, D, E, that help to reduce inflammation by reducing oxidative stress,” she says. “These nutrients are able to not only put a bandage on the respiratory ‘wound’ but they are able to repair and strengthen cells to prevent injuries and damage from happening again.” According to Dr. George, studies show that a diet high in antioxidants, specifically, “may and reduce exacerbations and loss of lung function.” “Antioxidant-rich foods are beneficial in the management of asthma symptoms by bringing oxygenated, healthy and supercharged cells to the irritated and injured areas in the body,” says Beckerman, naming flavonoids, selenium, carotene, vitamin C, E, and ubiquinone—which can be found in fish, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables—as dietary antioxidants to add to your menu. “These foods can help calm airway hyperresponsiveness by helping to reduce mucus secretions and calming any redness associated with airway constriction and inflammation.” Dr. Adams often recommends his patients follow a Mediterranean-style diet. “Lots of fruits, lots of vegetables,” he says. “Fruits are rich in antioxidants. They're also rich in a lot of vitamins like vitamin C. That ‘apple a day’ is a way to get vitamins as well as antioxidants.” Specifically, low levels of vitamin D, which has antioxidant properties, has been shown to. According to Dr. George, medical professionals therefore believe that maintaining sufficient levels of vitamin D is important for controlling asthma flares. Dr. Adams recommends almonds, legumes, eggs, and fish (particularly salmon) as great food sources of vitamin D. But if you have a difficult time getting enough vitamin D from food, he says, research shows that vitamin D supplements may be helpful in reducing asthma symptoms as well. Beckerman says that may also indirectly help with respiratory inflammation. “Because fiber is able to increase the thickness of the barriers in the intestines, it can prevent pro-inflammatory proteins and cytokines from entering the bloodstream and triggering an inflammatory immune response all over the body,” she says. Great sources of fiber include whole grains, beans, nuts, berries, and sweet potatoes. According to the, sulfites have been known to aggravate asthma symptoms for some people—although research has not yet proven why this happens. Sulfites are chemicals that act as a preservative in food. They occur naturally in some foods, including fermented foods, wine, vinegar, and some vegetables, but are added to many others —notably dried fruits, shrimp, and maraschino cherries—in order to maintain their color and lengthen their self-life. Dr. Adams explains that your stomach sits right below your diaphragm. “That’s what separates the lungs from the abdomen,” he says. As the diaphragm contracts and expands, it pushes air in and out of the lungs. However, when you become gassy, your stomach presses up against the diaphragm, limiting its movement and, as a result, the ability for you to take in oxygen. “This could definitely make someone who is already short of breath from the asthma even more short of breath,” says Dr. Adams. Beckerman therefore recommends limiting hard-to-digest and gas-causing foods like raw broccoli, cauliflower, and sodas or seltzers on days when your asthma is acting up. “In fact, it’s recommended to stick to cooked vegetables, opt for soups and other warm foods to keep digestion at ease while asthma symptoms are heightened,” she says. Beyond you eat, you eat can also help prevent your asthma from flaring. “Eating habits such as eating slowly, sticking to warm foods and cooked foods, taking breaths between bites, keeping clothing loose around the belt, all could help to relieve any airway constriction or additional tightness,” says Beckerman. Dr. Adams adds overeating to this list: When you eat too much, your stomach expands and inhibits diaphragm function just like when you’re gassy. He recommends small meals spread at regular intervals throughout the day. Just remember: You can’t cure asthma or eliminate its symptoms through eating habits alone. “Nutrition therapy is a benefit in the prevention and can be used in the management of asthma—however, it is critical and diligent to work with a pulmonologist or doctor who can provide insight and recommend specific individual treatments,” says Beckerman."
"You may dream of sprinting effortlessly around the track à la, but if you're one of the, it may be time to stop pounding the pavement. The best ellipticals offer low-impact cardio that's easy on the joints, and contrary to somewhat of a wimpy reputation, ellipticals rival the and in getting your heart pumping, which has positive effects on and. “Ellipticals provide a low-impact workout that’s gentle on your joints while engaging both your upper and lower body, offering a comprehensive exercise option,” says, ISSA-certified personal trainer and founder and CEO of. This is especially true in the era of connected fitness, when interactive workouts, better ergonomics, and endless customization options let them work with your body to get in a good workout that doesn’t kill your joints. If you’re sick of fighting for custody of the gym ellipticals, we found the best ellipticals that’ll boost your heart rate at home, one graceful stride at a time. We chose the as the best elliptical overall because it offers immersive workouts with certified trainers, has auto-adjusting resistance and incline, and syncs with Google Maps to simulate any street in the world during your workout. Props if you know exactly what you’re looking for in a cardio machine. Here’s our shortlist of best ellipticals for your thoughtful consideration. How We Chose the Best Ellipticals Our testing team compared dozens of ellipticals to round out our best-of list, judging them each on usability, functionality, ergonomics, and price. We also analyzed each elliptical according to factors such as weight capacity, available customizations, and storage space, adhering to a rigorous where we note the key differences in each elliptical, including resistance and incline options, portability, and app compatibility. NordicTrack NordicTrack The NordicTrack AirGlide 14i isn’t your parents’ elliptical. It’s bulky, yes, but the pedals and stride length will feel comfortable as you hike up the resistance and incline. With thousands of elliptical workouts on the iFit app, you’ll have tons of variety to encourage you to hop on the machine daily. NordicTrack’s Airglide 14i measures six feet long and a little under 250 pounds. The stocky lower half gives it the necessary stability for intense workouts, but the console and handles are still super sleek. Keep in mind that you’ll also have to subscribe to the iFit app ($39 a month) to take full advantage of the interactive, trainer-led workouts and all the promised features. One of our favorite features is called AutoAdjust, which gives your virtual iFit coach control over your incline, decline, and resistance. If you’re easily bored during cardio, the AirGlide 14i has a truly unique feature that might save you from ennui. Google Maps syncs to the screen, allowing you to simulate an IRL street view anywhere in the world as you work out, whether that’s the Champs-Élysées or the back country road to your grandma’s house. Our tester says that it’s the customization options, like the street simulator, that boost the Airglide 14i’s appeal. In addition to transporting you anywhere in the world, you can also adjust the pedal angle, incline, decline, and stride length, so no two sessions are the same. At just under $2,000, this elliptical is one of the bigger investments for a home gym (although it is on par with some of the ). If you don’t see yourself using this elliptical as your main source of cardio several times a week, a budget pick like the might be more your speed. ProForm ProForm The ProForm Carbon E7 Elliptical is another all-encompassing cardio machine with iFit fitness app compatibility, a generous incline and resistance offering, and a small-but-mighty touchscreen. The Carbon E7 measures over six feet long and weighs a little over 200 pounds. We wouldn't say it's the most compact, but it's still portable on wheels and packed with customizable features. As a noteworthy bonus, ProForm offers three years of iFit fitness app access (normally $39 a month) with your purchase, so you can still follow along with the interactive programming and trainer-led workouts. Syncing with iFit allows the virtual trainers to automatically adjust the incline and resistance throughout the session for a more dynamic training. The seven-inch screen isn't big, but you still have the option to view your trainings with vivid color. If you prefer to switch up your session manually, flip through 24 resistance levels and up to 20 degrees of incline (in five-degree increments). The 19-inch stride length is also adjustable to create as short or lengthy of a stride as you'd like, which allows for tall and short users to glide with ease. To incorporate a bit of upper body, hold on to the moving handrails, or grip the stationary handrails for a more isolated lower body movement. Horizon Fitness Horizon Fitness Checking every box for price, user-friendliness, and functionality, the Horizon EX-59 is great for beginners. It has everything you need when you’re new to elliptical training: an LCD screen, multiple resistance levels, and Bluetooth capability to play music. The Horizon EX-59 is our pick for those who are newer to the elliptical universe. It’s simpler in design (you don’t need an app for this one) and mimics a natural stride with an 18-inch track. Two sets of handlebars—a moving one to involve your upper body and a stationary one to isolate your lower body—also allow you customize your workout. You won’t get trainer-led sessions from the EX-59, but you can set your phone on the device holder and connect to the Bluetooth speakers to stream workouts from your phone instead. If you don’t want to think too much about picking the right workout for the day, choose from five preset programs. The only downside we see: This is a bulky machine that doesn’t fold, but the front wheels do make it transportable from room to room. The upside is that the price isn’t as steep as others on our list, and we think the functionality is perfect for a beginner. Sole Fitness Sole The Sole E25 is a heavy-duty elliptical that’s ultra user-friendly because Sole called on the help of physical therapists for its design. The footrests are ergonomically designed with an inward slope that’s easy on your knees and ankles. If you’re going to be spending a few hours a week on your elliptical, it’s gotta be comfortable. Thanks to the input of physical therapists, the foot rests on the Sole E25 have a two-degree inward slope that takes the load off your ankles and knees. Two sets of handlebars track your heart rate and offer different muscle involvement, whether you’re involving your upper body with the movable handles or isolating your lower body with the stationary ones. The cherry on top—a built-in fan delivers a much-needed breeze after a heart-pumping interval. The Sole E25 gets back to basics with a simple console that includes two Bluetooth speakers and a USB charging port. You can select from 20 levels of incline and resistance, or choose from five built-in programs. Our testers called out the whisper-quiet motor—ideal for early morning workouts—and the durability of this large-and-in-charge machine. Overall, we’re impressed by the comfort and customization options on this elliptical—especially considering it’s one of the cheaper ones we tested—but if you love a touchscreen and thrive on instructor-led workouts, the Sole E25 is probably a little no-frills for you. BowFlex BowFlex Bowflex’s Max Trainer M9 is a high-intensity elliptical stepper that fits in your apartment or home gym with room to spare. You can connect to instructor-cued interval training or binge a show on Netflix via the built-in screen. Back in the ‘90s, you couldn’t flip a channel without seeing a Bowflex infomercial, and the brand’s cred has stuck around. The Max Trainer M9 is technically a cross between an elliptical and stair stepper (kind of like the ), but it’s about half the size of a traditional elliptical. The elliptical integrates with the brand’s JRNY fitness app to stream classes, but you can also dive into four preset workouts that function sans app (both the app classes and preset workouts range from light to intense). Because the short handles keep your arms closer to your body, you’re also maximizing effort in your lower body. At its most challenging, think of a SoulCycle or Peloton class without ever connecting butt to seat. Our tester did warn us about the noise, however, saying that this elliptical gets loud, especially when you’re doing an intense workout. We wouldn’t recommend using it early in the morning or late at night so as not to wake up your roommates. But other than the noise, he reports feeling just as energized with the Max Trainer M9 as he does on a Peloton bike. Merach The Merach E19 elliptical incorporates elliptical cardio with resistance band training for four different workout modes (walking, HIIT training, strength training, and lower-body training). It’s a budget-friendly pick, and the compact size is a win for small spaces. For a sweet price of $400, the Merach E19 costs less than a month of Equinox’s most expensive membership. It’s small but mighty, easily tucking into a room’s corner. It combines the classic elliptical motion with resistance band cables—so you can add bursts of strength training to your steady-state cardio (plus: these have built-in heart rate sensors to track your effort levels). If you don’t want to use the bands, lean on the armrests instead, which adjust up to 7.88 inches to meet your ideal height. To adjust the resistance, you have to connect the Merach with the brand’s free fitness app—unfortunately, there’s no way to manually do so, which our testers didn’t love. Both courses and games are built into the app, too, so if you want a connected fitness experience, you’ll be taken care of with this option. However, our tester says the app isn’t updated often and glitches every now and then, but there are plenty of diverse workouts to choose from in its existing library. Life Fitness Life Fitness The Life Fitness E1 with the modest Go Console built with durability to last for years. It boasts all your basic stat tracking too, but the high-quality materials are the standout features here. You’ll find a lot of Life Fitness machines in hotels and commercial gyms because they’re durable and dependable. If you want to bring the luxury gym experience to your home, the E1 Elliptical Cross-Trainer is a good place to start. It isn’t as shiny and attention-grabbing as other ellipticals on our list (read: no interactive or on-demand classes), but in this case, you’re paying for quality first and foremost. Our tester loves that it’s quiet, the preset workouts are challenging, and you won’t have to replace this for years. The lifetime warranty comes in handy if you find yourself needing a replacement. The E1 comes with two console options. The Go Console, which is the simpler and more cost-effective of the two, comes with 13 preloaded workouts. Up to two users can store their progress on a personal profile and create one custom workout for each. You can’t store your phone on the Go Console as opposed to the Track Connect 2.0 option, but you can get a cheap stand on Amazon if you really want one. (For $3,499, the Track Connect 2.0 has 15 preloaded workouts and room for three custom workouts across four user profiles. It also syncs to the Life Fitness Connect app or your smartphone. Before you make your final selection, let's take a look at how the best ellipticals stack up in cost (before any sales or discounts). We know how daunting it can be to decide which gym equipment is worth splurging on. So many machines promise different things, and it’s easy to get lost in the details. But we take our pretty seriously. Our team dives deep into researching every elliptical on the market and we put our top contenders through the paces to test them on durability, functionality, ease of use, portability, and performance. We found the best ellipticals for home gyms that are high-intensity for your fitness goals and low-intensity for your joints. We also tapped, an ISSA-certified personal trainer, to give us the rundown on how an elliptical can make a difference in your fitness routine. After a few weeks, each elliptical was graded on its exercise chops and how it held up against different factors such as body type, storage space, physical ability, budget, and more. Our findings are handed off to the medical experts to see how our user testing mirrored the industry research and brand claims. If spending your hard-earned cash is enough to make you sweat, rest assured that these best ellipticals are an investment well made. Between the features and space requirements, buying an elliptical is a little more complex than you might think. That’s why we talked to the experts for shopping tips to get the most out of this low-impact machine. Here are the factors to keep in mind. Size If you’re in the market for an at-home elliptical, York says size is just as important as fitness capabilities. Ellipticals aren’t dainty, so make sure you have room for one (the Bowflex Max Trainer M9 and Merach E19 are the most compact on our list). Resistance and Incline York also recommends paying close attention to features like adjustable resistance and incline that will mix up your workouts. Comfort Do you prefer a short or long stride? Vertical or horizontal motion? Comfort is a crucial element to any piece of fitness equipment, so consider the size and movement of the handles and pedals, as well as the stride length. Value Budget is another factor to keep in mind when shopping. You can find a quality machine for a few hundred dollars (or search local marketplaces for a used one), but plan to spend between $1,200 to $2,500. Compared to treadmills and other, the biggest benefit of ellipticals is that they’re gentle on your joints. The low-impact, gliding motion prevents all your weight from crashing down on your knees and ankles as you step,. The repetitive motion might get monotonous (especially since you’re not stimulated by an outdoor setting), but York says that if joint health is a concern, ellipticals are the way to go. How much does an elliptical cost? Many budget elliptical options start at $400 (sacrificing the fancier features), while other ellipticals can be up to $4,000. On average, mid-range elliptical machines cost between $1,200 and $2,000. What muscles does the elliptical work? The, or the front thigh muscles, feel the burn the most during an elliptical workout. But depending on the type of machine, ellipticals can work the entire body. The upper body engages with the moving handrails, and the core and lower body engage with each stride. Is the elliptical better than cycling? Ellipticals require more balance and energy since you’re in a standing position, but sitting on a bike takes pressure off any lower body injuries. With moving handrails, ellipticals work the upper body, rather than just the lower body during a cycling workout. Are there disadvantages to using an elliptical? Because it’s a low-impact form of exercise, elliptical training doesn’t build muscle or endurance as quickly as strength training or a treadmill. Elliptical training also isn’t effective at improving bone density, which. Are ellipticals better than walking? Both are cardio workouts, but ellipticals work more muscles at once than walking. Elliptical workouts are also lower-impact than walking, putting less stress on your lower body. is a certified personal trainer with over 15 years of training experience. He is also the founder & CEO of, the largest in-home and on-site personal training company in the world. York is passionate about personal training, helping clients of all ages and backgrounds navigate their fitness journey from home, the office, or anywhere in between. This article was expertly reviewed for accuracy and clarity by. Nastasi is the owner of Nastasi Nutrition, is a NASM certified Sports Nutrition Coach and Personal Trainer with a degree in Biochemistry currently residing in North Carolina. Resources"
"While I’m personally all for bro science and trickle-down gains, the best protein powder has come a long way since we were all freshmen in high school sucking down mass gainer shakes and asking seniors to swipe us the latest Max Power Test Boosters from GNC. That being said, your protein powder will probably get the job done—but with so many options on the market, finding the protein powder for your specific needs can be a tall order. That’s why your here at Recommends did the heavy lifting for you and tested a grip of different protein powders to put together this list of our favorite ones, for your viewing pleasure. Optimum Nutrition Amazon Optimum Nutrition Look, is this the most exciting choice for the top spot? Definitely not. You’ve almost certainly seen this tub of protein on shelves at and nutrition stores, and it’s probably that brand the jacked person you know first recommended to you back in the early aughts. However, there are a few reasons it’s our number one: It’s dependable, it’s affordable, it mixes well, it comes in a grip of solid flavors, and it’s got a decent amount of protein per serving. It also has a preposterous amount of positive reviews and anecdotal evidence supporting its efficacy. “I used [other protein powders] back in the day and loved them,” Austin Day— -certified personal trainer, marathon runner, and former college wrestler—says. “But I always come back to Optimum.” I’ve personally gone through countless tubs of this stuff, and while it’s not my all-time favorite protein powder, it’s got a respectable 24 grams of protein per scoop and it’s the brand I feel most comfortable recommending to just about anyone looking for a no-frills, trusty whey concentrate. Ghost Amazon Okay, onto personal favorite and go-to protein powder: Ghost. For years, I was an unflavored protein powder guy (I know, I know, gross), but this is the brand that changed my mind. With a range of flavors including,, and (my top pick) Nutter Butter, this is without a doubt the best-tasting protein powder in the game. Their secret? They partner with snack brands and use the same ingredients you’d find in the snacks. (Like, there are literally in the protein powder—God bless America.) In addition to being undeniably delicious, it’s got a strong 26g of protein powder per serving, mixes well, and sits well in my stomach. Nutricost Amazon Nutricost If you’re into, but don’t want to break the bank, you can’t go wrong with Nutricost. The products are some of the best bang-for-your-buck items on the market, and I’ve been using the brand’s supplements for years, from protein and vitamin D to creatine, magnesium, and more. As far as their protein goes, you’re getting a solid 25 grams of protein per serving—and for a $60 5-pound tub, that’s hard to top. The range of flavors leaves a little to be desired, but if you’re looking for value, this is our top pick. Dymatize Amazon Are you, bro? If so, mass gainers are an easy way to pack on the calories—especially if you don't have a massive appetite all the time. Also known as “meal replacement” shakes (though we prefer the much cooler and more jacked-sounding title of “mass gainer”), these have a ton of easily digestible carbs and protein, which makes them great for gaining weight. This one from Dymatize is a relatively affordable, extremely effective, and decent-tasting option. Core Power Amazon First things first: We here at Recommends think making a protein shake at your desk while staring directly at your boss is an way to get a promotion. (Second only to rocking a sweet, perhaps.) But if looking for something to bring to school or the office that doesn't draw attention (or, sadly, assert workplace dominance), Fairlife Core Power Elite High Protein Shakes are the move. They have a whopping 42 grams of protein in a mystifyingly tiny package, and they taste great, too. KOS Walmart My girlfriend doesn’t digest whey protein powder very well, so she sticks to this vegan option from KOS. It’s only got 20 gram or protein per serving, which is on the lower end, but it’s also won numerous awards from a grip of publications for its flavor. (It’s actually the only plant-based protein powder my girlfriend will buy, since every other one she’s tried has been a let-down flavor-wise.) Do we love the “superfood” denomination? Not really, but the taste alone puts this one in our top spot for plant-based protein powder. Isopure Amazon Well, whey protein powder usually comes in two forms: whey isolate and whey concentrate. that whey isolate undergoes more processing, which makes isolate contain fewer fats and carbs per serving than concentrate (a.k.a. it “isolates” the whey). Does it make a huge, notable difference in your gains? Probably not. However, a few of our testers with sensitive stomachs report that isolate is easier to digest, compared to concentrate. The tradeoff is that it tends to be more expensive than concentrate. Our pick is Isopure: I’ve been a fan of this protein in the past, but the $80 price point for 41 servings was a little tough for me to swallow. However, this 25-gram-per-scoop formula comes highly recommended by a slew of testers and reviewers alike, and if you find that isolate is easier on your stomach, it’s something to consider. Levels Amazon I was a Levels man myself for about a year, and if I’m honest, I picked it because of the cow on the tub—and I’m glad I did because this grass-fed protein is some of the best I’ve tried. Coming in at a dollar an ounce, it’s not the cheapest option, but it’s 25 grams per scoop, made in the USA, and has no hormones, no GMOs, no added sugars, no soy, no gluten, no bleach, no fillers, and no artificial flavors or sweeteners. My favorite part, though? The unflavored… flavor (?) blends seamlessly into whatever you put it in. One of my biggest gripes with protein powder is that I can always tell when that chalky whey flavor cuts through an otherwise delicious bowl of oatmeal, smoothie, or shake. This stuff? Undetectable. To really put it to the test (gird your loins), I mixed a scoop of it with straight water—yes, really—and could hardly tell the difference, besides the slightly, uh, texture. Isopure Amazon Clear whey isolate is a relatively new item you might have seen gracing the online shelves of your favorite online supplement retailers. Basically, it’s whey protein that’s been “ultra hydrolyzed” to mix clear and be far less thick than the whey concentrate you might be used to. I was pretty skeptical at first, but after trying this out, I’ve gotta say, it’s a cool idea, and it actually works. All you do is mix it in water, give it a good shake in a blender bottle, and wait a few minutes for the foam to settle. The end result is like a thicker Gatorade, and while it’s definitely not my go-to way of consuming protein powder, it’s a great option for those who want to use protein powder, say, intra-workout or outside on a hot day, when the idea of sucking down thick chocolate sludge might not be so appealing. (Two things to note: It’s only got 20 grams per scoop, and it’s pricey.) BSN Amazon There was a time when every high school locker room and gym supplement shelf carried Syntha-6, and for good reason: It tastes great, comes in a massive tub, and helps pack some serious meat on your bones. Naked Whey Amazon Naked sent over a colossal tub of their unflavored whey, and though I definitely get some weird looks walking around the office with a shaker cup full of milk and a few scoops of this stuff, it's top-tier protein. Body Fortress Amazon You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself buy some Body Fortress protein powder. It's not the fanciest stuff, but it's been around seemingly forever in grocery stores, drug stores, and Walmarts all across America. The bottom line? It's cheap, and it works. Reebok Amazon Indeed. This protein is surprisingly good, and though it's not an isolate, it mixes like one, and has an infusion of collagen, to boot. Huge Supplements Amazon Transparent Labs Transparent Labs Oath Amazon Optimum Nutrition Amazon With so many health claims floating around social media, it can be tough to spot the supplement scams. For example, those “detox teas” didn’t give your favorite influencer a six-pack, and there’s a chance that the protein powder your has a promo code for in his Instagram bio isn’t the sole cause of his jacked-ness. However, protein is decidedly a scam and can help you build muscle—so long as you’re also eating a balanced diet, training hard, and focusing on your sleep and recovery. Protein powder shouldn’t be your source of protein (you should try to get most of your protein from whole foods) but it's a great way to sneak in some protein throughout the day, and are hard to beat if you’re on a time crunch or on the go. “Protein powder is a convenient tool you can use to meet your daily protein needs, but it should be used to complement, not replace, a balanced diet,” Jennifer Conway, MPH, RD, LDN, and Director of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at, explains. “Before supplementing, I recommend you identify your exact daily protein needs based on your weight, age, fitness level, and nutrition goals. The quality of protein powder matters, so look for brands that contain all nine essential amino acids and are third-party tested for quality and safety. For optimal results—and taste!—pair it with whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats like nuts or nut milk, and supplement around your activity levels—like after to support muscle recovery or for on-the-go nutrition to sustain your energy during the day. Remember that moderation is key for a balanced lifestyle and excessive reliance on supplements can leave gaps with other essential nutrients.” When you're trying to add a protein powder to your diet, you're going to want to keep a few things in mind. First off, the of protein you're choosing—whey concentrate, whey isolate, hydrolyzed whey, casein, plant protein—is gonna be important, especially if you're working with any dietary restrictions. Next, flavor: You're not going to hit your protein goal if the thought of slamming your shake makes your stomach churn. Lastly, there's value. Super high-end protein powder is definitely nice if you have a shake every so often, but if you plan on knocking back several scoops a day year-round, price is going to be a big factor. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable options on our list above. In my 15 years of strength training, I’ve tried pretty much every major protein powder out there, from no-name Walmart brands to high-end, probably-too-expensive blends from the newest, most hyped-up DTC brands in the game. Plus, I also consulted with my network of testers, which includes my fellow gym rats office, former NCAA athletes, - and -certified trainers, and competitive BJJ grapplers. What is the best protein powder? Our top pick for the best protein powder is the. What is the best protein powder for weight loss? The only way to lose weight is by being in a caloric deficit, so there’s really no “best protein powder for weight loss”—but if you’re looking for a lower-calorie option, we suggest going with a whey isolate protein powder like the. What is the best tasting protein powder? The best-tasting protein powder is different for everyone, but my favorite is the. What type of protein powder is best? The best type of protein powder is the one that’s best for your specific wants and needs, whether that’s gaining muscle, losing weight, plant-based options, easy-digesting options, etc. What is the best protein powder for muscle gain? The best protein powder for muscle gain is the one you’ll actually eat on a consistent basis. What is the best weight gainer protein powder? Our favorite weight gainer protein powder is the."
"Drop by just about, and you're likely to see a steady parade of dudes walking right past the best cardio machines and heading straight to the benches. The phalanx of cardio machines, with its rows of treadmills and clusters of stair-steppers, often sits deserted by comparison. And, while there's nothing wrong with a, if you're among those who still think of as merely pre-lift warm-up tools—or, even worse, as instruments of self-inflicted punishment to avoid at all costs—you’re missing out (and potentially limiting your.) Some studies that doing 45 minutes of moderate to intense cardiovascular exercise for four days a week can lead to a five- or six-percent increase in leg muscle size. It also strengthens your heart, builds endurance, can keep sharp, and helps you. And although there are plenty of machines that promise benefits like these, not all of them deliver. To assist in your decision making process, we've broken down your gym's most popular —and what you need to know about each of them before you press start. NordicTrack NordicTrack For runners that avoid the pavement because it’s just too hard on the joints, NordicTrack’s Commercial 2450 Treadmill has a super cushy deck that absorbs impact and provides some much-needed relief. But with an incline range from 12 to negative 3 degrees, it’s also great for replicating outdoor training—especially for trail runners or marathoners who need to work both inclines and downhills. This model is an updated version of the fan-favorite 1750. With a max speed of 14 miles per hour—that’s a whopping 4:17 minute-mile pace—this is one of the fastest treadmills we’ve seen, so even elite athletes will be able to complete their tough sprint intervals. To activate the equipment, you’ll have to register for free iFit account. But to access the 24-inch touchscreen’s full range of content like immersive, trainer-led video workouts, you’ll need to pay for an iFit subscription. Peloton Amazon The Peloton is more than just a pandemic-era relic—it’s now a household staple for thousands of people who take their spin sessions seriously. Its sturdy build and smooth belt drive can handle daily workouts without showing signs of wear. The Bike+ has a larger screen than the original—23.8 inches—that swivels so you can use it for floor workouts when you need a break from the saddle. The library of live and on-demand classes are led by instructors who manage to balance motivation with the right amount of intensity. (Great if you want the vibe of a group class without having to leave the house.) And that integrated leaderboard? Equal parts addictive and humbling. Sole Sole The Sole E25 elliptical is a solid pick for anyone looking to keep pressure off their joints without skipping cardio. Its heavy-duty flywheel ensures smooth, consistent motion, while the adjustable incline—up to 20 levels—lets you work different muscle groups and boost intensity. The oversized pedals are designed with a slight inward slope to reduce stress on your knees and ankles, a thoughtful touch if you’re coming back from an injury. The E25 keeps things simple with a clear console that tracks time, distance, calories, and heart rate. It also features a built-in fan (such a lifesaver) and Bluetooth speakers so you can blast your favorite workout playlist from your smartphone. Stepr Stepr A stair climber at home is definitely a flex, but the Stepr+ makes it count. With a massive 27-inch touchscreen, it puts a ton of on-demand classes, guided training sessions, and entertainment streaming at your fingertips—ideal for zoning in or zoning out, depending on the day. (No membership or subscription required.) Its 5.2-inch floating stadium step accommodates any foot size, and the surprisingly compact footprint and height allow it to fit into most indoor environments and through most door frames. If anything goes wrong, it comes with a limited warranty for home and light commercial use: 10 years for the frame, 3 years for parts. Assault Fitness Amazon The AssaultRunner is a great option for at home cardio—both in terms of price (it won’t set you back as much as a high-end commercial treadmill) and space, making it a favorite for home gyms. This thing is also super rugged: It features a stolid steel frame and handrails and a belt rated to last up to 150,000 miles (yes, really.) Like other self-powered treadmills, it relies entirely on your stride to move the belt, putting you in full control of speed and intensity. While that might sound a little daunting, once you get the hang of it, it might be tough to go back to old-fashioned treadmills. Plus, it requires no electricity, so you can place it anywhere without hunting for outlets. WalkingPad WalkingPad Amazon The WalkingPad C2 impressed us with its combination of portability and performance. It’s designed to fit seamlessly into your WFH setup: Its foldable design makes it easy to store when not in use—just slide it under the couch or bed when you’re done. At just 55 pounds, it’s light enough to move around without much effort. The four-layer walking surface offers comfortable shock absorption, keeping your legs fresh even after extended use, and the deck is plenty long no matter how long your stride. Plus, it’s quiet enough to use during meetings without disrupting your work flow—although you may want to give your coworkers a heads up. The one downside is the automatic mode, which is supposed to auto-adjust based on where you are on the belt. It is finicky, so it's best to keep it in manual mode. Centr Centr If you’re looking for a treadmill that can fit in a smaller space, this one is sleek and foldable but doesn’t skimp on running surface—the belt length is 55 inches, on par with other treadmills. And while most tech these days seems to get overly complex, this console is straightforward with buttons to adjust the speed and incline at waist height, which is easy to reach mid-stride. The brushless motor is very quiet, and the smooth belt has enough cushioning to protect the joints but not too much that it feels like a different sport than road running. It also has a fancy feature called Natural Stride Technology that automatically slows and speeds the belt as you adjust your pace. If you like to walk and stream your favorite show, you’ll find preloaded apps like YouTube and Disney+, and you can also mirror your phone to the screen. With the treadmill purchase, you’ll get a three-month subscription to the Centr app, where you can follow along with the Hybrid Strong program—a great way to stay accountable to your running goals with trainer-led workouts. But unlike other treadmills, you don’t a membership to use the machine. Schwinn Schwinn Not every exercise bike needs to come with a flashy screen and high-tech features. With moving handles, the Airdyne AD7 turns a typical spin session into a full body workout, engaging the arms and core while your legs do most of the work. Certified personal trainer uses it in his home for steady-state cardio, interval training, and sprints. “It requires very little maintenance and has lasted me since 2017,” he says. “It’s a great combination of durability and convenience.” The no-frills console tracks the essentials—speed, time, calories—without locking you into subscriptions or apps. Simple. And at 53-inches, the design is compact and easy to move, thanks to wheels at the base, but it won’t wobble when the sprints get intense. Not all cardio machines are equal—and the cardio machine for you will be based on your goals, time constraints, injuries, and ability. Check out this quick guide to some of the most popular cardio equipment out there. The Treadmill The guy with a plan Because if you don’t have a plan, the treadmill is going to earn that “dreadmill” nickname pretty quickly. Using it for a straightforward longer run works to burn calories, but can also be—to borrow a term from exercise physiology—boring as hell. If the thought of sweating in place for an hour stresses you out, tackle the treadmill using intervals, suggests Rich Velazquez, coach and COO at, a treadmill studio in New York City. “You can easily control and push speeds within measured distances,” he says. “And if you’re pushing yourself too much and need to dial the speed back, you can do so without getting lost in the middle of nowhere.” Avoid running too close to the console—keeping about a foot away will ensure full range of motion in both arm swing and knee drive. Try not to elevate the chin, which could strain your neck. And for beginners, although the TV can be entertaining, the last thing you want is to let your form go to crap while you’re immersed in an ancient episode of Law and Order. If you don't have your form dialed, Velazquez suggests saving Netflix binging for after your workout. (Or at least stick to something less distracting—a.k.a. save your favorite episodes for your walking workouts.) The Under-Desk Treadmill The remote worker who sits more than four hours a day. You may not think of walking as the most intensive cardio activity—and you’re right—but it’s still one of the easiest ways to boost your daily movement. Walking pads are designed to fit under your desk, making it possible to log thousands of steps while checking emails or joining (yet another) Zoom call. Even at a leisurely pace, regular walking can help reduce the pain, stiffness, and soreness that comes with sitting for too long, says James Rethaber, Ph.D., board-certified professional ergonomist and vice president of technical operations at. Start slow. While it’s tempting to multitask on a walking pad, typing and walking take some coordination. Begin at a steady, easy pace (around 1 or 2 mph) to get used to the motion before increasing your speed. “If you are new to using an under-desk treadmill or walking distances in general, I recommend starting off with 30 to 45 minutes total at first—not at one time but spread throughout the day,” says Rethabar. The Stationary Bike The guy who isn’t as concerned with burning calories Spin bikes tend to strengthen your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and hip flexors (in that order), with some assistance from your calves. “The increased use of the hamstrings here gives them more work than they would get from a run, and a good balance of strength between your quads and hamstrings is key for preventing injuries.” says Jonathan Amato, DPT, of. The only issue? If you’re not crushing intervals or tackling a hardcore spin class, the energy demand just isn’t as high as it is for running. This means that—comparably—you’ll be burning fewer calories over the course of your workout. Avoid hunching over the handlebars when you get set up on the bike, suggests Amato. “If you are someone with a lower back issue, the extended forward-flexed position may not be very comfortable.” Instead, make sure the handlebars are higher than the saddle, and that you’re both pushing pulling the pedals throughout your stroke—keeping the muscles engaged at all times. The Stair Climber The guy who loves leg day A recent study found that walking up 33 flights of stairs per day can drastically increase your endurance, giving you a 17 percent bump in VO2 max—the maximum amount of oxygen you can take in during exercise. In other words: Stairs are good for you. “The stair climber forces you to engage all the major muscle groups of the lower body: glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves,” says Dyan Tsiumis, CPT, founder of Get Fierce Training in New York City. “Plus, you have to use significant core stabilization throughout your time on the machine.” “Make sure you don't use the handrails to support your body weight,” says Tsiumis. “You are meant to use them for balance and stability—not to cheat.” The Manual Treadmill The guy who likes trying new things This thing is a self-powered treadmill that is becoming a staple of big-box gyms. Made with a curved shape, gym goers use their body weight to propel the belt—no speed-setting required. “It allows us to accelerate and decelerate instantly without being at the mercy of laggy treadmill buttons,” says Grant Weeditz, CSCS, a trainer at Anatomy in Miami. “Plus, you are propelling this machine primarily with the glutes, which means you’re training to use the body’s most powerful muscle much more effectively.” If you don’t move, the belt isn’t going to move for you—so be willing to work. Also, know that despite not having a mechanical speed setting, the machine does offer the ability to customize the resistance one receives from the belt. Weeditz advises finishing workouts by cranking up the difficulty level and giving it a max-effort burst. “Good luck hitting 15 MPH,” he says. The Elliptical The guy with knee pain The elliptical mimics the mechanics of running, but is designed to be easier on the hips and knees. It offers a decent workout. “Like cycling, the elliptical demands less energy than running, so fewer calories are burned for a workout of the same duration,” says Amato. To make this worthwhile, you have to be willing to increase both the resistance and the angle of the ramp; going for a few minutes with both factors set to 1 isn’t going to do much of anything. (You may look like you’re working hard, but your output might be next to nothing.) With running, even on your, the necessary effort is much, much greater. As with the treadmill, it’s good to tackle this machine with an interval mentality. Good news: “Most machines offer pre-built programs to work different muscles based on the incline of the ramp,” says Amato."
"The best men's slip-on shoes are like dudes who meditate: they’re calm, chill, at ease,. The world is complicated enough, they seem to suggest—why muddle it further with laces? Add slip-ons to, ridding your routine of the extraneous steps separating you from making the train (and the IRL meeting you’re hightailing it to), and you’ll gain more than a crucial few minutes. Free your hands and your mind will follow, they gently assure us. Slip-on shoes, we’ll grant you, tend to skew a bit more casual than their. But for every chilled-out Vans sneaker, there’s an equal and opposite. So we slipped on all of ‘em to ID the of each category, from the sporty to the dressy to the outdoorsy and every superlative version between. Below are the men's slip-on shoes our feet appreciated most. Vans SSENSE If we’re talking the best men’s slip-on sneaker, would you expect anything other than the Vans classic? The SoCal stompers are archetypal to an entire genre of footwear and have become a staple in every wardrobe from skaters to the nurses that treat their broken ankles. Since their introduction in 1977, the Vans Slip-On has only grown more popular thanks to its super simple design. They may be better for skating than they are for walking, but if you know anything about the sport, it’s all about style. So, even if you can’t push a board down the street without falling, your slip-ons will at least make you look good on your way to the ground. Nike Dick's Sporting Goods The Metcons won our editors over and earned them the spot as, so it’s only natural that their slip-on brethren would earn bragging rights here. If you’re confused, don’t worry. Yes, they do have laces, but they’re not exactly lace-ups. See, the magic comes with Nike’s EasyOn design which makes the heel collapsible and even hands-free. You’ll only have to adjust the laces once and you’ll be set forever—kinda like a car with memory seats. The breathable mesh uppers keep your feet dry and the supportive midsole and arch support ensure each stride and squat are stable. If you need a pair of lightweight shoes to rock as your running shoes as well as throwing iron around but can’t bring yourself to tie a couple laces, then these are for you. G.H. Bass & Co. Mr Porter Most menswear roads lead back to. And not just any loafer, but the ubiquitous Bass Weejuns. They made waves in the United States after WWII to become a staple of preppy dressing. Nowadays, they’re everywhere from finance bros to fashion obsessives and everyone in-between. That’s because they manage to balance casual and dressy like no other shoe, so you can really wear them for almost any situation. Job interview? Yes. Quick corner store run? Yep. Fancy date? You bet. Skateboarding? Probably not, but it would look sick. The loafer’s and whether you need a pair of dress shoes to match your suit or just some casual slip ons to pair with your vintage jeans, you’d killing more than two birds with one shoe. Merrell 1TRL SSENSE The ease of a slip-on shoe sounds counter to the essence of hiking. And yet, we find ourselves drawn to the trails just as much as we’re drawn to the idea of not having to untangle a bowl of spaghetti. In reality, a laceless closure is just one less barrier between you and Mother Nature. The trick is…most slip-on hiking shoes look like ass. We understand that there’s a sort of ugly duckling charm that comes with the gorp-y gear, but there’s a limit. Thankfully, Merrell’s 1TRL sub-label has been with all the trail qualifications of their main line and these Winter Mocs are a prime example. The hairy suede and the sleek silhouette make ‘em easy on the eyes and the gravel-gripping rubber outsole and arch support make most treacherous terrain feel like a walk in the park. Hoka Zappos Hoka has consistently been one of our favorite brands for getting your steps in (just peep our best ) and the Restore TC brings all of the brand’s stellar comfort and support to a laceless design. These recovery shoes come with heaps of cushioning in a breathable sock-knit upper for one of the most comfortable slip-ons, if not most comfortable you’ll ever feel. Are they more for recovering after a brutal run? Sure. Does that mean you can’t wear them on your daily walks? Surely not. Plasticana Gardenheir There’s no dearth of trendy shoes right now. But perhaps the most pervasive—and yet indie—shoe spreading across fashion circles is one that costs just about sixty bucks:. The little-known French shoemaker crafts these funky gardening shoes out of rubberized hemp which gives them not only a jelly-like quality and waterproofness, but a unique look speckled look. Because of their natural materials, no two pairs look alike, but every pair carries that same handsome shape that’s part loafer and ballet shoe. Pro tip: err on the side of slightly large and add your own insole. Nisolo Amazon If you want to feel the breeze between your toes without treating strangers to a free show, we suggest some kind of woven leather sandal. And it’s hard not to mention the Nisolo Huarache sandal. Beloved by style god Chris Pine, these traditional Mexican sandals feature a slim sole and handsome woven leather uppers, not a single shoelace in sight. Slip them on with a pair of short shorts and a camp shirt or rock them with some billowy pants and a rugged denim shirt. And don’t be afraid of the tan lines. The Swervy Loafers SSENSE Consider these the rich guy’s Plasticanas. You can find these minimalistic shoes roving around fashion hot spots in every major city and they’ve fast become one of the must-have shoes for every budding fashion wonk. Mulo Mr. Porter Mulo’s high-quality footwear delves deep into slip-ons of all kinds. But perhaps their best silhouette is the collapsible-heel loafers which transform into a minimalistic mule in a split second. Mephisto Nordstrom Mephisto has long been the secret sauce for stylish octogenarians and it’s not just because they’ve got that old man swagger. They’re not only high quality, but they’re some of the most comfortable shoes on the market. Norda Huckberry Norda’s clean, futuristic trail runners make them a serious contender against the big dogs at Adidas and Nike. Not only do they look dope,, too. Sperry Amazon The return of the boat shoe is, by now, undeniable—and who better to ride the wave with than Sperry? This iconic deck-traipsing shoe is a stalwart in the preppy universe and the low-vamp uppers make them easy to slip into. Salomon SSENSE Salomon’s reputation as a crag-grabbing, mountain-conquering outdoors brand doesn’t mean they don’t know how to chill. Seavees Seavees Seavees are already renowned for their comfort, but the Huntingdon Middie carries some additional lore. That's because for years, it's been worn almost daily by an A-List actor whose name rhymes with Mad Lit. Birkenstock Todd Snyder If you read this far, it means you really want to get your slip-on selection right. Kudos to you. As your reward, you get to consider one of the most beloved easy-on shoes in the game: Birkenstock's legendary, better-with-time clog. Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process.)"
"When it comes to mass-market denim, the best jeans on Amazon closely parallel the, period. Look, we know that shopping for clothing on Amazon isn’t always the most seamless experience—if you don't fine-tune your search right, you could wind up sifting through an endless assortment of brands with names that sound like they were made in a cocktail shaker. The sheer volume of product is also a little daunting, as is the way the entire layout is organized. But we still do it, because Amazon crushes certain categories, and denim just so happens to be one of them. Which, to be clear, is great news for anyone in need of a new pair of jeans. (We really do mean.) When it comes to denim, Amazon healthily stocks many of the labels you probably already love: Levi's, Lee, Dickies, AG Adriano Goldschmied, Carhartt, Rag & Bone, and more. (Do they have a secret stash of freakier stuff? Not really, but if you want some Kapital patchwork joints you can find those.) So whether you used to frequent Superfuture’s denim forum or you just need some new workhorse dungarees, the Everything Store’s got you covered. To make it even easier, we rounded up 8 pairs of -approved jeans on Amazon that you can score with your Prime membership—and enjoy that sweet, sweet free overnight shipping, too. Levi's Amazon The jeans that started, well, still look as good as they ever have. And while it’s not a that every guy have a pair of 501s to turn to, we can’t think of a single instance in which it wouldn’t be advantageous to have them on deck. Invented by Levi Strauss himself (co-credit goes to Latvian tailor Jacob Davis), the 501 has perhaps the most iconic silhouette in all of menswear—straight leg, mid-rise—and the modern iteration still features the signature love-it-or-hate-it button fly (we love it) and other design details. If you’re looking to replace a well-loved pair or merely have a 501-sized hole in your closet, Amazon’s got you covered. APC Amazon Not long ago, these were THE jeans, and for many of us, they were our first foray into the raw denim arena. For those wondering—or anyone suffering from flowy fatigue—they're still a great slim-fitting option. The straight leg works with a ton of footwear options, there’s a touch of extra room in the thighs, and the lower rise makes them easier to wear than they might otherwise be, considering the rigidity of the fabric. Plus, for anyone who likes to dive deep on the things they own, there might not be a single pair of jeans with more dedicated literature on the entire internet, including care tips, fading advice and more. (Oh, and if you’re still looking for ‘em skinny, skinny, the is also available.) Wrangler Amazon There’s been no shortage of great Western wear in recent years: brands both big and small have been churning out impeccable repros, contemporary riffs and catalog classics at an astounding rate. And while the trucker jackets, Western shirts and cowboy boots have been hitting extra hard, bootcut jeans remain something of a rarity. Lucky for you, maybe the best of the bunch are made by Wrangler, available on Amazon, and still stand as the go-to jeans for many a real-deal cowboy thanks to their high rise, roomy thigh, slightly flared leg to fit easily over a pair of boots, and hip-hugging top block. (Wrangler butts drive ‘em nuts, as they say.) For those curious about durability, these were made with a hardy 14.75 oz. denim that'll take a bit of time to break in, but will be incredible in a few wears, and keep you plenty warm. Anyways, if you haven’t signed on to the yeehaw agenda yet, you can do so with two-day shipping. Giddyup. Dickies Amazon If you don’t expect much out of a $30 pair of jeans, there’s a good chance that you’ve never encountered a pair of Dickies Regular-Fits. Built to last from a heavyweight 100% cotton denim twill, with heavy-duty brass hardware, these Dickies jeans (yes, jeans) workabout as hard as any five times (or more) their price. They even have a coin pocket large enough, the brand unsettlingly says, for a pocket knife. Also, like the rest of the workwear legend’s catalog, the fit on these are killer—think medium rise, slightly roomy leg, and a seat that’s tailored to flatter. And with a wide range of sizes available, just about all of you should be able to find a pair that fits. Naked & Famous Amazon If you’re looking to explore the indigo-rich waters but don’t feel like diving headfirst into the pricey, Osaka 5-tinted deep end, this pair of True Guys will let you wade in with some aplomb. Made in Canada from 13.75 oz. selvedge fabric—an indigo rope-dyed ditty that was milled in Japan—they’ve got a straight leg, a medium rise and just a bit of extra room in the seat for full mobility right out of the box, which means they’re primed and ready for some masterpiece fades. Carhartt Amazon You know how we mentioned pedigree up top? Carhartt was founded in the 1800s, specifically to outfit working class Americans and migrants. And if you’ve wandered into a vintage, surplus or workwear store at any point in the past decade (or owned some yourself), you’d know that their reputation for hard-wearing, long-lasting, better-with-age clothing is rightly earned. When it comes to denim, Carhartt's Logger Pant reflects everything the brand does well and then some. The 13 oz. denim is tough even after a thrashing, there are pockets aplenty—even a secure cell phone pocket on the right—and the double-knee construction isn’t just a durability play: that little opening at the bottom is for slipping in some knee pads if you’re ever doing some work. Levi's Amazon Some other brands have been getting quite a bit of (deserved) attention for their baggy jeans, but don’t for two seconds think that Levi’s can’t swim in those waters either. In fact, the 565 will hold its own against any in the category, and can be here tomorrow, for free. rag & bone Amazon The Perfect Pair of Summer Jeans means something a bit different to everyone, but with the light wash, loose fit and super soft 100% cotton denim, these are about as optimal as summer jeans can get. Madewell Amazon Not too baggy, not too slim, reminiscent of the best pairs from the early ‘90s—as the name would imply—these jeans have been flashing red on our radar since they popped up a couple seasons back, and that was well before we knew that you could get them with Prime shipping. A.P.C. Amazon If you’re into the idea of some A.P.C. New Standards but not into the idea of slim jeans for whatever justifiable reason, the Martins might be your move: they’re a bit looser, a bit lighter and packed with just a tiny bit of stretch. (And yes, these violate the stretch rule but they do it with panache.) Just because top-quality jeans exist at Maison Bezos, that doesn’t mean that everything you’ll find there is worth your time. If you don’t have the microscopic eye of a denim nerd, then we've got your back. Well, your quads, in this case. So before adding to cart, check for the following: Ideally, we're looking for 100% cotton jeans with a decent weight (at a minimum, 11-ounce fabric, though a heavyweight 13-14-ounce is nice, too). A tiny bit of stretch isn’t disqualifying, but the best jeans tend to be all-cotton: they last longer and age better. If you’re looking for the primo stuff—raw denim, selvedge denim, Japanese denim—it’s best to stick to stores specializing in the genre, but Amazon does stock pretty much everything, so there are a few solid options in the mix. We know some of you prefer stretch denim for comfort, but the highest-quality jeans don’t usually have any at all—though some have a little, as a treat. Stretch-laden denim wears out much faster when compared to all-cotton pairs, and also fades less consistently over time, and our rubric for quality is primarily anchored in durability and aging potential, so avoid it if you can. You won't find many skinny jeans in this guide, but if you've been outside in the past few years, that won't be a surprise. For the sake of this guide, we’re favoring straight-leg pants that sit at the waist, and the occasional (so-called) slim-fit pants that are on the roomier end of the spectrum. Also: be sure to choose colors and washes of denim that will work well with your existing wardrobe. Purple jeans might sound cool in the moment, but can often turn into a shelf-based reminder of regret. There are times and places to take fliers on unknown brands—we do all the time—but Amazon can be a little tricky. Normally, a store stocking a brand indicates some level of belief in said brand: if you trust the store, you can trust the brand. But when it’s a giant Amazon-sized marketplace, it is best to lean on brands with some pedigree, if only to reduce the odds of disappointment. If you don’t know the label and can’t find much info on it elsewhere, bang that Buy Now button at your own risk. An easy way to set yourself up for failure is to declare your hero product to be the “New Standard” of a very popular genre. But APC did just that, and then delivered on the promise a few different times. Years later, the quality of the jeans hasn’t waned in the slightest, despite the space getting a little more crowded in the interim. Known for high-contrast, highly-personalized fades, natural indigo dyes, minimal detailing, a slim silhouette and copious amounts of internet lore, A.P.C.’s are the kind of jeans that can shoulder a bit of obsessing. You might not think of “denim” or “jeans” when you think of Carhartt, but considering that a) denim is one of the longest-tenured workwear fabrics and b) Carhartt is one of the oldest workwear brands still doing their thing, it should come as no surprise they know how to make a pair of jeans. Or a few, to be more precise. And while their signature double-knees are the undisputed headliner, the classic 5 Pockets are nothing to scoff at. You know them, you love them, you can get them with Prime shipping. The first name in denim has been on Amazon for a little while now, which means that replacing a well-worn pair or figuring out what the 160 years of fuss is about for the very first time has never been easier. While the 501’s will always be the default, don’t sleep on the 505s or the 550s either. Made entirely in Canada out of some of the world’s finest denim, it’s hard to find a better value proposition than Naked & Famous, who also works hand-in-hand with mills to create some of the most bonkers fabric—i.e. glow in the dark denim—ever concocted. It just so happens that they also make incredibly good pairs that are more down the middle, too. Ok, so rag & bone jeans do violate the stretch rule up top, but if the stretch is done well, we’ll allow it—and rag & bone does it well when they do it. And regardless of elasticity, all the jeans are super soft, comfortable out of the gate, feature the kind of washes that go with an entire closet and are made to last in ways that most other jeans of their ilk aren’t. There’s a list of reasons that cowboys have been wearing Wranglers for generations, and “Insanely Durable,” “Preposterously Affordable” and “Makes the Butt Look Good” are at the top of that list. If you’re looking to dabble in the world of bootcut jeans, Wrangler is a great place to start, but don’t sleep on the rest of their hard-wearing catalog either. Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the, the, or the need-to-know, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories:,, and. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (.)"
"Luddites, shield your eyes, because we've just powered up the 2025 Tech Awards. We've been plugged in for the last 12 months to bring you a sophomore class of the best drops and innovations in last year. We listened to an unbelievable number of, affixed an innumerable amount of to our bodies, and even chef'd it up in the kitchen. All of which means the 45 products we've listed below are sure to make your life a little bit more joyful. So, from gear to help you on your journey to the best tech essentials everyone should own, we present to you: the 2025 Tech Awards. Apple Amazon 11 and 13 inches 15.7 and 20.4 ounces Apple M4 256GB, 512 GB, 1TB, 2TB A year on from its release, this ludicrously thin iPad Pro remains a class apart from every other tablet going. What makes this Pro quite so special? You’ll understand as soon as you get your hands on it. A slender 5.1mm in its 13-inch guise, it’s Apple’s best-designed device in recent memory. Not just because of that skinny aesthetic, but sheer amount of tech that’s crammed into it, with Apple’s latest M4 chip and a resplendent Ultra Retina XDR OLED display gifting this iPad headlining a slew of laptop-calibre capabilities. Pairing with either Apple’s Magic Keyboard or Pencil Pro accessories is more or less essential, as will be downloading Apple’s major new iPadOS 26 upgrade later this year—assuming you’re as amped about the ability to resize app windows as we are. Apple Amazon 13 and 15 inches 2.7 and 3.3 pounds Apple M4 256GB, 512 GB, 1TB, 2TB Despite AirPods seeing a discount every, it’s not often an Apple-made product can be described as a bona fide steal. Still the world’s best-selling laptop, its entry-level configuration is now available for under a grand, giving you an ultra-portable, crazy powerful computer to create with. Although the MacBook Pro is still your best bet for heavy-duty editing, the Air has the heft to hop between 4K video files, GarageBand sessions, and the like with consummate ease. If you want to spend a little extra on a 10-core model, that dual USB-C adapter is almost worth the upgrade alone. Fujifilm Amazon 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR sensor 6.2K/30p, 4K/60p 129.5x91x63.8mm 1.2 pounds Compared to AI voice assistants and autonomous vehicles, time travels a little slower in the world of camera tech. That’s why 2022’s Fujifilm X-T5 still ranks as our favorite camera for still photography—at least until the long-awaited X-T6 launches in the not-too-distant future. Why do old habits die hard with the X-T5? It’s an incredibly well-made piece of kit that combines pin-sharp autofocus and a gloriously detailed 40.2MP APS-C sensor with the kind of tactile, retro-imbued ergonomics that get camera enthusiasts hot under the collar. Sonos Sonos 7.2 x 4.7 x 5.1 inches 4.5 pounds Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, AirPlay 2 A year on from the furor that greeted Sonos’ now-infamous app redesign, it’s worth remembering why everyone got so indignant in the first place. Just like the brand’s many other speakers (and now headphones), the Era 100 absolutely slaps. Originally released way back in 2023, it’s our favorite wireless speaker by far thanks to its compact design, ample smarts, and impeccably judged audio for the price. Now with a mercifully improved app experience and available at a semi-regular discount if you’re shopping in the right place, this remains an easygoing companion whether you’re giving the new Haim LP a spin or delving through EPMD deep cuts. Apple Apple : 3.1 x 6.4 x 0.3 inches : 8 ounces Apple A18 Pro 256GB, 512 GB, 1TB Apple might be going through a bit of an AI-related wobble right now, but the iPhone remains imperious. In all honesty, its 16 Pro Max doesn’t change up too much from previous years. A slick touch-controlled camera button for photography, the latest A18 Pro chip to put ChatGPT (and eventually a smarter Apple Intelligence-powered Siri) through its paces and a refined titanium design with ultra-thin screen bezels rank as the major innovations here. Should you be inclined to make an upgrade before the new models drop in September, you still can’t go wrong with the biggest, most powerful iPhone out there. Google Google 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches 6.6 ounces Google Tensor G4 128GB, 256GB As much as Google redefined foldables with last year’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold, its Pixel 9a remains the reasonably priced jewel in a quietly imperious hardware crown. As with the best affordably-minded handsets, this Pixel is laser-focused on bang for your buck. More specifically, it’s a playground for many of Google’s latest AI innovations. Not least, its talkative Gemini Live assistant, which can see and respond to the world via the Pixel’s excellent 48-megapixel camera. It’s not all new-fangled gimmickry that we love about the Pixel 9a though—it also sports a two-day battery life. Sony Amazon Bowers & Wilkins Amazon Nothing elevates your listening experience like a pair of headphones you'll actually want to wear, and this year, two headphones offer peerless sonic performance: the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Sony WF-1000XM6. Slimmer and more compact on the outside, the B&W S3 is also completely different from its predecessor on the inside, sporting a re-engineered 40mm bio-cellulose driver alongside a separate headphone amp. A DSP powered by a top-tier Qualcomm chipset enables 24-bit/96kHz and Lossless support for high-resolution wireless audio. Add in the 8 microphones for ANC and you get a pair of headphones that's equal parts functional and fun. As for Sony's headphones? Its WF-1000X series is as critically acclaimed a franchise as the likes of, and every Beatles album (bar ). Three years in, the making having long set the standard for noise cancellation and comfort in over-ear headphones, this new pair proved well worth the wait thanks to a new HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN3 that adjusts their acoustic performance in real-time according to 12 microphones. With 30 hours of battery life and a refined, foldable design, these are the kind of cans that afford you an ocean of calm to revel in as you schlep across town into work. Samsung Amazon 65, 75 and 85 inches Neo QLED 5x HDMI, 2 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C, Bluetooth 5.3 Honestly, given the fidelity of most TVs nowadays, you’ll struggle to find a model that recalls the blurry, pixelated horrors of the early smart TV era. From Amazon’s own Fire TV Omni QLED to the imperious Sony Bravia 8 and LG’s legendary C5 series, there’s a great screen going at almost any given price point. So why are we giving Samsung’s Frame Pro the spotlight? While the design-forward ethos of these TVs—they’re built like an artwork and display iconic imagery from The Met and Tate when turned off— has always made them stand apart, the Pro’s televisual performance has also taken a leap forward this year thanks to its brighter panel and more detailed Neo QLED display. As such, this is an up-to-85-inches large television that actually deserves that space in your living room. Pro-Ject Amazon : Manual : 33 ⅓, 45 rpm : 16.5 x 4.4 x 13.0 inches Every aspiring audiophile needs a starter turntable that won't scratch up their records or scare them off with an enormous price tag. With a built-in power supply alongside preset tracking force and anti-skate and an included Ortofon OM cartridge, the Pro-Ject Primary E will have you jamming in no time, with minimal setup. An included adapter for seven-inch singles and speed settings for 33.3 or 45 RPM means the Pro-Ject Primary E will be able to play whatever you get your hands on. And maybe most important of all, it'll look great in your living room. Sonos Sonos : 3.0 x 46.4 x 4.4 inches : 13 pounds : 15 Class-D digital amplifiers, seven angled tweeters, six midwoofers How do you make a former Tech Awards winner even better? Apparently, you add “Ultra” to the end of the name and generally just make everything better. Weighing less than the original, featuring a more compact design, and improved audio quality, the Sonos Arc Ultra might be the best soundbar we’ve tested. The improved Ultra projects sound into a room that’s more enveloping and clear than the original, with all of the Sonos-powered connectivity you know and love. Amazon Amazon : 55, 65, 75, 85 inches : 4K : 60 Hz Researching which TV you should buy can be a whirlwind of numbers and jargon, but Amazon's Fire TV Omni mini-LED TV makes the calculus a little easier. Built-in Fire TV OS brings a user-friendly smart TV platform with access to every app you could need. High contrast and Dolby Atmos provide a viewing and listening experience that rivals that of even your local chain movie theater. Plus, Alexa capability makes it easy to put the remote down, especially if it's once again been lost to the sofa's seat cushions. Sony Amazon : 2TB : 60 and 120Hz : Haptic feedback and adaptive triggers Modern consoles give the vaunted gaming PC a run for its money, and none more so than the PlayStation 5 Pro. Stop worrying about “performance” versus “quality” mode: The Pro lets you play over 100 Pro-enhanced PS5 titles with 4K output, 60 frames per second, ray tracing simultaneously. Combine that with high-speed SSD storage for near-instant load times plus Wi-Fi 7 capability for maximum network speeds, and you have a device engineered top to bottom for maximum speed in every scenario where you might otherwise have to wait to play. JLab Amazon : IP55 : 56 hours : ANC, spatial audio Any time active noise cancellation enters the conversation for earbuds, a high price tag is usually to follow. JLab bucks the trend with its JBuds Pods, a stupidly affordable pair of noise-cancelling earbuds that seriously don’t suck. At its price point, the bounty of features is hard to beat: 56 hours of playtime (with the charging case), spatial audio, IP55 water and dust resistance, and wireless charging. Sony Amazon : Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced : 16 : Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Bluetooth If you've wanted a surround sound system without having to run a thousand miles of cable, the Bravia Theater Quad is what you've been looking for. With 360-degree spatial sound mapping, BRAVIA's system creates up to 12 “phantom” speakers from just four slim and stylish wireless units that can be configured free-standing or mounted to the wall. HDMI 2.1 pass-through provides support for 4K and 8K systems (at 120Hz and 60Hz, respectively) while wireless subwoofer support gives you the option for booming bass, all without any tripping hazards. Roku Amazon : 1080p : Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV+ Cancel your cable subscription, and get a streaming stick. Roku, one of the most popular of the bunch, offers a way to keep all of your streaming services onto what is essentially a master account so you can easily juggle from to to with as little effort as changing a channel. Plus, Roku offers over 500 live TV channels, so you won’t miss out on daily news coverage and the occasional sports. Nomatic Nomatic : Nylon, polyester : 15.5 x 11.5 x 3.5 inches : 11L If you aren’t blessed with the luxury of being able to leave your work computer at the office, you’re going to need a good laptop bag for your commutes. A good one, like this Nomatic option, might not get your grumpy train mate to compliment your bag, but it will get you a good jumpstart to your work day. The bag’s multiple compartments make it easy to organize your cables, water bottle, and brown-bagged lunch, while a padded dedicated laptop sleeve will protect company secrets from the elbow that gets thrown around on the sardine-packed train. Apple Amazon : 1.3 x 0.3 inches : 0.4 ounces : IP67 Small, sleek, and affordable, an AirTag is an absent-minded person's best friend. Whether helping you locate your keys with Precision Finding or helping you recover tech that has gone further afield by leveraging Apple's ubiquitous Find My network, AirTags continue to be amazing insurance for anything you can’t afford to lose. And if your item truly goes off the grid, Lost Mode will always show your phone number to helpful finders, so your gear can make its way home. Logitech Amazon Logitech Amazon : 70 days : 10 meters : 8K DPI A good mouse is the unsung hero of any productive office setup, and Logitech's MX Master 3S is the cream of the crop. An 8000 DPI sensor means your mouse work is precise, even on high-resolution screens, while MagSpeed Electromagnetic Scrolling lets you zoom through documents or navigate line by line as needed. Silent click technology makes the 3S 90% quieter than its predecessor, and the optional PowerPlay 2 mat, which wirelessly charges your mouse as you use it, means this mount won't annoy you or your office mates. Anker Amazon : USB-C : 9 volts : 1 A backpack full of tech is worthless if none of it can power on. That’s what makes Anker’s Nano Power Bank such a reliable sidekick. A little larger than a deck of playing cards and weighing in at less than a can of soda, the Nano packs 5,000mAh of capacity—enough to recharge your phone multiple times or give your laptop a second wind. When it does run dry, 30-watt bi-directional fast charging lets it drink in the power as fast as it dishes it out, running from 0 to 50% charge in 45 minutes in ideal conditions. And with a built-in USB-C cable, you'll be able to charge virtually any modern device without worrying about packing another charger. Ember Amazon : 120° to 145° Fahrenheit : 3 hours : IPX7 Coffee should only be cold when it's literally on ice, and the Ember Tumbler can help you keep 16oz of your morning joe in the sweet spot between scalding and frigid for three hours on battery power or all day on the charging coaster. The Ember app (for iOS and Android) lets you select your exact desired temperature between 120°F and 145°F, along with settings for presets, a built-in sleep timer, and customizable LED colors. And with IPX7 waterproofing, you don't have to worry about giving it a full dunk when you're washing it. Casetify Amazon : 8.2 feet : Yes Your phone is not only an essential and expensive tool but also a fashion accessory. So it's imperative that you protect it in style. Casetify's Impact line of phone cases promises drop protection for up to eight feet while keeping a slim and lightweight design. A subtle raised bezel and camera rim protect your screen and lenses against direct impacts when you inevitably drop your phone, and MagSafe compatibility combined with a range of styles and finishes means you don't have to sacrifice style or convenience for protection. Apple Amazon : 42 and 46 millimeters : 50 meters : IP6X Now in its 10th iteration, the iconic Apple smartwatch is the best it's ever been with a new slimmer design, the brightest wide-angle OLED screen yet, and a nigh-on indestructible titanium case replacing traditional stainless steel options. With an improved S10 SiP chip inside and cellular connectivity by default alongside FDA-cleared notifications for moderate to severe sleep apnea, the Apple Watch Series 10 is not only a ridiculously polished piece of kit but a purchase you can justify as an investment in your health. Garmin Amazon : 42 and 47 millimeters : 10 days; 18 hours (GPS mode) : 50 meters If you're looking for a sidekick to help you train for that marathon, Garmin's Forerunner 570 is hard to beat. Coming standard with multi-band GPS for route tracking and Garmin's Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor that can track your cardio mid-run or overnight, the 570 provides rock-solid performance when it's tracking yours. A crisp and bright AMOLED display that's visible in direct sunlight and a built-in speaker and microphone for taking calls on the go make the Forerunner an excellent outdoor smartwatch in addition to its impressive fitness functionality. Oura Oura : 8 hours : Black, brushed silver, gold, silver, stealth, rose gold : 20 to 80 minutes If you've ever thought wistfully about your first Fitbit, the fourth-generation Oura Ring will tickle the step-counting part of your brain, and then some. Boasting support for over 30 biometrics, including sleep tracking, temperature monitoring, blood oxygen sensing, cardio capacity, and 24/7 heart rate via recessed sensors flush with the ring's inner surface, the Oura Ring will increase your self-awareness by an order of magnitude as soon as you slip it on. And with over a week of battery life and a lightweight titanium design you'll hardly ever want to take it off. Rally Rally : 1,600, 2,400, 3,200 RPM : 90 minutes : 40 dBA You’re already familiar with the heavy hitters in the massage gun game, but Rally is a new one to know. Recently released this spring, this massager works in continuous thumping circles rather than hitting the same spot over and over (like a jackhammer). The result is a recovery tool that’s more gentle on the muscle, resulting in less pain during use while remaining effective in warm-ups and recovery. Beats Amazon : 45 hours : IPX4 : Active noise cancellation For years, the Beats Powerbeats Pro earbuds were the leading workout headphones, but the second-gen model is truly the only gym buddy you need. Why? They've been boosted with active noise cancellation, effectively putting those grunting gym goers on permanent mute, while improving the fit so that they’re even less likely to bounce out of your ear during a particularly motion-heavy workout. And because we don’t think you should buy separate headphones for working out and the rest of your life, the audio quality is exactly as you’d expect from a brand like Beats. Therabody Therabody life: 180 minutes : Short (5.5 pounds), Regular (6 pounds), Large (6.3 pounds) : 25, 50, 75, 100 mmHg We never took recovery seriously until setting off on a journey for thighs as thick as our arms. Easy to use, comfortable as hell, and just a helluva excellent way to reduce my recovery time, the JetBoots Prime are basically the treatment we’d get if we were to go to PT, but without a recurring copayment. And now every day can be leg day. Eight Sleep Eight Sleep : Queen, king, California king : 5 years : 30 days : Dual-sided temperature control; vibration, thermal, and sound alarm; surround sound Sure, you can technically sleep on a mattress on the floor. But you're wasting your 40 winks by not sleeping smarter. The Eight Sleep Pod 5 Ultra+ is the ultimate in snoozing technology. It creates a microclimate around your body, automatically adjusts your posture to eliminate pain and snoring, and passively monitors your cardiovascular and respiratory health with AI. The sleep tracking and clinical-grade sensors are the best way to justify the investment, while the alarm that combines gentle vibration with a warming sensation will be the thing you can’t live without. Shark Amazon : Wrinkles, acne, fine lines, dullness, puffiness, hyperpigmentation : Four to 15 minutes, depending on the treatment : Yes While LED face masks require a hefty price to pay upfront, they’re much cheaper than regular trips to an esthetician. A recent contender in the fight for the best LED mask is Shark’s Cryoglow, which easily won out for its affordability (yes, it’s $350) and effectiveness. Hyperpigmentation seems to fade like you just got a chemical peel, fine lines plump up like you injected fillers, and acne spends less time on your face like Mount Vesuvius. Plus, nifty cooling under-eye patches help to reduce puffiness almost immediately. Marshall Amazon : 50 hours : IP54 : 33 feet Your go-to Bluetooth speaker shouldn't just sound good. It should also be fun to use, and that's what puts the Marshall Kilburn III a step above the rest. With physical tactile knobs for volume, bass, and treble, the Kilburn III provides an old-school user experience, along with its warm and rich analog-style sound. But for all its old-school charm, it also has the modern creature comforts you need, like the ability to function as a power bank via its USB-C port, a battery life of over 50 hours on a single charge, and the latest Bluetooth 5.3 for rock-solid connectivity. Nintendo Target : 7.9 inch LCD screen : 256 GB : 6.5 hours The original Nintendo Switch was a huge mainstream hit, but after eight years, the casual gaming juggernaut was getting a bit long in the tooth. Now, with a new, larger LCD touchscreen and an updated Nvidia Tegra T239 processor, the Nintendo Switch 2 is taking hybrid mobile and home console gaming to a new level of fidelity. Enhanced docked performance brings games up to 1440p at 120Hz or 4K/60Hz thanks to a built-in cooling fan and Ethernet port, so the top-tier Nintendo console can play all of your favorite flagship titles with the crisp and smooth graphics they deserve, at home or on the go. BioLite Amazon : 110 hours : 10.1 ounces : IP67 Whether you're planning for some time in the great outdoors or just trying to expect the unexpected, the Biolite Luci Charge 360 will be the star of your kit. Weighing in at just slightly more than a large smartphone, the Charge 360 is not only capable of lighting up your night with up to 360 lumen output or 110 hours of light in low mode, it can also power the rest of your kit with its built-in 4,000 mAh charging hub and its high-efficiency mono-crystalline solar panel that can refill the tank with about 28 hours of sunlight. Specialized Specialized : Specialized 2.0, 70Nm torque, custom tuned motor, 250W nominal : Specialized U2-710, alloy casing, state of charge display, 710Wh : 58.2 pounds It's nice to break out the bike without having to break a sweat. The Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 is always ready to help you over the hump with a 70Nm torque motor and 710Wh battery that can quadruple your pedal force for easy cruising up to 28 miles per hour (depending on local laws). The 80mm front suspension fork and shock-absorbing seat post ensure your journey is smooth for the whole 90 miles you can get on a single charge in Eco Mode. Compatible with child seats and thru-axle trailers, you can haul who or whatever wants to come along for a ride. Ray-Ban Amazon : Regular and large : 12 MP : 4 hours Meta's smart specs merge the iconic style of Ray-Ban Wayfarer glasses with flagship AI functionality. An ultra-wide 12 megapixel camera and 5-mic system capture high resolution photos and video that Meta's built-in AI can leverage for real-time translation and object identification. The glasses’ custom-built open-ear speakers and in-depth voice control let you run the show by voice (with a touchpad for subtlety when necessary), and the portable charging case provides more than 24 hours of AI assistance before you have to plug in. Stihl Ace Hardware : 1,500 square meters : 0.8 to 2.4 inches : 32 pounds Capable of tackling yards up to a third of an acre, Stihl's iMOW 5 takes almost all the pain out of having a lawn. With automatic charging at its local docking station and a mulching function that eliminates any need for bags, the iMow 5 can cut your grass down to size with barely any oversight from you. Customize the dynamic mowing plan according to your needs, and the iMOW will use its ultrasonic sensors to avoid trees and other obstacles, freeing you up to oversee while drinking a lemonade, if you care to supervise at all. XGIMI Amazon : 450 ISO Lumens : 200 inches : 17.4 feet Projectors aren't just for cinephiles with a home theater in their basement. The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro Portable Projector turns movie night into an on-the-go proposition with pre-installed Netflix plus Google TV OS for access to thousands of apps and 1920x1080 resolution with 450 ISO lumens of brightness to make whatever you’re watching easy to see. Dual 5-watt Harman Kardon speakers mean the sound system is included in a package roughly the size and weight of a full thermos. All that's left to you is to find a good place to point it. Amazon Amazon : 7 inches : 8 weeks : IPX8 Sporting a new seven-inch color ink display, the Kindle Colorsoft is more comic book than newspaper. With support for graphic novels, travel guides, and PDFs on its 32GB of on-device storage, the Colorsoft will make you feel like a kid with a coloring book as you highlight in yellow, blue, pink, and orange. And you won't have to compromise on other now-standard Kindle features like over a month of battery life, IPX8 waterproofing for bath and pool reading, and an auto-adjusting front light with customizable color temperature you can tune to taste. Eufy Amazon : 1,500 to 2,000 square feet : 8,000 Pa : 180 RPM Gone are the days when a robot vacuum was a gimmick, and the Eufy X10 Pro Omni illustrates why. Using AI and a front-mounted camera, this robovac strategically maps your home for efficient cleaning and navigates around household objects like wires, shoes and toys. The X10 hoovers up crumbs from carpets and hard floors alike with 8000pa of vacuum suction and switches off to dual oscillating mop heads that exert as much as two pounds of downward pressure for scrubbing and stain removal when necessary. Best of all, its docking station will empty the dustbin and clean the mop heads, so you only have to pay attention once a week. Big Green Egg Ace Hardware : Charcoal : 133 square inches 76 pounds Everyone loves the Big Green Egg, but sometimes it's nice to have something you can move without help. At (just) 76 pounds, the MiniMax brings Egg-style cooking to tailgates and small apartment patios. With the convEGGtor heat shielding accessory, the Minimax is also capable of indirect cooking, making it a terrific option for pizzas and other dishes that require a convection approach. But if the dish calls for a direct blast of 750-degree Fahrenheit direct heat, the Minimax can provide that too, with even less wait time than larger models. Gozney Gozney : 12 inches : Propane : 29.7 pounds There's no quicker way to become the king of the cookout than to show up with the pizza oven. The size of a small suitcase and just slightly heavier than a case of beer, the Gozney Tread is astonishingly portable for a device that can reach nearly a thousand degrees Fahrenheit after just 30 minutes of preheating. Beyond being perfect for cooking small personal pizzas to your friends' specifications, the Tread can also be used to roast chicken legs or sear steak, making it almost as welcome an addition to the BBQ as the person who brought it. Phillips Amazon : 6.5 quarts : 17.2 x 12.0 x 12.8 inches : Frozen fries, fresh fries, chicken drumsticks, meat, fish, breakfast, vegetables, cake, vegan, dehydrated fruits, keep warm At this point, an air fryer is as much of a necessity in the modern kitchen as a stovetop or conventional oven. Phillips' newest air fryer brings touch-operated control to a sleek and quick-heating countertop cooking appliance that makes it easy to cook practically anything you can imagine from reheating frozen fries, “frying” chicken, to dehydrating fruit. A peek-a-boo window lets you monitor your food as it's cooking, and because this is an air fryer, you can use less oil and still get a delicious meal Breville Amazon : 16.7 x 15.0 x 14.5 inches : 26.7 pounds : 77 ounces Brewing your own espresso is a hobby in itself. But the Breville Oracle Jet proves that it doesn't have to be complicated. With a user-friendly touchscreen display, a fully integrated precision burr grinder that automatically grinds, doses, and tamps into a professional-style portafilter, and microfoam with settings for dairy and plant-based milks alike, your primary concern will be figuring out what you want to drink. New functions for extracting cold brew in under three minutes or making crema-topped cold espresso mean that truly the entire coffee shop menu is now in your kitchen. Vitamix Amazon : 9.8 x 7.8 x 17 inches : 11.4 pounds : Smoothies, frozen desserts, soups A blender can be for much more than milkshakes and smoothies if it has enough grunt. With 19 variable speeds and a variety of blending programs, the Vitamix X5 will make everything from soups to nut butters, even freshly ground spices. With an on-screen indicator for when thicker blends require the included tamper, and a self-cleaning program that agitates soapy water at a variety of speeds, the Vitamix X5 comes with all the creature comforts you need to make it part of your daily life. And with a comprehensive 10-year warranty, you can be confident it won't quit on you, either. Shark Amazon : 11.8 x 31.6 x 44.9 inches : 53 dB : 10 While it's certainly more striking than a box fan, the Shark TurboBlade does plenty more than just look slick. Its bladeless design that pulls air in from the base cuts down on dust while blasting the breeze as far as 80 feet, with a telescoping pole and 360-degree top bar to aim the airflow exactly where you need. Sophisticated settings like ""Sleep Mode"" (dimmed lights, no beeps) and ""Natural Breeze"" (varying speeds for an outdoor vibe) plus 10 fine-tunable speed settings will make ""high"" and ""low"" feel unbearably old-fashioned.,, Eric Limer"
"As anyone who’s ever set foot in a gym knows, can be very fun. So much so that gym bros are known for over their. There’s a reason once rapped “I hit the gym all chest, no legs”. Which isn’t to say that there aren’t benefits to beefing out your pecs. Having a strong chest can help, prevent injury, and increase your. One even found not only does the bench press build your chest, but also grow, too. As long as it’s part of a well-rounded approach to fitness, there’s no reason not to hit your chest once a week. To help you figure out the best approach for this area of exercises, we tasked personal trainer, founder of The Tactical Athlete training method, with breaking down how to get a bigger chest. We’ve mentioned ‘pecs’, but what do we actually mean by that? “The muscles associated with your chest are the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor beneath it,” Morgan says. “The pectoralis minor is the smaller of the two muscles, and is similar in shape to a triangle. The pectoralis major is the larger of the two muscles, with an upper portion called the ‘clavicular head’ and the lower portion known as the ‘sternal head’.” So, when we talk about ‘pecs’, we’re actually talking about a set of two muscles, working in conjunction. Beyond the of building your chest mentioned above, Morgan says that larger chest muscles can assist with “metabolism, posture, and overall well-being.” They benefit your whole upper body, too. “Chest muscles are essential for arm movement because they stabilize your shoulder joints, allowing you to twist and rotate your body,” Morgan says. “Your chest also assists with countless actions you take throughout the day, like washing your hair, pushing a door open, or lifting heavy objects.” If you’ve ever done too many press-ups without along the way, or ignored for a week, you’ll know that overdoing it can be painful and can often cause your whole upper body to seize up. Morgan says the most common bench pressing injuries he sees happen when people lift their shoulders during lifts, set the bench at too high an angle, perform one rep maxes over slowly increasing weight, and have incorrect posture during barbell bench presses. So, don’t do that. Think smart to prevent injury. “When you train, you must consider the weight, volume, and form to prevent injury and guarantee you are gaining the most from your training,” Morgan adds. Thankfully, as a man who has performed more than his fair share of press-ups and bench presses in his time, Morgan has a few hacks to help you stay on point: Try the below once a week, adding reps as you go. Do not be tempted to drop this in more than once a week—remember, legs and back need some love, too. And remember, with bands can help prevent injuries to your pectoralis major and pectoralis minor—as can to help round-out your regime. “Incline push-ups target your lower chest muscles, particularly the pectoralis major, triceps, and anterior deltoids,” Morgan explains, adding that they also benefit your abdominal muscles, glutes, quads, and obliques. In addition to using them in this workout, you could deploy them as dynamic warm-ups before other sessions. “If you’re struggling, bring your feet a few steps closer to your hands,” advises Morgan. “This one primarily works your pectoralis major and tricep muscles, but also provides additional benefits to your anterior, traps, and back muscles,” Morgan says. “Keep your back and hips flat to avoid applying unnecessary stress to your neck, back, or spine,” says Morgan. Having a workout buddy to assist you with this workout would be beneficial.” The should be a part of everyone’s fitness arsenal, and with good reason: “While variations are beneficial, are still highly effective for developing upper body strength,” Morgan explains. “They also activate your tricep, shoulder, and pectoral muscles. With proper form, your core, lower back, and abdominal muscles will also feel the benefits.” “The alignment of your body should be linear throughout the workout to maintain proper form, but if you find yourself struggling, you can perform the exercise using your knees as you work your way up,” Morgan explains. A good all-rounder, chest dips primarily engage with your pectoralis major and minor muscles but also benefit your triceps, delts, lats, rhomboids, levator scapulae, and teres muscles. They're integral if you're looking for how to get a bigger chest. 1. Stand straight as you face and grasp the parallel bars with your palms facing inward. 2. Straighten your elbows and shift your weight to the palms of your hands as you lift your body off the ground. 3. Bend your elbows as you aim to lower your chest to be level with your hands. 4. Hold the position for a few moments, then return to the start position and repeat the process. Slow and steady prevents injury. “The incline bench press primarily works three muscles, your triceps, front delts, and pectoral muscles,” explains Morgan. “Training programs regularly integrate incline bench presses because of their effectiveness in pectoral and upper arm development.” 1. Start by laying your back on the incline bench with your feet flat on the ground and position the bar above your collarbone. 2. Grab the barbell by wrapping your arms so they face your feet as your thumbs grasp the bar and press your arms upward toward the sky to lift the barbell off from the rack. 3. Slowly lower the barbell to your chest and keep it centered as you bring it close, just above your nipples. 4. Briefly hold the position, then repeat the process by lifting the bar. “Don’t forget to keep your back and feet flat when you lift, and if possible, get a workout buddy to join you so they can spot you,” says Morgan."
"The best gym bags are built for more than just the gym. Sure, they come with the product specs you'd expect from a bag designed to store your sweaty —water-resistant fabrics, adjustable shoulder straps, ample shoe compartments—but these aren't bags made exclusively for exercising. Even the most technical gym bag can double as a slick weekender on a last-minute summer getaway or a for your first airplane trip in months—provided, of course, you invest in a style with the right accoutrement. Durability is a must, as is an easy-access side pocket to store your water bottle. A few carefully placed external pockets to hold all your small items never hurt, either. So even if you're an expert gym-goer getting reacquainted with the day-to-day grind, it's worth reminding yourself what a game-changer a high quality gym duffle can be, and then tracking down the best one for your routine. The North Face The North Face Polyester 3.3-oz 200-denier 100% recycled polyester 71L 14"" x 14"" x 25"" Is there anything The North Face's Base Camp duffel can't do? It's one of our favorite duffel bags of all time, and it's definitely apt at handling your sweaty commute to and from the gym. It has a plenty generous 71-liter capacity (if you opt for the medium-sized duffel) that's able to pack enough for a 10-day vacation, so go ahead, bring every pair of sneakers you own. Speaking of shoes, there's a separate zippered compartment for footwear to keep your dirty soles away from your. You can carry the bag as a duffel or fashion it into a backpack if your arms are a little sore from those bicep curls. And sure, this is all about gym bags, but c'mon, there's nothing the Base Camp can't handle. lululemon Lululemon Polyester Nylon 30L 19"" x 11"" x 8"" We get it: You work out. You're already telling everyone about your gym obsession, but maybe you don't need to carry a bag that screams “I'm about to lift double my body weight for fun.” duffel bag is a great option for getting to the gym under the radar. It's a three-in-one bag because it can be held as a duffel or worn as a shoulder bag, and the strap can be fashioned into a yoga mat holder. All of that aside, the spaciousness of the bag is great for storing all your workout gear, shoes, and even a sweaty towel or two. Plus, the separate bag for shoes is always great for the germaphobes among us. Tracksmith Tracksmith Canvas, leather 63L 21"" x 18"" Boston’s needs no introduction by this point—they’ve been crafting some of the best heritage-inspired performance running gear for a decade now, not to mention whipping up dope collaborations with brands like District Vision and Brendon Babenzien’s new-look. The Tracksmith Weekend Duffel is a mainstay in our rotation, even if we’re not headed out of town for race weekend. The bag is extremely well made and is built to last, much like the vintage pieces it draws inspiration from. It’s outfitted with a roomy shoe compartment for your stinky kicks or gym clothes, plus comes with a super handy nylon blanket to spread out on race day or in the park on a weeknight. Peak Design Amazon 100% recycled 600D nylon canvas 35L 22"" x 14"" x 10"" Sure, we already featured some other bags that you can buy on Amazon, but few are as high quality as the Peak Design Travel Duffel. Like all of the brand’s gear, it’s centered around photography and travel, but we absolutely love the 35-liter model for the gym. It has an extra long zipper that makes it easy to rummage around in, is made from heavy duty nylon that can stand up to a beating, and, maybe most importantly, is guaranteed for life against manufacturing defects and any failure that renders the bag unusable. It’s not hard to trust a product that is backed with that kind of confidence. Nike Nike Amazon 100% polyester 100% polyester 41L 20"" x 11"" x 11"" This one's a no-brainer. The Brasilia is one of the most popular gym bags in Nike's arsenal, and if you can't trust the Swoosh to provide a spacious, heavily-zippered duffle to store all your swoosh-emblazoned gear, who you turn to? It's got easy-access exterior pockets for small valuables like your phone and earbuds as well as ventilated mesh side pockets to keep your sweaty clothes and dirty shoes from stinking up the main compartment. And with a durable coated bottom, you won't have to worry about scuffs and tears. Rains Amazon : 100% polyester with polyurethane coating : 26L : 10"" x 8.8"" x 19.4"" Rains is famous for outerwear that laughs in the face of inclement weather. Its Trail Gym Bag harnesses the brand's trademark PU waterproof tech to protect your workout gear from the worst of the elements, whether it's raining cats and dogs or you're the bedraggled owner of a pet insistent on slobbering all over your gym shoes. Beyond weatherproofing, this bag has a front zippered pocket and side mesh pocket, plus a removable shoulder strap. Evergoods Evergoods : 840-denier ballistic nylon with DWR finish, 420-denier nylon liner : 35L : 20"" x 11"" x 12"" Alums from Patagonia and GORUCK make up the brains behind Evergoods, a small Montana-based bag brand specializing in gear for urban-outdoor crossover. Unlike other weekender-style duffel bags, the Transit Duffel has stand-up structure provided by foam panels and aluminum stays, elements more commonly found in hiking packs. It makes this bag much easier to pack and unpack and also provides protection should you be carrying more than shoes and sweats. Organizational features like big exterior pockets for a laptop and small essentials, plus more pockets and sleeves on the inside, make it a cinch to do just that. Topo Designs REI : 200-denier 100% recycled nylon ripstop, 900-denier 100% recycled nylon with DWR coating : 33L : 20.5"" x 13.5"" x 7"" We all love a tote, but those flimsy thin canvas merch bags can't hack it in the gym. Made for hauling climbing gear, the —which we love—can. It's built with rugged ripstop fabric and has a base that can take a good dragging. Outside, a detachable shoulder strap offers two ways to carry and daisy chain webbing the chance to show off your carabiner collection. Inside, there's a big compartment that'll fit multiple pairs of shoes, water, shorts, and all the rest while a backpack-style cinch-top closure ensures your protein bar won't pop out on the way. Arc'teryx Arc'teryx : 690D Cordura nylon, 210d nylon lining : 45L : 15"" x 25.6"" x 14.2"" At a glance, this open-top tote is a simple oversized gear bag with handles. That's not wrong, but you already know what we're going to tell you:. Inside, fold-away dividers built into the bag's lining create compartments large enough for separating shoes from clothes, or containing your climbing kit on one side and your lifting duds on the other. If you don't mind the lack of a zippered top, it's the ideal setup if your gym's amenities include more than weight racks and treadmills. The handles are long enough to throw it over your shoulder, so overpacking isn't an issue. And, lastly, the one easily doubles and triples as a beach bag, camping bag, and more. Bellroy Amazon : 65% recycled nylon, 20% recycled polyester, 5% polyester, 5% other materials, 5% nylon : 30L : 16.5"" x 19.7"" x 8.7"" You know a bag's going to be light when the word is right there in the name (without the excess ""g"" and ""h"" too). The Lite Duffel weighs in around 21 ounces, but punches above its class when it comes to features. Those include an exterior organizational pocket, a detachable shoulder strap, and a big main compartment that's extra-accessible from an extended zipper and has additional interior pockets as well (one is designed specifically for an AirTag for keeping track of your tube socks). Aer Aer 1680D Cordura ballistic nylon 18.7L 17.5"" x 12.5"" x 8"" Okay, yes, Aer's Fit Pack 3 is technically a backpack. But its fan-favorite style comes chock full of the type of product details you'd expect to see in a next-level duffle designed for heavy-duty wear and tear. Its exterior is made out of abrasion-resistant 840D nylon with Cordura side paneling, and a padded interior ensures your laptop stays secure no matter how many dirty socks you've wedged in there. Factor in an easy-access water bottle pocket and Duraflex hardware, and you're looking at a formidable gym bag alternative that might convert even the staunchest duffle devotee. These days, most gym bags are made from some form of nylon, but some of our favorites incorporate leather and canvas, too. Nylon is easiest to clean and resists odors better than other materials, but if you’re looking for something that’s going to last, make sure you figure out how thick the material is. For example, some cheaper nylon bags may end up being quite flimsy, while other bags, like the Peak Design bag we mentioned, is made from bulletproof 600D nylon that could probably be dragged behind a car without busting. Make sure you also consider the zippers—nothing is worse than a faulty zipper that stops working after a few uses. Yes, this story is specifically geared toward gym bags, but as you may have noticed, many of the bags on our list are intended for travel, weekends away, or commuting. Any bag can be a gym bag if you want it to be! Don’t worry so much about the name of the bag or what the brand states as the bag’s main purpose, just make sure it has what you want. Sometimes that’s a shoe compartment, sometimes that means finding a bag that can be carried by hand or slung over your shoulder, and sometimes you just want something cheap to tote a towel and fresh pair of boxers. In the end, this is up to you, so read the details, look at the images, and if you decide you like a bag, make it your go-to. There's no reason to drag a bag the size of your checked suitcase to the gym. If you're only bringing a change of clothes and a pair of shoes, you'll want a bag that's just big enough to carry all of that because your workout shouldn't be the commute to the gym itself. Also, take into consideration the size of your gym's lockers—if you get a bag too big, you'll have to leave your gear out in the open, just asking to be stolen. Not only is our team here at obsessed with bags, but we’re also a pretty sporty bunch. We are just as dedicated to spending time at the Park Slope YMCA or LES Equinox as we are to keeping our finger on the pulse of the latest style trends. This means that we definitely the things we talk about. So we test bags constantly, hauling our workout gear all over the place, looking for the best of the best to then recommend our favorites to you. Our group of editors and writers includes marathon runners, road cyclists, rec league soccer players, self-described meatheads, and Barry’s die-hards—so you can be sure that each bag we recommend has been put through its paces."
"The best tennis brands circle in and out of the fashion conversation with Federer-like grace. For decades, the two disciplines have been loosely intertwined. On the pro circuit, players like Nick Kyrgios and Serena Williams have pushed the boundaries of the on-court uniform, accruing fines and in the process. Off the court, tennis gear has never been hotter: Kith’s ongoing link-up with Wilson continues to sell out; Loewe’s collaboration with On put front and center; and —with a little help from Zendaya,, and two particularly sweaty —catalyzed a run on short shorts that. Fashion’s love affair with isn’t unrequited. In 2024, there’s a growing appreciation for the comfort, ease, and unmitigated of —a marked shift away from the anodyne mesh stuff you’re apt to find at country club pro shops. A couple of years ago, the team behind Rowing Blazers introduced Arthur Ashe, a new line of preppy, tennis-adjacent clothing that pays homage to its namesake’s legendary ‘70s-era style. Tennis’s legacy acts have finally cottoned onto the treasure trove of mood board inspiration in their archives. Nike just brought back John McEnroe’s —and followed it by re-releasing Andre Agassi’s cult-loved Air Tech Challenge 2. Even Prince and Wilson have gotten in on the action, collaborating with a who’s who of indie menswear favorites. Sure, you can still buy a pair of swishy poly-blend shorts or a sweat-wicking nylon polo, but given the opportunity, wouldn’t you rather suit up like Richie Tenenbaum or cop a graphic tee inspired by Matisse? If your answer to that question was an emphatic, unequivocal, you’re in the right place. Below are the tennis brands pushing the sport to stylish new frontiers, from born-again household names to next-gen upstarts. Clear a little closet space, snag a, and hop on the closest train to Flushing: the game just got a heckuva lot more exciting. Prince has been mastering the equipment side of tennis for over fifty years, but they’ve recently moved into the style world with the same swagger, most notably through a with London’s Percival. The hefty navy knit tennis polo (with a baby blue collar trim) might be our favorite, but there’s also some covetable pinstripe shorts, and even a full, roomy double-breasted suit. Beyond Percival, Prince has also dropped limited releases with and. Prince x Percival Percival Prince x Percival Percival Prince x Percival Percival Prince x Percival Percival Alright lads, we weren’t going to leave here without a Fred Perry moment. Founded by the three-time Wimbledon winner, the eponymous label was born on the court, but soon found prominence in England’s streetwear circles — the laurel-wreath logo has been adopted by the Mods and Britpop enthusiasts, including Oasis frontman. Fred Perry Fred Perry Fred Perry Fred Perry Fred Perry Fred Perry Fred Perry Fred Perry Fila has been a mainstay in the tennis world for decades, but odds are high that they didn’t come to mind immediately when you saw this headline. Word to the wise: Their on-court performance gear is still top-notch, but they’ve been building out their apparel line to blend the best of their vintage tennis looks with modern updates. Smart move—just look at that pinstripe polo. Fila Fila Fila Fila Fila Fila Fila Fila If you’ve been anywhere near tennis, you’ve been near Wilson. Roger Federer’s preferred racket company does more than make winning gear — they’ve also been stepping up their style game in a big way over the past few years. The mainline apparel is now strong (see the Professionals Cardigan) but their biggest move has been an with NYC’s Kith, dropping instant-grail apparel and equipment since 2021. The latest edition is no longer available, but like we said, the main line is solid. Wilson Wilson Wilson Wilson Wilson Wilson Wilson Wilson Let’s be clear: The Lacoste polo is single most influential piece of tennis lifestyle clothing. The alligator logo is an icon of the sport, and while you may not be seeing as many popped collars as you did during Ye’s years, the French pique pros have never slowed down. They sponsor one of the all-time greats, Novak Djokovic, but are experimenting all the time with playful reworks of their classic block polo. Lacoste Lacoste Lacoste Lacoste Lacoste Lacoste Lacoste Lacoste Another Vancouver-based brand we’d recommend for wearing on the court is Reigning Champ. If you’ve ever shopped around for fitness gear, you probably have heard of them, but you may not have seen just how sick their tennis gear is yet. The standout is their Solotex line, which blends the best of hand feel, sweat management, and excellent fit to make some of the finest apparel you’ve ever worn on the court (or off it). The quiet designs are easy to mix and match with other brands, too. No logo clashing here. Reigning Champ Nordstrom Reigning Champ Nordstrom Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Lululemon has become a constant in our sporting lives, whether it’s their gear for yoga, running, gym workouts, the golf course, or, yes, tennis. Their lightweight polos and shorts perform great whether you’re playing on hard courts, grass, or clay but they’re also easy to feel good about buying because of their immense utility off the courts—and how well they hold up in a wash. Premium technical materials don’t always seamlessly transition to regular life, but Lululemon makes it look easy. Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon Ok, one more Roger-adjacent mention. (If you work with the GOAT, you have to be on the list, right?) Everyone knows Uniqlo for its menswear basics, but it’s also a sneaky good place for fitness gear. As with all things Uniqlo, you get garments with a modern fit, immense style, and a price point that is easy on the wallet. Uniqlo Uniqlo Uniqlo Uniqlo Uniqlo Uniqlo Uniqlo Uniqlo The shoe dogs over at Nike aren’t going anywhere. The Swoosh makes some of the best tennis shoes in the game, outfitting pros like Naomi Osaka, Rafael Nadal, and Frances Tiafoe, just to name a few. Where the brand equally shines, though, is with its heritage apparel. If you had an entire archive of 1970s and 80s tennis classics to play with, wouldn’t you re-release it also? Nike Nike Nike Nike Nike Nike Nike Nike It’s hard to even think of tennis these days without thinking of On. The Swiss brand made an initial splash by linking with the greatest tennis player of all time, Roger Federer, to develop some tennis-specific shoes and apparel that fit in nicely alongside their running gear. But when Federer retired, On doubled down, signing two of the most exciting talents in tennis, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek and up-and-coming American Ben Shelton, firmly planting their logo on the sport’s future. Their gear has levelled up too—just look at the blurry wash on those tennis shorts. On On On On On On On On The is truly delivering these days, so it’s no surprise that the city has also produced one of tennis’ most playful, stylish young brands. Blending tailoring and athletic wear, but with a sense of humor mostly found in streetwear, Palmes has quickly found itself on every menswear guy’s moodboard, whether through with the How Long Gone podcast or theretro tennis shoe remaster with the Italian sportswear legends at Diadora. Palmes Palmes Palmes Palmes Palmes Palmes Palmes Palmes The Southern Californian desert and tennis just make sense together. Situated just outside of SoCal’s Anza Borrego State Park, The Courts Anza-Borrego is not only a grail-level tennis destination but now also a merch mecca worthy of your attention. Blissfully shipped nationwide, their merch includes the aforementioned Matisse homage, plus a bunch of other graphics that will add some charm to your tennis (and off-court) wardrobe. The Courts The Courts The Courts The Courts The Courts The Courts The Courts The Courts When a fashion brand founder loves tennis, good things tend to follow. Yony’s tennis line marries contemporary and retro just like Palmes, Prince, and The Courts above, is the perfect combination of modern and retro, with a healthy dose of technical performance built-in, too. Tees, shorts, and tracksuits are the highlights of the collection, but there are handful of super comfy off-court options made with heavyweight, USA-grown cotton French Terry. Yony Yony Yony Yony Yony Yony Yony Yony Some of our absolute favorite style pieces in the tennis world are from Jacques NYC. Pairing prepster classics with modern tailoring and performance, the brand lives in a sporty corner of the quiet luxury boom. It’s hyperfocused on natural materials like merino wool and wood-based renewables, which means not only are you keeping that pesky carbon footprint down, but you’re investing in pieces that will feel amazing on your skin and stand up over time. Jacques Jacques Jacques Jacques Jacques Jacques Jacques Jacques A newer label from the mind of Jack Carlson and the Rowing Blazers team, Arthur Ashe pays homage to one of the most important figures to ever grace the tennis court. Preppy pique polos, paisley shorts, and sweater vests lead the collection, while performance mesh shorts and other on-court pieces add some technical flair to the brand’s lineup. Also, for you vintage heads out there: Rowing Blazers often drops its own that go way hard. Rowing Blazers Rowing Blazers Rowing Blazers Rowing Blazers Rowing Blazers Rowing Blazers Rowing Blazers Rowing Blazers"
"Depending on your sense of national pride, the 4th of July can be a lot, and not always in a good way. The 4th of July, though? Those, my fellow flustered Americans, are consistently cause for celebration. Sure, personal, but the menswear deals it engenders every summer are a fairly sure-fire delight. And ahead of the formal celebrations this weekend, they're already. Just in the nick of time, too. Whatever grace the weather was displaying over the first half of June has officially given way to typical summer drudgery—it’s hot, it’s humid, and we're sick of hearing people complain about it. So, uh,. Instead, turn your attention to all the available for a pittance right now, courtesy of the trusty mall-brand mainstays, the bleeding-edge independents, and the otherwise loath to discount their wares. Happy 4th, and happy shopping. What’s a holiday weekend without a massive Abercrombie sale? We won’t have to find out because this weekend they’ve knocked 20-50% off pretty much everything on the site, and they’re also offering you an additional 20% off anything already on sale, which means you could set yourself up for the entire summer in a single cart. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch The vaunted Alex Mill summer sale has just kicked off, giving you 40-60% off their entire collection—or, in other words, an absolutely preposterous deal on some of the most effortlessly styled, endlessly versatile menswear staples on the market (including their cotton-linen Cooper Suit, which is now clocking in under $275 total.) Alex Mill Alex Mill Alex Mill Alex Mill American Trench has built a reputation on some of the best socks anywhere, and those socks just so happen to be US-made and reasonably priced. But they make a whole bunch of other killer, no-fuss menswear that’s worth your attention, and for the weekend all of it is 20% off. American Trench American Trench American Trench American Trench When it comes to loose shirts, retro-tinged polos, louche trousers, big shorts and really anything else we’ve wanted to wear of late, Banana Republic has been on a tear, and the summer collection always hits especially hard. The good news for you is that there’s an extra 300 pieces from that collection now up to 60% off, and for the weekend you can take an extra 20% off that already-enticing price. Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic If you’re in the market for some ethically-made, reasonably-priced everyday staples, wardrobe workhorses or just something to pad out an otherwise humming rotation, you probably already know that Everlane is a great place to start searching. Through July 7th, however, the retailer is taking up to 50% nearly everything on the site, which makes it an even better place to kick things off. Everlane Everlane Everlane Everlane The first name in American loafers isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but considering they’ve knocked 25% off the price of their best sellers through the weekend (with code SPARK), inventory should go fast. If you’ve been looking for some Weejuns, there’s no time like the present. G.H. Bass G.H. Bass G.H. Bass G.H. Bass One of the best multi-brand retailers in the world is very much Canadian, but that doesn’t mean they’re not partaking in the festivities. And as a result, you can take an additional 15% off one of the most stacked sale sections you’ll see all summer with the code “SUMMER15”, a sale section resplendent with brands like Arc’teryx, Auralee, Beams, Lemaire, Needles and more. Tarvas Haven Knickerbocker Huckberry Huckberry’s summer sale is one of the better all-around sales in the genre, and even though it’s been technically rolling for a few weeks, there’s still an insane amount of hard-wearing, hard-living, hard-to-beat inventory left, all of it designed to exponentially improve whatever type of everyday adventures you have on tap for the season. The Original Madras Trading Co. Huckberry Knickerbocker Huckberry By now, you should know that if you’re looking for some summer shirts, a last-minute wedding setup or a full rotation redesign, J.Crew is one of the first places you should check. But what you might be pleased to learn is that through July 7, they’re offering you an extra 70% (yes, 70) off over 200 sale styles. J.Crew J.Crew J.Crew J.Crew Levi’s End of Season Sale is in full swing, and that means there’s a great chance that a cut or wash you’ve been eyeing is up to 50% off at this very moment—and the same goes for truckers, button ups and the rest. Levi's Levi's Levi's Levi's For anyone still unaware of Madewell’s virtues, now is a wonderful time to fill yourself in, because a majority of their eminently wearable, outfit-elevating spring-summer collection is currently residing in the sale section, and through July 10, you can take an extra 30% off all of it. Madewell Madewell Madewell Madewell While the legendary Mr. Porter sale is no longer a limited-time affair, the inventory is as limited as ever and the best time to take advantage of the savings is when they’re still stocking it with current season goods. Considering they’ve just added a host of new lines to a sale tab with discounts up to 60%, it’s safe to say we’re within the window. Bode Mr. Porter Nike Mr. Porter There’s no bad time to buy some Ralph but a good time to do so is when it’s on sale, and the best time is when that sale section has a sale—i.e. right now through July 7. (And if you needed any further motivation, the first name in American fashion’s menswear sale section is boasting over 500 products right now.) Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren Sure, going “outside” is becoming increasingly fraught, but that doesn’t change REI’s ability to prepare you for it—and when they’ve put thousands (literally over 7,000) products on sale, that ability increases exponentially, which they have through July 7. So if you’ve got a camping trip, a hike you’ve been putting off or just need some gear, now is the time to stock up. Arc'teryx REI Chaco REI One of the premier names in tees, sweats and anything else jersey-knit recently kicked off their Midsummer Sale, which will let you take up to 50% off both perennial all-stars and seasonal favorites through July 6. Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Reigning Champ SSENSE isn’t necessarily celebrating the 4th, but that doesn’t mean their sale isn’t very much active and thriving over the weekend, with discounts pushing that 70% range. If you’ve been on the fence about something and it’s still around, you might not get another crack at it. Needles SSENSE Studio Nicholson SSENSE From now through Sunday (July 6), Stag Provisions is taking 25% off almost everything on their entire site, which means that you can score some insane deals on brands like Birkenstock, Save Khaki, Garrett Leight, RRL and more—a ton of which rarely, if ever, goes on sale at all. Birkenstock Stag Provisions Save Khaki Stag Provisions Todd Snyder just kicked off its jaw-dropping summer sale, which knocked up to 50% off the original price of an insane number of summer hits, and if that wasn’t enough, they’re also offering you an additional 20% off price for the time being. Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Todd Snyder"
"In case you hadn't noticed, “ ” has popped off in recent years, and if you're looking to get in on some of those gains at home, are a great place to start. Pop into any gym worth its salt, and you're bound to see a rack full of heavy iron orbs ranging from a manageable 9 pounds all the way to—in some heavy-duty gyms—a whopping pounds. (Though they tend to have weights listed in “kilograms,” whatever those are.) If you've never picked a kettlebell up, don't sweat—they're easy to use, and great for beginners and experts alike. Whether your workouts have been feeling stale, or you've just been spinning your wheels shuffling from the incline bench to the rack to the lat pull-down and back, the best kettlebells are a great way to spice up your training—and secure some major gains while you're at it. Below, we pulled five of our favorite kettlebells for that build strength, stability, and cardio. (Don't worry, bro: You can still make time for curls.) REP Fitness Amazon 1kg - 48kg Cast iron If you want the purest embodiment of what a kettlebell should be, look no further than the REP Kettlebell. REP uses a gravity die-cast process which gives you a kettlebell that is precise in weight and guaranteed to be balanced, with a flat and stable base. I tested the 20kg option and liked that the handle was sufficiently wide to fit both hands, great for movements like kettlebell swings. Kettlebells with more narrow handles fail in this regard, pinching your fingers and making the overall experience a hassle. The REP Kettlebell might not have some of the fancy design or innovations of other kettlebells on this list, but as the old adage goes—if it ain't broke, don't fix it. REP's kettlebell is a classic: It doesn't need anything fancy, just solid craftsmanship and a guarantee to (with hard, consistent work) get you jacked. GORUCK GORUCK 13 - 44 pounds 1000D Cordura nylon Goruck leads the pack in the rucking space and makes some of the highest-quality gear on the market for lugging heavy packs on long, intense treks. (Rucking was even named the workout of the year by an in 2024.) They also offer a really cool sand kettlebell—our pick for the best travel kettlebell—which is essentially a nearly-indestructible bag made of 1,000 denier Cordura nylon with a large handle. It has a zip-top which exposes the velcro closure of the sand compartment, which you can fill with (you guessed it) sand to catch workouts on the go. When empty, you can pack it down and toss it in a —perfect for adding some much-needed gains to your next beach vacation. I tested the 44-pound option, and although it's somewhat bulkier than a cast-iron kettlebell of the same weight, the sand filling is much more forgiving than a hard metal ball. Whether you're an advanced kettlebell user or just getting started, a sand kettlebell is far less likely to cause injury while swinging or dropping on an unprotected toe, in my opinion. Unfortunately, the nylon handle means that are out of the question—but that's a small price to pay for a kettlebell that can go anywhere. Plus, Goruck’s means that if you do miraculously manage to break this thing, they'll fix or replace it, free of charge. Bowflex Bowflex 8 - 40 pounds Plastic, steel Some kettlebell obsessives are opposed, in principle, to the idea of an adjustable kettlebell. The argument is that a kettlebell’s singular solid construction is what makes it so useful for a variety of movement patterns. I understand their point, but if you're tight on space and want multiple weight options for a fraction of the price, the adjustable kettlebell solves that problem. While many brands offer adjustable kettlebells, the Bowflex Select Tech 840 is my favorite. Most other offerings require a separate tool and some manner of disassembly to adjust the weight. The SelectTech 840 has a convenient selection wheel that allows you to choose your desired weight (8 to 40 pounds) and easily pick it up from the detachable base. It is obviously not a solid piece of metal, but it still feels stable and performs well in most standard movements. Considering a kettlebell can run you upwards of $100, the SelectTech 840's six weight options for $149 is a steal. Onnit Onnit 36 - 90 pounds Cast iron When it comes to the quintessential cast-iron kettlebell, there isn't a whole lot of variation between brands. Some have larger handles than others and each is adorned with their respective logo—but that's about it. Enter: Onnit’s Primal Bell, where each kettlebell is molded in the shape of a different primate’s head. Current stock ranges from the 36 lb “Chimp” to the 90lb “Bigfoot.” Aside from helping to channel your inner beast, as it were, these are guaranteed to make grueling thrusters, goblet squats, and suitcase carries a little more fun. The world is heavy, so keep your kettlebells light (metaphorically speaking, of course). Kettlebell Kings Kettlebell Kings 4kg - 48kg Neoprene, rubber Kettlebells are meant to be picked up and put down—often with quite a bit of force. If you live in an apartment and still want to get a workout in while at least maintaining the facade of a friendly relationship with your neighbors, I recommend you check out Kettlebell Kings—specifically, their Kettlebell Wrap Floor Protector, which is a 3mm-thick neoprene sleeve designed to envelope the kettlebell. The base of the wrap has a built in rubber pad, and it secures with Velcro on top, and helps dampen the noise of putting it down and protect your floors. I would still advise caution (a.k.a. don't slam the kettlebell on the ground) but it's a good investment for working out at home. Pair it with a and you might even beat the Upstairs Neighbor allegations. After all, a returned security deposit means more money to spend on. Kettlebells consist of a solid metal base (usually cast iron) with a rounded handle on top. The best kettlebells are cast from a single mold so that the handle and body are wholly joined and more durable—they're also often sprayed with a coating to provide a better grip and limit rust and abrasion. Adjustable kettlebells allow you to change the weight of the kettlebell either manually or through some kind of selection wheel, while loadable kettlebells are essentially empty vessels that can be filled either with water or sand to add weight—the latter being perfect for travel. Which kettlebell you pick should be based on your training environment, but for most people, we recommend investing in a solid cast-iron model like the REP Kettlebell. The main draw of kettlebells is that their spherical construction and large handles allow for a more balanced weight distribution and allow them to be used for a variety of exercises. You can row or curl, holding from the handle. You can hold both sides of the handle for movements like goblet squats or halos. You could even hold the ball itself for balance-work and overhead presses. A more advanced kettlebell user might grab it by the handle and clean it into a racked position, gripping the handle, with the body of the weight resting against your wrist. Holding the weight upside down by the handle for stability-focused overhead carries is also a popular movement—the point is, the options are endless, going far beyond what is possible with a dumbbell. (We've got a guide to for your sweating pleasure.) While there is a learning curve, the important thing is to start slow, with a weight you can manage. As with all pursuits—be consistent, and you’ll be swinging them around like a functional wizard in no time. For this article, we scoured the market and tested a grip of the best kettlebells in the game, highlighting the top options for a variety of skill levels and needs. We swung, pressed, and squatted on your behalf to compile a list with something for everyone. We also consulted personal trainers, competitive grapplers, and our network of gym rats."
"Much like, the best pre-workout powders on the market today are a far cry from what they were in the early aughts. The first time I was introduced to pre-workout was during my freshman year of college, when a fellow member of the wrestling team kindly encouraged me to suck down a shaker tin full of ambiguous, neon-blue liquid before a group lift. Did I feel like my face was peeling off? Yes. Did I get an, skin-splitting pump that would set me on a path of meatheaddery for the rest of my life? Also yes. Pre-workouts, for any non- out there, are supplements folks take before—you guessed it—. Typically, pre-workout has two main purposes: increasing energy and helping achieve bigger “pumps,” or the (temporary) swollen feeling and appearance of your muscles during or after working out, caused by blood rushing into the muscles you’re exercising. Because there are so many potions and powders out there, we put together this list of our personal favorite pre-workout picks, which I—along with my network of personal trainers, competitive athletes, and general-purpose meatheads—have tested over the years. I’ve also personally ingested countless tubs of the picks below to help better serve you, our dear readers, with the best anecdotal reviews and bro-scientific rundowns on the web. And, while we’re currently striving for our PHDs (Pretty Huge Delts), we’re very much doctors, so you should always consult a healthcare professional before taking any sort of supplement. So ready your shaker cup, pop on an, and let’s get down to business. Gorilla Mind Amazon Walmart Gorilla Mind Amazon I’ll probably get some Broccoli Head accusations for this one nabbing the top spot, but when it comes to ingredients, it’s tough to beat Gorilla Mind’s Gorilla Mode Pre-Workout. With a whopping 10,000mg of L-citrulline and 400mg of caffeine per two-scoop serving, you’re in for some major pumps and (possibly too much) energy. Plus, there’s a decent amount of electrolytes and five grams of creatine per two-scoop serving, which means on days I take Gorilla Mode, I can skip on top of that. To top it off, in my experience, the flavor offerings are decent, and it mixes really well. Unfortunately, 400mg of caffeine is a little much for me, so I often do one scoop of Gorilla Mode and one scoop of Gorilla Mode Nitric, which is the caffeine-free version, so I can snag all the pump-inducing benefits but still go to sleep at night. Transparent Labs Transparent Labs Amazon To me, everything from Transparent Labs feels like The Gentleman’s Choice—and while that’s probably from the heavily advertised third-party testing and how neat and clean the packaging is, the brand’s pre-workout is nothing to scoff at. With a healthy dose of pump products (including citrulline malate, arginine nitrate, and betaine), I’ve gotten some absolutely bulbous pumps from this stuff. The best part is that since there’s no caffeine in the formula, I can take this after 6 p.m. and still get a restful night’s sleep. Conversely, if I’m working out in the morning, I can either pop a or chug a to get an energy boost as well. The only thing I’d change would be to add a more comprehensive electrolyte package, but since this is a pre-workout and not a hydration supplement, I can’t really complain. Nutricost Nutricost Amazon Nutricost Nutricost Amazon I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Nutricost is my go-to brand for affordable supplements. I love both their stim and non-stim pre-workout complexes—and not just because the price is most definitely right. There are a ton of heartily dosed pump and stimulant compounds in both products which deliver top-tier pumps and loads of energy. I probably use the PRE-SF (SF meaning “stimulant-free”) three to four times a week in conjunction with a few other pre-workouts in my rotation, and slug some PRE on days when I get to workout in the morning or when I'm generally lacking energy. Cellucor Cellucor Amazon Even if you had no idea what pre-workout was before you read this article, you’re probably aware of C4 in some capacity, whether you saw it in a locker room, sold behind the counter at a gym, or as part of a wherein a bunch of pajama-clad Gen-Z teens during peak hours. Jokes aside, this is probably where many folks got introduced to pre-workout—it’s certainly the first one I tried—and it’s a solid beginner’s product, especially if you’re not sure whether or not you’re going to like taking pre-workout at all. For seasoned guzzlers, it’s got caffeine and some pump products (along with some ), so it’ll get you going in a pinch. For novices, it’s a great gateway product. Jacked Factory Jacked Factory Amazon Jacked Factory Jacked Factory Amazon The best thing about Jacked Factory’s Nitro Surge—besides the sweet company name—is the short-and-sweet ingredients list. It’s got everything you need, and nothing more, with a tolerable (for me) dose of caffeine at 180mg per scoop. I’d love it if it had a touch more L-citrulline per scoop, but anecdotally, this stuff gives me great pumps every time. Plus, it’s very affordable, comes in a ton of different flavors, and (this is anecdotal) the last three tubs I got, the scooper was always always at the top. My only gripe is also the thing I love most about it: The ingredient list is so short, you could probably snag the individual components from and make it yourself. (However, that’s a huge pain in the ass, so I’ll stick with Nitro Surge.) Legion Legion Amazon Pulse Legion Athletics Amazon If taste is your number-one priority when it comes to pre-workout, you’re generally going to be out of luck, since not many of the products on the market today are super enjoyable to drink, IMO. However, Legion’s Pulse is an exception: With a laundry list of flavor options that also seem to be perpetually on sale, there’s truly something for everyone here. Additionally, the ingredients are well-dosed, and cover all the major bases when it comes to big pumps and loads of energy. It's not my go-to pre-workout, but one of my gym buddies absolutely swears by this stuff and refuses to drink anything else. (He's also more jacked than I am, so maybe I should give it another go.) Huge Supplements Amazon Wrecked is really well-dosed for pumps, with a whopping 10,000mg of L-citrulline, a ton of betaine, and a bunch of other muscle-engorging ingredients. The only reason it's not daily driver is probably the same reason a lot of people love it—it packs 375mg of caffeine, or roughly 4.5 cups of coffee. (Don't worry, though: Huge also makes, a stim-free version.) Celsius Amazon Not interested in a pump, but still want some pre-workout energy? Whack a Celsius packet into your shaker tin and blast off. Animal Amazon Animal is a classic strength sport and bodybuilding brand, and its Primal pre-workout is a great option for those looking for a balanced pump and energy profile. Plus, it tastes surprisingly solid. Ghost Amazon Ghost makes one of my favorite protein powders, and its pre isn't anything to scoff at, either, with six grams of L-citrulline and enough beta alanine to get your face itching (in a good way). Back when I started taking pre-workout, the supplement market was the Wild West—and to a large extent, —and companies were whacking handfuls of dubious chemicals and powders into their formulas that were essentially amphetamine derivatives marketed as health aids (most infamously,, but was yanked from the market years ago). These days, there are slightly higher standards out there—though being the operative word. That’s why it helps to a) look for reputable brands with third-party ingredient testing, b) do some research on whatever chemicals you plan on ingesting, and c) always consult your medical provider before taking anything. The main mechanism by which pre-workouts increase energy is caffeine—which has a boatload of studies showing it can —in often insomnia-inducing doses. To increase the pump, brands use cocktails of purported nitric oxide boosters and vasodilators, including,, betaine, and a host of other compounds with (sometimes inconclusive) science to back up a lot of their claims. As far as taste goes for pre-workouts, they’re… generally bad—not gonna lie, boys. Many of these compounds are bitter and downright nasty, which is why you’ll see flavors intended to mask the tastes ranging from White Gummy Bear to Bomb Popsicle. (However, there are some less-bad ones that almost break into the drink-for-fun category, which we noted above.) Personally, I like taking pre-workout right before I leave the house to go to the gym, since it’s about a 20-minute walk from door to door, so the caffeine hits me about 10 minutes after I get to the gym. Austin Day— -certified personal trainer, BJJ competitor, and coach at in —likes to drink his pre-workout while warming up. “I drink it slowly, so I usually finish it a couple sets into my first lift,” he says. “I drink it to get absolutely dialed in—I let the caffeine hit my system, turn the speakers up, and get to work.” And as always, remember to consult your medical provider before taking any supplements. I personally tested each of the picks above, racking up countless over-caffeinated hours in the gym. I also consulted with my network of testers, which includes my fellow office gym rats; former NCAA athletes; NASM- and ACE-certified trainers; ; and competitive powerlifters, strongmen, and BJJ grapplers. What is the best pre-workout? Our top pick for the best pre-workout is. What is the best time to take pre-workout? Generally, the best time to take pre-workout is around 20-30 minutes before you start exercising. What is the best pre-workout supplement? Caffeine is generally considered to be the best pre-workout supplement for energy and performance, while L-citrulline is thought of as the best pre-workout supplement for pumps."
"The best clothing brands might not be the ones you’d expect. Sure, the old heads are very much in the mix, but the marketplace is being transformed by a new generation that's just now falling in love with golf. Whether they grew up on skateboarding, hardcore music, or fine art, this class of upstarts is bringing a whole new spirit and vibe to the golf course—one that's very much welcome in 2025. Now, instead of the sea of shiny, itchy polyester polo shirts and skinny-fit that plagued the 2010s, you've got,, and workwear-inspired. You've got knits that (actually) fit, and T-shirts that help you spread the gospel of golf, even when you aren't on the links. And, pro tip, all of these would make excellent for the golf-lover in your life. Here are the brashest, boldest, and all-around best golf clothing brands on the planet right now, so you can create your flyest (and most functional) golf wardrobe yet. From Adidas and Nike to (relative) newcomers like Malbon and Manors Golf, there’s never been a better time to get dressed for a day on the links—or to something to your golf-loving guy. : Unparalleled Comfort You've got to hand it to Lululemon, which, despite its legacy as a women's yoga pants brand, really brings the heat when it comes to stylish, high-performing men's athletic wear. While Lululemon doesn't designate pieces exclusively for golf, it's pretty easy to see that the brand's famous ABC pant and breezy mesh polo shirts are primed for the fairway. Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon Lululemon : Easy-Going Fits Like a lot of athleisure brands these days, Rhone focuses on providing comfortable materials and timeless silhouettes for its clothing, that's apt for a variety of sports: running, golf, etc. For the best, look towards classic pieces like quarter zips and sweaters, all of which work equally well off the green as much as they do while you're hitting that hole in one. Rhone Nordstrom Rhone Rhone : Teenage Golfers Abercrombie's renaissance includes a breakthrough in the fitness category with YPB, a range of athleticwear, so that the mall brand can truly be a one-stop shop for all your clothing needs. The brand features stretchy and cooling polos, as well as select pieces that call back to an era when golfing meant fuller silhouettes and fewer instances of super-stretchy, slim-tapered pants. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch : Technical Performance You'll recognize Wilson's name emblazoned on many a tennis balls, but it's also a great brand when shopping for golf gear. Expect a lot of excellent technical fabrics, which are apt for regulating temperature and ensuring your swing can soar. Wilson Wilson Wilson Wilson : Cozy Comfort Alo's main shtick is that it wants you to be cozy as hell during all of your endeavors. Even if that endeavor is hitting the links. You probably won't wear sweatpants or teddy fleece to the golf course, but the brand does stock a range of greens-ready gear that'll make golfing just as comfortable as if you were at home playing Wii Sports. Alo Alo Alo Alo : Fits to Match the Footwear G/Fore is known for its top-notch, and to make it a fully well-rounded golf brand, it also stocks a pretty slick collection of golfing apparel. There's nothing too flashy, full of pieces that will help you perfect your game, and, of course, it's all to let the eyes of your loving admirers to focus more on the sick shoes you have on. G/Fore G/Fore G/Fore G/Fore : Traditionalist Golfers Peter Millar is a North Carolina-based brand that launched in the early aughts. It sells heavily in resorts, which makes sense given that it's built around cashmere sweaters, polo shirts, and performance golf apparel. But the brand also has e-commerce and a price-to-quality ratio that's hard to beat. (Peter Millar also owns, another popular, Mr Porter-stocked, US-based golf line.) Peter Millar Peter Millar Peter Millar Peter Millar : A Perfect Mix of Performance and Style With Nike and Champion collaborations under its belt, and frequently sold-out drops,, launched in 2017 by Stephen and Erica Malbon, feels like the independent golf brand most poised to become a future standby. It also helps that the brand has a complete collection of performance golf apparel, from socks and headwear to bags and technical pants. Malbon Malbon Malbon Malbon : Performance Golf Apparel If you want a nod to the ‘90s Golf Dad aesthetic without actually buying striped performance polos and pleated khakis from the pro shop, Adidas Golf will send you in the right direction. The shoes are chunky, the shorts are knee-length, and you’ll find boxy polos and half-zip pullovers as far as the arm can swing. Adidas Adidas Adidas Adidas : '70s Nostalgia Macklemore fell in love with golf a couple of years ago. Because he's a Grammy-award-winning rapper and loves to get dressed (his biggest hit remains “Thrift Store”), he naturally. The aesthetic is dressy, bright, fun, and retro in a way that's hard to find in an industry dominated by nondescript tan pants. Bogey Boys Bogey Boys Bogey Boys Bogey Boys : Picture-Perfect Staples With Eastside Golf, Detroit-based founder Olajuwon Ajanaku aims to make the sport not only more stylish but also more inclusive. The line of tees, hoodies, and accessories features Ajanaku, a Black man wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, and a gold chain mid-backswing. “There has never been a brand like us to speak authentically and knowledgeably to both sides—golf and urban culture,” Ajanaku Eastside Golf Nordstrom Eastside Golf Eastside Golf : Euro-Style Lovers If you're the kind of fella who winters in Aspen, summers in Nantucket, and spends the time in between jetting off to the finest courses in the country (or, you know, just want to dress like you do), your golf gear should on par with that itinerary. J.Lindeberg bridges the gap between capital-M menswear and performance-oriented sportswear, and its boldly printed polos and racing-inspired jackets are built to help you stand out in the clubhouse. Even if you're getting in a few rounds at your local muni, you'll feel like a guy used to closing million-dollar deals on the green. J Lindeberg J Lindeberg J.Lindeberg J.Lindeberg : Hardcore Outdoorsy Golfers Founded in the early aughts by Norwegian Olympic skier Lasse Kjus and Swiss entrepreneur Didi Serena, Kjus will make you feel like the Daniel Craig of your golf club, your ski club, or any other club you happen to be staking out. Think: simple, clean silhouettes; luxury fabrics; and lots of navy and black. Kjus Kjus Kjus Kjus : Blustery Golf Days Ever gazed wistfully at a picture of Arnold Palmer and wished you could look that cool on the course? Thanks to Manors Golf, you can. The upstart label is dedicated to preserving the game's stylistic hallmarks (sans the snobbery), all while injecting them with a jolt of much-needed youthful swagger. Think retro-doused Harrington jackets, collegiate-inspired knitwear, geezer-y sweater vests, and clothing you can wear after a full 36 holes—and, more importantly, will actually to. Manors Manors Manors Manors : LA Streetwear Swag Metalwood's ‘90s-inspired collection of tees, sweatshirts, and techy shorts skews more than performance wear, but that's kind of a good thing. Especially if you like watching, thinking about, and evangelizing golf as much as you like actually playing it—or if you just can't get into preppy clubhouse-wear. Metalwood Metalwood Metalwood Metalwood : Tiger Woods Lovers Golf isn't the most fashionable sport in the game—after all, there are no paparazzi-lined tunnels or —but Nike will change your perception of what it's capable of with its sleek, futuristic line of golf attire, which, most impressively, includes some excellent links-friendly sneakers and clothes that take advantage of the brand’s sweat-fighting “Dri-Fit” fabrics. Nike Nike Nike Nike : Subtle Style If you're the kind of guy who puts as much thought into your golf gear as your mid-century modern furnishing, then Quiet Golf represents the best way to conquer the links in equally considered style. The Orange County-based brand adorns its polos and throwback mock-neck shirts with tasteful, blink-and-you’ll-miss-them graphics, which makes for clothing that looks killer on the course—and even better on weekends you can’t fit in a round. Quiet Golf Nordstrom Quiet Golf Nordstrom : Low-Key IYKYK Touches Radda Golf's polo shirts look more like rugby shirts than the typical pro-shop polo (think ultra-thin stripes and slippery fabric), which is to say you'd want to wear them off the course and outside of the clubhouse, too. Combine one with the brand's headwear or bright golf pants and you've really changed the game. Radda Radda Radda Radda : Streetwear Lifers Like plenty of other golf labels, Students offers a solid mix of logo-adorned polos and caps, but the coolest clothing the brand sells are the wild-style tees that would never make it past the dress code at your local country club. The cheeky graphics and trippy color combos are ripped straight from the parking lot of a Grateful Dead concert, catnip for the type of golfer who loves the game but would never lose sleep over a botched putt. Students Students Students Students : Affordable Golf Basics Uniqlo might not have a fully realized golf apparel collection, but the Japanese retailer's investment in performance fabrics, not to mention its obsession with polo shirts, makes it a solid place to buy new gear. The Dry-Ex collection, for example, wicks away moisture, neutralizes odor, and has a weightless feel you'll be grateful for during a high-summer round. Uniqlo Uniqlo Uniqlo Uniqlo Tree-Hugging Golfers Golf is a game that cannot be separated from the earth—when you play, it’s literally you against the landscape. Radmor believes that golfers should be in touch with the ground they’re walking on and fight for a more sustainable future in the sport. Started by a former pro and a fashion veteran, Radmor is committed to crafting sustainable apparel that is actually stylish, all without the use of virgin polyester. Radmor Radmor Radmor Radmor Golfers Who Love Nike but Don’t Want the Swoosh Devereux is a family-owned brand with a keen eye for style and an unapologetic boisterousness, both of which are hallmarks of today’s new era of golfers. By blending a passion for golf and streetwear, they’re building a brand that appeals not only to seasoned swingers looking for something new but can also attract new players to a sport that has historically not been the most welcoming. Devereux Devereux Devereux Devereux Tiger Woods Stans Americans and apple pie, Paul Mescal and short shorts, Leonardo DiCaprio and models—some things just can’t be separated. The same is true for Tiger Woods and wearing red on Sundays. The new brand from the GOAT himself pays homage to his favorite outfit to wear on the final day of a PGA tournament, making handsome golf apparel that is high quality and, believe it or not, comes in a wide range of colors (though there is a good dose of red in their lineup). From polos and pants to rain gear and accessories, the brand will outfit you from head to toe, prepared for whatever comes during your round. Striping it down the fairway like Tiger is up to you, though. Sun Day Red Sun Day Red Sun Day Red Sun Day Red Fabric-First Golf Apparel Technical, comfortable, well-considered—these are the hallmarks of a good golf brand. Macade has it all. The brand uses quality materials and lets their unique textures speak for themselves, pairing them with simple designs that excel on and off the course. From their sweats to their outerwear and on-course basics, Macade makes apparel that seamlessly fits into your wardrobe, whether you play every day or stick to weekend rounds. Macade Macade Macade Macade Parisien Sensibilities APC continues to be one of the most popular French clothing brands to have crossed international waters. In the past, the brand's collaborated with Asics on a sportswear collection, but since we're talking golf, we'd be remiss if we didn't bring up APC Golf. It's everything you'd expect from the brand—timeless fits, high-quality materials, minimal brand—but with a greater focus on looking good when green is your backdrop. APC APC APC APC Putting Prep in your Spiked Step South Korea-based Khalhon is making golf clothes for the cool kids. While golf feels like it was originally meant for the elite (just think about how much you need to spend on all the equipment and access to a course), the brand's making golf clothes for everyone so they can perfect their swing to be the next big thing in the sport. We like the seamless blend of high-functioning fabrics and interesting silhouettes, so much so that we think these pieces shouldn't be relegated to only the greens. Khalhon Khalhon Khalhon Khalhon It’s 2025: Wear anything you want when you're hitting the green, and that’s golf fashion. OK, so you can’t just go out to the course with flip-flops and a ripped T-shirt, but in this day and age, you can flex your personal style on the course more than ever before. A polo and pleated pants are still must-haves, but there are more ways than ever to dress for an afternoon out to hit some golf balls. Tees, hoodies, and trucker caps have never been more accepted and never more prevalent than they are now, so feel free to integrate these into your golfing wardrobe—though we must say, you should always respect the rules outlined by the course where you’re playing. Plus, a lot of this new-age golf gear puts functionality at the forefront, making it so your outfit is just another piece of golf equipment (that also happens to look damn good). If they still require polos, there are numerous ways to freak it. If you’ve got to tuck your shirt in, there are some billowy pants to spice up that outfit. You may cause a stir, but that’s the best part about golf these days. At the absolute minimum, though, we recommend always having a wind- or rain-ready layer on hand, depending on what climate you find yourself in. And while your favorite sneakers will do the trick, a pair of golf shoes will provide the grip you need in any conditions. Grab some comfy shorts and a polo that makes you feel your flyest and let ‘er rip."
"No is complete without dumbbells, and the best adjustable dumbbells will allow you to build out your dream gym even if you're working with minimal space. Able to replace a whole rack, adjustable dumbbells are a great way to save space while ensuring you have every weight you need for whatever exercises you may be setting out to do. With weight capacities up to 90 pounds, the best adjustable dumbbells should be strong and durable, able to quickly and easily toggle between the various weights. So which adjustable dumbbells should you get? We did an excessive amount of curls, rows, and more to find out. No matter where you are in your fitness journey, we’ve got a set of adjustable dumbbells just for you. Any of these picks are worth the investment. NordicTrack NordicTrack NordicTrack is most well known for its cardio equipment—bikes and treadmills—but we found that its adjustable dumbbells can hold their own. These can vary in weight between 10 and 55 pounds, all of which is housed neatly in the included storage tray. The ridged handle makes it easy and comfortable to grip, while toggling between weights is a cinch. The weight can be changed in 2.5-pound increments, which is great for making fine adjustments to see just how far you can push yourself. Core Fitness Core Fitness Easy to adjust with a twist of the handle, Core Fitness's adjustable dumbbells range between five and 50 pounds. You can adjust the weight in five-pound increments, and an audible click lets you know that you're ready to start lifting. The handle is a little on the thicker side, but it's not unbearable or unwieldy to hold. The design of these adjustable dumbbells is as simple as it gets, so beginners can spend more time training and less time fiddling with weight plates. The dumbbells start at just five pounds, and to dial up or tone down the weight—which can reach up to 50 pounds in 5-pound increments—just give the handle a quick twist. FLYBIRD Flybird If you're trying to do drop sets, you'll want adjustable dumbbells that make it easy to change the weight so that you don't give your muscles any time to recover. Flybird makes great quick-to-adjust dumbbells though the lightest weight that these can go is 15 pounds (going all the way up to 55 pounds). We wish that you could adjust the weights in smaller increments than the pre-set 10 pounds, but these are still a great overall set. BowFlex BowFlex Bowflex is famous for its home gym equipment, and we really like its 552 dumbbells, which actually denote its weight range: between five and 52.5 pounds. Adjustments are made in 2.5-pound increments, and it's easy to change just by twisting the dial on either side of the dumbbells. You have to adjust the weight by spinning the dial on both sides of the dumbbell, which can be slightly time-consuming if you're just trying to breeze through your set, but overall these are still an excellent set to include in your home gym. Snode Sport Snode What does “drop-proof” mean when it comes to these dumbbells? No, they can still fall, but its design means that if you drop them, they won't get damaged (as long as they're not falling from anything above 32 inches). These sleek dumbbells are adjustable through the dial around the handle, and it ranges between 10 to 80 pounds. The weight increases in 10-pound increments, which isn't ideal, but we do like how heavy these are. REP Fitness REP Fitness These super-durable dumbbells are great, and sure to outlast you and your home gym thanks to their lifetime warranty. Their flat bottoms prevent rolling and with weights ranging between five and 60 pounds. You can make micro adjusts, with the weight changing in increments of 2.5 pounds. They're also resilient, and able to withstand a few drops without worrying about damaging the dumbbells. NÜOBELL Bells of Steel Beautifully designed, these adjustable dumbbells range in weight from 5 to 50 pounds (or 80 pounds if you want to buy the heavier set). They increase in five-pound increments, and their ridged handle make them grippy and easy to hold. Unlike other adjustable dumbbells, the weight plates are sturdy and don't rattle when you lift them. The only annoying thing about these dumbbells is that racking requires pinpoint precision to get the plates back in their cradle. PowerBlock PowerBlock These steel dumbbells have a unique square design, but that doesn't stop them from letting you get a good workout in (the design also means they won't roll away). Capping at 90 pounds, and going down to a light five pounds, these dumbbells are easy to adjust though the caged design doesn't make them great for any move that requires two hands like goblet squats. Sunny Health & Fitness Sunny Health & Fitness Like mini barbells, these chrome dumbbells have removable plates, which can make the dumbbells as heavy as around 16 pounds. The handle weighs a little under three pounds, so just like putting plates on a barbell, you'll need to do some quick maths to know what weight you're pulling."
"The best workout shirts for men should be masters of multi-tasking (just as versatile as your ), combining sturdy and breathable fabrics that can clear the wringer of sweat, movement, and spin cycles in the wash without emerging significantly worse for wear or perpetually odorous. And when you hit the to get those gains, it's always a boost of confidence to show up in something that doesn't make you feel like a schlub. To that end, we've got you covered with some of the, from to to long-sleeves that are streamlined, breathable, and even stylish. Rhone Rhone : Nylon, polyester, and elastane : S to XXL : UPF50+ sun protection, moisture wicking, GOLDFUSION anti-odor technology Rhone's four-way stretch Reign tee clings in all the right places (around the biceps, for example, so that the sleeves don’t ride up and down) and it doesn't cling to any of the wrong ones (the shoulders, the armpits, and ) thanks to raglan sleeves and a slightly looser fit. This best seller is breathable enough to prevent soak-throughs, but not so thin that that a brisk day will to everyone on the track. The best part, though, is that the fabric is infused with little bits of gold for anti-odor protection, which the company says delays the onset of that dreaded that most other workout shirts succumb to eventually. It sounds dumb, but for us, contemporaneously acquired shirts from other brands have already acquired a certain musk that this one, mercifully, has not. Nike Nike : Cotton and polyester : S to XXXXL (with tall sizes) : Moisture-wicking Dri-FIT Every brand now makes its own version of sweat-wicking fabric, but after almost three decades on the market, Nike’s is still a more-than-capable challenger to some of the more expensive counterparts. High armholes and a slim body make the tee comfortable enough for runs and fitted enough for weightlifting, while an array of classic colors let you wear this shirt on the regular without signaling to others that yeah, you lift, bro. At half the cost of our other top picks—plus, products at retailers—this is the most cost-effective solution to the reprehensible cut-off tee collection that you're still clinging to. Literary Sport Literary Sport : Merino wool : XS to XXL : Moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating Even beyond the dead of winter, some folks prefer to work out in a long-sleeve, whether it's to help absorb excess sweat or to create a hotter environment that helps you sweat it out even more. Literary Sport, a new name in the workout apparel world, makes a great long-sleeve top, dubbed the Weldon, that's crafted from universally beloved merino wool. Its construction means that it's naturally moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating, even though it is a long-sleeve top. Arm holes keep your palms warm while allowing for the flexibility to use your digits (say, if you need to change songs on your playlist), and its fit is neither too slim nor too baggy. Y'IWO Y'IWO : Cotton : S to XXL : Cropped Before there were tech-y workout shorts, bodybuilders worked out in whatever the hell tops they had lying around. Hence: Lots of crop tops and impromptu muscle tanks at the gym. Yeah, I Work Out, more affectionally called Y'IWO, is ushering back the era of cut-offs and we're absolutely here for it. These shirts aren't made of any special materials, and they're not treated with any anti-odor properties, but dammit if you don't look good pulling five plates wearing a Y'IWO top. Lululemon Lululemon : Polyester, elastane, nylon : XS to XXL : Moisture-wicking, odor-resistant For a brand that’s synonymous with athleisure, Lululemon makes gym clothes that are actually good for working out and not just lounging. A shade looser than the Rhone, this updated version of one of our favorite Lululemon workout tops deserves its spot in these hallowed rankings because it lets in a whole lot of air. That's thanks in large part to a series of visible, larger-than-usual holes that somehow don’t show any skin. Also, the heathered colorways and contrast-stitched seams provide a nice reprieve from the bright solid colors available at your local sporting goods store. For those of you who aren’t inclined to shill for an athletic apparel giant without an endorsement deal in place, the logo—already small and unobtrusive—is tucked away on the back, just below the neck. Under Armour Amazon : Polyester, elastane : XS to 3XL : Moisture-wicking Under Armour's HeatGear compression shirt will help you focus on your workout without any interruption from the brisk winter weather. Its super-light fabric delivers superior coverage without weighing you down. It includes a mesh underarm and back panels for better ventilation to help wick sweat and keep you dry. For an affordable $32, this HeatGear long-sleeve top is a must-have. The cold won't be an excuse next winter. Tracksmith Tracksmith : Polyester, spandex : S to XXL : Moisture-wicking, anti-odor Tracksmith has carved out its own niche in the running community for its preppy New England athletic apparel—think Prefontaine-era silhouettes with a dash of retro Ivy League style. Its Van Cortlandt tee is one of the brand's most popular styles because of its iconic sash motif, but it's also just a great top for working out in. It feels good on the skin, even during long-distance runs, and it'll keep you cool while helping to quickly wick away your sweat. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie and Fitch : Cotton : XS to XXL : Cropped Chest day got you feeling like you want to show a little more off? Fellas, behold the muscle tank, a sleeveless way to show off your gains during intense workouts, HIIT training, or cardio days. In our testing, Abercrombie's YPB cropped tank offers just enough shoulder-baring action without alerting the gym staff to a flasher situation. These are also great for arm days, when you need to show off the firepower you've been accumulating doing all those curls, dips, and tricep extensions. Plus, wearing a muscle tee at the gym just sort of… rocks. (We're leaning into the meatheaderry in 2025.) Bandit Bandit : Micromesh : XXS to XL : Moisture-wicking, quick-drying No matter how low-impact my work out might be, I'm guaranteed to work up a sweat. Bandit's Micromesh performance tee is best for people like me—because of its construction, it won't cling to your sticky skin, while the anti-odor properties won't have your gym bros keeping their distance from you when you're in need of a spotter. Its holey construction makes it super breathable, though we don't recommend wearing this if it's windy out because you will get chilly. We’ve noticed zero chafing during runs (which makes sense, since Bandit prides itself as a ), and this makes a great base layer under a crewneck or hoodie. Also, unlike so many other long-sleeve tees that prioritize a slim fit for accentuating the look of your upper body, this option has a relaxed fit that's easy to slip off and toss in the laundry hamper at home. Ten Thousand Ten Thousand : Polyester, spandex : XS to XXL : Moisture-wicking, quick-drying, anti-odor If you see a guy wearing, Ten Thousand—easily identifiable by its “X” logo–then you already know he's deep into. The brand makes a bunch of workout apparel tailored for specific sports and activities, but its Versatile shirt is exactly that: great for any variety of activities, whether it's running,, or lifting. It wicks away moisture, which means it doesn't end up smelling if you take a while to get through your dirty laundry pile, and it has a great fit that shows off all those assets you've been working so hard on. Reigning Champ Reigning Champ : Cordura, nylon, spandex : XS to XXL : Abrasion-resistant, moisture-wicking, four-way stretch Cordura is an incredibly durable fabric, which is why so many brands use it when crafting products they want to be durable. You rarely see it as a T-shirt, but Reigning Champ did just that, making something that can hold up to rounds of rolling around on a yoga mat or going at it with a heavy bag. It's a heavy-duty activewear shirt, but hey, you could say the same about your workouts. Alo Alo : Polyester, elastane : S to XXL : Moisture-wicking, four-way stretch While Alo's built a reputation for its yoga apparel, the brand's been churning out an excellent selection of gear that's good for all kinds of workouts. Its Conquer Reform shirt is a popular one for its versatility, but we especially like it for how soft the material is. It definitely makes it easier to suit up for a workout when that might be the last thing you want to do. Gymshark Gymshark : Cotton : XS to 3XL : Moisture-wicking, four-way stretch On any given day, half of the gym is bound to be decked out in Gymshark gear. Why? It's affordable, and it works. Take this under-$30 long-sleeve tee for example. It has no reason to be this cheap, and yet it is. So there: For what's most likely less than a month's gym membership, you can get a top that'll be there for all those PRs you're going to break. District Vision Mr Porter : Polyester, elastane : S to XXL : Moisture-wicking, four-way stretch This is an expensive workout shirt, but anyone who recognizes the logo will immediately be made aware of its IYKYK status. District Vision's much-beloved running apparel is great for any workout because if its purpose was for running, few things are as intense (or sweat-heavy). Cotton feels great on the skin and is super breathable, so you might be surprised to hear that it can make for a not-so-great workout shirt. That’s because cotton moisture instead of wicking it away. So as your cotton T-shirt takes on sweat, it blocks airflow and can make you feel hotter. Most activewear brands avoid using all-cotton fabrics for that reason and it’s also why you’ll rarely ever see an athlete wearing a jersey made of the stuff. Instead, the best materials for gym shirts are polyester or a polyester blend. They’re not only breathable, but moisture-wicking and fast-drying too, so your sweat can dissipate through your most grueling gym sessions. Some workout shirts are even designed with strategically placed mesh for more airflow. But it’s not just about keeping cool. Your workout shirt or should also have enough stretch to accommodate a wide range of motion for that next-level yoga pose and work with you when you’re trying to set a personal best on the shoulder press machine. High-quality workout shirts will use elastane or spandex that will stretch and conform to your every move, and remain flexible for the long haul. Fit is another consideration, depending on how you want to train. Tighter activewear garments like compression shirts can help increase blood flow for better performance and decreased soreness, while looser-fitting gym shirts have better airflow to cool you down. It's all a matter of preference. We put the best workout shirts for men through their paces by, lifting, training, and in them—even anointing some our favorite fitness pieces of all time with a. Some are extra-ventilated with mesh panels, others offer UPF50 sun protection, while still others are so fly that they provide extra motivation for getting out there to run laps in the dead of winter. Above all, they're the perfect medium of comfort, breathability, and design to help you work out in style—with bonus points given to any shirts with sweat-wicking and odor-blocking properties. Here are some of the best workout shirts for men that deserve a spot in your fitness rotation. What is the best workout wear for men? We found you the best workout shirts here (our favorite is the if you already need a refresher), but we do know a thing or two about the. From indie labels like Tracksmith to legends in the game like Nike, the best workout clothes for men will have you looking your best while you sweat it out. What is the best workout shirt for big guys? If you're looking for a workout shirt to accommodate a bigger frame, we recommend the. It goes all the way up in size to 3XL, and it has a regular fit so it's not too restrictive."
"The best headphones for working out are all wireless—but that doesn't mean all are ready to tackle a workout. A pair of headphones need to do more than sit there and sound good; they need to stay locked in place while you're doing box jumps or ten-mile runs, shrug off sweat (and maybe some rain), and maybe even block out the guy next to you huffing on the. And yeah, they need to fire you up as you push for a new PR. As tech has improved, the best headphones for working out have gotten better, too. New innovations mean you can find a great pair of gym-ready headphones at prices you won't, ahem, need to sweat. Battery life will outlast even your, and Bluetooth connections are solid enough not to get crackly even during rush hour at Crunch. We did the dirty work though and found the best headphones for working out so you can focus more on your actual exercise and less on what's going on in your ears. Want to hop right to the best earbuds and headphones for all sorts of activities? Get right to it with these, our top picks: Beats Amazon : IPX4 : Yes : 10 hours (full charge ) + 45 hours (case) The original Powerbeats Pros were a damn near perfect invention. They looked and sounded great, and when you wore them to work out, they were more stable than a Smith machine. Makes sense, then, why Beats (and Apple) took literal years (six, to be exact) to issue an update to the Fit Pros. These second-generation headphones are definitely the best headphones for working out, and if we're really being honest, they might just the best wireless headphones around. First off, Beats improved the fit of the Powerbeats Pro 2. They stay securely in your ear and work better for more people now that the brand included two extra ear tip sizes to ensure everyone who picks up a pair of these headphones won't lose them because they decided to randomly jump ship from the ear canal. They're also packed with extra battery power, lasting up to 45 hours (with the case) rather than the original's 30 hours. Translation: If you work out for an hour a day, you could potentially get through of gym sessions without having to worry about charging them once. These sound just as good as the original Beats, boasting better-than-average bass—as per usual with the brand—though some have said that things sound even crisper and clearer than the original pair. Then, of course, there's the headphones' active noise cancellation. It works well, able to tune out nasty grunts at the gym, loud chatting on the train, and the clickity-clack of your desk mate's keyboard. As a pair of headphones for working out, their IPX4 resistance is great because you can fully get your sweat on without worrying about the Powerbeats Pro 2s from going haywire in your ear (a true nightmare for some). Overall, if you do any type of exercise, we found the best bud right here. JLab Amazon : IP55 : Yes : 8 hours (full charge) + 24 hours (case) If you have $30, you can get a pretty damn good pair of workout headphones. JLab's Go Air Sports a really good fit, and what they lack for in features—like active noise cancellation (just turn up your volume to tune everything—they make up for in features like water- and dust-resistance, as well as pretty impressive battery life. Their ear hook design attaches itself to your ear so you can twist and shout with abandon, while the slim charging case makes it easy to tote around, especially in your skin-tight. For 30 bucks, you really cannot find a better pair of headphones to pop in, and definitely not a pair that'll handle your most intense workout. Bose Amazon : IPX4 : Yes : 6 hours (full charge); N/A case battery Bose already makes an impressive range of noise-canceling headphones, and we are thoroughly impressed with its latest release, the QuietComfort Ultras. We’d say these might even be the overall best wireless earbuds, but they’re still fairly new and we’re still testing them out. But in general, we’d highly recommend these for the person who wants to make their over-crowded gym feel like a home gym. Being Bose, you can ensure these have great sound but they also boast one of the most impressive noise-cancelling abilities we can find. It’s almost like putting all of your rude gym co-inhabits on mute. The Ultras have three levels of noise cancellation, which includes your basic noise-cancelling, a transparency mode, and finally, an immersion mode, where you feel like you might have just been teleported into whatever you’re listening to. Yeah, the listening experience is that good. Plus, spatial audio is a great way to make you feel less like you’re somewhere you don’t want to be—i.e. the gym—in lieu of somewhere far more exciting, i.e. Beyoncé's upcoming tour. And in terms of its workout abilities, these are super snug, with stability hands—replacing the usual dorky-looking ear hooks—that contour to your ear for a fit that’ll make the most aggressive headbanger blush. SHOKZ Amazon : IP68 : No : 8 hours Swimmers want to listen to music, too, and Shokz's OpenSwim headphones are fully waterproof (up to two meters deep) for underwater tunes. Just know that these are Bluetooth headphones, and that they're instead an MP3 player that lets you store up to 1,200 songs on it (think: an iPod shuffle, but they won't go on the fritz just because of a little liquid). These open-ear headphones use bone conduction for you to hear through them, which essentially means that the speaker pads rest on your temples instead of going in or around your ears—it's not the best-quality sound, but it does allow for a pretty decent listening experience. The fit is good, and they're designed to stay put no matter how many flips and turns you're doing in the pool. They're also really light and don't feel like they're squeezing your head. Plus, the brand threw in a sleek neoprene case and a pair of earplugs to complete the underwater experience. Apple Amazon : IPX4 : Yes : 6 hours (full charge) + 30 hours (case) AirPods, Pro or otherwise, aren't generally our favorite workout headphones. Something about the fit, like that little tail, just doesn't feel very secure, which is why we recommend them for someone who partakes in the occasional power walk to cross off “exercising” from their to-do list. Apple’s second-generation AirPod Pros added an extra set of ear tips so that more people could get a more tailored fit, and the in-ear fit can be tested directly on your phone to make sure you opted for the right size for your ear canal. Even the second-generation Apple AirPods Pros with their new extra-small silicone tips feel like they might jump out of your ear while you're mid-stride. Their IPX4 makes them sweat- and water-resistant, so they can hold up against a less-rigorous workout, but if you're already an Apple user, go ahead and stick with brand loyalty. On the other hand, as regular wireless headphones, these are great with much better active noise cancellation than the OG AirPods Pros and an adaptive transparency mode that feels somewhat like witchcraft. Beats Amazon : IPX4 : Yes : 40 hours Most people will prefer earbuds for working out because they're light and less likely to shift around during an aggressive sweat sesh, but you can find the occasional gym buff audiophile rocking a pair of over-ear headphones while doing their damndest to deadlift. We found the new Beats Studio Pros to be an excellent pair of headphones because of their stability and overall excellent sound quality. We were hesitant to even try in these, or honestly any over-the-head headphones, but these managed to stay in place even during full-body exercises like a burpee or mountain climber. And if you have long hair, these could even double as a headband (OK, maybe not). These are essentially the successors to the Beats Studio3, which we liked for their ANC capabilities, and these perform even better, so you can ignore the guy on the weight bench next on you over-exerting himself on a chest press. Another reason we like the Studio Pros is because of their tactile buttons. While a pair like the Bose 700 headphones utilize touch, the actual buttons on the Studio Pros make it easier to change the volume or switch songs if you're trying to do it mid-move. Also, the bass-heavy of the Beats are apt at boosting your favorite rap or rock socks, which are typically the bops you blast while working out. Shokz Amazon : IP54 : Yes : 7 hours (full charge) + 21 hours (case) If you’re a runner, then wearing noise-cancelling headphones when you're clocking those miles can be a dangerous sometimes. Maybe you don't realize there's a car coming or someone's about to come past you on the sidewalk. The best way to avoid this is one, by not wearing headphones, or two, wearing headphones that still let you stay tapped in to the outside world. The fit of the Shokz OpenFits is very similar to Beats' popular Powerbeats Pro earbuds, which hook around your ear for greater stability during a sprint or bear crawl, and also come in a tank of a charging case. Our tester, an avid fitness enthusiast and runner, called these out in this year's for their above-average workout-quality audio and sweatproof exterior. Critically, there's also the stellar directional audio which pumps sound into your ears without sacrificing spatial awareness on a busy road or trail. Get these if you're sick of other earbuds losing suction or slipping out during a spin around the block or a rapid movement workout. Water-resistance (and dust resistance) are covered by an IP (""ingress protection"") rating, which is usually shown as the letters ‘IP’ and then two digits. The first digit shows the level of dust protection, and the second digit references the water resistance. The higher the number, the better the resistance. (An X means that resistance wasn't tested.) Anything above a 1 in the second digit works for sweat and raindrops; anything 8 or above can handle being submerged in some capacity. (Over-ear headphones—whether they're from Beats, Sony, or beyond—don't usually have IP ratings, but should be able to handle a little sweat if you wipe down the earcups.) This is one factor where the more you spend, the better you'll get—though the increase in quality gets nominal above $200 or so. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is a major boon for tuning out annoying noise. It tends to work best for consistent sounds, like background voices and loud fans, but won't do as much for clanging weight plates or dudes power-grunting through their final bench sets. Nicer headphones will pair ANC with adaptive audio settings (or transparency settings you can toggle on) that let some noises through, like conversations you're in or traffic noises while you run (so you stay safe). If you've ever bought a pair of headphones, you've surely come across an IP rating, which is denoted by the letters “IP” followed by either two digits, two X's, or a combo “X” and a number. IP, or “ingress protection,” ratings are a way for a brand to denote a pair of headphones' water- and dust-resistance. The first digit denotes protection against dust and stand, with a rating between 1 and 6, and the second digit denotes water protection, which ranges between 0 and 8. If a brand hasn't tested either of those, then you'll find an “X” instead. The best rating would be an IP68, which means your headphones are fully dust- and waterproof, while lesser ratings will vary in resistance–i.e. how much exposure they can withstand and for how long, like if you can only keep them submerged in a meter for an hour—though check with the brand and its care instructions to make sure you're not subjecting your headphones to anything it can't take. The great debate between headphones and earbuds rages on, even in the context of workouts. Headphones are great for those who want something tight and secure on their head, but the pressure on the cranium can get burdensome if you're wearing them for a long time—especially if your head is on the larger side. Headphones are great for working out at gyms because they signify to other gym-goers that you're in the zone and likely not able to hear them if they're asking how many sets you have left at the squat rock. On the other hand, going hard on a brutal workout while wearing headphones can lead to dreaded sweaty ears, since you're basically wearing a pair of earmuffs. People love earbuds for their day-to-day life, and they have their place for certain people who are trying to work out. One of the biggest downfalls of earbuds is finding the right size for your ears, but a lot of brands will supply various ear tips so that you can get a customized fit and the buds won't pop out while you're doing the smallest movement. Earbuds are also more likely to have better water resistance, which means they'll be able to handle your sweatiest workouts more easily without going on the fritz. To find the best headphones for working out, we've spent years (yes, literal ) running, biking, lifting, and...walking, with a few dozen different pairs of Bluetooth headphones to find the ones that were best for a variety of movements. We didn't want to recommend any headphones that only delivered subpar sound quality, and fit and security were arguably the most important criteria for differentiating between the best headphones and the best ones for working out. Because sweat is almost always a result of working out, we also compared the various IP ratings of the various headphones we liked the most to make sure they wouldn't conk out just because you were doing your thing. In short, we did the heavy lifting for you, so that we may now introduce you to the best headphones for working out—ones that function so well you won’t really have to think about them at all."
"The best workout shoes can make or break your fitness experience. You can’t saunter into the in a pair of and expect to set a new squat PR. (Though if you do, get it on video.) shoes provide the proper foundation upon which all of your exercise happens, ensuring you're calm, cool, and collected as you sweat it out. Comfortable yet functional, they’re essential to getting the most out of your workouts, and they make an for the fitness fanatic in your life. Everyone works out for a different reason, so narrowing down the list can be tricky—that's where we come in. Across 12 different categories, we’ve selected the best workout shoes in the game, so whether you’re a diehard gym rat who never skips leg day, looking to PR in a half marathon, or recently caught the pickleball bug, we’ve got all the top picks you need to paint your athletic masterpiece or find the for the gym rat in your life. And as an added bonus, some are even marked down for. Reebok Amazon Mesh upper, grippy outsole Lightweight and breathable The Reebok Nano X5 does just about everything and does it well. Just as capable of handling a regular lift as a CrossFit session or even a Barry's class, it’s practically a one-stop shop for all your gym-related needs. Flexible enough for dynamic movement but still stable enough to ground hardcore lifts, these gym shoes do it all with a Goldilocks amount of foam cushion. While it’s not the shoe for powerlifting or olympic weightlifting, it gets the job done, and it’s more than well-equipped for accessory movements and the activities that most of us will do in a gym workout—deadlifts, lunges, basically anything dumbbell related—while maintaining a good amount of breathability that keeps it feeling light. Versatility is the name of the game here, and if you’re looking only to get shoe for the gym, this is it, hands down, because it just transitions so well from exercise to exercise. If you do any form of working out, here's the shoe you'll need. Hoka Nordstrom Single-layer mesh upper, gum rubber outsole Pull tab, a touch of reflective details As we discussed, the Kawana’s are versatile shoes that are ready for anything right out of the box. With a stable base, they’re capable of handling weightlifting sessions with ease but are supportive and cushioned enough to hit the tread or the pavement for some cardio, too. These cross-training shoes are particularly great for HIIT workouts or to pop in your travel pack (or wear to the airport) as your go-to shoe while on vacation thanks to the sheer number of activities they’re capable of tackling. Think of them as a veritable Swiss Army Knife in shoe form. Nike Nordstrom Mesh upper, grippy outsole Lace lock, extended rubber warp Nike’s Metcon series is a perpetual beast in the gym, and the 9 continues to improve upon the shoe's near perfection. With a stable platform that lends itself to intense lifting sessions while still being good enough for quick sprints, the Metcon (not to be confused with the Nike Metcon, built for cardio) is exceptionally well-suited to tackling functional training and CrossFit activities. They’re great for general lifting, too, as the lace-lock system keeps everything out of the way. Most importantly, your foot feels stable, secure, and in place, with strong durability to match whatever a session throws at you—all without having to throw in some extra insoles in there. NoBull NoBull Mesh upper, rubber outsole Herringbone pattern outsole, padded elements, water-repellent upper The NoBull Outwork Edge is perhaps the grippiest option on this list. Thanks to a herringbone-style pattern that allows for intense traction on all kinds of surfaces, these shoes are great for strength training. While some gym rats swear by cheap Converse, they’ll get a kick out of how much more stable they'll feel when they lace up in these. The flat sole ensures constant, even contact with the floor, and they’re almost as comfortable as being barefoot ( TYR TYR Mesh heel support, rubber outsole anatomical toe box, 21mm heel to toe drop, back heel support Love hitting ? These L-2 squat shoes (aka weightlifting shoes) from TYR are your best bet—they're the new and improved version of the L-1s, which won a last year. “For the price of a brutal bar tab, you’re looking at a windfall of benefits to your squat and leg development that you wouldn’t get squatting barefoot or in flats,” about the first iteration. “If you have trouble hitting depth on a squat, have ankle mobility issues, or want to target your quads more by putting them in a more stretched position in the hole, you’ll love squatting in a heel. If you have wide feet or just want a well-made squat shoe trusted by some of the world’s best squatters, you can’t go wrong with these. And anecdotally, squatting in these shoes changed my entire leg day experience—I used to squat barefoot, but when I made the switch to heels, my legs blew up, my numbers rose, and the nagging shin pain I had for years while squatting finally went away.” Vivobarefoot Vivobarefoot Mesh upper, rubber outsole PU foam sole Few shoes are as likely to elicit a “What are those!” on the streets as a pair of Vivobarefoots. In the gym? Well, seeing a dude rocking these is a sure sign that this guy's about to get low and break a new PR. The Motus Strengths are about as close to lifting barefoot as possible but with the bells and whistles that'll keep him on his feet when he's lifting overhead. The sole is super responsive so you can get a full-body feel for your movements, and with the high midfoot sidewalls, you can get into cross training during the same lifting sesh. It's grippy, it's stable, and it's a damn great shoe for going beast mode at the gym. Brooks Brooks Mesh upper, rubber outsole 12mm drop, cushioned contributor Tanner Bowden said this of the, “If you're in need of a regular old running shoe, the Ghost is proof that, even in the era of super trainers, excellence doesn't have to mean fancy features.” That’s a bang-on summation of why we love the Ghost 16 as a good running workout shoe. If you’re hitting the tread for a run, the Ghost is extremely well-suited for easy miles, something that can disappear into the background as you put one foot in front of the other. Arc'teryx Arc'teryx Gore-Tex upper, Vibram sole, InFuse midsole Gore-Tex, DWR-treatment Leave it to the experts from one of the best outdoor brands in the world to engineer one of the best trail runners, too. The Arc’Teryx Norvan LD 4 GTX is your first and last stop when it comes to hitting the trail thanks to Gore-Tex upper and a textured, 4mm lug pattern Vibram sole that provides the perfect grip for any surface you’ll come across while running. Breathable and supportive, your feet will stay cool without overheating. Everything you could possibly want or need to hit the dirt is here in one striking package, now it’s just up to you to put one foot in front of the other. Mizuno Amazon Mesh upper, foam cushion sole Secure eyelet wrap, responsively energetic midsole With Pickleball continuing to dominant courts all over the country, it makes sense to have a dedicated option for those looking to get in some reps. For this recommendation, we spoke with pro pickleball player, poach, and commentator, who loves the Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6. “If I can play in them the first day I wear ‘em, then that’s a good sign,” he says of the shoes. The shoes are constructed with a responsive midsole that helps propel you forward for quick movements to get right to where the ball is going. “When I want to move quickly, I like the Exceed,” he adds. “They’re very lightweight, very low profile.” They’re also quite the head-turners, offered in four different colorways, including this electric blue that’s easily our favorite of the bunch. La Sportiva REI Polyester, microfiber, rubber Downturn shape for better support Tired of renting shoes every time you go bouldering? La Sportiva is one of the leading brands in climbing shoes and its Katana Laces are at the top of the pack. Eschewing the typical velcro closures for laces, these shoes have a dramatic downturn shape, which helps them perform better on slabs wiggle their way into thin, typically inaccessible cracks. They're shockingly comfortable—or as comfy as one can get with a pair of climbing shoes—and while they might not help you figure out the beta on a V8, you'll at least look like you know what you're doing. Nike Nike Sock-like mesh upper, foam cushion sole ZoomX Cushioning, insanely light, very stable We published a more, Nike’s super running shoe, earlier this year, with the TL;DR being that it absolutely lived up to the hype for long-distance runs at high speeds. But the Vaporfly 4? Woo, boy—this is one helluva follow-up, with a lighter, more stable sole that is, however, maybe a bit more narrow than some would prefer. While it’s a bit overkill for simple runs on the treadmill at the gym, it is beneficial if you’re doing speed work on a treadmill or if for some reason, your gym is swanky enough to have an indoor track for some Olympic-level training. Oh, and it just looks cool as hell, especially if you snag a pair in that bright crimson colorway (not exactly minimalist, but they’re sick). Springy and supportive, thanks to its Zoom sole, you’ll feel like you’re flying as you soar through treadmill work with ease because these are truly some of the best running shoes we’ve tried. Kane Kane Sugarcane-derived foam Slip-on style, toe-to-heel support How are your feet doing? A little achey? Time to throw on a pair of. We're fans of the, a pair of airy slip ons that. From raised footbed nodes to support along the heel, arch, and forefront, these shoes offer up every possible detail that can help you spend less time on your ass and more time going back after it (on your feet). The super-supportive soles give you the cushioning you need to just walk around, whether it's bopping in your apartment or heading out for a protein shake. Are these shoes you'd work out in? No, but if you work out, this is a pair of footwear you want in your rotation. Converse SSENSE Chuck Taylors are pretty universally beloved for being a great lifting shoe. Their flat soles make them great for even contact with the ground, and hell, these used to be shoes for playing basketball. Sure, they've fallen out of favor for some more technical footwear (highlighted above) but if you've just got a pair of Chucks lying around and you want to get a good lift in, well, you could do way worse for way more money. UnderArmour UnderArmour If the Rock is your physique role model, then you might as well look towards the shoe that he's collaborated with Under Armour on. The Project Rock 7 training shoes offer a sock-like fit, with responsive forward-propelling cushioning that's great for HIIT workouts. The grippy sole offers excellent foot-to-ground contact, which'll ensure you stay on your feet during your heaviest lifts. Lululemon Lululemon Can ? You bet (and we know because we tried them). These offer a superb cushy ride against miles and miles of terrain. It's not a stability shoe, so keep that in mind, but for something that'll keep your dogs feeling comfy during your runs, these are a damn good pair of running shoes. New Balance New Balance Don't let your budget mean you can't get a good workout shoe. These New Balances have super-soft cushioning to protect your feet, while the rubber outsole is durable for all the wear and tear you'll put it through. Plus, these are probably some of the nicer pairs of workout shoes so you can wear them out without alerting everyone that you're a gym bro. Nike Nike Recently inspired by jacked dudes doing cleans on your Instagram explore. Get the Nike Romaleos 4 to help you get on their level. They're also a great shoe for squatting or Olympic weightlifting, all with the backing of the Swoosh. Plus, they look pretty sick. TYR Zappos TYR already makes a great a squat shoe, but for a more affordable option from the brand, go for the Dropzero. They have a stable base and low profile, excellent for deadlifting or just general purpose lifting. Anyone looking for a zero drop gym shoe (hence the name) could do worse than these $120 joints. Much like any good pair of shoes, how you select a pair is going to boil down to what kind of activity you’re doing. Are you doing lots of static lifts? Then you probably can get away with something that’s a little stiffer because you won’t be moving a lot and don’t need that flexibility. Are you doing HIIT training? You might want something that’s really responsive so your feet aren’t killing you at the end of the day. Are you trail running? You’ll want traction. Once you’ve locked into what it is you’ll be doing, it comes down to some key factors like grip to keep you grounded, support to ensure your lower body isn’t hurting, breathability to fight off blisters, and cushioning. What are the best workout shoes for men? In our testing, the best shoes for working out are the, which can easily handle most kinds of exercise. From lifting to running, the shoes easily transition from one activity to the other while being comfortable and supportive. Do I need shoes for working out? You wouldn't wear to lift, would you? A good pair of workout shoes will ensure you stay safe while doing your exercises, and they may even help you perform better. You'll want to consider the type of exercise or workout you do the most and get a pair of shoes that work for those activities. What are the best good affordable workout shoes? Depending on your price range, our top overall pick, the Reeboks, might be out of your price range. While we think they're a great value given their versatility, you can't go wrong with a cheaper pair like the, which are $120 but currently on sale for $79. The super flexible and offer top-tier support and comfort, while a high-traction sole makes sure you stay on your feet. Do I need recovery shoes for post-workouts? If you've done a particularly strenuous workout, like a run, or hit leg day pretty hard, a good pair of recovery shoes will help you recover more quickly so you can get back at it again sooner. Recovery shoes will give your feet the extra support you need, which in turn will benefit your legs, hips, and back. What are the best gym shoes for men? It's all going to depend on what kind of workout you're doing, but for general-purpose gym shoes, check out the. Where can I buy the best gym shoes for men? There are a ton of DTC retailers that will ship the best gym shoes for men straight to your door, but if you're in a pinch, there are also a bunch of great options on Amazon—many of which are already marked down for Amazon Prime Day. With so many different options on the market, the only way to see how these shoes perform is to, well, test them. We scoured the internet for fitness enthusiasts' opinions on their favorite workout shoes, eventually pairing those selections to a final list of the pairs that appeared the most frequently. From there, we put the shoes through a variety of different activities where comfort and support were among the most important factors, and those guided us in making our final selections."
"There’s something about the best tracksuits for men, comfortable as they may be, that just feels more purposeful than a. The fabric is denser and more structured, and there’s a jacket involved—one that you have to go to the trouble of putting on and zipping up, rather than just slipping over your head like a. And then there are all the associations. Tracksuits are uniforms for people who get shit done efficiently and ruthlessly: elite athletes, UK grime rappers, mall-walking senior citizens determined to stay in shape, tough guys stretching from the Polish section of Brighton Beach all the way to actual Poland. Oh, yeah, and they also look really, really dope—leisurely and relaxed, but still plenty smart and distinctive. Tracksuits are so essential right now that literally every brand on the planet makes their own swishy, striking take. That might sound like a good thing, only the actual number of available options is so vast that it’s honestly sort of anxiety-inducing—and lord knows you don’t need any more of that at the moment. So we did you a solid and surveyed hundreds of versions, from the tiniest to the oldest to the biggest, and narrowed it down to these. Pick the one that’s right for you, get into it pronto, and give your tried-and-true sweats a well-earned break. Adidas Amazon Adidas Amazon What, were you really expecting something else? Since 1967, when Adidas debuted its first tracksuit on the lanky frame of German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer, there’s been no sportswear ensemble more omnipresent in our culture. From to, to, the sheer simple cool of the three-striped zip jacket and matching stretchy pants hasn’t just endured across six decades—it’s snowballed. And the fact that you can get in on all that timeless style for less than $100 total means there’s no other place we could’ve put this icon besides the very top of the heap. Needles Ssense Needles Ssense As if you didn't need another excuse to rock a full velour look, A$AP Rocky raps: “ ” in “Praise the Lord (Da Shine).” He (obviously) must be referring to Needles, because the Japanese apparel brand might be the second brand you think of (after Adidas, of course) when thinking about tracksuits. Its buttery smooth construction is a far cry from the Juicy Couture set your high school crush wore, and it comes decked out in range of colors from bold (like this Barney purple) to lowkey (like boring black). Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Reigning Champ The ‘90s were all about warm-up suits, which were loud and bold, because you just had to let other people know you were about to work up a sweat. Reigning Champ’s take on the tracksuit yielded this paneled number, which comes lined in mesh and made from water-repellent nylon that'll keep you dry if you decide to go for a misty run. Ryoko Rain Ryoko Rain Ryoko Rain Ryoko Rain Tracksuits usually opt for no hoods, but if you're trying to throw on a hood like Batman's cowl, then we really like this set from Ryoko Rain. But wait, are those shorts? No one said a tracksuit to include pants, and the combo of this jacket and those shorts bring the total pocket count to a whopping eight. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Gone are the days of Abercrombie's heavily branded graphic tees, and we're absolutely giddy over it. From crop tops to wide-legged jeans, the mall brand is ready to dress a new generation of guys (and gals). The brand has a new-ish line of activewear, and we're particularly chuffed by the tracksuit. It features a relaxed fit and retro piping details, and it's got a bit of stretch as to not be restrictive if you actually do decide to get active in it. APC APC APC APC APC and Asics recently collaborated on a capsule collection of sporty clothing, from tracksuits to shoes. Its tracksuit is particularly great, combining the French brand's focus on fit while leaning towards Asics' athletic side. The waterproof construction keeps the rain off of your gym 'fit as your huffing it to go do your workout, and it pairs exceptionally well with the. Palmes Ssense Palmes Ssense Palmes' playful take on tennis apparel is the reason why we think its tracksuit is so great. The green getup features a logo for a non-existent tennis club, while the yellow piping pays tribute to the tracksuits of yore. If weren't so stylish already (and basically a feature film-length Loewe ad), then we're pretty certain Art or Patrick would be decked out in this set. Our Legacy Ssense Our Legacy Ssense Our Legacy's tracksuit is like the fashion guy's take on the typical mafia uniform, albeit way more stylish, better fitting, and overall just. The full-zip jacket features a two-way zipper, while the track pants have zippered pockets to keep all your goods secure. Wales Bonner Farfetch Wales Bonner Farfetch An ongoing collaboration between Wales Bonner and Adidas has brought the former brand to mass appeal, but if you're looking to dive head first into why has been one of our favorite new fashion brands for so long, then its Tide tracksuit is here to educate you. The slim jacket paired with the straight, somewhat wide pants create an interesting silhouette, which is made even better by the Adidas-esque side stripes and ribbed mockneck collar. Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Todd Snyder The Todd Snyder tracksuit asks the question: What if you wanted to wear a tracksuit to work. The wrinkle-resistant fabric and terry construction can easily trick people into thinking you're wearing just another stylish, but little do they know you're wearing glorified pajamas to the office. Nike Nike Nike Nike We gave you the stripes, now here's the swoosh. Nike's tracksuit is full ‘90s style, from the paneling to the contrast piping. Its elasticated cuffs—on the wrists and ankles—keep everything nice and tapered, while the lightweight fabric keeps you light on your feet."
"Despite what you may think, the best summer blazers are more than just an easy fix for your mid-July obligations or your return-to-office woes (thoughts and prayers!). A great summer blazer lets you remix everything in your closet: add one, and get tonier, get sharper, drapey linen pants get sexier. Though yes, of a perfect warm-weather sport coat will crush when you’re out in Clearwater for the of that second cousin you haven’t seen since you both thought Axe body spray was cologne. That’s because a summer blazer does what your three-season wool suits and tweedy sport coats cannot: breathe. When you’re dealing with a swelter a dress code, ventilation is the only thing that matters. In pulling together our favorite summer blazers, we broke them down by fabrics: airy, open linen; crisp and sturdy cotton; loose and limber tropical wool, and puckered seersucker. Most are either half-lined or completely unlined—because that’s one less layer between you and the gentle breeze keeping your lower back from feeling like the Everglades. Below, 16 summer blazers that will immediately upgrade the rest of your outfit, helping you look and feel as cool as the cocktail in your hand. ’s made a big comeback as the tailoring pendulum swings once again toward loose and leisurely, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s made from flax, a natural fiber with a signature crispness—which also makes it prone to wrinkles. A quick steam should bring everything back to normal, but don’t pay them any mind while you’re out and about. Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Once again, proves you can add flair to a jacket without sacrificing function. With its natural shoulders, double vents, and a beautiful glen plaid check woven from a cooling combo of linen and silk, this blazer practically books your next Italian getaway for you. Alex Mill Alex Mill We wouldn’t want to wear a dark color while sitting in the blazing sun, but in any other scenario, a fluttery double-breasted summer blazer made of 100 percent linen works its charms. Particularly if that scenario is a coastal European vacation calling for a one-jacket solution to cover relaxed days and wine-filled nights. Corridor Saks Fifth Avenue Corridor's blazer skews a little toward a, with linen’s texture and that olive color adding to the rustic look. Which just means that it’ll stand proud when you dress it up, but hang loose with a tee and off-white jeans. Natalino Natalino London-based Natalino makes some of the best Italian-made blazers in the biz. Everything about this one is ultra laid back; from the natural shoulder and high armhole to the elegant drape, it makes us want to shout “che bella” at everyone we meet. Like linen, but not the wrinkles. Try seersucker, it’s southern-accented friend. Whether you’re sipping sweet tea on a sun-blasted porch or wrapping up 18 holes at the country club, the fabric’s puckered texture keeps it from sticking to skin or getting creased. Chuck it in your carry-on—or better yet, just wear it on the plane—and you’ll be set for weddings, garden parties, bayou crawfish boils, and anything else that comes your way. Sid Mashburn Sid Mashburn No surprise that legendary southern gentleman makes beautiful seersucker pieces. This jacket’s softly-structured shape and throwback stripes deserve to be at the Kentucky Derby (the stands, not the infield). Flint and Tinder Huckberry Flint and Tinder has expanded from basics into higher-difficulty stuff like and this dialed-in seersucker blazer. The tonal stripes make the whole affair a little more debonair, while a teensy bit of stretch means this blazer will groove with you on the dance floor. Buck Mason Buck Mason We’ve been on the record as, and the seersucker version is no exception. A barely-there five-ounce blazer that can do it all, with the option to grab matching pants for only $228 more? This is what our great-grandfathers fought for. Stòffa Stòffa Stòffa’s relaxed, almost loungewear-like suiting is made better by the fact that the brand chooses the best colors in menswear. Chocolate wool seersucker? Can’t say we’ve seen it before; can’t stop thinking about it since we did. Cotton’s got the range—from crisp poplin to textured twill, brushed moleskin, and garment-dyed canvas—to hold down a summer jacket collection just by itself. It helps that cotton tends to be fairly casual and fairly easy to care for, too. You could wear a cotton blazer six days a week, toss it in the wash on Sunday, air dry it, and start all over again Monday morning. Madewell Madewell A cotton-nylon blazer will keep you cool—and, frankly, we like the soft wrinkles that add a little texture. Even better, Madewell’s version will leave a few extra bucks in your pocket, since it’s on sale. Mr P. Mr Porter Mr Porter’s in-house label aced the test again with this cotton-linen blend jacket that’s been garment dyed. The higher cut of the lapels and lack of vents in the back make it a little more chill than a stuffier blazer, too. Knickerbocker Huckberry Knickerbocker had some fun with the quintessential hopsack jacket by cooking it up in cotton-twill and taking up some solid real estate with a trio of squared-off pockets. This jacket should absolutely stay in your rotation all the way through summer and into pumpkin spice season. De Bonne Facture Mr Porter Parisian label De Bonne Facture’s jacket is made to —and maybe start an art movement along the way. Inspired by the Union des Artistes Modernes (an association of architects, decorators, painters, and photographers), it brings a wider lapel and a boxy fit looks even better with a vintage Leica dangling from its shoulder. Linen, cotton, and seersucker can see you through most summertime dress-ups, but if the dress code is genuinely formal and the thermometer is rising fast, you’ll want a summer blazer made of tropical wool. Wool is naturally good at wicking moisture, and tropical wool’s open weave is looser and more breathable than traditional wool. With its crisp, matte finish—sometimes with a subtle sheen depending on the weave—it pairs well with a fresh. So go ahead, suit up for summer without suffering for style. COS COS has such tasteful sweaters, bags, jackets, and soft tailoring that it almost feels rude to compliment them. Its fluid blazer, for instance, looks like it’s been stolen from a vintage Armani collection thanks to its relaxed shape, notch lapels, and (not-too-aggressively) padded shoulders. Universal Works Huckberry This British brand cooked up a relaxed, navy-colored blazer made for summer: lightweight, stylish, and ready to multitask. It doesn’t mess around, so if you’re after something sharp but low-key for the office or date night (or both), consider this your sartorial wingman. J.Press J.Press A navy blazer with gold buttons is as Ivy as it gets, and who better to nail it in a summer-break-ready tropical wool leans than the legendary J. Press? With crisp khakis and a repp tie, this loose-wearing sack blazer will let ‘em know you’re just biding your time until you take over the family business. Or play it against type with some and a pair of chunky. Drake's Drake's Admittedly charcoal wouldn’t be our first color choice for a midday sun-soaked event, but Drake’s may have made the platonic ideal of a tropical-weight wool jacket: unlined, soft-shouldered, patch-pocketed and flawlessly shaped. It’s barely-there tailoring done with Savile Row-skill; the kind of jacket that begs to be paired with an tucked into your favorite. By now, we've covered the fabric and construction basics, so let’s dig into the finer details that’ll make sure your jacket matches your summer state of mind—relaxed, breezy, and maybe slightly sun-kissed. The only thing that makes a summer blazer feel breezy is a breeze. Skip anything too slim or snug. Go for a slightly relaxed fit—not “family CPA” oversized, but roomy enough to let air move through. If the shoulders are even a little bit snug, go up a size. No matter how jacked you are, no one should be able to see the contours of your lats in a summer blazer. If you anticipate being outside for any length of time, err on the side of light and bright: khaki, stone, light blue, off-white. A gentle check or stripe works if you’re feeling fun. Details like patch pockets, and soft shoulders are your best friends for a little visual interest. While full- or half-canvas linings are often the hallmark of solid suiting, in summer you don’t want anything unnecessary between you and the AC. Synthetic fabrics are also the enemy: they don’t breathe, they trap heat, and they don’t come with a cortisone cream for the itch they bring. Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories:,, and. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (.)"
"The best men's jewelry brands prove there’s never been so many options for fellas looking to flex some gems. As someone who’s started to consistently rock a and myself for the past year, it’s a wave I’ve been happily swept up in—and after a few months spent cautiously, then confidently shining, the appeal of a category I ignored for far too long suddenly makes total sense. Because I increasingly only want to wear my unassuming basics every day, having a couple of glinty bits on me at all times communicates effort, even if I truly just threw on the nearest items of clothing before rushing out the door. Additionally, as someone who loves to know the stories behind the things they own, I’ve loved how most pieces of jewelry are accompanied by —whether it’s a ring that replicates the flow of a stream near the designer’s childhood home, or a necklace inspired by Roman medallions. Wearing something when you know the story behind it just means more, and that gravitas can ground an entire fit. Of course, there’s also the heirloom element. Unlike clothing fabrics that weaken over time, 925 sterling silver and gold can be endlessly returned to their original polish, while necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets can all be adjusted to suit any wearer you might one day wish to pass your piece onto. The universe of jewelry options available to men has never been so crowded, so to help you make sense of it all, I’ve narrowed it down to the designers you need to know right now—from the more wallet-friendly upstarts to the wedding day-worthy jewelry wizards. If you’re new to the jewelry game, chances are you’ll want to keep costs down. The good news is that there are many approachably-priced pieces that are good-enough quality to be worn for years to come. That’s where the affordable stalwarts excel. Because they work at a scale that allows them to keep prices lower, they can offer long-lasting designs in fine materials, miraculously often for under $100. Austin McMahon created in 2014 with the guiding focus of being a “culturally-relevant” men’s jewelry brand. That desire manifests in his satisfying cultural references, including rings inspired by the and the. Because Maple uses recycled silver, all of its designs feel a touch edgier and heftier. Maple SSENSE Maple SSENSE Over the past decade, has become the first name in premium, handcrafted jewelry sold at a mostly-approachable price point. “Everyday fine jewelry” is the idea, and that’s exactly what you’ll find—elevated designs, often available in either sterling silver or gold, that are still simple and comfortable enough to throw on every day and match with your existing wardrobe. Maple Mejuri Mejuri Mejuri Conceived for the guy who doesn’t wear jewelry (sound like you?) Miami-based is affordable, understated, and incredibly easy to wear. That three-part formula enabled it to recently celebrate fifteen years in business, and while new designs drop regularly, many of its very first pieces—like and cuban bracelets—remain among the brand’s most popular. Miansai Miansai Miansai Miansai If you’re looking to flex on ‘em without emptying your wallet, look no further than. The Odell Beckham-backed jewelry brand offers all manner of iced-out chains and bracelets for maximalists—all made in Italy. Jaxxon Jaxxon Jaxxon Jaxxon Of course, there are the designers who have kept fine jewelry top of mind for almost two centuries. The designers whose names alone are often used as a stand-in for the entire jewelry industry—and who, in some cases, can lay claim to an entire color (a ruby red box, say, or a signature robin-egg blue that earned its own.) You see their names almost daily in magazines and billboards, but sometimes that intense exposure is enough to make you forget there are some pretty special pieces lining their shelves. Consider this your reminder. The name may now be synonymous with simple, fine jewelry, but its founder took plenty of divergent roads to get there—first as a 1960s traveling Beatnik, then as an apprentice under various sculptors throughout the 1960s. In the seventies, however, he and his co-founder (and wife) turned their attention to jewelry, and the rest is American craft history. David Yurman David Yurman David Yurman David Yurman Founded in Paris in 1847, we have to thank for watches. Like,. In 1903, Louis Cartier created what is thought by many to be the first wristwatch, and since then, the ‘Maison’ has been adorning men the world after with exceptionally-crafted, instantly-recognizable pieces, designed to be passed down time and again. While you may be able to picture a Tank, Santos, and Ballon Bleu from their names alone, their non-horological pieces may have escaped your attention. Cartier Cartier Cartier Cartier Because it’s so known as the place to go for the ladies in your life, the fact that also makes plenty of pieces for him is often overlooked. But they do! From pendants to rings and embossed cuff bracelets, the Tiffany men’s line is designed with all the same care and quality materials as the rest of the collection (which, for what it’s worth, is plenty worth perusing too.) The brand’s menswear chops were recently boosted even further by the release, this year, of a jewelry line with Pharrell Williams, consisting of sixteen pieces featuring plenty of spikes, pearls, and punky reverse-set diamonds. Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams Tiffany Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams Tiffany One of the most refreshing developments in both men’s and women’s jewelry in recent years has been a newfound appreciation for asymmetry, odd forms, contrasting gems, matte finishes, and altogether off-kilter creations. Dissatisfied by the options available to them as they learned their trade, these kooky craftsmen launched their brands with a nothing-to-lose, iconoclastic spirit that, viewed together today, has grown into something of a baying army of boundary-pushers. For a decade, London designer has earned a beloved following for her “talismans of strength and courage.” Inspired initially by Dante Alighieri’s, gold classical medallions are naturally some of her most popular pieces (right on time for ) but newer designs like the poet’s necklace, which fits any red carpenter’s pencil, show a designer continuing to play around. Alighieri SSENSE Alighieri SSENSE universe is pure whimsy, all the way down to the cursor that follows you across her website. Founded in New York City by Isabella Lalonde, Beepy’s world includes more than just jewelry—there’s handbags, tops, even “mystery boxes”—but for guys, Lalonde’s rings and bracelets are your best way into wonderland. Beepy Bella Beepy Bella Beepy Bella Beepy Bella Be gone, muted rubies and clear crystals! joyous, kaleidoscopic designs always prioritize bright green, pink and yellow gems over your more traditional, humble stones, which is why their designs shine perhaps the brightest of this entire new crop of playful, less self-serious men’s jewelry. Generosity is the energy here: single rings are crowded with diamonds and pearls that evoke a floral bouquet—something the brand played upon when opening their Harrod’s space, where customers received a bunch of flowers with every purchase. Bleue Burnham SSENSE Bleue Burnham SSENSE Based on the English coast, but increasingly popular across the Atlantic—with a full supply at SSENSE and recent pop-up at —Toby Vernon's takes all the crowded jewel joys of Bleue Burnham, above, but scatters them a little more casually. The same approach is taken to the silver, which is left raw, rather than shined. Safe to say, these bright, scuffed wonders balance confident shine and humble texture perfectly. The Ouze SSENSE The Ouze SSENSE While Beepy Bella’s sizes still skew smaller, —started by two childhood best friends with similarly playful aesthetics—has an entire, larger-sized men’s category to help you find the style you really like best. If you need some proof that their juice is worth the squeeze, consider that Harry Styles himself—a man who’s guided more men into jewelry than most—wears a custom necklace from the indie brand. Éliou SSENSE Éliou SSENSE The aesthetic is a favorite of glossy editorial spreads, but its ethos can be distilled to one word: summer. Founder Anna Santangelo has always spent hers clubbing and surfing in California and Sydney, and her materials reflect that: expect plenty of pearls, shells, glass beads and stones, all handmade in New York City. Santangelo Santangelo Santangelo Santangelo As much as I can appreciate a kooky charm or two, not all of the independent studios are focused on breaking the mold in such an eye-catching way. In fact, the below crop of craftspeople have earned devoted followings for the way they ever so subtly elevate simple-seeming pieces, whether with an unusual choice of charm, slightly oversized links, or with a single touch of whimsy mixed into otherwise seriously high quality, stripped back materials. Personally, most of the male-identifying jewelry wearers I know are currently shopping this category more than any other, and I can report that they’ve been satisfied to find long-lasting pieces that are deeply special to them and those who notice, but can just as easily fly under the radar—or a shirtsleeve—when appropriate. Founded in Stockholm fifteen years ago by two best friends, now shares a block in the Swedish capital with Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Still, the designers know that their success has come of their playful, independent mindset (a collection inspired by a failed omelet was one early success) and so they continue to play with forms and materials today, albeit in a quieter way than the brands above. All Blues All Blues All Blues All Blues There’s a stillness and sense of play to hand-crafted unisex pieces. Take their animal charms, which can fasten to any necklace you have, or the delightful trompe l’oeil belt ring which, while certainly an investment, will delight hundreds if not thousands of people lucky enough to dine across from you over the course of your lifetime. Bunney Bunney Bunney Bunney is currently offering a pretty unique proposition—a bracelet with real soul, for under $100. Made by hand in Cologne, Germany, the repeating-beads jewelry is newly stocked at venerable menswear boutiques, including Neighbour in Vancouver and Nitty Gritty in Stockholm, two of favorite clothing stores in the world. Gottlob Gottlob Gottlob Gottlob Work around fashion editors, and you’ll hear name mentioned time and again—often after a compliment has been paid to some earrings, a ring, or a necklace. Buhai—who, outside of her own line, also lent her talents to Lemaire when they wanted to launch their own jewelry line—makes pieces that can wear just as well with jeans and sweaters as evening attire, which is why fellas shouldn’t overlook her collections either. Sophie Buhai SSENSE Sophie Buhai SSENSE Established in Bali in 1975, jewelry is a enjoyable mix of evocative, nature-minded symbols and pared-down designs. Essentially, this is the luxury jewelry brand for those who want their adornments to have a little more soul, a little less shine. Not to mention the fact it's all handcrafted, something you can only really appreciate once it's in (or on) your hands. John Hardy John Hardy John Hardy John Hardy There’s a difference between your everyday silver and and the rings and bracelets that get passed down through generations. If you’re here to make an investment in the family jewels—but still want to do so with a new crop of designers—the brands below are here to help you do just that. Lewis Hamilton, Jacob Elordi, and Brad Pitt have all been featured in GQ’s pages wearing pieces from. While his designs tend to sell out fast, I’m happy to note that the ‘Flora’ series—inspired by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden—is stocked, and special. Bernard James Bernard James Bernard James Bernard James Perennial A-list favorite is best known for its handmade, 18-karat gold medallions—and for good reason, they’re beauties—but the collection also includes intricately detailed signet rings, necklaces and bracelets, all featuring strength and wisdom-related iconography from a whole range of different cultures and time periods. Foundrae Foundrae Foundrae Foundrae Tanzanite, Purple Sapphire, Tsavorite, Morganite, Garnet, and Aquamarine, all on one 14K gold bracelet? For identical twin designers Dynasty & Soull Ogun, that’s just another day at the office. Because everything’s made to order by hand, shoppers can also choose the exact gemstones they want in almost any design, be it the charming sub-$175 cuff below, or the aforementioned show-stopping tennis bracelet. L’Enchanteur L’Enchanteur L’Enchanteur L’Enchanteur Goldsmith makes her semi-matte fine jewelry the same way the Greeks made theirs 5,000 years ago—using a pure blend of just three metals: fine silver, copper, and 22-karat gold. Prounis is Greek, and it isn’t just her process that’s inspired by her heritage, but also the style of her pieces: weighty, classically-sized gemstones sit inside hefty 22-karat gold casings, while she recently sourced some rare Greek ceruleite to make a truly one-of-one necklace whose future owner I already envy. Prounis Prounis Prounis Prounis While the variety of new aesthetics in men’s jewelry is thrilling, it would be wrong not to acknowledge—nay, honor—the kind of designs that men have been wearing for decades. The thick skulls, dog tags, and revolutionary-minded creations that convey that the wearer believes life is about gathering stories, forming alliances, and living just a little more fearlessly. These pieces may have a little less shine, but boy do they make up for it in grit. Even if you haven’t seen its stores in New York or LA, you’ve probably been in the presence of The countless times over the course of your life. That’s because before many of the above brands came along, The Great Frog was the first stop on any men’s jewelry retail mission. Made in London since 1972, TGF’s designs are not for the faint of heart, but if you’re confident enough to rock skulls—winged, snaked, or otherwise—this is my recommendation for where to get ‘em. The Great Frog The Great Frog The Great Frog The Great Frog Rapper turned jeweler Johnel Jamison—also known as —delivers awe-inspiring designs that honor Black icons of the not-too-distant past, from Harriet Tubman and Shirley Chisholm to Easy-E and ODB. Some rings—like his Mount Rushmore series, below—even feature four such figures together. All are made to order, carefully by hand, in New York City. Johnny Nelson Johnny Nelson Johnny Nelson Brooklyn’s draws on references from ‘90s grunge and early 2000s hip-hop to make her punchy Cuban link chains, dog tags and chokers, but these aren’t the knockoff Y2K pieces crowding Depop. Rather, Ali works exclusively in sterling silver, showing her veneration of a material that’s too often been a background player in jewelry design. Martine Ali SSENSE Martine Ali SSENSE Hailing from Norway, is best known for its gem-inlaid signet rings, which pack a similar punch to The Great Frog’s wares. (Not only are they made with solid 925 sterling silver, but they’re also plated with white rhodium to prevent tarnishing and keep you shining for longer.) While I’d encourage you to assess the full range from all of the brands on this list, sometimes you just want to know what a brand does that you can’t find elsewhere—and with Tom Wood, it’s the seamlessly-executed rings below. Tom Wood SSENSE Tom Wood SSENSE"
"It’s hard to say for sure when shoes got so weird. Once, though—followed, in no particular order, by,, and your grandpa wears to the beach—it felt like a rubicon was crossed. We had reached the point of no return, and I, for one, was happy to be there. I’m something of —a TikTok I watched recently noted that every shoe I’ve worn over the last 5 years will be “trending in 2025”—and I take my responsibilities as the office seriously. I tell you this not to stroke my own ego or flex my bona fides, but as a polite warning: what I’m going to tell you next will probably make you mad. Flip-flops are back, and they’re here to stay. Havaianas Amazon Hari Mari Huckberry For years, flip-flops were banished from polite society, relegated to the beach, the boardwalk, and not many venues in between. But their return should only come as an especially nasty shock if you haven’t been paying attention. is ascendant, and the hallmarks of once-bad taste that defined it no longer seem so pernicious. Savvy vintage dealers like are plumbing Abercrombie catalogs for inspiration; brands like have turned the SoCal beach bum into an avatar of aspirational menswear once again. The squad clocked the beginning of the flop era, and in the time since I’ve seen more exposed feet on the streets than ever before. Today, there’s a flip-flop for every buyer. Havianas still sells its no-frills rubber version for $20; the Row sells a similar riff for approximately 35 times that. Ancient Greek Sandals Ancient Greek Sandals Rainbow Amazon If this is alarming to you, it shouldn’t be. What, pray tell, are you so afraid of—that your feet will be perceived? Get over it. Look inward, and then downward. Chances are, your toes are clamoring for fresh air—bonus points if you score them a fresh pedicure, too. Save for going barefoot (definitely gross, probably dangerous), flip-flops are the least-precious way to free your piggies from the cage of societal expectation. I’ve been heeding my own advice for months, wearing flip-flops with jeans (, healthy break) and a windbreaker when the sun is shining but the air is brisk. If that exact combination doesn’t sound like you, there are umpteen other ways to flop your way through summer. Wear yours with baggy jeans and a hoodie, or cargo shorts and a western shirt. Try a pair with flowy trousers and a, or Carhartt double-knees and a thrashed tee, or pleated and a fashion-y tank top. Free your toes and your mind will follow. Stüssy Stüssy Archies Archies"
"There’s never been a better time to re-up on the best short-sleeve shirts for men. Yes, it was a cooler, rainier spring, but with Memorial Day in the rear-view mirror, it's only a matter of time before your start feeling a little too thick, and your shirtsleeves a little too long. And on that day, there will only be cure for it: the short-sleeve shirt. Once mostly just a canvas for kitschy prints, florals, and retro stripes, today's best short-sleeve shirts are anything but attention-seeking. These days, the real flex is in the fabric. Open-weave knits and textured constructions let you make a statement that isn't just “ Camp collars are still going strong with their boxy cuts and laid-back feel, but crisp point collars are rising in popularity. The look is a little more unexpected—and a lot less Assistant-to-the-Regional-Manager than you’d think. Regardless, from louche linen numbers to chest-pocketed work shirts, there’s no shortage of ways to wear one. To that end, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite short-sleeve shirts, across all the categories that matter most. If you're in the market for a superlative summer shirt, you're in the right place. So you’ve OD’d on camp collars the past few summers and feel like sharpening things up. Time to pivot. Enter: the classic-collar short-sleeve button-up. No, it won’t make you look like Blake from or Milton from —unless you pair it with pleated khakis and a Swingline stapler. Worn open over a tee on weekends or under a jacket at work (to then heroically reveal your short sleeves when things heat up), the standard short-sleeve shirt—in madras, seersucker, chambray, whatever—will complement most anything you’re wearing, and help you still present as tailored, even in the shirt equivalent of a tee. Abercrombie Abercrombie & Fitch Orslow Mr. Porter Beams Plus Mr. Porter CDLP CDLP J.Crew J.Crew Auralee SSENSE Linen’s long been maligned for its wrinkles, but let’s be real: that’s a feature, not a bug. They're the fabric equivalent of a five o’clock shadow, and truly, what’s more effortlessly (and literally) cool than a breezy, crinkled linen shirt catching the sea breeze on a scorching day? Whether you go crisp white, earthy neutrals, or something bolder, linen brings the shot of laid-back luxury every summer wardrobe needs. Of course, if you’re still worried about looking a creased-up mess, look for a cotton-linen blend. But I say relax, let go, embrace the wrinkle. Sunspel Sunspel Massimo Dutti Massimo Dutti Bather Bather Buck Mason Buck Mason Alex Mill Alex Mill Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Mfpen Mr. Porter J.Crew J.Crew Camp collar shirts have become an unstoppable force in menswear—not that we’re complaining. Easygoing and just bold enough to make a statement, they pair effortlessly with everything from tailored trousers to drawstring shorts, and lend themselves as much to breezy linen as luxe silk blends. The appeal is clear—the more open collar helps circulate more air around your neck and chest—but something less immediately obvious? This laid-back staple actually traces back to 16th-century Mexico, took its fuller shape in Cuba, and found its swagger in Miami and New York, through the Cuban immigrants who knew how to dress for the heat. All that to say, they’ve been around! And what began as utilitarian workwear is now the unofficial uniform of summer cool. 3sixteen Huckberry Dries van Noten SSENSE Portuguese Flannel Huckberry Bode Mr. Porter Madewell Nordstrom Officine Générale Mr. Porter Todd Snyder Todd Snyder École de Pensée École de Pensée Big patterns are usually what we think of first for summer shirts, but with knits, the texture is doing all the talking. Even if you lean more muted than Emily Adams Bode’s maximalist, the vibe remains no matter the colors: Knit shirts are retro, tactile, and just the right amount of risqué if you choose to wear them sans t-shirt. Banana Republic Banana Republic The Real McCoy's Clutch Cafe Percival Nordstrom Corridor Corridor NYC Abercrombie Abercrombie & Fitch Our Legacy Our Legacy I'll be honest, with the exception of the Dickies shirt, these aren't meant for working in. But they're all made in the work shirt's image—one that conveys rugged capability and capable summer charm. Traditionally cut from sturdy cotton twill, canvas, or denim (to take a beating and keep on going), chest pockets, boxy fits, and tough stitching are all part of the deal here. Brands like L.L.Bean and Dickies, again, still sell them at prices that make sense for actual labour, but the fashion community has taken notice too. Which means these days, you’ll find reimagined versions in softer fabrics, looser fits, and refined details—more gallery opening than garage. COS COS Dickies Amazon L.L.Bean L.L.Bean Engineered Garments Nepenthes"
"It’s shorts season, sure, but finding the best summer pants for men may be equally as critical to locking in your warm-weather wardrobe—for all sorts of reasons. You can’t show up to work in cargos, for one. And your social calendar will inevitably fill up with cocktail hours, compulsory barbecues at your boss’s suburban palace,, and all sorts of other moments when a naked calf would be out of place. And hey, maybe you’re one of those. (We know you, we see you, we understand.) Whatever the scenario, you do not need to power through 90 percent humidity in a pair of Levi’s 501s or your winter-weight chinos. We are in a Golden Age of summer pants, the product of a broader decade-long pants-renaissance in menswear. There are roomy linen trousers for anyone afflicted with return-to-office-itis, a brave new world of drawstring options, pants literally designed for beach days, and enough designer summerweight trousers to inspire fit pics without you even having to ask a friend. Put a few pairs of our favorite summer pants in your closet, and you’ll be covered (literally) for anything that comes your way. Don’t blame us if all your start collecting some dust. Linen trousers—like their and cousins—are dressed-up and comfortable all at once; a dash of Arnold Palmer or Alain Deleon. They should be the first thing you reach for when the temps are high but the dress code’s got no chill. We like them with a bit of extra room in the leg, both for the look and the extra airiness. J.Crew J.Crew Alex Mill Alex Mill Rag & Bone Rag & Bone Obey Shopbop Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch NN07 Shopbop All the can reliably work as a summer chino—hell, the crisp cotton fabric was invented to survive the humidity in South Asia. But when your weather app just shows the emoji with the sweat drip and tongue sticking out, having some extra-breathable chinos in the closet doesn’t hurt. J.Crew J.Crew La Paz Huckberry Casatlantic Casatlantic Todd Snyder Todd Snyder There’s been a massive movement in men’s pants to replace the belt with a drawstring. They bring all the ease of your favorite sweats but half the heat and twice the put-togetherness. Pack nothing but drawstring summer pants for a vacation; give all your belts the weekends off between now and Labor Day. In a slew of lightweight materials (including a stellar seersucker from Todd Snyder), nobody will accuse you of being underdressed. Vince Vince Stoffa Stoffa Onia Mr Porter Todd Snyder Todd Snyder The hottest pants of the summer don’t need to be pants that make you hot. The best in the business, like and, are out here making sure that if you can’t layer your way to a big fit, you can lean into pants that bring plenty of presence. Our Legacy SSENSE Bode Bode Willy Chavarria SSENSE Loewe Loewe Beach pants aren’t limited to the beach, though that’s where they do their best work: walking the dog with a coffee at 8am, hitting the boardwalk after a long day lounging on a blanket, sitting around a bonfire at night with some pals. (They’ll also work just as well by the hotel pool or at the bar a couple blocks from your Airbnb.) Give ’em a lazy cuff and don’t worry too much about a couple salt-water stains. Madewell Madewell Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Banana Republic Banana Republic Kartik Research SSENSE"
"These days, the best swim trunks for men are more than just, well, trunks—they’re just that happen to know how to do the backstroke. From the fit to the fabric to the details, the swim shorts in this guide pair seamlessly with the rest of your wardrobe, and won't look a hair out of place whether you're hanging at home, heading out for a hike, or hitting the corner store down the street. And if the opportunity comes to take a dip in your buddy's pool, or spend the weekend at the sun-drenched locale of your choice? You'll be perfectly dressed and ready to go. So with all that in mind, here are the absolute finest multi-purpose, next-generation, and yes, all-around best men's swimming trunks to buy right now—all tested and reviewed by editors. Bather Bather There’s a reason why Bather tops this guide every summer. For years the Toronto-based label has peddled the platonic ideal of a swim short, cut with an optimal inseam and in a silhouette that flatters every body type. It features a silky-soft mesh lining that’s comfortable and protective—and it’s made from 100% recycled quick-dry nylon that performs well in the water and won’t look out of place if you’re wearing it a few miles from the beach. In our testing, Bather trunks hold up like a champ through beach days, workouts, weekend hangs, and heavy wash cycles. They all pass the quick-dry test. “I only brought one pair of swim trunks with me on a recent trip, and I know swim trunks are supposed to dry fast, but damn, these were bone-dry faster than I could hop into the pool again,” says associate commerce editor Tyler Chin. He also loves the fit and that the inseam offers just enough thigh action without veering X-rated. The shorts also come in dozens of solid colors and wild patterns—from plain Jane navy and white to trippy florals—so it’s damn-near impossible not to find one that works for you. Patagonia REI Patagonia If any one pair was responsible for launching the swimwear-as-shorts movement, it’d be. For close to 40 years, they’ve been the signature warm-weather bottoms of hardcore mountaineers, deep sea fishers, camper van lifers, dedicated Deadheads, and backyard-grilling dads the world over. More recently—as the fashion world has gravitated toward practical, outdoorsy gear—they’ve also been adopted as the summer uniform for a certain strain of stylish young fella. It’s easy to see the appeal across all those demographics: they’re tough but lightweight, laidback but presentable, affordable as hell, trend-proof in fit and form and function. I've collected over 10 different colorways dating back a decade since I got my first pair (which naturally was black), and they've become an absolute essential for travel because of their sheer versatility. It's no wonder you'll spot these equally around town than you will around the pool. Birdwell Birdwell When it comes to board shorts, none may be more time-tested than. Since 1961, the brand's original two-ply, triple-stitched design is still as handsome, practical, and impossible to wear out as ever. But this year, the brand's newly redesigned 808 board short, which has all the anti-chafe trappings of the original model, but with a four-way stretch material, is our new favorite. While some purists will prefer the stiffness of the 300 and 310 models, the 808 is simply just more comfortable, and therefore a little more versatile for everyday life. It also helps they're available in the same bevy of classically tinged colorways. Whichever model you choose, if you're after some serious throwback, hang-ten, shaka-hand energy, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better pair of drawstring waist boardies than those from Birdwell. Sunspel Sunspel If you don’t think swim trunks have the sartorial range to be worn when there’s no water in sight, Sunspel’s Tailored Swim Short will make you a believer. The luxury British label’s classic trunk has a tailored fit with an adjustable waist and the same convenient pockets and zip fly as any regular short. Perhaps the best part is that the quick-dry fabric is made of all recycled material, the majority from upcycled marine plastic. “To call these trunks ‘rad’—or, in the parlance of our friends across the pond—is true, but it’s also woefully inadequate,” says GQ senior commerce editor Avidan Grossman. “I’m going to level with you: I’ve got zero ass to speak of and hips daintier than a ballet flat, and these flutter around my thighs with Baryshnikov-like grace.” Don’t let their tony pedigree fool you, either. Over the course of a year, Grossman has worn Sunspel’s swim shorts into the ground, with easy, breezy striped shirts and —but also threadbare and thrashed Vans. “I hate the beach,” Grossman adds. “These might be the only valid reason to go.” Stone Island Stone Island We’ve tested our fair share of luxury swim trunks, and while we still stand by our past picks, which include handsome shorts from and, we are quite taken by the quiet flex that comes with sporting Stone Island’s Nylon Metal Swim Shorts. Everything about these shorts—in terms of colors, design, silhouette, and fabric—is subtle. But a closer inspection reveals a highly considered swim trunk cut from quick-dry recycled nylon fabric with an unmistakable iridescent crinkle texture. commerce writer Gerald Ortiz, who believes many swim trunks suffer from garish colors and patterns, appreciates that Stone Island takes “the more difficult route of stripping away the extraneous details and focuses on materials.” The fabric is solid,” he says, “but far from boring thanks to the luxe feel and the mesmerizing metallic sheen.” Outerknown Outerknown The headline of Outerknown’s Apex trunk is right in its name: It was developed and tested by 11-time world surfing champ Kelly Slater. But you don’t have to be a wave enthusiast to appreciate the fact that the stretchy performance fabric is made from 100% post-consumer waste. Given that these linerless shorts are designed with water sports in mind, you also get stitch-free seams to reduce unnecessary chafing that would happen otherwise. “I didn’t do any extreme water sports in these, but I could see why a surfer would love them—they’re quite stretchy and don’t restrict your movement,” Chin says. He also adds that he prefers a shorter inseam on his swim trunks, but the overall look is perfectly fine. Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Todd Snyder's pull-on surf short—like many things Todd Snyder—is a luxe upgrade on a classic. In this case, the brand has upgraded the the regular board short or “baggie.” It's ideal for sweltering vacations, thanks to its quick-drying, lightweight Portuguese seersucker that also feels incredibly nice to run your hands over. Never one to scrimp on the details, Todd Snyder has also included an elastic drawstring waist, fine mesh liner, a self-draining back pocket, and a key holder to help you keep your car or room key secure even while hitting the surf. These 5-inch shorts hit around the mid-thigh, but Todd also makes them in a. CDLP CDLP CDLP’s slinky skivvies are a mainstay of for a many a sexy reason. In the case of the Swedish label’s signature swim shorts, those flourishes take the form of a planet-friendly Econyl satin twill fabric and daringly short inseam. Ten Thousand Ten Thousand A comfortable minimal waistband and compression liner, and bonded hems make this short one of the best performance trunks on the market. Available in a 5-inch or 6.5-inch inseam, it seamlessly transitions between water and land, which is all you can really ask for. Wellen Huckberry One for the comfort-heads, Wellen's supportive boxer brief-like lining is one of the softest we've tested. Coupled with the brand's 4-way stretch fabric, and you've got yourself a short that will never chafe, twist, or rub. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Color and pattern options abound with Abercrombie's seersucker swim trunk, which also features a comfortable mesh compression liner. This swim short falls on the relaxed side, with an inseam that clocks in at seven inches. Outlier Outlier Outlier’s New Way Shorts can truly do it all, and look good while doing it. These boxy, relaxed shorts are the epitome of a hybrid short, with drawstrings and a lightweight breathable fabric that’ll dry quickly. If you're looking for a longer inseam, Outlier also offers the. Buck Mason Buck Mason If you're looking for tailored option, we like this offering from Buck Mason, which has all the trappings of vacation-ready short—a zipper fly, button closure, and an adjustable waistband—but also ready for a splash at a moment's notice. Ripa Ripa Huckberry We have the good people of Milan to thank for Ripa Ripa, the Italian label that’s responsible for some of our favorite vacation-ready swim shorts. These run on svelte European sizing, so consider sizing up. Vuori Vuori Vuori's status continues to rise, simply because very few guys who try their affordable, premium-feeling, fast-drying swim shorts ever look back. This content can also be viewed on the site it from. Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories:,, and. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (.)"
"The best beard brush will transform your scruff. That's not hyperbole—bearded fellas disagree on, but on this, the experts are unanimous (as are 's especially picky hirsute staffers). The humble boar's hair brush makes a difference in how itchy, scratchy, and straight-up dandruff-y your facial hair looks. The right beard brush will prevent flyaways, tangles, split-ends, and dry, brittle hair. It also makes it a helluva lot easier to grow a beard from scratch. (These also make great grooming, especially the more premium selections.) All that's to say: If you have a beard, you need a beard brush. Serums, conditioners, and balms might be pitched as must-haves on your FYP, but the truth is, your beard can live without them. The best beard brushes, on the other hand, are genuinely essential. These hair brushes distribute natural oils, give your beard a fuller look for styling, and make it easier to uniformly apply nourishing products like. And—just as importantly—their thick bristles exfoliate the skin beneath your whiskers, promoting blood flow to hair follicles,, and whisking away gunk. They can also help you avoid tangles, although guys with thicker, longer beards will do better with a wide-tooth beard comb or pick. The best beard brushes all have a similar design: Boar bristles embedded in a wood handle. (These days there are vegan alternatives, too.) But you'll find a lot of variety when it comes to size, handle type, and bristle firmness, so we tested a whole bunch of 'em and called up a few experts to help you track down the very best beard brush for your specific scruff. Kent Amazon Boar's hair Firm 4.2"" x 2.5"" Kent has quite the pedigree: The British heritage brand has been making fine hair brushes by hand since 1777, and some of the company’s products display the Royal Warrant of the Queen (“By appointment to her majesty the Queen”). You can even buy a from the company that’s handmade in the UK by 12 different craftspeople over 540 hours, though there’s no real good reason to. The Kent MC4 brush is our premium pick, suitable for hair, beards, and mustaches. This brush is made with a cherrywood handle and fits securely in the palm of your hand. The firm bristles may be too rough for very short beards or sensitive skin, but for most bearded guys, this is as good as it gets. Zeus Amazon Boar's hair Soft or firm 3.5"" x 1.2"" Traditional boar bristles are prized for their ability to distribute moisture. This one is 100% boar, 0% BS. Zeus’s popular brush has appeared in previous guides, and it’s been personally tested and approved by one of our authors. We appreciate that it’s available with both soft and firm bristles, though,, recommends the latter for most guys. It’s a pocket-sized brush that doesn’t take up too much room in your, and in our testing, it’s just the right size for brushing beard oil into your whiskers. Made in Germany from pear wood, it’s rough on scruff and easy on your hand. Diane Amazon Boar's hair Medium 5” The Diane military brush (a term for any rounded, handheld brush with thick bristles) can help define natural waves in textured hair, and it’s also a handy facial hair brush for all men. The large wood handle contains nine rows of medium-firm bristles. This brush has all the detangling and dandruff-busting powers of our other selects (although it likely won't last as long), and at a lower price tag. Kent Amazon Boar's hair Combination 6.3” x 0.8” Conrad told us that he personally looks for brushes with blended bristles that provide a mix of soft and firm textures. And Kent's high-end BRD2 beard brush fits the bill. Kent uses a unique combination of bristles, which are cut at a 45-degree angle to penetrate deeper into the beard. The long, soft bristles reach skin and new hair, while the short, firm bristles help control scruff. The BRD2 brush also features a unique angled handle for an ergonomic grooming experience. This particular brush was made for right-handed gents, though lefties can buy a version just for them at the. Beardbrand Beardbrand Boar's hair Firm 4.72"" Beardbrand is a relative newcomer to the grooming world, with a suite of products for washing and styling those whiskers. We love that this brush comes in three different styles—round, oval, and with a handle—all made in France with natural stiff boar's hair bristles. If we had to pick one, we’d recommend the oval brush, which has a fine wood handle with grooves on the side for a smooth grip. Wahl Amazon Soft 3.27” x 1.47” Beard brushes can feel rough the skin—and they’re supposed to. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be very good exfoliators, and those overlooked follicles wouldn’t get the TLC they need. But if you want softer bristles for sensitive skin, then reach for Wahl’s travel brush. This pocket-sized tool uses beech wood and soft boar bristles to evenly distribute product and smooth out your facial hair. Live Bearded Amazon Medium 5.04” x 2.64” Live Bearded is a small grooming outfit known for its washes and butters, but it also makes a stellar brush beloved by one of our testers. The larger handle and width gives you fuller coverage while brushing. The bristles aren’t too firm if you’re worried about irritation, but still tough enough to control itching, flaking, and tangles. For avoiding dandruff and whipping messy beards into shape, it’s a long-lasting brush that won’t let you down. Zeus Amazon Boar's hair Firm 4.4” x 2.5” For long beards and thick or wiry hair, we recommend reaching for this Zeus brush. The firm bristles are designed for the toughest scruff, and you can use it to work beard oil into your hair, to fight dandruff, and to smooth out rough facial hair. Zeus is a small grooming brand based in California, but its brushes are made in Germany using pear wood and boar's hair. Horace Horace Vegetable fiber bristles 3.54” x 1.97” A different Horace exfoliating product recently nabbed a spot in the. In addition to that excellent face mask, the brand also has a beard brush that doesn’t use boar’s hair (or any other animal products). So for bearded vegans, this is our top choice. Made in Germany, the brush uses bristles made from vegetable fiber and agave leaf as well as a colorful beech wood handle to leave you with well-groomed whiskers. Even if you already own a beard comb, you still need a brush. Brushes are for beard, and combs are for beard —with a lot of gray area. (It might be best to pick up one of each.) To find the right brush for every guy, we talked to, a go-to who also designs his own beard care products at. Conrad agreed with our assessment that brushes are a true necessity. In a phone interview, he also told us that guys should look for brushes with stiff, natural bristles. What are the benefits of beard brushes? According to Conrad, they're “exceptional for creating blood flow, for creating tension on short curly hair, for making sure we can control flyaways, for spreading the hair out as naturally as possible. They also help you ”spread beard oil through the beard in a nice natural way because natural bristles will adhere to the oil and drag it through the beard."" And as exfoliators, these tools can even help unclog pores to prevent ingrown hairs. So if you're suffering from beard itch, it's time to introduce your scruff to a brush, stat. Typically, you’ll brush your beard out after a shower to distribute any natural and applied oils. You’ll brush out a clean, dried beard from the bottom (at the neck), moving upwards and outwards—basically, make it big and bushy by sending it away from its natural growth. This process also distributes sebum and oils to keep the hair detangled. You can then brush it back down into place (with its growth pattern). The brush creates tension on the hair without pulling or snagging, smoothing out stubborn beards. If you're dealing with dandruff, don't be afraid to really dig in there and massage the skin. Conrad also told us that brushes are essential for growing a new beard. “Usually, one of the first things I recommend [for new beards] is, ‘Okay, get a beard brush.’ Start growing your beard and give it a solid, say, six weeks of brushing it every night, really start to get that blood flow going, and spread those oils around. And it is actually a good thing to do to help stimulate growth. The actual brushing action is very, very good for your beard when you're first growing it.” Some of these products (though not all) were personally tested for this guide. Others were chosen based on our extensive experience with beard grooming, our knowledge of the top brands in the space, and expert advice. We looked for products that used high-quality wood handles and 100% boar bristles (with one exception for our vegan friends). We also wanted to include a variety of brush types in terms of sizes, firmness levels, budget, and handle type. Timothy Beck Werth has had a beard for the past 10+ years, and he's extremely passionate about all things beard care. As an experienced grooming product reviewer, he's tested beard brushes (as well as oils, balms, washes, trimmers, and combs) and uses them regularly as part of his own grooming routine. Adam Hurly has covered men's grooming for since 2016. In his time writing for the Recommends team, he's written about everything from developing a to his own experience with. He is a Sioux Falls, SD native and a current expat in Berlin."
"If we look more fresh-faced than usual and smell better than ever before, it's all because of our annual Grooming Awards. For months, we've been trying out every manner of grooming products—moisturizers, serums, lotions, colognes, deodorants—to the point where our desks looked like we could open up the next Sephora. Having gone through our beauty boot camp of sorts, we had to know: Do these products live up to the hype? We can say without hesitation that the ones listed here certainly do. Our criteria for what made the cut was clear-cut. Innovation mattered a lot, and looks did too, because, well, it's after all. But what really counted was what was on the inside, and we can firmly say that everything here did what they set out to do, and we're all the better for it. And now you will be too. Consider the products that lie ahead best in class: Folks, it's the Grooming Awards. Your has a tall ask: It needs to rid your face of gunk and grime—but not so much that it completely rids your skin of natural oils, leaving you feeling tight and dry. We've found a couple of products that are up to snuff. Skinfix Skinfix Gel cleansers have a rep of being drying, but Skinfix's Ceramide+Ectoin Gentle Gel Cleanser is barrier-obsessed so when you suds up with this one, you'll feel as though your skin just got a rush of hydration, instead of feeling stripped. Pretty Boy Amazon The ideal cleanser does the near impossible: It's deeply purifying but also deeply hydrating. Pretty Boy’s Fresh Start Gentle Face Cleanser embraces that duality with a formula packed with niacinamide, amino acids, and hyaluronic acid to effectively cleanse and gently exfoliate. Finding a that meets your skin's needs starts with asking what your goals and concerns are. For hyperpigmentation, you'll want something like vitamin C, for hydration, there's nothing better than hyaluronic acid, for fine lines, it's retinol all the way. As for the best options for each? Keep scrolling. SkinMedica Dermstore SkinMedica is part of the aesthetics giant Allergan, which popularized hyaluronic acid filler in America (and brought us Botox, NBD), and this year, it introduced an updated hyaluronic acid serum. The beloved formula still has five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid so that it helps to hydrate skin at every level, but the chemists nixed the silicone in the formula so that it wears a little easier on skin. SkinCeuticals Dermstore If addressing fine lines and improving texture is your goal, the P-Tiox Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum by Skinceuticals (the brand responsible for the perennial cult favorite CE Ferulic) mimics the effects of in-office derm treatments with a potent blend of peptides plus niacinamide and PHA. Dr. Few Bergdorf Goodman You know by now that retinol is the gold standard ingredient for addressing all those pesky effects of aging on the skin. You probably also know that using it can come with its own pesky side effects like redness, dryness, and irritation. Dr. Few’s Clean Retinol manages to deliver all its benefits plus collagen-supporting peptides in a soothing formula (thanks to antioxidant green tea) even the most sensitive, retinol-hesitant among us can embrace. Augustinus Bader Dermstore For times when the skin needs a hard reset, there is no more dramatic option available right now than Augustinus Bader’s The Skin Infusion, a four-week protocol of vitamins, lipids and proprietary peptides that strengthens and boosts radiance. Olivier Midy Olivier Midy Face oil may no longer be a niche beauty product, but our current favorite comes from a niche (at least to an American audience) French apothecary line. Olivier Midy’s antioxidant-rich, brightening and hydrating Anti-Aging Santal Face Oil is a glow-up in a bottle. Herbivore Nordstrom Historically the primary issue with acne treatments is that while they may address flare-ups, they also tend to flare up dehydration. Herbivore’s Blue Wave Clearing Serum’s lightweight salicylic acid-based formula manages to fight acne without doing any damage to the skin barrier. Kiehl's Nordstrom For many, ingrown hairs are often an ongoing dilemma: Treatments for them tend to be either too weak, and therefore ineffective or too strong, and therefore irritating. Consider Kiehls’s Ingrown Hair and Tone-Correcting Intimate Drops a Goldilocks solution. Formulated with AHAs, astaxanthin, and jojoba oil, it is effective in quickly minimizing the appearance of ingrown hairs, but also gentle enough to use on intimate areas like the underarms and groin. Ourself Ourself Hyperpigmentation, because it’s so stubbornly resistant to topical treatments, can be hyper frustrating for anyone who has had to deal with it. Ourself takes a two-pronged approach to the issue with its Daily Dark Spot Intercept and HA+ Replenishing Serum, designed to be used in tandem for the most impactful results. When it, you don’t have to stick to a lane—sometimes your skin feels like it needs a physical exfoliant, sometimes chemical, sometimes both. And when things get really hairy, you may need to pop out a spot treatment to kick things up a notch. For each situation, we've got you covered. Ursa Major Dermstore If want something that manually lifts grime, consider Ursa Major’s Green Slate Polish, a mineral-laced mash-up of natural willow bark-derived salicylic acid (chemical) and volcanic ash (physical) that gently refines. Eadem Amazon For the purely chemical route, Eadem’s Cashmere Peel Gentle Exfoliating AHA Toner has a milky texture and leaves skin feeling as smooth as, well, cashmere. Peace Out Amazon Peace Out Hydrocolloid patches are a favorite for quickly getting rid of pimples that have a pustule head, but for the ones that feel like they're painfully below the surface, we've been SOL until now. Peace Out’s new Early Stage Acne Dots use 430 self-dissolving microneedles with salicylic acid to get to these painful bumps before they have a chance to ooze. Church California Church California Scent can be a big selling point, and Church California’s Neroli Toner is an ideal example of just that. The floral water made with organic orange blossoms is as soothing on the skin as it is on your psyche. Topicals Amazon Those who know their skin care ingredients from azelaic acid to zinc are well-versed in Topicals skin-changing formulas. Its original has earned a near-constant spot in our rotation, thanks to a combination of niacinamide with azelaic and tranexamic acid that helps to reduce hyperpigmentation and even skin tone. Noble Panacea Noble Panacea With Cher on the loudspeaker and this alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid peel on your complexion, you might in actuality turn back time—one way or another. Dermalogica Dermalogica Bust out this stuff for those stubborn dark spots that just won't depart, no matter what you try. It exfoliates with alpha- and poly-hydroxy acids and keeps the barrier intact with Omega 3s. It’s the than almost anything else in your grooming routine, so it needs to get the job done. And that job can vary depending on your age, stress levels, what season it is, the list goes on. So before you decide on a moisturizer, have a little face-to-face with yourself. Dr. Dennis Gross Amazon If firming is what you’re after, Dr. Dennis Gross’s DermInfusions Blur + Repair Cream will restore elasticity and hydrate with a blend of hyaluronic acid, resveratrol, ceramides and peptides. Tata Harper Nordstrom If acne tends to regularly rear its head, Tata Harper’s Clarifying Moisturizer will treat and soothe congested skin without drying it out. Omorovicza Nordstrom The Soothing Salve by Omorovicza, the brand that harnesses the healing waters of Budapest, is an antioxidant-rich calming cream ideal for sensitive skin that does double duty as an overnight mask. Dr. Jart+ Amazon Dr Jart’s Cicapair Milky Lotion Moisturizer is the ideal lightweight option, made with redness-quashing centella asiatica, for those who want to feel like their skin is wearing nothing. CeraVe Amazon Allow us to introduce you, also, to a moisturizer that proves that being basic is a very good thing: CeraVe’s Intensive Moisturizing Lotion, a resolutely simple but intensive solution for dry and dehydrated skin. La Prairie La Prairie Your brain and body do much of their regenerative work overnight, and the same holds true for your skin. Of the countless products designed to get down to business while you sleep. La Prairie’s Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream, which bottles the latest longevity science in a luxurious formula, is quite literally the creme de la creme. Every dermatologist loves to say that the is the one you’ll wear every day, and that’s true: Whether it’s chemical or mineral matters far less than whether you relish slathering it on each morning. Shiseido Nordstrom For those who lean chemical, Shiseido’s Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion has a whopping 60+ broad spectrum protection in a silky, sweat-resistant formula. Vacation Vacation If you’re more of a mineral guy, viral brand Vacation’s Shake Shake has an SPF50 rating and a featherweight milky texture (not to mention delightfully throwback packaging). Given that the,, and are some of the most delicate areas on our bodies, it's high time we stop treating them like an afterthought, eh? This year's winners make you to spend a little extra time dabbing and slathering, so let's get to it. Prada Prada Is there a stealthier move than pulling this Prada Lip Balm out of your pocket? We think not. The ne plus ultra of lip balms deeply moisturizes while drying to a matte finish. Chapstick Chapstick A shellack of chapstick on lips in the winter may seem like a fairly utilitarian move, but with the benefit of honey, this tube of Chapstick gets some oomph (and a lovely light scent) to make it feel just a little special. ISDIN Amazon Undereye bags and dark circles can come from a number of different causes, but one of the most common is dehydration. This serum taps hyaluronic acid which holds a thousand times its weight in water to plump and deeply replenish parched skin. Sisley Sisley As the velvety feel of Sisely’s Supremya At Night The Supreme Anti-Aging Cream makes it a pleasure to use over and over again so too do its smoothing and lifting results. iS Clinical Amazon The skin on your neck is thinner than the skin on your face, which means that it can use some TLC via serums and creams to help it stay plump and keep fine lines from showing up. iSClinical's Neck Perfect Complex offers that in spades with alpha hydroxy acids to smooth, hyaluronic acid to plump, and antioxidants to help fend off free radical damage. Harry's Harry's The skin around your eyes is some of the most sensitive on your body and it has its own specific needs. The (which comes with its own weighted massage tool downsized for the eye area) is a depuffing and soothing whiz that will serve you particularly well the morning after too much revelry of any sort. Soft Services Soft Services The skin on the hands is thinner than the skin on the face and it can show wear and tear easily. Keep this hand cream in the unscented yellow (shown) or the newly launched scented pink jar. It's spiked with retinol so it helps to plump skin and also deeply hydrate and nourish hands with collodial oatmeal and panthenol. The pandemic made us all our own facialists, and once you start on your home spa journey, it’s hard to turn back—particularly because continue to improve and innovate by leaps and bounds. Foreo Amazon Foreo’s FAQ 211 Neck and Decollete Mask will make you look bionic and will also, with regular use, address wrinkling and sagging on the chest and, when you flip it around, bacne too. MM Skincare MM Skincare There are many an LED mask on the market, many of which could double up as a Jason-like Halloween costume, but the sphere from New York dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD's brand is different. For starters, it sits on your desk so that you don't have to wear it. Second, it emits nine colors of LED light, one of which is green, something Dr. Marmur's breaks up hyperpigmentation and smooths fine lines Every few years a new wave of injectables and technology emerges promising to have a Benjamin Button effect on your aging skin. Many of them aren’t worth the investment; we think these three are. is a hyaluronic acid filler that is more often described as a skin booster because, unlike its filler counterparts (see Juvederm, etc) this one is administered in micro-droplets all over the face not to restore volume but to make the skin glowier and more hydrated while blurring fine lines. is the first significant innovation in the neuromodulator category since Botox emerged decades ago, and while it works similarly to its precursor, it’s designed to deliver results faster (in a few days versus a week plus) that last longer (up to 6 months). And is a new non-ablative high-energy laser that more than doubles the current therapeutic energy dose offering a powerful solution for texture issues that’s safe for all skin tones. The whole lather, rinse, repeat thing applies to your lower half as well—it's just followed by the task of, y'know, exfoliate, moisturizer, repeat. This crop of and, though, will make the whole process feel less like a chore and more like a call to break out the bubbly. Wonder Valley Amazon Wonder Valley’s Hinoki Body Wash will do what is expected of a solid body wash—thoroughly cleanse without stripping the skin of its critically important moisture barrier—but also, much more. With its fragrant blend of Japanese hinoki, cedarwood, and Siberian fir, the smooth, syrupy-texture wash is forest bathing, bottled. Suave Amazon If your skin puts up a fuss no matter what you put on it, Suave’s Sensitive Skin Face and Body Wash offers hydrating hypoallergenic cleansing with a zesty lemongrass and moss aroma. Flamingo Estate Flamingo Estate Naturium Naturium Murad Amazon Body acne happens. So does keratosis pilaris (KP) and, yup, ingrown hairs too. Murad’s Retexturizing Body Pads efficiently address all of the above with calming azelaic acid, plus salicylic and glycolic acid, packed into a very handy format. Necessaire Necessaire The skin-care savvy know that vitamin C is a must-have in your skin care regimen for its brightening and antioxidant capabilities. Now, those extend to the body too in this formula from Necessaire, which is meant to be slathered from head to toe. Bioavailable, stabilized vitamin C (a.k.a., THD ascorbate) plus tranexamic acid and enzymes boost radiance and reduce sun spots for a healthy, all-over glow. There was a time when you simply used and didn't talk about it. Those times are not now: Full body sprays that fight all kinds of funk, legendary perfumers concocting underarm scents, and skin care-level ingredients make us want to rave about these winners. Dove Men+Care Amazon It’s called body odor because it’s not limited to just your pits: other parts (see feet and privates) can benefit from some freshening too. Enter Dove Men’s Whole Body Deodorant, which offers long-lasting protection against odor while also playing well with the most sensitive skin types. Old Spice Amazon If you prefer a stick to a spray, Old Spice Gentle Man's Total Body swipe-on cream is also meant to be used anywhere you find some funk. It glides onto skin and with fewer than 10 ingredients—and no phthalates or parabens—it's a clean choice for those discerning customers who don't want chemicals around. Papatui Papatui Antiperspirants have been sitting idly by while we've all tried to deal with the “funk” that deodorants can leave behind. can smell what you're cooking and so he helped develop the Papatui Antiperspirant, which taps aluminum to plug sweat glands while leaving behind a Sandalwood Suede scent—designed by legendary perfumer Frank Voelkl—that is a mellow and, crucially, doesn’t feel too perfumey. Hume Hume A good-for-you deodorant? Hume Supernatural’s plant-derived version uses ingredients more common in your supplement regimen, like prebiotics and probiotics, to bolster your skin’s microbiome while keeping you smelling delightful. (We enthusiastically endorse the Vanilla Daze scent.) If you're thinking that is ""so 2020,"" then you haven't lathered up with the lusciously scented products we're crowning king—and, certainly, you haven't pruned your cuticles with the keratin-infused formula that keeps our manicurists very happy with us. Trudon Trudon Sudsing up with Cire Trudon’s Vixi feels like something of a forest bathing experience with a refreshing woodsy aroma courtesy of bitter orange petit grain, sage, and sandalwood. Loewe Loewe Immediately get your hands on Loewe’s Tomato Leaves, which perfectly mimics the verdant scent of tomato vines, and if we say so, embodies the Spanish fashion house's signature spunk. Essie Essie The premise of Essie’s Good As New Nail Perfector is simple: it’s your nails, but better. Like, significantly, dramatically, huh-how-did-they-do that better. The ceramide-rich formula corrects yellowing and evens out ridged and uneven texture in as little as one week’s time. Hermès Hermès That Hermes, the brand synonymous with luxury at every touchpoint, happens to make some of the most damn fine nail lacquer around comes as no surprise. The brand offers a Pantone-level color palette (we are especially fond of the cobalt Bleu Electrique), long wearability, easy application, and, oh yes, eye-catching bottles that you’ll want to keep as prominently displayed as those little orange boxes. Dedcool Dedcool Seasonal changes, hardcore workouts, a diet without hydrating foods—all these things can show up on your hands. While the options for hand creams abound, finding one that adequately moisturizes without leaving a greasy trail, lasts through many washes, and doesn’t smell like potpourri can be a challenge. Dedcool, the viral fragrance brand, hits all the marks with its thick but quickly absorbing Hand Cream in Taunt, a citrusy amber scent. Paume Paume We think we speak for your cuticles when we say: We are tired of being overlooked. And all those frequent hangnails are a sign of this gross oversight, one that Paume’s All-In-One Cuticle & Nail Cream can, with its plant keratin, biotin and emollient formula, quickly address. Whether you fancy something that smells like a dream or functions as a workhorse, the best and are here for exactly what you desire. SheaMoisture Shea Moisture We'll spare you the full chemistry lesson, but suffice to say that most shampoos have to change the pH of your hair to get it clean, which winds up drying it out. That is unless, of course, you introduce oil into the formula, which can remove hair oil via the like-dissolves-like philosophy. This formula uses oils and incredibly gentle surfactants to clean hair and keep it moisturized. Corpus Naturals Amazon Do we need a chic shampoo? One whiff of the juicy Italian bergamot and grassy vetiver of and your answer will be a resounding yes. But lest you think this is all scent and no substance, the coconut and sunflower oil-rich formula also hydrates and restores scalp health. Horace Horace Those with thinning hair will do well to lather up with Horace's Fine Hair Shampoo. It's formulated using rice proteins to strengthen and volumize individual strands, helping hair to look thicker after a single wash. Nutrafol Amazon The scalp is the new face. Treat it with the same level of TLC. Nutrafol’s Root Purifier Shampoo is formulated with vegan protein and prebiotics to treat the scalp’s microbiome (yup, you have one there too). Prose Prose To get your tailored to your exact needs, perhaps consider shelling out a bit more for Prose's Custom Shampoo, which creates your formula to be unique to you—down to the scent profile it comes with. Olaplex Amazon Olaplex’s Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner is first and foremost a damn good conditioner for dry and dehydrated hair; secondly, it's a leave-in that mends split ends and protects from heat and damage; and finally serves as a styling cream that fights frizz and smooths. Some degree of is a reality for many— —men. While there’s no quick or easy fix for hair loss (yet, at least), innovation has come a long way in recent years. Ro Ro Roman Hair Solutions’s 3-in-1 Topical Spray (prescription) mash-up of minoxidil for regrowth, finasteride to slow loss and tretinoin to enhance absorption, that promises to get hair back on track in as soon as 3 months. Finasteride gets a bad shake because some users have experienced erectile disfunction; however, our testers like that this blend allowed users to still get the DHT-blocking punch from the ingredient without having it a brutally high concentration. Hims Hims DTC health brand Hims supplies you with the gold standard in hair loss: oral minoxidil. As we wrote in the compounding pharmacy makes it easy to get this supplement with or without finasteride and if you'd like you can even combine minoxidil and finasteride with tadalafil, an ingredient that treats erectile dysfunction. We're here to tell you that are incredibly repeatable so long as you have the right products and tools in your arsenal. Ahem: Odele Odele To smooth and sculpt short hair or add pieciness, Odele’s Cream Pomade is easy to work with and dries to a matte finish. Aveda Aveda Aveda’s Invati Thickening Foam is a styling aid that adds significant volume without weighing down thinning strands. Ocoa Ocoa Beauty With mango butter and marula oil, this incredibly hydrating and frizz-remedying concoction ensures that your curls and coils are adequately nourished without feeling weighted down. Cécred Cécred 's October cover star Beyoncé's Cécred Hair Oil blends thirteen oils into this lightweight blend that helps strands to feel moisturized and shiny without the use of any silicone. Sachajuan Amazon To add airy volume or create an ideal pre-blow dry foundation, Sachajuan’s Ocean Mist Volume Hair Mousse works its magic without any residual stickiness. Dyson Nordstrom Are we suggesting you spend $500 on a hair dryer? Yes, yes we are. Dyson’s Supersonic Nural is the smartphone of hair dryers with sensors that automatically shift temperature and airflow, a protective scalp mode, and plenty of clever attachments for all your styling needs. The serums that, without fail, make it a joy to realize that the needs just as much TLC as the other stuff. THOM THOM THOM's Scalp Serum is a soothing treatment made with pomegranate enzymes, pea protein, and apple stem cell technology that quashes inflammation. Act + Acre Act + Acre Act + Acre's new 4% Niacinamide Oily Scalp Serum, which taps its key ingredient to help balance oil production so that you get an extra day or two from your shampoo. Fragrance is such a subjective pursuit, one that can shift with the seasons, your mood, even the political climate. Our picks for of the year may fall under familiar scent umbrellas (citrus, spicy, fresh, woodsy, and floral) but the olfactive interpretations within each category will take you to thrillingly unfamiliar new territories. The Golden Retriever boyfriend of fragrances, spritz one of these on for instantaneously likable vibes. Ralph Lauren Nordstrom Ralph Lauren’s Polo '67 is a remix of a classic with a bright blend of Calabrian bergamot, pineapple, and vetiver. Tom Ford Tom Ford Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino is a sensory trip to the titular Italian Riviera town, powered by crisp citrus Aesop Nordstrom Exactly what you'd expect from the beloved minimalist line: Aesop’s Virere rounds out its citrus heart with peppery green spices. Pleasing Pleasing Like brand founder Harry Styles himself, Pleasing's Rivulets fragrance has range. While you might not think of it as a citrus fragrance, at first whiff its peppy citrus top notes fire off endorphins in your brain; over time, the musky floral drydown settles things just enough to be all-day wearable. Punchy, vibrant, lively—these spicy fragrances reframe the category into one that's approachable and wearable all the same. Guerlain Guerlain Patchouli gets a bad rap, but in Guerlain’s sophisticated Patchouli Paris, the note is paired with musk, vanilla, and an ambergris accord—it feels like redemption. Frederic Malle Nordstrom For Frederic Malle’s newest, Hope, perfumer Dominic Ropion gave ancient oud a thoroughly modern remake with the help of spicy pink peppercorn, cypress, and leathery incense. Easy-going without being trite, a spritz of these fresh colognes will make you, to borrow a phrase from Louis Vuitton men's creative director: happy. Dior Nordstrom The evolution of Dior’s is Sauvage Eau Forte, an inventive alcohol-free fragrance that melds a fougere freshness with lavender and musky wood notes. Louis Vuitton Louis Vuitton Conjured by and perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, LV Lovers aims to bottle the essence of the sun, something they achieve with crisp ginger and verdant galbanum. Even air signs can appreciate the beauty of these Earth-bound scents which pluck their notes from verdant woods, springy California cliffs, and a bouquet of greens or two. Le Labo Le Labo Cilantro naysayers, prepare to have your mind changed by Le Labo’s Coriandre 39, which takes aldehydic cilantro leaves for an unexpected ride with lime and musk. Eauso Vert Bergdorf Goodman The aromatic woodsy notes of Eau So Vert’s Dos Mil Años—like cypress, cardamom and hazelnut— nod to the ancient Oaxacan tree of life that the fragrance is an homage to. Jo Malone Jo Malone Open the sauna and let out all the steam, breath in and you've got something akin to this grounding fragrance that feels like tra-la-la-ing through the Northern California Redwoods or taking a big breath in of woody mountain air. D.S & DURGA Nordstrom DS&Durga’s Big Sur is a wet woody interpretation of California’s magnificent eucalyptus groves. A stiff drink, a bouquet of buds—these fragrances prove that sweet-smelling scents don't have to veer saccharine. Kilian Paris Sephora Maison Francis Kurkdjian Nordstrom Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s APOM is a supremely elegant aromatic ambery floral. When done right, scent can be a conversation starter, and we think you'll have plenty to talk about with these guys going. Diptyque Nordstrom With its combination of moss absolute, cedar essence, and a matcha accord, Diptyque's Temple des Mousses candle will transform your home into a Japanese zen garden. Byredo Byredo It's hard to award a limited-edition holiday release a Grooming Award, but Byredo's trio of Bibliothèque, Woods, and Sweet Grass is get-it-while-you-still-can kind of good. Homecourt Homecourt Vyrao Vyrao The and the both need tending, just not ever with the same device. Gillette Walmart For your pubes, there is the Gillette i7 Pubic Hair Trimmer, which comes with two attachable combs and a handy LED light when your overhead lighting isn’t ideal. Bevel Bevel For your beard, there is the Bevel Trimmer, a lightweight, ergonomic device with easy-to-clean blades that prevent bumps and irritation. Andis Walmart Your body hair—namely any overgrown pubes—demand regular trims too. But not any bladed device is fit to be so close your nether regions. This trimmer uses a ceramic cutter (it stays sharper longer than metal, which means less needless tugging on the skin) and has a slim and discreet design that meanders easily around any hard-to-reach places. Panasonic Panasonic Hair removal is a, and while there are hundreds of devices out there, the new ones are pretty stellar. Dollar Shave Club Dollar Shave Club If you’re a razor devotee, there is, in our opinion, no better option than the Dollar Shave Club 3-In-1 Razor. On the front there are a top-of-the-line six blades, and on the flipside you'll find a self-sharpening power trimmer. Philips Norelco Amazon Smaller than an iPhone, this rotary shaver is convenient to pack, you can shave wet or dry, it charges in a jiffy, and above all, it gives you a close and smooth shave that honestly is so good you might want to just keep this in your regular rotation. Shaving and trimming your facial hair requires its own. Choose wisely. The Grey The Grey The Grey’s Cleansing and Shaving Mousse is a two-in-one wonder: a luxe antioxidant rich cleanser and a smooth shaving mousse. The Shop Walmart The Shop’s After Shave Toner uses gentle acids to exfoliate, brighten, and prevent the formation of razor bumps. Prohibition Amazon Just a few wee drops of Prohibition Wellness’s Hair & Beard Oil (a blend of coconut, jojoba, hemp, argan, and grape seed) is all your beard needs to resist unruliness. Chanel Chanel Lest you think hair fragrance is designated for the hair sprouting solely out of your scalp, allow us to present Bleu de Chanel hair perfume, which is simply divine to dab on facial hair. Don’t. It can have far-reaching effects that extend beyond your teeth. Colgate Walmart Your first course of action for mouth maintenance is a capable toothbrush. Our pick for a solid manual version is the Colgate Total Active Prevention Foaming Clean Soft Toothbrush, which has high-density bristles that gets to hard-to-reach corners. Quip Quip Quip’s 360 Oscillating Toothbrush is our electric pick for its easy-to-wield rotating and pulsating brush, which cleans in three intensities guided by LED pressure sensors. Boka Boka Our preferred mouthwash isn’t really a wash at all: Boka’s Restore Tablets are hydroxyapatite tablets with powerful probiotics that are activated by your saliva—they do a bang-up job of freshening breath and soothing gums. Selahatin Selahatin On our mission to give everything in our wellness and grooming routine a chic upgrade, we have finally found a toothpaste up the task. Swedish brand Selahatin’s Steam Will Rise is an anti-inflammatory formula that comes housed in a sleek aluminum tube ready for prominent sinkside display. Crest Target Waterpik Amazon For those who say they “floss once a day,” at the dentist but otherwise aren't actually as thorough, this two-in-one device makes toggling between the brush and water flosser as easy as pressing a button STORY CREDITS Writer: Fiorella Valdesolo Editors: Ali Finney and Chris Cohen Contributors: Tyler Chin, Ian Burke, Avidan Grossman PRODUCTION CREDITS: Photographs by Bowen Fernie Set design by Suzy Zietzmann"
"It’s been over 150 years since the arrival of the humble blue jean, and while designers keep finding new ways to freak dungarees in new and unexpected ways (with a price tag to match), take solace in the fact that the best cheap jeans for men are still around, and better than ever—we’re talking subtle rinses, bolder silhouettes, and much better quality than you might remember. To prove it, we rounded up the best jeans you can buy for under $100. Before we dive in, allow us to set expectations. What can you actually get for under $100? You probably won't elicit any daps from the hardcore denimheads out there (pro or con, you decide). Hidden rivets, single-piece fly construction, lined rear pockets, filled belt loops … if any of these terms are foreign to you, don't even worry about 'em. But if you’re curious, you might want to peruse our guide to the regardless of price point. You've probably heard of Japanese denim, selvedge denim, and raw denim—and even if you don't know the difference between them, conventional wisdom would have you believe that they're all too expensive to make the cut here. Wrong! As the demand for denim has increased, so too has the demand for the details that were once reserved for the snooty selvedge nerds. In other words, cheap jeans aren't exactly cheap these days. You just have to know where to look. Levi's Levi's 28x32 - 66x34 \| 12.25"" \| 17"" \| 100% cotton \| 12 ounces \| Button \| 16 washes Levi’s helped bring blue jeans into existence, and thanks to the 501's straight-leg fit, it's every bit as relevant today as it was when it debuted in the late 1800s. Though the starch-stiff raw shrink-to-fit jeans are great and true to the brand’s roots, they’re certainly not for everyone. The more common pre-shrunk versions come in a myriad of washes and finishes, each with that same iconic Levi’s denim which continues to be among the highest quality for the price. Add to that the brand’s perfect straight fit jeans, the iconic 501, and you’ve got menswear gold. For more, check out our breakdown of. Uniqlo Uniqlo 27- 34 \| 100% cotton \| Zip \| Indigo Asking for raw selvedge Japanese denim for under $100 is laughable. But Uniqlo takes the request seriously and has been the one consistent retailer of such ludicrous fantasies. Selvedge denim takes longer to make and is much less common then the regular stuff. Since selvedge denim is woven on looms that leave a densely-woven, non-fraying self edge (that tell-tale stripe on the outer leg seam, usually white and red, and flexed with an upturned cuff), the result is a beautiful, rarer product, the kind of denim that fade-chashing nerds drool over. Also? It’s more expensive. Uniqlo's selvedge straight-leg jeans are mid-weight, a little crispy with a bit of a sheen, and unlike its longtime running, is made sans stretch. We’ve been a big fan of Uniqlo’s selvedge denim for years, and have long awaited a wider, non-slim fit. These straight-fit joints have answered our prayers. Lee Amazon 26x32 - 42x36 \| Mid \| 17"" \| 100% cotton \| 10-13.5 ounces \| Zipper \| Varies For those riding the menswear Dad Wave™ or for those with thick-thighed bodies, get yourself a pair of Lees. The fabric is hardy, the fit is boxy and perfect for athletic builds, and the wash is blissfully uniform, without any crazy distressing. Most important, they'll only set you back $30. Because we all know affordability is the of a great dad jean. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch 28x28 - 40x34 \| 100% cotton \| Zip \| 11 washes Abercrombie’s ascendence to the top of the menswear conversation is a sight to behold. You can’t scroll through your feed without catching one of the brand’s sexy-ass polos or delightfully cropped work jackets. But our latest obsession in The Moose’s universe is. We’re seriously impressed with just how hefty and dense the denim feels, which not only means great quality, but also an elegant drape. The brand has been tapping into the zeitgeist like Neo tapping into his Matrix-bending abilities, resulting in a great baggy fit that meets the moment. They come in a gang of washes and a huge size range, too, so you have no excuse. Gap Gap 28x28 - 42x34 \| 11” \| 14.5"" \| 100% cotton \| Zip \| Dark wash and medium wash Gap kicked off this whole “quality jeans at a nice price” movement more than a decade ago, and it keeps the party rolling with these medium-wash crowd-pleasers. This pair was engineered to look great on the broadest range of body types: not too snug, not too loose. (Which makes them the rare slim jeans that are flattering for those with plenty of “power” in their legs.) Not for nothing, there’s also a lived-in character to Gap's Slim Selvedge Jeans that’s hard to come by—they’ll feel like an old friend right from the jump. And who doesn't like spending time with an old friend? Wrangler Amazon 27x30 - 54x36 \| 11.125"" \| 16.75"" \| 100% cotton \| 12-15 oz. \| Zip \| Varies This is the jean of choice for cos-playing cowboys and real-ass ranch hands alike. have become legends of the range thanks to their hip-hugging top and flared hems, which pool over a pair of boots with handsome intention. The dense, 100-percent cotton denim comes in a few weights: the lightest is a standard 12 ounces, but most of the options sit at a beefier 14-15 ounces—a rarity for cheap jeans under $100, never mind under $50. If you want to go especially hard, serve them up like a young Harrison Ford: with a western belt, a plaid blazer, and a pair of. Or remember that “bootcut” is just a suggestion, and lean into the Wranglers' groovier side with a pair of canvas sneakers and a vintage tee. Carhartt Amazon 30x30 - 44x36 N/A 17"" 98% cotton, 2% Elastane 15 oz. Zip Indigo Carhartt's been doling out tough-as-nails, real-deal workwear for well over a century. On top of its famed Detroit and duck canvas double-knee pants, the brand also knows how to engineer some solid denim. The 15-ounce denim on these utility jeans is the heaviest on this list—and that's before you factor in the. You'll feel the extra heft—but you can bet that these jeans will last forever and only look better with every wear. Though they'll win your heart from day one thanks to a classic rise (not too high, not too low) and a finely-tuned relaxed fit that's airy without looking messy. Dickies Amazon If you like the cut of Dickies' popular work chinos, you'll be a fan of this 5-pocket jean variant. Levi's Levi's The 505 shares most of its DNA with the 501, but offers your thighs just a little more room to breathe, then adds a barely-there taper and swaps the button fly for a zipper. Levi's Levi's How does the 501 deserve a third spot on this list? The high priest of blue jeans still makes its 501 jeans in its famous shrink-to-fit denim, meaning you can get high-quality raw denim like the olden days. And though you don't have to go so far as to wear them in the bathtub to get them to form to your body, you still could for authenticity's sake. Unbranded Amazon Budding denimheads will often be pointed toward The Unbranded Brand as a good option for selvedge Japanese denim on a budget. Not only do these feature 14.75-ounce raw selvedge denim, they also come with rare-at-these-price details like a cowhide leather patch, hidden rivets, and chainstitch hems. Ben Davis Amazon Ben Davis is a titan of real-deal workwear, the kind of label you see in shops filled with military surplus gear and goods made for construction workers. The brand's carpenter jeans use a dense and crunchy 14 ounce denim that comes raw and ready to fade just like the high-end stuff. At the same time, though, they're a far cry from fancy fashion dungarees—which means they're definitely not slim and are almost criminally affordable. At sub-$100 prices, your two biggest concerns should be fit (based on your body and preferred style) and wash. You'll want the latter to be as simple as possible. That means no -style bleach-heavy fades or intensely fake “whiskering” (the lighter lines across the thighs). The best cheap jeans should look like you broke them in yourself—or dark enough that you break them in yourself. What are the best brands for affordable jeans? When it comes to affordable denim, the big three brands to look into are Levi’s, Wrangler, and Lee. Otherwise, you’ll find quality affordable denim from mainstay brands like Dickies, Uniqlo, Abercrombie & Fitch, The Gap, and Carhartt. What about buying vintage jeans? If you’ve got the will and know, buying vintage jeans is a fine option. While they won’t be as cheap as you might think, there are certainly new-to-you gems to be found. If you have a preoccupation with the old but don’t have the time to rummage through your local thrift store, the first name in denim introduced its for buying used and vintage jeans. It's a welcome nod of eco-awareness, particularly considering how much energy and water goes into making denim. And on that immediate gratification tip, Levi's Secondhand is also the easiest way to score sourced-and-stamped vintage when you don't have the time or energy to trawl the local thrift shops. If you've got your own Levi's gear that deserves a new home, you can, too."
"The best casual pants for men aren’t all that complicated despite being extremely, uh,. These days the lines between casual and formal have been all but obliterated, and even pants that were once exclusive to church and the office have shed their stuffy associations. “Casual” is in the eye of the beholder—as long as you know how to style them. It’s a world-expanding notion. Just think: any pair of pants can be worn with the care-free attitude of a long weekend. The world is your wardrobe! Carpe diem! Carpe ! But the flip side is that unlimited freedom can be overwhelming. Whatever the reason, whatever the occasion, whatever the cut—slim fit, straight fit, classic fit, relaxed fit—there's a pair of casual pants here for you. From sturdy twill chinos you can wear with your slubbiest T-shirts, heavily-pleated trousers you can wear with a big, bold, button-down, or a pair of elastic drawstring pants to wear on a quick coffee run, the right pair is calling your name. And luckily for you, you don't have to look far. Because we sifted through a near-endless array of pants (so many pants) to compile a list of all the best pants available today. Obvious—maybe obvious. But if we didn't address it, we couldn't call ourselves. Jeans have been around since the 1800s and society would be bleak and infinitely less stylish without the indigo-soaked dungaree. Bring them back to their roots with some honkin' leather work boots, or rock them day-off mode with a hoodie and sneakers, or pair a light wash option with a button-up shirt and a tailored blazer. There's not a situation that the right pair of jeans couldn't slot into, which makes them a requisite for every closet. When it comes to arguably the best pants ever, it’s hard not to mention the Levi’s 501, our overall pick for the. Levi's invented the five pocket blue jean after all, and they're just as great today as when they first came on the scene. If you take just one lesson away from this, let it be this: if you don't have a pair already, get yourself a pair of 501s. Levi's Levi's Amazon Our Legacy Mr Porter 3sixteen Huckberry Acne Studios Nordstrom Over the last 50 years, have evolved from active-duty army garb to civilian-life staple, cemented into the culture thanks to notable prepsters and the Ivy League set. They still come in every shade of khaki imaginable, but these days some of the coolest pairs on the market subvert the fabric's neutral origins via unexpected colors, patterns, and even materials (, baby!). And while there’s no shortage of chinos built with sweat-wicking fibers, gobs of stretchy elastane, and anti-wrinkle properties, the best chinos are still made of 100% cotton. Not sure what to wear to an upcoming date or to a business casual office? Chinos have a sheer versatility that makes them a safe bet in every occasion. J.Crew J.Crew Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Studio Nicholson SSENSE Drake's Nordstrom Like chinos, remain a perennial classic of casual American style. What’s the difference? Chino is a fabric; khaki is a color. Khakis derive their name from the particular shade of light brown that became ubiquitous in the U.S. after World War II. As the original camouflage, GIs returned from war and brought their dusty bottoms with them, ushering in a new era of civilian style. Once relegated exclusively to off-duty fare, khakis—a color that now encompasses everything from plain-jane beige to mossy olive green—have long since crossed over into the realm of work-appropriate attire. In their simplicity, they remain a reliable template for designers' freakiest projections. Banana Republic Banana Republic Alex Mill Huckberry Buck Mason Buck Mason Alex Mill Alex Mill It's tough to beat the when it comes to sheer utility. Even in their simplest form, the ultra-practical and—you guessed it—military-inspired trousers include discrete pocket space aplenty, making them the pants you should wear when you want to run errands without lugging a mostly-empty tote around with you. Over the last few years, capital-D designers and big-box brands alike have updated the menswear staple, tweaking the proportions and adding as many (or as few) pockets as they please. Which means it's easier than ever to find one in the perfect fit, whether you're looking for a relaxed version you can wear with or a slimmer take cut to stack perfectly over a pair of simple kicks. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch Maharishi SSENSE ERL Nordstrom Uniqlo Uniqlo We know what you're thinking— are not casual pants. To that we say, “open up your, bro."" See, any pant can be a casual pant if you really use your head. (Jury's still out on whether that rule works the other way around, but the evidence so far doesn't look promising.) Separate your tailored trousers from their matching suit jacket and they can be free to a whole world of style possibilities. Dress pants can look surprisingly casual and fresh with a plain tee and a pair of canvas sneakers. Super billowy, paired with a breezy camp shirt and elevated leather sandals, and you're about ready for a summer vacay. The key is more simple than you think: treat 'em like any other pant in your closet. Banana Republic Banana Republic Percival Percival Berle Nordstrom Todd Snyder Todd Snyder It was nearly three years ago that for Dickies' sturdy-as-hell painter's pants. Since then, prices for Carhartt's quintessential have reached truly astonishing heights, and every cool guy in a trucker hat and lug-soled loafers wants in. The style’s popularity speaks to the appeal for a practical, durable, hard-wearing work pant that won’t ding your credit card. While blue jeans will forever and always be the best everyday pant, a pair of work pants—like the Dickies Original 874—is undoubtedly the more versatile pick. Dickies Amazon Kijun SSENSE Kapital Mr Porter AYR AYR If there's one thing we remember from grade school it's that the sports coaches all had sick on-field style. And while the aerodynamic shades and New Balance trainers accounted for much of their swag, it was actually the swishy track pants that set their whole style ablaze. Today, track pants are hotter than ever thanks to style gods like A$AP Rocky and designers like Grace Wales Bonner. They're usually made in some sort of synthetic material like a windbreaking nylon, or a bouncy poly blend, and feature extra panelling and even bold stripes running down the outseam. Extra points for track pants with bold colors and dizzying patterns. Adidas Amazon Fear of God Essentials Nordstrom C.P. Company SSENSE Wales Bonner SSENSE are the obvious and most casual pants here, but go well beyond your old pair of Champion sweats. You might not think a little ol’ drawstring could warrant its own category. But that tiny detail has the power to turn any pant into a looser, version of itself, like a very chill Jekyll and Hyde situation. Or better yet, it’s like your regular pants on vacation mode. When fused with denim or cargo pockets, or even dress pants, the drawstring has the power to cozy-fy any trouser without looking like you belong on a sofa with a pint of ice cream. The great thing about drawstring pants is that they’re uh, more,. That adjustable waist will meet you wherever you’re at, whether that’s all-you-can-eat Korean barbeque or a light lunch at the local salad bowl. Besides that, who wouldn't love a belt built into their pants? Stòffa Mr Porter CDLP CDLP Wtaps SSENSE Lululemon Lululemon"
"The best chinos for men are more than just an office-appropriate alternative to jeans. As far back as World War II, stylish fellas have prized ‘em for their rugged durability and goes-with-everything sensibility. Few pants, after all, feel as at home covered in grease in a mechanic’s garage as they do at a garden party in Martha’s Vineyard. You can wear a pair of chinos with a beefy Oxford cloth button-down and at home, a crisp and scuffed to the bodega, or a and loafers at your friend’s laid-back wedding upstate. Come to think of it, chinos are kind of like jeans—just way more versatile. There's never been a better time to refresh your chinos. After a decade or so of slim fits dominating the conversation, brands are shifting back towards straight-fit silhouettes that are more comfortable, wearable, and timeless. So when you’re sick of all the bonkers prints and voluminous cuts dominating the rest of your wardrobe, the unflappable pairs here—the very chinos on the market today—will be just the palate cleanser you need. J.Crew J.Crew Avidan is 5’11” and weighs about 155 lbs. Relaxed straight \| 100% cotton \| Zip \| Varies \| 28-44 waist; 30-36 length As far as we’re concerned, J.Crew’s chinos stand alone in virtually every category. The fabric is crisp and dense, decidedly not flimsy yet feels lived in. The construction is on par with other chinos that cost more than double, and the silhouette is an unimpeachable classic straight-fit that’s roomy but tailored—noticeably more room than a pair of Levi’s 501 jeans, but distinctively less baggy than the brand’s viral Giant-fit chinos (which are also tremendous). They come in a grip of classic office-approved colors but you can expect to see some seasonal prints and fabrics throughout the year. For a hair under a hundred bones, they’re the best value for miles. J.Crew's wildly viral Giant-Fit chinos elicited when they debuted, says senior commerce editor Avidan Grossman. “But most of the menswear-pilled monsters I know prefer the more classic version,"" which comes sans cuff, and rendered in a hardy, broken-in cotton that's crisper than a welcome spring breeze. “The fabric alone is worth the price of admission,” Grossman notes, “but perfectly dialed fit and the attention to detail—peep the era-authentic flap pockets!—is part and parcel of the Crew's.” Grossman spent months looking for chinos exactly like this in a tricky-to-find shade of washed gray, before hightailing it to the mall to end his journey for good. Save yourself the headache and there first. Dickies Amazon Avidan is 5’11” and weighs about 155 lbs. Straight \| 65% Polyester, 35% Cotton \| Zip \| Varies \| 28-52 waist; 28-36 length If you want to squeeze the most green out of your hard-earned dollars, the best budget chinos have to be a hardy pair of Dickies 874s. Are they work pants? Sure. Will most people be able to tell the difference? No, especially if you wear it with an untucked shirt or with a blazer. The iconic workwear label has been making its 874 pants for decades, outfitting jobsites for generations, but just because they’re made for hard manual labor doesn’t mean they can’t hold their own around an air-conditioned office. The pants have a mid-high rise with a slightly relaxed straight leg and a permanent center crease—all the makings for a solid dress pant. The Dickies 874 is a poly-cotton blend that’s stiff and a bit rough, but has a sheen that cleans up real nice. Not only are they affordable, they come in a ton of different colors so you can stock the rainbow if you really wanted to. For what it's worth, I think the Dickies 874 are one of his best-fitting pants, period. They’re damn-near perfect, and I’ve even worn them to formal events as a dress pant and they looked great. If you’re in a pinch and need some tailored pants fast, you could cop these at your local army surplus store or have them shipped quick with Prime shipping. Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Avidan is 5’11” and weighs about 155 lbs. Relaxed \| 100% cotton, Japanese selvedge twill \| Button fly \| Khaki, black, olive, white \| 28-38 waist; 30-34 length J.Crew’s chinos are great for all the reasons we’ve already talked about. But if you want to upgrade your rig with better materials, an even better fit, and better construction, you should buy the Todd Snyder Relaxed Fit Chinos. They’re made with a medium weight Japanese selvedge twill that’s got a soft drape and peachy hand. The fit takes after mid-century chinos and khakis with a rise that reaches your natural waist and a wide leg that splits the difference between J.Crew’s classic chino and their Giant-fit chinos. Truth be told, I've amassed, and I love vintage chinos for their loose cut and superior quality, and these Todd's selvedge chinos are on par. Plus, you don’t have to spend hours digging through thrift stores. For about $300, they’re certainly an investment, one we think is worth it for the quality. But if that’s too rich for your blood, we also like Todd Snyder’s, which runs at $188 and has the same fit and nearly identical details, minus the fancy Japanese fabric. Uniqlo Uniqlo Avidan is 5’11” and weighs about 155 lbs. Slim \| 97% Cotton, 3% Spandex \| Zip \| Varies \| 27-40 waist; 34"" length The zeitgeist may be all about baggy, but the truth is the state of fashion is really more of an anything-goes situation. So if you’re still after a pair of slim-fit chinos in this Year of Our Lord 2025, there’s no shame in that. And we would suggest you get your legs into a pair of Uniqlo chinos. They’ve been best sellers for years for their tailored cut, solid and slightly stretchy twill fabric which uses the ever-durable and smooth gold-standard of cotton, Supima cotton. With a pair of loafers or some low-profile sneakers like the Adidas Samba, they look clean as a whistle. And because it’s Uniqlo, you’re getting a tremendous value for $50. Studio Nicholson Studio Nicholson SSENSE Avidan is 5’11” and weighs about 155 lbs. Wide-leg \| 100% cotton twill \| Zip \| Khaki, black, white \| 30-40 Shifting to the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Uniqlo Slim Chinos in almost every possible way, we present to you the ultimate capital-F Fashion chinos: the Studio Nicholson Sorte trousers. The cut is as wide as a California highway with a high rise, the Italian peached cotton fabric is miles away from most chinos you’ll encounter (in a good way), and the design is clean but far from boring thanks to its deep, deep pleats, rear patch pockets, and widened belt loops. The result is a pair of chinos that leans into formality and workwear in equal measure—the duality of man! While most chinos might be too dusty for the more experienced fashion guy, the Sorte trousers are ones that you’d definitely find in their closets, whether their style is quiet luxury, preppy, streetwear, or avant-garde. Alex Mill Alex Mill Relaxed-taper \| 98% cotton, 2% elastane \| Zip \| Khaki, black, navy, oat milk \| 28-38 waist; regular-long length If you’re after a pair of pleated chinos, Alex Mill’s Standard Pleated Pant are a shoe-in. Pleated chinos? In this fashion landscape? Yes. No do longer are pleated chinos sound terribly dusty. The long rise, relaxed thigh, tapered leg, and cropped hem are actually on par with some of the coolest silhouettes coming out of Japan. They feel like they honor the genre while updating it for the modern era of fashion enthusiasts. They may call them “standard,” but we would happily disagree. Oh, and if you think they’re a touch too short, they also offer them in a longer length. J.Crew J.Crew Like our overall winner, J.Crew's big-fit chinos are 100% cotton twill and come in a variety of colors. our overall winner, they’re ultra-wide with a leg opening of 20.5”. But beware: If you're not a fan of pre-cuffed hems, you might want to bust out a seam ripper and an iron. Casatlantic Casatlantic Viral amongst the connoisseurs, Casatlantic built its label on high-rise, wide-legged trousers. Not only are they made to give you that 50s-era swag, the quality is top tier as well. Carthartt WIP Huckberry If you're on the hunt for a slim option, the Sid Pant is a cotton-blend twill pant that's tapered through the leg for a modern fit. It also has a wee bit of stretch for movement. Buck Mason Buck Mason Buck Mason’s aptitude for archive retrieval is top tier, and these chinos are loaded with vintage details from the olive drab herringbone twill fabric to the single-piece Hollywood waist band to the felled seams and more. Buzz Rickson Self Edge The diehard vintage guys already know that Buzz Rickson is elite when it comes to reproductions of classic militaria and workwear. These ‘40s-inspired chinos feature period-correct details like tin buttons, all-cotton sewing thread, and a silhouette that’s true to the era—high-waisted and very baggy. RRL Huckberry Brian Davis—the expert we consulted for this story—says that if you have the money to spend, these are a great option that hit a lot of vintage details right on the head. But beware, he says “they make a slim option—stay away.” NN07 Mr Porter NN07's Aden chino offers a classic straight leg fit cut in a modern cotton-blend twill that offers touch more comfortable stretch. Knickerbocker Knickerbocker Pleats have the unique ability to instantly turn a pair of pants from plain to fantastic. Just ask. Knickerbocker’s Canal pants are a prime example with deep, double reverse pleats done up in a rinsed cotton twill which toes the line between casual and classy. Brian Davis, owner of vintage store, is among the most knowledgeable menswear guys in general, but also a huge nerd (complimentary) when it comes to chinos. “Chino’s have really been put through the cultural ringer. People need to be reminded that chino started out as workwear and military uniform. They were designed to be rugged.” Though chinos these days stray further and further away from its roots and have heaps of sacrilegious synthetics and non-iron treatments, there’s still hope in spite of it all. A classic pair of chinos is usually made from a mid-weight cotton twill fabric that fall smack dab in between a typical shirting fabric and your average pair of blue jeans. (For the nerds, that’s about 8-ounces). They’ll fit like a well-tailored trouser, with a mid- or high-rise and, generally, a darted rear waist to hug your bum in the most flattering way. Many higher-quality chinos will also include a curtained waistband, which is an extra piece of fabric fixed to the inside of the waistband. This helps reinforce the waist, prevent it from rolling, keeps the pockets lying flat, and covers the inner seam work (don’t worry, it’s really not ). In terms of fabric, heavier is generally better. “The old military chinos were made of an 8-ounce cotton twill,” Davis says. “This feels substantial, well-made and softens overtime.” While lighter materials are great for the hotter seasons, he has his opinions on that. “Also, fabric that is too lightweight is no good - too clingy and wimpy.” Davis also says to try and avoid synthetic and stretchy materials when you can because they won’t age as well as natural fabrics. Fit is paramount, regardless of the garment, but chinos in particular. You want to make sure the fabric isn’t pulling anywhere, which would indicate the fit is too tight. But you also don’t want too much room in the crotch or seat lest you fall prey to dumpy butt or balloon lap. Today’s chino market has more silhouettes than any one person should really need to consider, but Davis lays it out simply. “Ideally, a chino should have a nice long rise and a full straight leg (8-9” opening). I always come back to that episode of where Don was putting a playhouse together in a pair of mil-surplus chinos and a tucked in white tee—perfection!” To kick off the process, we enlisted a who's who of GQ staffers to wear-test our contenders. Some of our colleagues have worked in retail; others have toiled for small-batch labels; all spend objectively too much time thinking about pants. We leaned on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrowed down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Collectively, we've worn and tested hundreds of pairs of chinos over the years. Our testers owned some of the chinos on this list already, but a whole bunch were totally new to us. So after wear-testing the entire crop, we recorded our observations and rejiggered our selections accordingly. Based on those evaluations, we ran the numbers, collated the anecdotal evidence, and emerged with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best chinos for men right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a pair here for you. (Read more about testing process.) How should chino pants fit? Fit is all relative. But if that advice isn’t practical enough for you we suggest a few things. The best fit for most people is a classic straight fit, perhaps even a slightly relaxed fit. The silhouette du jour changes every few years, but if you split the difference and stick with a fit that’s middle-of-the-road, you’re much less likely to ruffle any feathers with your bosses, with the wedding party, and save yourself some embarrassment should you go down memory lane. At the end of the day, you should like what you see in the mirror. What's the difference between chinos and khakis? In short, chino is a fabric, and khaki is a color. However, two terms are typically used interchangeably to refer to a style of trouser. Both are usually made from a cotton-twill fabric with slanted hand pockets as well as welted pockets at the rear (as opposed to the patched pockets you'd find on a pair of jeans). But the menswear cognoscenti will tell you that khakis tend to use sturdier fabrics while chinos are slightly lighter. Not only that, khakis are tied to the dusty beige color from which they gets their name, so you’re more likely to see a pair of navy cotton twill pants dubbed as chinos rather than khakis. Can I wear chinos to a wedding? That depends on the wedding. Chinos aren't as dressy as suit pants, but if it's an outdoor wedding or if the wedding invite says to dress semi-formal or if it says ‘casual’ anywhere in the invite, chinos are a safe bet. But we'd advise that you wear your chinos with a button-up shirt and a tie at the very least, if not with a matching cotton blazer."
"Matteo Lane knows firsthand how hard it can be to maintain a healthy physique. The 38-year-old comedian—whose hourlong special, just premiered on Hulu—travels the country slinging jokes for a living. That means tons of meals on the go, dingy comedy clubs with subpar kitchens, and. While many associate this lifestyle with copious amounts of alcohol, Lane is not much of a drinker. Instead of tequila, he asks for lean protein and veggies on his rider for every show, and prefers to only work on the weekends so he can stick to his. When talking through his fitness journey—Lane is one of the more visibly jacked performers on the comedy circuit right now—he recalls his quarterly pilgrimages to Italy for carbonara and digestivos and deciding to finally pull the trigger on a hair transplant. Probably. I’ve been working out. My sister is an Pro. She started when I was in my early 20s, and so I started working out in my late 20s. She taught me everything, like the basic structure of someone who wants to work out and who wants to eat healthy. That life, she basically set me up with that. She had to, because she's my sister. Right now, I weigh 169 pounds. But when I moved to New York at 25, I weighed 128 pounds. I was very thin. I wasn't anorexic or anything. I just did not understand diet, food, working out. So, it's been years of me being at the gym and working on that. I would say I have a pretty solid understanding. No, she wasn’t. No one was worried. It was just an insecurity thing. I was at the Funny Bone in and I had just bombed. This is before I could sell tickets. I was backstage and I was tired. A lot of people talk about body shaming when people are overweight. People don't talk about body shaming when you're wildly underweight, which I know sounds really—it's a conversation that people are uncomfortable with. I totally understand, because being thin is usually “the ideal body,” but I wanted to feel attractive. I wanted to feel muscular. I wanted to feel comfortable in clothes that I bought. I wanted all the things that everybody wants. I just didn't have any knowledge on how to do it. I was always made fun of for my chicken legs, always made fun of for being too skinny. I was always made fun of just generally. I remember one guy said to me—I was at a bar, this is in my 20s—and we were chatting. He goes, “I'm just going to let you know, I would sleep with you if you gained at least 15 pounds of muscle.” I was like, damn, okay. By the way, I never had a problem with my body! It wasn't like I was self-hating, but I want to age gracefully and maturely. I like being in shape and I like working out. I just didn't know how to do it, because you walk into a gym and it just looks like a bunch of medieval torture devices and no one's there to tell you what to do or how to do it. I think people are so intimidated by the gym, rightfully so. The people intimidate me. I'm not aggressive like that. I didn't play, so I didn't have a fundamental foundation of how to work out or how to eat. You just walk in and you just feel like a loser, like I was going to get called f----t again. Then you realize after just a single week of going to the gym, no one cares about you! These people are on their, they're just trying to get a workout in. Someone has a new diet plan, someone just had a kid and they're trying to get back. No one fucking cares about you. Focus on what you need to do. Lane shows off his arms on a 2023 red carpet. And also, everybody has different goals at the gym. Not everyone's goal at the gym is to come out looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Some people have goals like, I really want to get into cardio, I really want to work with calisthenics, I really want to be more flexible, I really want to get into cycling, I really like running, I want to do dance classes. Some people go because it's just a way to express themselves! It's a way to get out energy after a long week. It's a way to feel better, to build confidence. It sucks because these trainers you see online are always so... it's like they're always yelling at you. I don't understand. They're always like,. It's just not that serious. Well, as a comic, I'm inherently opposed to anyone super positive about anything. But I also would say to people that go to the gym—you see these people go to the gym and day one, they're just doing everything. They're going insane, and then day two and day three, they're going back at it. By day five, they're exhausted. Of course, then they think,. Yeah, the gym doesn't have to be that! The gym can be a slow build-up. I did just my arms today and a little bit of cardio. It was 45 minutes. I listened to. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow. Just slowly work yourself up. When you go to the gym, number one, have a goal. Number two, don’t exhaust yourself. Number three, have a long-term plan. No, honestly. I don’t drink. I drink a margarita once every three months. I was in last week with friends, so, okay, twice I had a margarita. That's it for me. I don't do drugs. I'm pretty boring in that sense. To be able to have a healthy diet, try to get enough sleep, and feel good about yourself at the gym, it helps you on these exhausting tours. It's exhausting to tour and it's exhausting to constantly give out energy. So, it's good to go to the gym. Now when I go to the gym, it’s like,. I don't have to do anything but worry about my legs for the next hour. I don't have to answer to an agent. I don't have to answer to my manager. I don't have to worry about performing. I don't have to write a joke. It's a kind of clarity that helps you in the midst of all the insanity. They say you get your best ideas in the shower. It's because the shower white-noises out anything else, and you can let your mind wander. Any way you can let your mind just wander around is always a good way of bringing in thoughts, especially for me. When I'm joke writing, I don't know that I can do it that well when I'm running through an airport, but I can if I'm just letting my mind go off. My trainer, Andrew Kusovschi, I found online and he is fantastic. He has me on a program. Today was upper body. He has me doing a, obviously, before. I have to do some rowing, which sometimes I skip because I'm lazy. I did a barbell bench press. I have to do three sets. Then I had to do the chest press machine, three sets. I had to do dumbbell lateral raise, three sets. Machine assist, close grip pull up. They're all three sets. Chest-supported T-bar row, single arm tricep pull-down. Then at the end I have to do some stretches as well, and mark in the app how much I lifted versus last week. He changes it up every four weeks. Right now, because I'm prepping my body for new types of workouts and to go heavier, he has me split my body Monday to Friday. So it's day one, lower A, is what he calls it. Day two, upper A. Wednesday, cardio and abs. Thursday, lower B. Friday, upper B. He's splitting upper and lower body throughout the week, different workouts, and it's mainly lifting. I do a little bit of cardio. I also live in New York, so I walk literally everywhere. But it's a lot of lifting weights, and that's what I like doing the best. No. I just like to slowly progress, as long as my body feels good and I feel like I'm pushing myself a bit. But a lot of this is also diet. He's written out my diet and then sends it to me through a company called MegaFit Meals. I have my whole diet laid out: what I have to eat on leg day versus what I have to eat on upper body day, and how many carbs I am taking on this day, and then balancing out how much weight I've gained. It's pretty boring. It's a lot of, a lot of yogurt, oatmeal, protein powder, banana and peanut butter smoothies, stuff like that. It's pretty boring. Yeah. But I like it. I like having rules and I like routine and I like structure. I don't like feeling out of control. But then when I went to Mexico for a week, it's like, well, fuck it. I'm going to eat all the tacos, I'm going to have pancakes for breakfast, I'm going to have a margarita. For me, that's going crazy. Then the week comes back and my body—because I work out so much and I eat so strictly—my body is ready to jump back in. When I go to Italy for two weeks, I'm like, I don't think I should be having carbonara twice a day. I do do it! I keep getting carbonara. It’s a problem. The longest I lived in Italy was in college when I was a foreign exchange student in Umbria for four months or something. Then last month I went to my cousin's house in Sicily. But I'm in Italy often, at least four times a year. Italians, the percentage of people whose body weight is considered overweight is far lower. They're not as obsessed with working out and building muscle the same way that we are, but they are obsessed about diet and they are obsessed about digestion. Katie Parla, who’s a good friend of mine and a great author, taught me about the Italian concerns of the digestive system. Americans want everything now, all on their plate. They eat everything at once, and then they feel like shit. With the Italians, dinner moves very differently. First maybe you have your antipasti, whether that's some cured meats, whether that's a salad, whether that's some fruit, whatever. Then you have your primo, which is your pasta, and the pasta is not grown with a bunch of chemicals. It's cooked properly, it's the right proportions. They don't use cream, they don't use tons of butter. It's completely different. And then if you're still hungry, you can have your secondo, which is a meat. They don't have a lot of chicken in Italy, to be honest with you, but you have your meat. Then afterwards, if you want a dessert, maybe some fruit, maybe an espresso. Then they have Amaro, which is a digestivo. You take a shot to help your body process it, prepare for the next thing. It's not all shoved in at once. Then they do something called passeggiato.. They all walk through the city, a big long walk. Everyone's walking through the city and going to the piazza. The idea of food in Italy versus America—you watch somebody at lunch in America in Midtown, they run to get a salad. Essentially they're doing cocaine as a salad. They eat it as quick as they can and go back to work. The Italians take two hours and they eat their meal. Now, obviously their economy sucks, but they live longer and they have a better life. What's more important to you? Americans look at food as energy, Italians look at food as culture. Look, they drink too much coffee, they smoke too many cigarettes. They have, but they figured it out. Obviously you go to Sicily, people are still eating ice cream cones from a fucking truck. It's fine. It's a culture that's been around longer. That's just how they've been doing it. Maybe work a little more? Do we need three-hour lunches? I don't know about that. How they drive seems insane. Coffee rules are very specific. Italian culture is a culture that battles with itself constantly about tradition and about moving forward, and has a hard time moving forward. I think it's a really difficult place for you to grow because so many people are combative and do things based off tradition. Whereas America is a country based off an idea. It's about growing and competitiveness and But we also don't wake up next to a 2,000-year-old structure. We think that we are the only ones right now and this is the only thing happening. Look, I’m not dissing America. New York is one of the best if not best city in the world. I could never have made it as a gay comic in any other city besides New York. The amount of opportunity, the amount of expression, the amount of artists, the amount of creativity, the amount of drive. New York is a really important place. It's not a passive city. It's not a city you can live in passively unless your parents are very rich. I love, love living in New York City, so I'm not knocking America food-wise. I [just] think that we could pick up a lot from other countries. I would never put my face in an ice bowl. I'd just get Botox. Also, I'm not into these Instagram trends—these fitness people that film themselves waking up as if there was already a camera there. They're just shittily acting their morning routine. My morning routine is I look at my phone for 40 minutes and then I stroll out of bed and make myself a cappuccino and watch video game news. I'm not that serious about it. I'm not good with. I can't use them. I don't have rhythm. I can't dance. When I try and use kettlebells, I always look like a fucking idiot. I don't like workout classes because I don't like the excitement of the trainer. I am a comedian. In my head, I'm like,. It requires a certain amount of energy and professionalism to be that trainer, but I'm just cynical because I'm a comic. It's similar to improv. I can't do improv. I don't like that energy. No. I usually tour on the weekends, which takes longer. The benefit is I don’t have to sleep on a bus and be out for three months doing shows every night. I get sick of my own material. I need some space from it. Number two, I like living in New York. I leave on the weekends and come back on the weekdays. On the weekdays, I try to work out, which I structure with Andrew. But I do worry about my diet. I really try to order chicken and rice, or get yogurt, keep it a little lighter. It's really hard. I now have chicken, rice, and steamed vegetables in my rider. It is, yeah., it was very different. I wasn't performing in big, beautiful theaters. I was in really shitty clubs and getting paid nothing and sleeping in comedy condos. You ate what you could get. It just depends on where you're at. Right now, I'm lucky enough to stay in nice hotels and do really nice shows. That changes how I eat. I’m getting a third one this summer. Yeah, I was balding and I wanted hair! I was insecure about it, sick of not putting my head under a pool, afraid of windy days, so I promised myself when I made it I would get myself a hair transplant. So, 17 years of doing and being poor and borrowing money from my agent, not eating—I finally started selling tickets! That first big paycheck, I went right to Dr. Carlos Wesley and said, ""Give me hair."" No, I wanted to recover and be ugly at home. I did a lot of research. You really want a focus. Also, a natural hairline. Your hairs are in groups of three, twos and ones. At the front of your hairline, it should be ones, and then you go back and then it's two, and then it's three. That way, you don't look like a fucking Cabbage Patch Kid with your fucking hairline. It's more expensive to do it in the States, so I understand why people go to Turkey or Brazil, but it's harder when you go to those places because it's a bit of a factory. You don't know what the hair care is going to be like. You don't know what your recovery is going to be like. You really have to do your research and make sure you're seeing a clinic and a doctor that knows what they're doing. If it's in another country, talk to other people or read reviews to see what the process is like, because it can still be dangerous. They filled my beard in a bit, because I had no hair there. I'm doing a third time just to finish the empty patch on the back of my head. My friend Chris and I are replaying all the X-Men Legend. The GameCube is a great system and it’s wildly underrated. It wasn’t a successful system, but it was fun. They’ll survive past the apocalypse., "
"so simple—a beautiful vacation where everything is taken care of—it’s hard to imagine it ever being formally This would be like claiming to be the first person to want to wear comfortable clothes, or hang out with friends. And yet, most sources agree: The first modern all-inclusive resort was founded in 1950 by the Belgian entrepreneur and water polo player Gérard Blitz. Built on the Spanish island of Mallorca, the Mediterranean lapping at the club’s shores, it was only natural to call it exactly that: Club Méditerranée. Just by packaging endless sunshine, bottomless buffets, and mindless relaxation, Club Med had a replicable winner, decade after decade. The idea was so replicable, in fact, that when competitors began catching up, in the ’90s—Sandals, SuperClubs, Beaches—they were suddenly everywhere. All throughout my childhood, commercial breaks were full of ads promising generic tropical fun (with strong undercurrents of marital sex)—and at a shockingly low price. It isn’t surprising then that the all-inclusive model gained a reputation for attracting budget travelers. After all, the thinking went, who would want to sacrifice choosing where to eat and drink each day but sunblock-nosed penny-pinchers? Well, now, everyone, apparently. Over time, the all-inclusive customer base has continually widened, as all-inclusives have become fancier (Club Med among them) and fancy resorts have become more all-inclusive-y. Major hotel brands like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG are in an arms race to invest in resorts across the Caribbean and Mexico—and for good reason. Between 2019 and April 2024, demand for all-inclusives on Expedia and Hotels.com grew by 70 percent. More recently, interest has begun to mushroom: Just last October, it was divulged that searches on Hotels.com filtering for such resorts jumped 60 percent year over year. Yes, we are witnessing, in real-time, the fabled rise of AI—that is, all-inclusives. This cultural phenomenon was, until recently, none of my business. In fact, the last time I thought seriously about prepackaged tropical vacations was at a copywriting gig I had 15 years ago. This mostly consisted of pumping out mind-numbing, repetitive nonsense for a high-end credit card for travelers. Even when inspiration struck, it was sure to be snuffed out by their draconian legal and compliance teams. We’d get dinged for calling a destination (it might rain) or (no such thing) or (how were we to know what customers dreamed about?). This led to some delirious language choices (instead of we’d write ), as well as crazy-making repetitions of preapproved phrases ( definitely doable!). But there was one term that we overused more than all the rest, given its brevity, versatility, and literary quality: Day after day, I’d write lines like and and Of course, lest someone confuse the word for something more meaningful (escape expectations, escape your boundaries, escape yourself), these lines were inevitably paired with palm trees, tranquil waters, white sand beaches. What was most striking about these images was, well, the fact that there wasn’t a single striking thing about them. There were no cultural signifiers, no geographic clues, nothing to get in the way of the viewer’s imagination. They weren’t really advertising a specific place; the point of such a vacation was what you were leaving behind. I was not my target audience. I much preferred to think of travel as a chance to see the world, to widen my experience of it. I learned that I didn’t even need to go that far—Montreal was a short drive away, Mexico City a short flight—to feel like I was in a completely new culture. This was, of course, the whole point of taking a vacation: not to but to find something exciting and immersive and, most of all, real. Yes, if traveling was a game, authentic experience was its grand prize, the nectar that justified peeling through the hard stuff—the cost, the flight, the jet lag. This all made meeting my wife, Mette, a Danish expat, extra sweet; I could now travel to Copenhagen and find myself among actual Danes living genuine Danish lives. Once or twice a year we would go with hardly a suitcase between us, crashing on friends’ couches, dining out most every night, drinking most every night, using and abusing our metabolism for adventure. Then, out of nowhere, as if my copywriting past were coming back to haunt me, I began to see sun-drenched everywhere. Which is to say: all over Instagram. In stories posted by close friends, in posts published by old coworkers, even on my Explore page, it was all there—the picturesque sunsets and piña coladas and every anodyne detail in between. Except, as I started to pay a bit more attention, I realized that there was something different about these pictures, some new aspect that wasn’t in the stock photography we’d used at the agency. Look a bit closer at the piña colada and you’d notice the wrist-banded hand holding it. Zoom in on the towels and you’d see the same logo, over and over again. Scan the background of the image and you’d spot a surplus of staff, ready to assist with whatever was desired. The author, his wife, and their twins. (Third child not pictured.) Adding to my confusion was the fact that, just a few thumbscrolls down these same feeds, you’d find photos of tequila-soaked music festivals, ruined European villages, street food in Kuala Lumpur, espressos in Havana, blacked-out nights of karaoke, white-out parties at nightclubs, new lovers, old friends, backpacking, road trips, side projects, political activism. What to everyone? Well, the answer is also right there on the grid, a clean demarcation separating the before times from now: a picture of a newborn baby, that impossible thing, posted from a state of near bliss. have a sort of inside joke, where we look at each other and cheerily mutter, The joke is that, with a toddler and twin babies, our lifestyle is not easy at all. The night before I started writing this story, I experienced a pretty typical moment. After a long, intense day at work, I was tasked with putting all three kids to bed. (Mette was out for the night.) I don’t know when exactly things went off the rails, but I soon found myself consoling the twins—one was slapping the other in the face, which somehow caused them to cry—while my toddler shouted for me from the other room. It wasn’t until I’d calmed the twins that I realized why: Diarrhea was pouring out of his butt, filling his pants, and, on the way to the bath, his socks too. Now it was the twins’ turn to be ignored. They screamed and hollered as I sprayed down my son, which caused him to add some earsplitting shrieks to the mix. Ignoring this deafening cacophony, I tried desperately to recall what we had contaminated on the way to the bathroom, while ricocheting shower water speckled more fecal matter across my legs. I tell this story not to showcase an especially trying night. In fact, I so quickly assumed my usual pre-bedtime mentality—a kind of benumbed state in which I forget I exist for anything but logistics—that I barely noticed how hard things had become. At that moment I cared about one and only one thing: getting everyone fed and changed and locked in their cribs, where it was only a matter of time before they would become beautiful, sleeping creatures again. I imagine that if you have kids, you’re nodding vigorously right now, and that if you don’t, you’re thinking, I myself would have felt the same way a few years ago, when we were still childless. Part of me feels that way today. That’s the weird thing about becoming a parent: You transform, but you never lose the person you were. The old you stalks you night and day, occasionally popping in just to let you know how single-minded you’ve become, how rigid, how tedious. It’s enough to make you wonder how much happier you’d be if only you’d been born a parent and never knew all of what you were missing out on. After all, Gregor Samsa’s problem wasn’t that he metamorphosed into a cockroach; it was that he remembered being a man. This ambivalence is even more salient when confronted with the irksome behavior of parents. I feel it when I watch them obsess over slicing grapes as thinly as possible, as I myself have done just that. I feel it when they make the kind of lowest-common-denominator chatter parents make, as I will happily join in. And I feel it when I see them post about those vanilla, sun-drenched resort vacations they’ve taken, as my first instinct is to wish I was there. Yes, perhaps no other carousel of images provokes such a distinct mix of envy and repulsion than those featuring endless buffets, signature cocktails, and perfectly manicured pools. It isn’t just American parents who have succumbed to this road very much taken. “I have never thought I would end up booking an all-inclusive resort vacation,” our friend Kenneth, a consultant in Copenhagen, recently admitted to me. Before kids, he spent his vacations going to places like Marrakech and Moscow, train-hopping in Spain and trekking through Fiji. And yet, after his first child was born, priorities shifted—specifically from “adventure” to “comfort.” Though he and his family have since gone as far as the Canary Islands and Greece, both trips were through the same Danish travel company—one that caters specifically to families. In these exotic locales, he has found himself surrounded by a strictly Scandinavian crowd, but this is hardly a concern. When recalling what he loved most about the trips, Kenneth doesn’t cite the atmosphere or the activities or even the unlimited drinks. Instead, he notes the messes left by his children after meals and how relieved he was “every time the waiter came and cleaned up under our table.” If I had, through almost four years of being a parent, managed to hold onto the idea that I myself was above such a vacation, a confluence of factors intervened at the end of this winter. It was the longest of my life, an impossible stretch of time in which, somehow, I had no time at all. Between my full-time job, the kids, the release of my new book, and nights spent working on my next one, there just weren’t enough hours in the day to give anything its due focus. I became so used to multitasking—writing while I watched the twins, or doing an interview while I reparked the car—that I even began to scrubbing crusted yogurt off the floor after dinner, as it was one of the only times during the day that I got to do just one thing. With the clarity of desperation, I realized that not only did I need a vacation now more than ever, but it was to be unlike any I’d ever taken before. I no longer craved adventure. I did not yearn for a new experience. I didn’t even want to have to plan anything, really. Instead, I went with the first idea that came to mind, an option I’d never given much thought to despite the fact it’s been swimming in my subconscious since I was a child. So it was: We were going to Club Med. sacrifice, so too do great trips. In this case, we sacrificed our toddler. While we spent five days in Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda—tucked away on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, it is the company’s only five-star resort in the Americas—he would pass his days with his and in suburban New Jersey. Though we felt some guilt for leaving him behind, we worried the vacation wouldn’t be possible otherwise. Unfortunately, we would be proven right. The morning of the trip, I experienced an upset stomach. This is putting it lightly. On the drive to the airport, we had to pull over twice—three times if you count when we first got in the car—narrowly avoiding the unspeakable each time. (Considering I drive a 2009 Nissan Altima, this could have quite literally totaled the vehicle.) After the second instance, I became so worried Lady Luck would leave my side that I inserted a baby diaper inside of my boxer briefs, like a menstrual pad. The whole debacle, along with some other snafus, set us back an hour; in fact, it was only by the grace of a few angelic airport employees that we boarded the plane in time for takeoff. The flight itself was fine—but then again, if I’d had the same experience before I was used to being a parent I would have considered it torture of mind and body. We spent most of our critical thinking abilities deciphering what might satisfy our little nonspeaking piggly-wigglies and dedicated our bodies to the sole task of creating enough comfort for them to go to sleep. When they finally did—after a spate of crying from each in perfect succession—I used my free concentration to watch the market crash on various cable-news networks. The drive to the resort was long (about 90 minutes) but a relief: After hauling the babies in carriers for seven hours, we could finally off-load their weight to car seats. Then, arriving at the resort, our suitcase was taken from us and our step became a little lighter. Minute after minute, more burdens were lifted: Our thirst was quenched with a medley of fresh-squeezed juices; our clammy skin was dried by the cool, fragrant air; our taste for luxury, heretofore repressed, was simultaneously released and satisfied. The public areas were breathtaking but elegant, and so was our abode, a long, long bungalow that led directly out onto the purring, blue tropical water. While we were basking in how much space we had—the suite was even bigger than our apartment—and how well that space was furnished, my gaze settled on a canvas beach bag lying on a chair. Picking it up by its roped handles, I saw that there was a message embroidered on it in gold thread: This reminded me of a post I saw on Club Med’s Instagram a few days before. Overlaid atop a video of a couple water-skiing under a setting sun was the phrase, written in plain white text, At the time, I’d mocked this in my mind, reasoning that such a reality would imply I’d recently been lobotomized. But now, I found my chronic cynicism just out of reach. I thought, optimistically. It struck me that the phrase was a near-perfect synonym for —and yet, at the same time, it was completely different: purer, simpler, unsoiled by our sarcasm. It was even a kind of promise, if not a provocation: In its fearless earnestness I could, if I wanted, find the courage to be earnest too. I thought more about this. I pondered over how much of our happiness is controlled by our own free will. Then, finally removing the baby diaper from my boxer briefs—completely unused, mind you—I realized that we had undergone a great change today. It was a slow, smooth shift, an easy gradient that had started when we’d woken up and ended at this very moment. Yes, on one side was hell, and on the other side, this one, was a place that held the possibility of heaven. Saturday, we introduced the twins to basically every possible permutation of baby-friendly water: the ocean; the main swimming pool, long and thin like a runway; the more private, family-only pool; the water park. While each came with their own unique, resplendent environs, the water felt exactly the same, kept at a temperature that was, impossibly, at once refreshingly cool and easy to slide into. I began to notice, however, that there were areas we enter. There was the child-free Zen Pool, with its corresponding El Limon Bar. There was the Emerald Jungle, a village and social zone only for adult guests. If these delineations at first seemed like a rebuke, a middle-finger aimed at those keeping the human race alive, I came to understand they served the opposite purpose. Yes, these spaces were just as much for parents temporarily relieved of their kids by the resort’s on-site childcare as they were for the childless. After all, what did liberated parents want more than to forget there was such a thing as children? Perhaps it is just that my poisoned brain cannot hear “adults-only” and not think of sexual penetration, but these areas also called to mind some of the lore I’d heard about a bygone Club Med era. Sometime during the ’70s, its sporty, young, minimalist vibe—riding the waves of the sexual revolution—morphed into something a bit more, well, horny. a 1978 cult French comedy satirizing Club Med, features a scene in which men lazily adorn women’s bare breasts with paint. A curious piece in from 1981 captures “the image of sexual abandon,” describing a wet T-shirt contest “and its male counterpart.” Well into the ’90s, Club Med’s reputation remained: the place to go, whether you were a single or a swinger, to get your coconut scraped. “In the ’80s and ’90s, the core of our clients were active singles,” Carolyne Doyon, president and CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean, told me. But then, in the early aughts, decades of sex finally yielded to its most natural consequence: children. After suffering waning demand in the ’90s, and then 9/11’s dampening effect on travel, Club Med initiated what would be a decades-long pivot. In 2004, with recently installed CEO Henri Giscard d’Estaing (son of the former French president) at the helm, Club Med reportedly began investing billions of dollars to enhance its resorts while gearing them toward a new demographic. “We have realized that, with the needs of the clients of today and tomorrow, the family market—the family market—was the way for us to go,” Doyon said. The more we explored, the more I came to appreciate just how tailor-made the resort was for families, meeting parents on a nearly psychological level. For starters, the endlessly paved paths and ramps allowed us to push our stroller across the expansive campus with sublime ease. Then there was the abundance of high chairs. And the toddler-size poolside cabanas. And the blackout curtains in our room. (For once, I wouldn’t need to use the black plastic sheets I brought with us everywhere, covering any and all windows in a ritual that made me feel like Patrick Bateman.) It was so convenient to be a parent there that a French family of three (the mother a psychiatrist, the father a member of the French air force) chose the resort for their honeymoon, telling us that it was easier to take their daughter with them than have her stay with relatives and “go somewhere just us.” This spirit of seamless accommodation is neatly captured by the fact that all Club Med staff—from the waiters to the receptionists to the porters—go by the term G.O., or Gentle Organizers. If the moniker is a bit unsettling at first (reminiscent as it is of an inpatient psychiatric unit), it quickly makes a certain kind of sense. Flash a look of worry and a G.O., clad in the brand’s signature bright white and royal blue, will soon be at your side, ready to help. Walk with a heavy gait and a golf cart will miraculously appear. At mealtimes, it was hard to go five minutes without a G.O. visiting our table, making faces at the twins. Such interactions with G.O.’s are, for many guests, a big part of the appeal. The moderator of the r/Club_Med subreddit, who has visited Club Med resorts 39 times to date, told me, “Over the years, I’ve become quite close with many of the G.O.’s,” noting that she’s even befriended a few at one resort, only to cross paths with them again at another location. Her husband doesn’t quite get it. “He is kind of like, why would I want to talk to a bunch of strangers on my vacation? It’s vacation.” “There’s not really a firm line between ‘you’re staff’ and ‘you’re a guest,’ ” a former G.O. who worked at Club Med in the aughts told me. As a “naive Brit” among “more sexually free and adventurous” French guests, she said she found her professional friendship sometimes mistaken for something more. “I was definitely propositioned a couple of times,” she said. “I was like, ‘I’m English.’ ” As in, Plus, she had work to do, like dressing up as a baby chicken for a comedy sketch put on by staff or encouraging guests to join a dance party in broad daylight. It is a testament to the power of social conditioning that, in no time at all, having a team of people gently organizing our lives felt completely natural. When a few G.O.’s corralled everyone for a coconut-throwing contest on the beach, I hardly thought twice; in the moment, it seemed as normal as lining up at the buffet. Slowly, like shy crabs approaching the ocean to mate, guests big and small, young and old, gathered around a particularly charismatic G.O. One by one he called us up to toss the hairy shells over our heads, with each throw receiving a nice clap from our fellow competitors, and even some ’s and ’s. The event created such a flow state that it was hard to even care that prizes, though promised, were never awarded. Wasn’t the real prize just being there, laughing with and rooting for strangers? Wasn’t the only point of anything the feeling it gave you in the moment? What if our only problem, at the end of the day, was to miss the sunset? Club Med's Gentle Organizers use choreographed dances called “crazy signs,” which are the same across locations, to entice guests to dance. it was important that the resort had childcare would be like saying it was important that our suite had beds and running water. So it was that as I walked the twins to Baby Club Med—their first day care of any sort; Mette stays home with them—I was a little worried. What if they didn’t take to it? What if they cried? What level of guilt was I willing to withstand for the paradise of having a child-free day? The author relaxing. There was no guilt required. As soon as I brought them in, they were absorbed and tended to, surrounded by loud, bright toys and chirping, attentive G.O.’s. After a few minutes of playing, one of the caregivers gave me the sign and I left like a thief in the night, scrambling back to our room to deliver Mette the good news. Nervous with possibility, the hours ahead like scarce funds we needed to spend wisely, we hurried to the kid-prohibited Zen Pool. There I read a paperback and drank a cocktail called a Dominican Spirit (likely the trip’s deepest cultural foray). This was followed by a banana daiquiri at the swim-up bar, where I soon ordered its strawberry cousin, and then went back to banana. By the time I’d normally be ensconced in my first meeting of the day, I was four drinks in. What to do now? Browsing the My Club Med app, I reviewed the long list of scheduled activities. We could attend classes on Latin dance, archery, vinyasa yoga, and trapeze (a Club Med signature). We could play beach volleyball, bocce ball, and something called “Coffee Games.” It is precisely these sorts of activities that many guests pay the Club Med premium for. (A four-night trip like ours, including day care and private transport to and from the airport, costs around $6,500 during peak season.) And yet, I wanted none of it. In fact, the very idea of skipping these events gave me an odd sort of pleasure, as if each one were a meeting I was intentionally missing. Yes, all I wanted then was whatever in this world was the exact opposite of work, a concept that suddenly seemed not only a bit foreign—abstract, even—but utterly, perplexingly, shamefully absurd. Why, I wondered, my brain the right kind of stupid, were people always things? What, really, still needed to be done? Wasn’t the invention of NFTs proof alone that a breather was in order? We went to the beach. I read some more and then swam languidly in the water. I drank various elixirs. We had sex. We ravaged the buffet. I pushed my limit on passion fruit. I got a mind-blowing massage from a gifted masseuse. Lying under a cabana overlooking the ocean, we laughed so hard I cried. We devoured a beach barbecue and drank from coconuts, running into the water right after eating. Lying on a hammock, I became emotional as I considered how lucky I was—not to be there, but to have what I have. This was, more or less, how we would pass the rest of the vacation: not with but with boundary-less pleasure, floating from one thing to the other, doing whatever our hearts desired, and yet, at the same time, doing nothing at all. It was the first time in almost four years we had been alone together and not felt the need to cash in our autonomy for something especially eventful. It was the first time, after a long winter of multitasking, that I could engage, finally, in exactly zero tasks. parts of the trip, for me, was reading together. It’s something we never do anymore, given the demands of parenthood, and the pressure to fill in our leisure time with more active pursuits. (And yeah, okay, sometimes we’re too exhausted to do anything but be on our phones.) Just like old times, we traded notes about the book she was reading, which I had loved and given to her: by Vincenzo Latronico. The novel follows an expat couple in Berlin as they live exactly as young, hip, creative professionals are supposed to: with au courant taste and limitless freedom. They’ve liberated themselves from everything: salaries, convention, nationality, ideology, tradition, history. The book succeeds as a commentary on how curation can take the place of identity, a nearly anthropological study of two people suffocated by their own liberty—though I couldn’t stop myself from thinking there was quite a simple solution to all that ailed them. If their lives are so rich in freedom but devoid of meaning, why not sacrifice one for the other? That is: have kids. I sympathize with Latronico’s protagonists. It wasn’t so long ago that I, too, felt that I had way too much possibility and not enough actual to fill it in with. In retrospect, this is precisely what my pre-kids vacations were actually about: exchanging some of my excess freedom (time, money) for a meaningful experience. But of course, the trade can be made in the opposite direction too—which is exactly what’s in order when you suddenly find yourself drowning in a sea of work, obligation, responsibility, routine. On our last morning, our fifth straight day spent mindlessly, vacuously pursuing nothing but our own comfort, it dawned on me that this trip wasn’t at all what I’d expected. Well, we did basically exactly what I thought we would, but how it felt—what it meant, even—was beyond what I’d imagined. It wasn’t really, in the end, even an That term was far too focused on subtraction, the deletion of something from your life. What I had experienced, on the other hand, was an addition, an acquisition, a retrieval even. Yes, this whole time I had been briefly reclaiming the freedom that I had, years ago, left behind. is the author of,, and. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and three sons."
"Speaking from experience, when you and someone considerably older—who's slow running and doesn’t look like they’ve put much time into their fitness—passes you without appearing to make a significant effort, it’s a confronting moment. Running slowly is something I find embarrassing. I know I shouldn’t feel that way, and I don’t want to, but I do. Talking about the power of slow —the fashionable phrase is —with two people who really know about the sport, though, has totally changed the way I feel about my pace. Here, right now, I’ve decided to come out as a plodder. The problem is twofold. First,. Even the treadmill is like a small, raised stage in the gym and when running outdoors, you’re on display to the world. Second, unlike weights or or rugby, pace is a very fair measure. Me,,, and that really old man who passed me the other day all have the same chance to move ourselves through space. That doesn’t apply to a bench press or a free-kick, where size and talent make comparisons impossible. is a middle-distance runner and two-time European medalist who has competed at the and World Championships. Talking to Giles, a man who is beyond question very fast, is profoundly calming. It turns out that most of the time, his training comprises slow running. He enjoys that enormously. “People can be fixated on times, distances and all the rest of it, but there is a beauty in running slow,” he tells offering up a decent explanation of why it's important to take the term sexy pace seriously. ""I ran today and I was basically almost. There’s a place for slow running in an elite athlete’s training plan because slow running is where you build your foundations.” splits about 80-20 in favor of slow runs. “The 20 percent is so hard you have to do the 80 percent slow,” he says. Even as an international competitor, he is able to find the mindful pleasure in moving at a gentle pace. “This morning I went for a run and I didn’t even bother. I’m in St. Moritz currently and it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. I just embraced what was happening around me. A slow run is my time to de-stress.” Running slowly inevitably leads to, which is why elite athletes spend so much time at a fraction of their maximum effort. “The quicker you’re running the more likely you are to be exposed to an injury, the faster you run the more stress you put through your joints. Fewer injuries means more consistency and more consistency will inevitably make you go faster. Run slow to run fast,” Giles adds. For me, at its best, running is a form of mobile. At the risk of sounding like someone who talks to trees, there is nothing like a comfortable 10k through a rural setting to remind you being alive is really excellent. Until that is, a senior citizen overtakes you. How does Giles feel when someone glides by at a faster pace when he’s enjoying the landscape? “My ego isn’t big enough. I just think good luck to them. My competitiveness is saved for the track and it’s like an on-off switch. Let them go. Let them do it.” At the other end of the spectrum to the international athlete is the world of the weekend runner, the novice with their first mile in sight. Gary House runs the, an online coaching company, and hosts the. He has helped hundreds of amateur runners and is perfectly placed to understand the shame around slow running. “I had one particular guy who was running around the local supermarket car park to try and break a mile, but he’d only do it at 11 at night when there was no one there and the lights were off.” House believes school often casts a long shadow into adult life. “I remember enjoying cross-country, but the kids who genetically weren’t able to compete at that age were just outcasts. People think of running at school as a bad experience. They remember fitter kids laughing at them.” He also suspects that all the information we have about our own performance isn’t helping. “All that data from our can be self-limiting. Runs get uploaded to social media and it’s a complete minefield. You compare yourself to everyone in your area and you’re scared to run slow.” For someone looking to start running and embrace the joy of the amble, House suggests alternating walking with running. “Try going for a walk every day and add in running every other day. Walk for an hour on the run day and add in some running sections—say five minutes—and then increase that. I work with a lot of rugby players. They often can’t run at first, but are soon up to 45 minutes in that hour.” As I write, I’m about to head out. I will run carefree. I will not look at my heart rate or my timing splits. I will not share my run on and when octogenarians bounce effortlessly past me. I will graciously wave them on. Let’s do this, at a pace that feels comfortable."
"We've all been there: we've for months and want to know how to build muscle, but we feel stagnant and we don't break our personal records. If this is the case for you, maybe you should consider starting a week of deloading. When we have certain goals in the gym, we may feel like we have to go every day, challenging ourselves and ending up exhausted after each session. But we tend to forget that by going home and resting. That's why all and tirelessly stress the importance of adequate rest. If we find our progress stagnating, perhaps it's time to rethink our strategy. In all, athletes know that they need times to rest completely or reduce the level and intensity of their training. So why don't we do the same with the gym? Why don't we assume that also requires such periods? This is where the so-called deload week comes into play. It's very simple. It consists of scheduling a week every so often in which we reduce the intensity or volume of our, to allow our body to recover optimally between sessions. We can do this by reducing the number of sets per exercise, or lifting a lower amount of weight than we are used to. Take this as an opportunity to boost progress and prepare for the next stage of your fitness journey. With a deload week, your body will also adapt to training, reducing the. When training, we increase our strength and performance. But, at the same time, we also deal with, which can eventually lead to the type of extreme fatigue that ends up affecting our performance negatively. It's simple: if we are permanently tired, we will not be able to make progress in our training. When we take that deload week, fatigue and tiredness are reduced, and we will begin to see the results of our effort, motivating us to continue working toward our goals. There are three different methods and, in the end, you will have to choose the one that best suits your lifestyle and needs. This is the simplest. Don't lift weights for a full week, or do any other type of. It is useful to make an active recovery and improve circulation in the muscles while doing this. Stretching or walking is typically a good way to do that. Through this method, we decrease the training volume but maintain a high intensity. In short: continue to lift large amounts of weight, but do half as many sets. This is perhaps the most popular method. Moderately reduce the volume intensity of training. Lift less weight and eliminate one or two sets per exercise. If you usually do three or four sets, move to two or three. Also lighten the load a little bit: if, for example, you usually do 20 pounds for shoulder presses, do 10 or 15 pounds instead. Basically it is a week in which training continues as normal, but with a lighter approach. There are two approaches. From the proactive approach, schedule a deload week every four to eight weeks. From the reactive approach, follow an intuitive perspective and take a deload week every time you feel like you need it, perhaps because you haven't been recovering properly after. You can also include it during a period between finishing a training program and starting another one. Reaching that moment when it seems impossible to after months of training can be frustrating. With a week of deloading, you will surely find the energy to continue moving forward, leaving all frustration behind."
"This is your reminder that the best men's dress pants aren’t just for. While they’re right at home with a matching and, or, dress pants have emerged from their formal shells ready to live their fullest fashion lives. So break out of the old-fashioned mindset and wear them not only to your job interview or big meetings, and bust them out whenever and wherever you damn-well please. All you need to do is to treat them like every other pant in your closet, just another tool in your fashionable chest to build the hardest fits you can. But if you have no idea where to even begin, don’t worry. We’ve done the dirty work and surveyed the dress pant landscape, worn dozens and dozens of options, and came up with our favorite pairs across every price point and style. A whole world of proper trousers awaits you, and we’ve selected 11 of the finest men’s dress pants to get you started. J.Crew J.Crew Italian wool \| classic rise, relaxed leg \| double reverse pleat \| finished cuff If you want the simple answer, it’s this: J.Crew. They’ve been a stalwart for decades and, in its current era under fashion royalty Brendon Babenzien, continue to further cement its rightful place in the annals of menswear. The brand’s relaxed-fit trousers are the perfect all-around trousers for most people and have a slew of great details that prove why J.Crew remains a go-to. An after-dinner split back waist, curtain lining, extended tab, reverse pleats, and a vintage-leaning coin pocket make these a treat for the wearer and innocent bystanders. J.Crew’s great at a lot of things, but one of the most delightful things about the preppy American staple is its ability to score high-quality fabrics from storied mills. While the pair we tested was made from a luscious flannel from Italy’s Vitale Barberis Canonico mill, J.Crew makes other versions of the full-cut pants using fabric from Loro Piana and Baird McNutt. For just around $250 (and even less on sale), there’s almost no touching them. Berle Nordstrom Super 110s wool \| Classic \| Double reverse pleat \| Unfinished If you want a stand-up pair of dress pants without getting caught up in the minutiae of tailoring (and the price tags that can come with), you’d best look for something that maximizes on value and quality. Whether it’s your first pair of big boy pants or not, Berle’s line of straightforward trousers hits the mark in so many ways. The label has been slinging trou for more than 80 years and continue to provide a product as solid as it is affordable. Each pair uses quality wool spun into classic materials like gabardine and twill, with traditional details. They won’t cause any of the menswear snobs to swoon, but they also won’t draw negative attention. Todd Snyder Todd Snyder 100% wool, Italian gabardine \| High-rise, wide-leg \| Double pleats \| Finished Once you’ve graduated from your first pair of nice dress pants, the sky’s the limit. And though there are plenty of fine dress pants to add to your budding collection, we think Todd Snyder’s Wythe trousers are the most logical next step. They’re crafted from a four-ply wool Italian gabardine material that’s both airy yet dense, resulting in an incredibly handsome drape that would make Cary Grant swoon. The high rise is complemented by and extended tab and double reverse pleats, a generous thigh and straight leg. We love that they come in multiple inseam lengths for convenience. But if you want to get even more granular, you might still need to take them to the tailor. Buck Mason Buck Mason 7.7 oz. Italian cotton twill \| Classic, mid-rise, straight leg \| Flat front \| Unfinished When the ask is a pair of dress pants that’ll work in as many situations as possible, there are several criteria it should meet: a timeless, versatile colorway; a classic silhouette; and a fabric that can be comfortably worn all year round. For that, we like Buck Mason’s Graduate Pants. The fabric is an Italian cotton twill that has a smooth hand and structured feel to it. The cut is a classic mid-rise with a straight leg and comes with an unfinished hem for easy tailoring. What we love about these trousers is that they can stand up to most dressy situations with a well-pressed crease and the proper accoutrements, but it can also be almost as relaxed as your daily pair of jeans if you embrace the inevitable wrinkles. That said, if you’re looking for some dress pants to wear for a certified black-tie situation, we wouldn’t recommend these. Mfpen Mr Porter 100% wool \| Mid-rise, wide-leg \| Single pleat \| Finished Breaking into the officewear niche ain’t easy, especially when you’ve got a gang of OGs defending their posts. But Mfpen’s strolled into the corporate HQ with a fresh outlook on the stuffy suit—and have gained the approval of the menswear elite. The Copenhagen-based label’s billowy and slouchy suiting lies somewhere between ‘80s Armani and your big brother’s hand-me-downs in the best way possible. It’s the kind of suit you wear to skate by the office dress code while peeving your boss. And if you’re not ready to dive into the deep end of anti-corporate corporate wear, Mfpen’s Service trousers are a great place to test the waters. They’re made of a wonderful Barathea weave wool fabric whose elegant drape belies its airy feel, cut into a mid-rise, wide-leg fit. Drake's Drake's 100% wool \| mid-rise, straight leg \| single pleats \| unfinished From the quality to the art direction, Drake’s has been the go-to label for menswear bros for years. With details like Italian merino wool twill, an after-dinner split, curtained waist, and French bearer button, it’s chock full of tasty little details that make tailoring nerds’ ears perk up. Saint Laurent Saint Laurent 100% cashmere \| Wide, wide leg \| Single pleat \| finished cuff Sometimes, dress pants can be ultra-flashy—the kind of pants you wear to cut a rug at your local discotech or to strut your stuff down the red carpet (a common occurrence for so many of us, clearly). So if you’re looking for some swanky trousers to paint the town red or color your friends green with envy, Saint Laurent’s 90’s pants will fit the bill. They fit ultra high on the waist with sharp pleats, a relaxed top block and arrow-straight legs leading to a cuff. What you get is a pair of glossy, swaggering trousers that’ll have you feeling like David Bowie. All that’s left is to pair it with your glitziest shoes and your sexiest button-up. Banana Republic Banana Republic Spier & Mackay Spier & Mackay Rota The Armoury Thom Browne Nordstrom Ask any menswear nerd and they’ll agree that there’s an art to a well-made pair of dress pants. Of course, the main tenets come down to materials, construction, and fit. But dissecting the minute details can be a chore, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. For materials, seasonality is crucial to consider. Wool gabardines will be great options for three-season wear while cotton twills and linens are suited more for spring and summer. Going into winter, look for heavier fabrics like Donegal, flannel, and tweed. Respected and storied fabric mills are always an easy jumping off point. Some of these include Loro Piana, Vitale Barberis Canonico, and Harris Tweed. Derek Guy, fashion writer and founder of, says to try and opt for the heaviest weight you can comfortable wear, regardless of the season. “Around 12–14 oz. is a good starting place. Lighter fabrics tend to lose their shape and don’t drape as cleanly, which can make the trousers look flimsy.” The web of microscopic details is easy to get caught up in, but Guy says there’s an easy way to check for quality. “But the real giveaway? Inlay—or more often, the lack of it.” The inlay is the extra fabric located at the seat and side seams of the pant and allows for easy alterations. “When companies are working with tight margins,” he says, “inlay is one of the first things they cut. High-end makers, on the other hand, leave generous inlay as a sign of quality—and as a practical gesture for alterations down the line.” The built-in leeway to alter a pair of dress pants is important in dialing in a proper fit. Of course, taking advantage of the inlay can only get you so far, but Guy says when you’re looking for the right fit, it’s not so complicated. “Fit refers to a narrow set of technical criteria, and the guiding principle is simple: the trousers should hang cleanly.” It helps to check yourself out in a three-way mirror, if possible. Guy says to look for any areas where the clean lines of the drape are disrupted—flaring at the pockets, ripples at the legs, or fabric catching at the calves. Flared pockets usually means there’s not enough room through the hips or across the lap. If the back rise is too long, that can cause ripples at the back of the legs. And if the fabric is catching at the back of the legs, that’s a sign that the pants are too slim. Tailors should be able to work within reason to alter a pair of dress pants to your taste, but “as a general rule,” Guy says, “the less you need to alter, the better the result will be.” Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories:,, and. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (.)"
"Shorts season is upon us, which means you’re running out of time to make it look like you’ve been paying as much attention to your legs as you have your. Lucky for you, it’s not too late. ""There's more muscle tissue in the legs than there is in the upper body, so we can generally expect faster results with the legs than with the upper body,” says Luke Carlson, founder and CEO of. Just one thing. While kickstarting your leg development can be relatively straightforward, it shouldn’t be too easy. “The legs are not going to develop unless you put a lot of effort and intensity into it,” says Eddie Baruta, global head of gym floor personal training at in Los Angeles. “The good news is, most guys haven't trained their legs very intensely, so there's a wonderful opportunity to really, really add some muscle to the legs,"" says Carlson. “The delta between where you currently are and your potential is huge."" Here, Carlson and Baruta break down their favorite leg exercises to in a hurry. Make the leg press your first stop, says Carlson. The exercise targets the quads and hamstrings—two of the biggest muscles in your legs—as well as the glutes. There are two reasons why Carlson recommends the leg press over the barbell squat, despite the two movements hitting similar muscles. First, the leg press removes your lower back from the equation, allowing you to zero in on your legs. “When you barbell squat, your lower back is always going to be weaker than your powerful quads and glutes,” he says. “So, when you reach fatigue, you're really fatiguing because your lower back is the weak link.” The leg press also sidesteps spinal compression, a necessary evil inherent to traditional squat variations. “If you put a barbell on your back, you are vertically compressing the spinal column. It's not a matter of having good form, it's just what it is; it's the nature of the exercise, and that can be dangerous long term,” he says. “The beauty of the leg press is that we don't have to vertically compress the spine.” If your gym doesn’t have a leg press, see if there’s a hack squat machine. Like the leg press, the hack squat supports your lower back, allowing you to place all of your focus on your legs. “A hack squat is going to have a little bit more compression on the spine, but I think it's a decent substitution,” says Carlson. If your gym doesn’t have a leg press or a hack squat, don’t worry. The humble walking lunge is one of the best exercises you can do to make your legs pop in shorts, says Carlson. “When we're looking at the recruitment of motor units and muscle fibers, the lunge is a great way to recruit the quads, the hamstrings, and the glutes,” he says. “You might not have a leg press in your gym, but everybody can do a lunge.” In fact, even if you do have access to a leg press, Carlson recommends doing lunges anyway, alternating between the two exercises weekly. In addition to helping you bulk up your legs, walking lunges are also great for building, evening out imbalances in your legs, and shoring up your lower-body strength and stability. Carlson recommends making sure you have around 10–30 yards of distance to work with. If limited space makes that a challenge, or impossible, you can adjust your weights to compensate. “There’s nothing wrong with using lighter weights and covering a longer distance, or using much heavier weights and covering a shorter distance,” he says. Now we’ll move on to some isolation work to really sharpen things up, starting with the exercise most likely to help you turn heads this summer. “I would say the leg extension is the most underrated exercise for the lower body,” says Carlson. “We're working the entire quad, but what we're also hitting that we don't hit with a leg press or a squat is the vastus medialis oblique.” Also known as the VMO, that’s the coveted teardrop-shaped muscle that sits on your lower inner thigh, just above the knee. In terms of enviable muscle definition, well-developed VMOs are right up there with chiseled six-pack abs, and they’re the leg muscles most likely to jump out in your photos this summer. “It’s going to be visible in shorts,” says Carlson. “As you move toward extension, you want to have your toes pointing away from you,” says Carlson. “The hamstring is a biarticular muscle, meaning it crosses the knee joint, but it also crosses the hip joint. So if you have your toes pulled back, you're putting a stretch on the hamstring, which prevents the quadriceps from fully contracting. It doesn't change what the quadriceps is doing, but the hamstring just says, ‘We can't be lengthened in two positions.’ So you have to point the toes forward so you can essentially, for lack of a better term, relax the hamstring so the quadriceps can do what it really needs to do.” The leg curl is a very similar setup to the leg extension, except now you’re curling your legs beneath you instead of extending them out ahead. (Some machines will even allow you to do both.) As a result of this flip, you’re now activating the muscles on the back of the leg. In a way, the leg curl is like a biceps curl for your hamstrings—and you wouldn’t skip curls right before summer, would you? The hamstrings, of course, are one of the largest and most consequential muscle groups in your lower body, and, beyond offering huge potential for muscle growth and strength gains, they can also play an enormous role in athletic performance, balance, and injury prevention. “The leg curl is just a can’t-miss exercise,” says Carlson. “It's a critical, critical exercise for developing and isolating the hamstrings.” If you don’t have access to a leg curl machine, opt for a stiff-leg deadlift instead. “A stiff-leg deadlift works really well for the hamstrings, and you can do it with dumbbells, a straight bar, a trap bar—whatever's available,” says Baruta. Just make sure you’re sending your hips backwards on the way down, and then focusing on contracting your hamstrings to drive your hips forward when you’re coming back up, he says. And keep the weight as close to your shins as possible throughout. Moving below the knee, Carlson and Baruta both agree that cultivating impressive calves is all about a one-two combo of the straight-leg and seated calf raise. The former targets the medial and lateral heads of the prominent gastrocnemius muscle. “It’s the huge calf muscle that we think about. It's what's most visible,” says Carlson. You can do this one on a standing or other straight-leg calf raise machine—probably the simplest option—but you can also do it just standing on a step (on either one leg or two) while holding a dumbbell or wearing a weighted vest. You can even do a straight-leg calf raise on a leg press machine, says Carlson. “The key is that you're doing a calf exercise. And when I say ‘straight leg,’ there should actually be a tiny bend in your knee."" If you’re using a dumbbell to do your straight-leg calf raises, Baruta has a handy tip to help you squeeze out a few more reps. “As you move to the top position [of the rep] where you're weaker, you can actually move the dumbbell forward, which changes the resistance and makes it slightly easier,” he says. “It’s like putting more weight at the bottom, less weight at the top.” The straight-leg and seated calf raise machines might seem to do the same thing, but these exercises target entirely different muscles almost exclusively. The seated calf raise is designed to engage the soleus—the deeper of the two calf muscles, located right behind the gastrocnemius. “The soleus is still visible when you're wearing a pair of shorts, so it's worth it to develop both muscles,” says Carlson. “By doing both of these, we're maximizing the aesthetic appearance of the calf.” The soleus only activates with a bent knee, hence the need for a separate piece of equipment. “You can't hit the soleus if your legs are straight,” says Carlson For the seated calf raise—and most of the exercises on this list—Baruta and Carlson prefer machines over free weights, which allow you to “focus more on the effort,” per Baruta. While you could do seated calf raises with a pair of dumbbells, a step, and a bench, the machine version is going to give you greater stability and less to worry about in terms of technique."
"Playing the world’s favorite sport means that, culinarily, Tim Ream has been there and done that. The 37-year-old defender has played for the United States Men’s National Team for 11 years, sampling the local fares across various countries where the stars and stripes have played. But for over a decade, he also played for clubs in England, where the fried poultry wasn’t up to his American standards. Starting with Bolton Wanderers—a historic team in Northwest England, and later Fulham FC, who play in West London—Ream spent 13 seasons across the pond, learning all about British cuisine. Now a member of Charlotte FC, where more often than not he’s playing the full 90 minutes, Ream is staying away from the South’s favorite breakfast chain. Instead, he’s all about superfoods like bananas and avocados, and also keeps a close eye on all the finicky leg muscles that often cause injury. The St. Louis native was one of three guys on the 2022 U.S. World Cup team to play every second of every game, a testament to the diligent work he’s done on his body over the years. According to him, things like wheat pasta, regular strength training, and hydration are to thank. I don't know that it was consciously done. I was not a big, I was more of, let's stay in and recover because we've just played a game and make sure that I'm ready. In those days, you played on a Friday and then you played on a Sunday. For me it was like, okay, what can I do to best recover? The one thing I always stayed away from was sodas. For whatever reason, I just knew that that wasn't going to help me in the long run. That's kind of always been stuck in my head. I would stay away from any type of super sugary soda-type drinks. I knew I wanted to play as many games as possible. I wanted to contribute as well as I possibly could. I prioritized recovery, eating the right foods, eating and drinking good things. At the time it was mostly water, a few hydration drinks that started to come into play. I think from that point forward—realizing that I felt better than the guys next to me who weren't doing those things—that really stuck with me. I don’t know if it was team dad. I'd definitely say I like to be a good example to everybody, because I've always felt like there's someone watching. Even when there's not someone watching, are you still doing the right things? If you can do it during those hard times when nobody's watching, you're going to be in a much better position going forward. I remember doing a lot of carbs and protein, making sure that I was always doing a pasta and a chicken, or a pasta and a fish of some sort, or pasta and a meat—trying to always do that as a pre-match meal, even before college. As I got older, I realized that you can add things in and do other sources of food and drink to help you. You figure out what works, you figure out what doesn't. Just playing with different things that were probably not available to me as a younger player or in college, but when you get to the professional ranks, these things now all of a sudden become available. What are you going to do to give you that little extra edge, one extra sprint that you need in the last minute of play? Adding and subtracting as you go along has always been my thing. I'm not so stubborn that I'm stuck in my ways. I will try something if somebody comes to me within the team or the high performance staff and says, “This is going to help you.” No, I don't think so. I have to give my wife credit on this one. I'm pretty good about trying a lot of things and all types of cuisine, all types of food. Growing up in St. Louis, you don't have a whole lot of worldly food options. If you do, you're looking at these little shops and you're like, I might be getting sick after I eat that, so let's not go there. But yeah, my wife opened my eyes to a lot of different types of food. It used to be, like I said, pasta and chicken. I've changed that now to any type of pasta—I try to do wheat pasta if I can—and then I put on some type of sauce. Whether it's just plain marinara, sometimes we have beef bolognese, and then I'll throw in any type of white fish. It used to be salmon, but recently it's been any type of white fish. And then throw in some avocado. About 45 minutes later, I'll take down a banana. I'm ready to go from that point on. No, I’d say we split. I guess it just depends on who had the better day. I think we're no different than everybody else. We have that million-dollar question when we wake up or the day before: “Okay, what are we doing for dinner?” And it's like text messages back and forth throughout the morning to try to figure out what we're going to make that night. We're foodies. We love trying new things. And again, she helped me expand my palate from the time we were about 20, 21. We're definitely cooking meals in. Especially now that we've come back [to America], we've found the transition of the food quite challenging coming from Europe back to the US. I have a little bit. It's funny you asked this because I think every day, [my wife] and I, we're trying to follow different people on social media. Different restaurants pop up, different types of food pop up. On Instagram, I’ll send her a little DM. There's so many different places. I think we have a list of about 50 now, and we've made it to maybe four. That's the struggle with having three kids who are in sports. We don't get a huge amount of time. So we'll make our way through. No. I’d rather make breakfast. I gotta be honest. I'd rather wake up and make the kids bacon, sausage, or make pancakes. Not frozen, just doing our own thing. Making our own breakfast sandwiches is always something that I enjoy. My kids don't enjoy it as much. You know what? When we first moved, we were not ready. Thankfully, we had another [American] guy, Stu Holden, who was actually already at Bolton. We latched on with him and got introduced to a bunch of places. I think the one thing that was really surprising was how much Indian food was in and around Bolton. It is amazing. To this day, I'm so glad that we went. I would've never ever, ever gotten into Indian without moving there. The other thing was Sunday roast. You do either a beef, like a rib roast, or we've changed it to doing a full, big chicken. Instead of throwing a turkey in, you throw a chicken and cook it for three to four hours. My kids love it. It's like the one thing we can all agree on. The effort and the prep is probably the hardest part, but once you get past that, it's okay. Everything just goes in the oven and off you go. You can just hang out and enjoy each other's company. At the end of it, you sit down. And you actually have to sit down—it's not like we're all going eight million different places. It's just a nice gathering. Yeah! That was another thing. The number of times we ever had fast food, in the 13 years that we were there, you could probably count on two hands. It's just not as prevalent. At the same time, you realize that, from a young age, that fast food isn't going to help you get to where you want to be professionally anyway. When we travel, we try to eat as local as we can. We try the local wines, we do the local, traditional foods, and that's the way we love to do things. It's your opportunity to be there and immerse yourself into where you are instead of just falling back on what you know and what you’re comfortable with. Yeah, it's actually great because we travel with a chef. They will always do some type of traditional local cuisine for us. They'll rotate a few things in, but we'll have at least one dinner in the hotel that's local, and then we'll try to do a team dinner out at a local restaurant, which is always nice. You do see the guys who struggle with it a bit. They're like, “I want what I know.” Usually, I'd say nine times out of ten, the food is really, really good. Man, I'd say when we went down to El Salvador. Our chef came with us, but they had the local chef making us everything. They brought out the pupusas; those were unbelievable. I don't think anybody touched anything else that was up there that afternoon for lunch. Guys were going up and grabbing them by the handfuls. They were that good. The short answer is yes. The long answer is, your habits start young. If you think you're going to get to 32, 33, 34 and start to try to create new habits, it's probably already too late. This goes back to St. Louis—making sure that you're in the gym, you're doing the different strength programs. It evolves over the course of many, many years. I had a back injury a few years ago. Basically from that point forward, they said I couldn't load anything weight-wise on my back, so I've had to change to just using dumbbells. Then about five years ago, I started doing Pilates. I realized that doing Pilates, you're getting the same kind of strength exercises and you can hit the same muscle groups. But a lot of times, the injuries that happen come from a weak core, or weak muscle groups. Pilates actually was strengthening me—hamstrings, quads, glutes. Whenever they were stretched to the max, but I was strengthening them while they were stretched out, I found that I got fewer small injuries. The small injuries end up adding up and causing a big injury, so Pilates has been a big one for me that I've added over the years. [I’m] also maintaining the normal strength training in the gym, but supplementing that with Pilates, and maybe dialing back the actual strength in the gym. Doing one or two sets of something instead of three, and then supplementing the Pilates the day after, that’s been a game changer for me over the past four or five years. Honestly, it blows my mind. For me, it's about better breathing and better cues on when I'm tensing up and doing something wrong. But I still can't quite wrap my head around how hard it truly is. I can run for an hour and not be sweating this much, and you put me on the reformer and I am covered. Ooh, I'll tell you what. I’m a sucker for good chicken wings. You couldn’t really get those in England. Those are tough to find. I know that's not unhealthy, but compared to everything else I eat, yeah. But in the offseason when you get older, you can't really take too much time off. It's a week, and then I'm back on the train, making sure that I'm coming back as close to in-shape as I possibly can. Never. Maybe I should, but I’ve kind of figured out that my body is my body. It runs on what it runs on. Somebody else who's 37, 38, they're different. Their physiological build is going to be different to mine, so I may as well figure out what works for me and just run with it instead of trying to ask somebody else what works for them. It may completely throw me off., "
"Ian Karmel eats a lot of apples nowadays. In fact, he was munching on one during our interview. Thanks in part to the fruit, the comedian, author, and former co-head writer of looks much different than he did at his peak weight, when he was 420 pounds. His book —which Karmel wrote with his sister, Alisa, who has a master’s in nutrition and doctorate in psychology—details everything from how the character Fat Bastard mortified America’s chubby youth to why chronically overweight children often die prematurely as adults. Karmel met and married his wife, the author and erstwhile contributor, while on his weight-loss journey, and the birth of their first child has focused his attention. Karmel, whose recent work includes a critically acclaimed and has headed the popular podcast since 2016, is clear that there is no right or wrong way to drop poundage. Whether you opt for strict diets, reach for, or both, Karmel believes there’s no shame in wanting to be alive for a few extra sunrises. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. There were a few portions that were really difficult to go back into. A lot of the childhood bullying, a lot of the judgment, and on top of that, it was a lot of the feelings. Being in middle school and feeling stretch marks appear on my arms and how apocalyptic that felt. You're like, ! And you find out they're forever and ever. I mean, I still got them. That, in a way, is kind of cool. I got these when I was 12. Fudge. When you're going through those feelings, you are you, you're the only you. Now that I'm a full-grown adult, I look back and I'm like, that was a 12-year-old. I didn't have a son when I wrote the book. Now that I have a son who has my genetic makeup, thinking about him going through that stuff—hopefully he won't have to—but it really puts it in perspective how vulnerable you are as a kid. Luckily I had so many family members who loved me and supported me and couldn't have been better on that front. The other thing that was really hard was sort of revisiting how fucked up I was in for such a long time—both in terms of how I treated myself and how I let myself be treated—but also in the way that I treated women, which was just very flippant—not opening myself up, and using women for sex as a way to validate myself as a human being. Revisiting that was like, ""Oh, you thought of yourself as the underdog for so long."" And you are in many ways the underdog. You can't conceive of yourself as anything but that in any situation. Being on the other side of it and looking back, I was being a shithead. I was being really bad and hurting people's feelings. I wasn't doing anything illegal, obviously, or anything like that. But this notion of yourself that was constructed both through the way people treated you in society, but also primarily through a way that you thought of yourself—I think you see it a lot with people. I mean, this is none of my business, but when that Jonah Hill thing happened with that surfer girlfriend and him trying to be very controlling, everybody was jumping on that story. I didn't ever do anything like that, but I recognized that pattern of behavior. Karmel in 2019 on the set of Especially when you get with somebody who's classically beautiful, the stories you tell yourself about those people the entire time that you don't have access to them, when you're a fat kid and they're having their that you're not invited to—as you get older you carry those stories with you. Even when you're the person at those parties with them, or when you're the person dating them, you still can't shake it. It takes a lot of work to shake that conception of yourself, and it sets up a lot of really damaging relationships a lot of the time. So, it was hard to go back and revisit some of those things and be like, “Man, there were people I really wish I would've treated better when I was in the thick of it.” I think it would've been nice for them, and it would've been better for myself as well. It can make them less attractive sometimes! Yeah. There's that trap you get stuck in. People say, “It takes work.” It takes, and it takes a lot of being actively aware. It's a lot like eating in a lot of ways. When you find yourself spiraling, a lot of what therapy and self-examination can do is—it doesn't stop that from happening, but it does let you recognize it. Maybe it gives you some tools to try to slam on the brakes a little bit. If you can stop it and call it out, that doesn't make it go away. It's like when you're standing in front of a fridge eating your sixth piece of pizza without having tasted it. But if you have the tools to be like, …You know what I mean? Yeah, put it in motion, but stop before it's a full-blown feeding frenzy. That was my last straw. It was the entire event. What struck me after looking back on it, was that I was so fucked up in the head and so desperate to be not one of fat people, quote unquote. I could never accept myself as who I was. I was like, I have a job. I dress well. I'm not like other fat people. I want the paramedics to be like, ""No, I didn't even notice he was fat.” It was another act of apologizing for myself. It turned out to be a panic attack, but panic attacks and heart attacks apparently feel very similar at first—which is fucked up and not a thing that makes you have less panic attacks, by the way. In that moment when I realized I wasn't having a heart attack, I went back upstairs and I scheduled a telehealth appointment. I was describing to them what happened and they were like, ""Okay, so we do have a walk-in clinic that we'd like you to come into right now."" I went into that and they told me I had a blood pressure—I don't remember the second number—but I remember the first number started with a two. It was like 200 something over blank. That's really high. Healthy range, as I have since learned, is somewhere in the 100 up to 130 range. I called my mom, who's a nurse, and she couldn't even really hide the panic in her voice. They gave me an IV to get my blood pressure down. What's crazy is, I had already started losing weight! I had already begun the thing I ended up losing 200 pounds doing. But I didn't really realize that. What seems like such common knowledge, I think, really gets taken for granted by the people who know it. I didn't know any of that shit, really. It's green! In the ‘90s, the entire approach to health food was make the box green. You're like, ""Oh, I'm going to live forever."" You might as well be pouring fucking foie gras onto your salad at that point. It's that bad for you. But I didn't know any of that stuff, man. I got food delivery, [which is] still a thing I do to this day. I have prepared meals delivered to my house. It sounds bougie. It's not that expensive. Frankly, it's not more expensive than groceries right now. I was just eating that. I was supplementing it with a lot of almond butter, which you should look at the calories on. Then a lot of beef jerky, which is protein, but it’s like a salt lick. Protein for the boys, but also sodium for the boys. I had already started losing weight and trying to be more health conscious, but the night I clocked that 200 blood pressure, I was completely unmedicated and I had drank for the first time in six months. I drank and I ate a bunch of chicken wings. After that I started regularly going to a doctor. I got on blood pressure medication. I had a doctor tell me they were going to do bariatric surgery. That's the fait accompli. I sort of took that as—not a challenge—like, I think I can do this without bariatric surgery. Listen, there's so much fucking shame and judgment and all this stuff coming from people who have never really experienced food noise or the feeling of puking so you can eat more. You know what I mean? The people who've never had these feelings that I've dealt with my entire life. My entire concept when it comes to losing weight is: Anything that helps you stick around the planet for longer so you can spend more time with your friends, your family, you can have. If there's a thing that gives you more of that, I'm for it, man. I don't care. I lost 200 pounds “the right way.” To hell with it, dude. It pisses me off the way people who have never experienced it are so judgmental about it. If you talk to anyone who's done it “the right way” or who has tried to do it “the right way”—which is every fat person on earth, and I still call myself a fat person—there is not one fat person you'll talk to who's like, “I prefer it. I love having people look at me like I'm some monstrosity who just got let off a prison bus. I actually enjoy having people who work on commission ignore me when I walk into a Nordstrom.” None of us like the way that society treats us. Even with fat liberation and all that stuff, there's still a lot of self-judgment. That judgment shit, they can keep it to themselves. Just realize that you don't know what that life is like. And none of us, when we plumb how we really feel about the world, give a fuck what you think. Well, first when I talk about this, I want to be very, very upfront and realistic about the circumstances that surrounded me being able to lose 200 pounds. I think this is important and germane, so to anyone reading this: I was single, no kid, really good income, steady job during lockdown. I didn't have a partner for at least the first 10 months of it. So, I didn't have anyone I was letting down if I didn't want to get pizza. I didn't have any kids who were giving me weird sleep hours. I didn't have the temptation of going out to the bar or going out to a restaurant with friends. It was not easy, but some of the big mitigating factors were taken off the table for me. The other thing was I had a food delivery system. Again, I don't know what people's finances are, but it was like 200-something dollars a week. I know that seems expensive, but if you add up, you get to 200 pretty quick. What it was was intermittent fasting. At noon, I would eat a meal that was a protein and a vegetable. That would vary from, like, chicken breast and green beans, or a tuna salad, or a spaghetti squash and turkey meatballs. It's honestly really delicious. The one I use is called Sunfare, which I think is just in LA. Factor is one of the places that does it nationally. You can do it, it's in range. I think they sponsor my podcast, so if you mention them, caveat it. But I'm just saying there are places that do this even if you live in Poughkeepsie. Protein and vegetable meal at noon, then around 2:00 you would eat a piece of fruit, then at 4:00 you would have another little vegetable thing, which was like a tray of cauliflower or a little side salad or whatever. At 6:00 you'd have another protein and vegetable meal, then at eight you'd have another piece of fruit, and that was it. Then you would go to bed. I did that and I walked 10,000 steps a day. The weight really, really flew off. It took a while for it to get going, but once it did, it really, really, really melted off. I was very strict. I was taking my blood pressure every day, and I was having panic attacks because of it. That sort of fear was also a motivating factor—wanting to have healthier numbers and everything. So, that was how I ate during that period. Since then I met my wife, and she's an excellent baker. The world opened back up and I wanted to go to restaurants again. I wanted to live my life a little bit more. I remember very specifically going out to dinner with my wife and two of her friends when I was still on this Sunfare thing in a very strict way, just sitting there and watching them eat chicken parmesan. I didn't eat. I drank hot tea and wanted to put my hand in the candle just so I could feel something that wasn't how bad I wanted to eat that chicken parmesan. Dude, it looked so good. It's like a visceral sense memory. Now I've kind of tried to build a more sustainable life for myself. I do go out to eat every now and then, and I've gained a little bit of weight back. It fluctuates, especially when I had my kid, I gained quite a bit back. I just really try to be more aware of it and a little bit more forgiving of myself. Also for the last month and a half I've been on a Tirzepatide, which I also want to be upfront about. It’s one of the Zepbound kind of things.. Now I'm going cold turkey. Exactly. It's going to be crazy. Part of the reason why I started that Tirzepatide was because my son was born and my weight was steady ballooning up. I was sleeping two hours a night and working on the Golden Globes and then the Oscars and then the Mark Twain Prize. I had all these pretty intensive gigs back to back to back to back. I was finding myself eating too many Larabars. I had this attachment to doing it “the right way,” not that I held anyone else to that standard. But to myself, because I lost 200 pounds just with discipline and all those other things, I was like, “You can do it again.” What? Am I going to cling on to this perception of myself at the cost of not seeing my son graduate? Your priorities really do reshuffle. I was like,. I would inject it on a big screen at the in front of a full house if that meant I got to spend a few more days with my kid in my life. I think people might go to it! It's the only way I can ever sell that many tickets. So, I started that about a month and a half ago, and it's been a miracle in terms of food noise. The work I do is very stressful for how silly it is. But I could get a feeling of satisfaction from eating a jerky stick or eating a Larabar that felt the same as writing a joke that worked well. You know what I mean? You're getting this feeling of, I need something and now I have it. If you're struggling to break a joke or to break a story or whatever, you'll find yourself stress eating. I think it gives you the same hit of satisfaction. The shot has taken that away, which has been really amazing for me. It takes away the torturous aspects, and it takes away those feeding frenzies I would go on when I would fail. Fail is the wrong word, but when I would succumb to the stress in a moment of weakness. That was the last thing I added to the pile. Before that, I work out. I try to do at least 30 to 45 minutes of cardio where I get my heart [rate] above 150 for a full half hour. I go to the gym five days a week. You know what the big difference for me was? I joined a gym I can walk to. The whole idea of getting in the car and finding parking—and in LA often paying for parking—I took away as many hurdles as I could. There’s a gym that’s like a 25-minute walk from me. Perfect. It's podcast time. I also drink so much water, because the other thing I feel with cravings is you have to try telling them no in as many different ways as you can. Throw whatever you can at them. Oftentimes if I just, I'm actually not hungry, which is such a dumb guy thing. Dumb guy, dude. I am a fucking, Sublime-listening, bonafide dumb guy. I slam water in the morning. I slam water in the afternoon. I still eat protein and vegetables as much as I can. I eat a lot of apples. I'm probably like a three to four apples a day guy. Doctors would tell you to try to keep it to two, but listen, it's that or lasagna. So I'm doing the apples. And I love blueberries. Love a fucking blue. For me, that’s a top-tier berry. I think it's the most consistently good. I don't think it's the berry at its best, but I think it's the best berry on average. This is such an old-guy thing: Metamucil. I know some guys try to go no-carb. Metamucil has carbs in it, but it’s very low-carb. It's tricking you into drinking water, but it does fill you up. It's pretty low-calorie. You need fiber, especially if you're on blood pressure medication like I am. You need to be on top of your fiber, which is part of the apples, and definitely part of the Metamucil. But you feel full. It's a healthier way to do that. Apples, Metamucil, vegetables, protein, and once a week or so going out to a nice dinner with my wife where we'll just eat whatever. I found the healthier I am, the less I crave those foods like ice cream and stuff like that. The longer I go without eating ice cream, the more it hurts when I finally do. Dude, it was the hardest cut. I was so sad to see it go. It's such an old friend. I had ice cream the other day, and for like, two days, it was like being hungover. Karmel in 2022. It's weird, man. People are nicer to you. The place I notice it the most is in LA traffic. When people used to yell at me from their car, they’d be like, “Go to hell, fatass!” Now it's just, “Go to hell, dumbass.” I got called a fatass again the other day, and I was like,. Yeah, people do treat you different when you're fat, and I'm a pretty gregarious, charming fat guy. So, that's a bummer. It makes me feel bad about the way all fat people get treated, and that also extends to how we treat ourselves too. I think the biggest plague in our culture right now is the plague of self-worth. That extends to both people who have unhealthy habits—we do that oftentimes because we feel bad about ourselves—and that extends especially to the people who are mean to people who are different. Fat people, gay people, trans people, whatever. I think that comes from a big deficit of self-worth. If you feel like your life is going bad, why the fuck should anyone else get any sort of special treatment? Even when special treatment is someone getting basic humanity who has never had basic humanity presented to them before. Whether you're fat or anything else, I think the key to working towards a healthier life is finding something that makes you feel good about yourself. For me, the thing that turned around a lot of that behavior—like with women and with myself—was gritting my teeth and spending a couple weeks being really healthy. It was really hard at first, and then it became a self-sustaining thing, because it made me feel better about myself in a really meaningful way. You start to enjoy that feeling as much as you. You legitimately do! Cheesecake is really good. That's the other thing about surgery or Ozempic. If you think that's cheating, then what do you call them putting out six different kinds of Oreos every year? There are full laboratories and billion-dollar corporations dedicated to tricking us into eating their food. We get one pharmacy on our side for once in the battle against all the food labs in New Jersey and it's cheating? Come on. Oreo had a free run to the rim, and I'm sorry, but we drafted. You're going to have to figure out another way to score., "
"Walking is. But does walking ? In a on global participation rates in sport, walking was found to be the most popular physical activity among adults in four of six global regions including the Americas. But are we accomplishing anything more than getting away from our desks for a few minutes? “From a physiological perspective, walking is a whole body activity,” says Professor, exercise physiologist at the University of Limerick and head of science at. “When we walk we use our muscles to propel us, which increases our energy expenditure, thus increasing the metabolic demands placed on our muscles and the body as a whole.” As with any exercise, our speeds up in order to deliver more oxygen to our muscles. But, because walking is relatively steady state—i.e. not too taxing—we’re unlikely to get out of breath unless there’s an added stressor, like going uphill or at a faster pace. There’s also a neurological effect. “Our brain and nervous system become more active as we take in and process sensory information from the environment around us and from the movement itself, while at the same time providing stimulatory output to the muscles in a coordinated sequence to help us move fluently,” says Carson. In fact, a determined that walking provides a significant boost to creative thinking during and after the activity, with an 81% increase in creativity measured in a divergent thinking test compared to when sitting down. Walking outside promoted the highest levels of creativity. And while all of this is happening, our body is taking nutrients from our muscle, fat and liver tissues in order to convert them into energy. Unless you’re dragging a petulant dog after you, walking is generally considered a good way to unwind. This is because when we walk at a comfortable pace, our parasympathetic nervous system is activated, triggering a reduction in. Walking can also help our brains grow. involving 120 older adults found that regular aerobic exercise, such as walking, increased the size of the hippocampus and raised levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF. “This is like fertilizer for your brain, helping brain cells to grow, strengthen and communicate more effectively with each other,” explains Abigail Ireland, peak performance strategist at. One of the key benefits of walking is to interrupt sedentary behaviors such as sitting, Carson’s colleagues found in a carried out at the University of Limerick. “The speed at which we walk has an influence, with faster walking resulting in better health outcomes such as predictors of,” Carson adds. Gym lore has it that kills gains as our bodies metabolize our muscles for energy. And it turns out that walking doesn't really build size—although Carson points out that in a where step counts were reduced to below 1,500 steps per day, participants saw muscle protein synthesis reduced by 28%, even after a high protein meal, and significant reductions in leg lean mass. found some walking was better than sitting all day. Ireland points to a third which found that walking combined with resistance training is much more effective in maintaining muscle mass. Rucking—more intense hiking wearing a weighted vest or backpack—can dial up the intensity of walking. “Rucking encourages the core and lower body to work harder, also increasing heart rate,” says Ireland. While walking has a minimal impact on helping you build muscle, its effect on weight loss is slightly more pronounced. When it comes to rucking, a found that weight loading reduces fat mass and body weight, for example. Your results will depend on the effort you put in. “As with anything, our approach impacts the outcome. We can adjust levers like speed, incline and intensity to influence our results,” says Ireland. “Walking involves low intensity, steady state (LISS) cardiovascular activity, meaning we are likely to be in the fat burning zone. At the same time, we are using a huge range of large and small muscles to move—everything from the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and calves to the abdominal muscles and arms.” Unless you’ve developed the ability to fly everywhere, walking is still worthwhile. Any exercise is great, and it’s definitely better than cruising everywhere on an electric scooter. “We should think of walking as the foundation of our physical activity and a means to maintaining or improving our health,” says Carson, who calls walking a great. “I wouldn’t call walking a fitness hack; it’s literally how we are supposed to move,” says Ireland. “Walking is a great way to support the body and mind, but we also need to integrate the three Ss: Strength, Stamina and Suppleness.” This means weight training, getting the heart rate up through higher intensity cardio activity, and incorporating stretching to support flexibility and mobility throughout life. Walking can be great, but maybe consider taking your daily walk to the gym."
"We think of tea drinkers as pretty chill. No one’s getting hyped up on chamomile. But yerba mate drinkers are a different breed. Yerba mate tea is the pre-game drink of choice for many athletes, including soccer players and NBA player. Hugely popular in South America, Yerba mate, a bitter herbal tea, is, in large part because of its health benefits. Here, registered dietitians and herbalists share six science-backed reasons why it’s worth sipping. “Mate,” as the tea is commonly called outside the US, “is the national drink of Paraguay,” says, an herbalist and nutritionist. “It is widely consumed in South America as a daily beverage.” In South America, drinking yerba mate tea is and an important social practice. Typically, it’s a shared drink, passed around in a gourd with a special straw called a bombilla. But even if you sip yerba mate solo, you’re going to reap plenty of benefits. Below are the six biggest. Yerba mate has more caffeine than most other teas ( ) and it won’t lead to a crash when it wears off, the way coffee can. “Yerba mate is notorious for having a smoother downtick of a caffeine ‘high,’ which is likely because of the slower release of caffeine or the other bioactive components, like theobromine,” says registered dietitian. —the bioactive compound Jaeckel calls out—is what gives yerba mate tea its bitter flavor and is used to make caffeine, but Birks says that you won’t find it in coffee. Yerba mate also contains another compound that coffee does not: theophylline. “ improves mood, alertness, and may be neuroprotective. Theophylline is known to promote a calm, relaxed yet focused state of mind,” Birks says. She adds that this unique composition may be why yerba mate tea is stimulating but doesn’t cause jitteriness. This combination of calm and focus may also be why some athletes like to drink yerba mate tea before games. a culinary nutritionist and lifestyle medicine counselor, says that another one of the main benefits of yerba mate tea is its high antioxidant and polyphenol content, which helps lower inflammation in the body. He explains that there is a specific type of polyphenol in yerba mate tea (, or CGAs) which has been scientifically shown to reduce inflammation and protect against age-related disorders. All three experts say that drinking yerba mate tea regularly, including some forms of cancer. If you have achy joints, regularly drinking yerba mate tea could improve your symptoms. While Birks says that human studies still need to be done to prove the connection, that the tea is effective in improving arthritis symptoms in rats. Birks says that this is because of the tea’s anti-inflammatory properties—especially those CGAs. Birks and Dr. Dubanewicz both add that yerba mate tea also contains a natural compound called, which have also been found to decrease inflammation in the body. All three experts say that regularly drinking yerba mate tea supports short-term and long-term brain health. Regarding the short-term, Jaeckel says, “The theobromine and theophylline in yerba mate both have stimulating effects on the brain, which can help people focus and get their work done. The caffeine also affects hormones like dopamine in a way that makes the person feel happier.” As for the long-term benefits, Dr. Dubanewicz says that the polyphenols in yerba mate tea are, meaning that they help preserve the function of neurons in the brain. such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. “Research is showing that the compounds in yerba mate tea not only reduce inflammation, but also, which is what leads to dementia,” Dr. Dubanewicz says. While yerba mate tea doesn’t work like Ozempic, it does have something in common with the GLP-1 medication: appetite suppression. Dr. Dubanewicz points to showing that yerba mate helps reduce hunger as well as fat buildup and inflammation, which both contribute to obesity. While he emphasizes that this doesn’t mean that drinking yerba mate tea will outweigh having an unhealthy diet, it means the tea can play a supporting role in losing weight in a healthy way. There are a few different ways that drinking yerba mate tea supports heart health. Dr. Dubanewicz and Jaeckel say that it, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This, Jaeckel explains, is credited to the tea’s high amount of antioxidants. “Yerba mate also contains minerals like potassium and magnesium, which are essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure,” says Dr. Dubanewicz. If you want to make yerba mate tea the way it’s traditionally consumed in South America, you need a gourd and bombilla (the special straw). There are lots of, which can be washed and reused every time you’re craving some mate. Once you have your gourd and bombilla, Jaeckel says to fill the gourd up halfway with the loose leaf yerba mate. Then, tilt the gourd roughly 45 degrees to get all the leaves on one side. Pour hot water into the open gap, letting the tea steep for a couple of minutes. Once it’s steeped and ready, add your bombilla, making sure the bottom is under all the leaves. “The key technique here, just like all tea-making methods, is to not use boiling water but simmering, around 170°F, so you don’t ‘burn’ the leaves and have them become [too] bitter,” Dr. Dubanewicz says. While most people can benefit from yerba mate tea, it’s not for everyone. The caffeine can speed up your heart rate, so Birks says that if you have a heart condition, you should check with your doctor before drinking it. She says it’s also not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, so be mindful of who you offer it to. Otherwise, yerba mate tea is yours to enjoy. And while you’re at it, offer some to a friend. After all, this drink is meant to be shared."
"It’s 11:15 p.m. on a Monday. is on the, there’s a crushed can of seltzer on the coffee table, and I'm experiencing one of life’s great joys: hammering bowl after delicious bowl of Special K Red Berries. Well, more specifically, I’m sucking down medically inadvisable amounts of its Trader Joe’s knockoff, Flakes and Strawberries. I'm hunched over my bowl, trying my best not to spill milk on the old I have on while simultaneously turning the volume up so I can hear Tina Fey over my thunderous crunching. Thus begins the vicious cycle of finishing my bowl and turning the volume back down because, well, that’ll be the last one I have tonight—but it never is. There is no “last bowl.” There is only “running out of milk.” Let me explain. Growing up, I ate cereal for breakfast just about every day, until wrestling, glorious sport that it is, required me to relegate the sugary loops and puffs of my youth to more of a “treat” classification. They became special occasion foods for eating, say, after a big tournament. So much so that, to this day, my absolute ideal, desert-island dessert wouldn’t be a crème brûlée, tiramisu, or an elaborately constructed croquembouche—it would be a massive bowl of Frosted Flakes. (In fact, just leave me the box and a half gallon of skim, and I’m happy.) But even though wrestling is many years in the rearview, I would have cereal for breakfast—and not because I think the cleanup is a lot of work, like. I just like to start my day with a ton of protein, ensuring I’m hitting my macros to fuel my weightlifting hobby—which, for me, is around 225 grams, but who’s counting? (For the record, I am counting. Very meticulously.) Cereal as a has generally fallen out of fashion for most men I know, specifically my fellow meatheads, who opt for protein-packed smoothies or half a dozen eggs instead of a heaping bowl of Cap’n Crunch. Nor would I have cereal for dinner to cut costs on groceries and appease Big Grain, as. Yet, the masculine urge to inhale oceans of Apple Jacks still hits me night after night—and I’m not alone. With this in mind, cereal brands have even tried to appeal to the midnight crowd in the past (see:, complete with lavender and chamomile flavoring). And with good reason: Practically every dude I know turns to cereal when they’re hungry at night after dinner, including a few of my esteemed colleagues. “It’s the secret to a,” my friend Kent Tor—who (almost) benches as much as I do—tells me. “And if you’re trying to pack in a few extra calories on a bulk, there’s no easier way to do it than a few bowls of cereal before bed.” As performance chef Dan Churchill, high-level athletes also find cereal to be an efficient way to get more calories in too. “There is literally nothing I have to fight the impulse to indulge in more than cereal at night,” Mick Rouse, ’s global research director, says. “I love me some Honey Bunches of Oats, but if I'm being totally real (all nutritional considerations off the table), Reese's Puffs is the GOAT cereal. I don't really even keep cereal in the house anymore because I know come 9 p.m., all I'm going to want to do is make a bowl.” ’s senior style editor Yang-Yi Goh says that “cereal has always been treated more as a dessert than a breakfast food in my family. And when I just need that little extra kick of sweetness after dinner, there's really nothing I want more than a gigantic bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.” Meanwhile, our art director Michael Houtz says that “Life, and the existential dread that comes with it, is best served cold...ideally, in a dimly lit kitchen around 3 a.m."" If there’s one throughline, though, it seems to be nostalgia. “Growing up, my brother, Anders, and I would go through boxes and boxes of sugary cereal by the trough,” Keir Novesky, ’s global design director, says. “I still love a big bowl of cereal at any time of the day. But, if I were to power rank when is the best time to enjoy one, the late-night snack bowl would easily be number one. I've loved so many brands over the years, but I'll say the best of them all is Fruity Pebbles—for old time's sake.” Now, all this late-night sugar intake sounds…mildly unhealthy at best, and outright terrible for you at worst. But is eating cereal right before bedtime really bad? “My short answer is that it’s not inherently bad to eat cereal (or anything else) late at night,” registered dietitian tells in an email. But the long answer is more nuanced: “Acid reflux is a relatively common condition, and lying down or reclining too soon after your last meal could increase your acid reflux risk because it takes your stomach time to push food through the digestive tract.” De Santis also says that there's also evidence suggesting that eating too close to bed could disrupt your sleep quality. “Beyond that,” he explains, “my philosophy is that what is healthy at 8 a.m. is healthy at 8 p.m., all else equal.” Fair enough, but what about cereal in particular? According to De Santis, cereal can absolutely be part of a healthy diet. “Imagine one cup of a high-fiber, whole grain cereal sprinkled with cinnamon served with a cup of a high-protein milk with nuts/seeds and berries added,” he says. “By any metric that is a strong meal and would probably enhance the breakfast quality of the average person significantly.” To be fair: The average guy downing a midnight bowl in a fugue state is probably not taking the time to make sure there’s added fiber. De Santis also notes that for many people with high energy needs and an otherwise balanced diet, hammering a bowl of traditionally “unhealthy” cereal (a.k.a. those low-fiber, low-protein brands) every so often would have minimal consequences. Nutrition aside, what’s the masculine urge to eat cereal at night all about, deep down? Well, for people like me, it’s catching up on what I missed out on when I was a kid, and exerting my power as a fully formed adult—and my God-given right as a red-blooded American man—to fill my body with artificial dyes, empty calories, and delicious sugary flakes while I veg out on the couch after a long day at work. The rest of my life is so calculated, down to the gram, that sucking down bowls of cereal in the middle of the night feels like a final expression of freedom, not to mention a middle finger to the endless sea of Instafluencers telling me to and. “When my girlfriend at night, I know the easiest, most satiating thing I can do is eat a bowl of cereal for dinner,” Tyler Chin, ’s associate commerce editor, tells me. “It's either that or go out and buy a rotisserie chicken—but a lukewarm, overcooked bird can’t compete with that cold, satisfying crunch.” But for others, it's not about the cereal at all. “I was given a bowl of cereal by my mother every night before bed from, like, the ages of 4 to 12,” Rouse explains. “I was conditioned to expect this sugary, delicious snack as a kid at 8 p.m. after I had taken a bath and gotten all cozy in my pajamas and got to watch one last show before bedtime. And it probably crops up now as this feeling of comfort, which we so rarely have as adults. It's actually a craving rooted in nostalgia and a longing—for when things felt simpler, and safer.”"
"Let’s set the scene: the holidays have come and gone, the New Year is now just year and the harsh reality of a summer spent indoors, moving numbers around in Excel or whatever, suddenly seems unbearable. Sound familiar? We figured. So if you're jonesing for a break from the usual drudgery and get the chance to take a trip somewhere—anywhere!—with palm trees and sandy beaches, take it, and take it fast. But what the hell should you pack? If last year's rotation of warm-weather clothing isn't feeling quite as inspired as the notion of kicking back poolside in the far-flung locale of your choice, don't sweat it: That’s where we come in. If you're going to revamp your gear solely in the name of looking your best over the course of a few idyllic days, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to drop crazy cash on designer grails destined to end up covered in sand, sweat, and oddly-colored stains. So we rounded up a baker’s dozen or so of beach-ready basics that you can buy right now,, and wear during the duration of your stay—each for less than a hundred bucks. You don't need much to spruce up your packing list, but the right assortment of affordable menswear will go a long way in freeing you up to focus on what really matters: absolutely nothing. Alex Crane Alex Crane Cotton tees are great: they’re soft, easy to care for, and even easier to get your hands on. But if you get your torso into an unfussy linen tee, you really should. Alex Crane’s Sun tee is exactly that: airier than a coastline, sustainably sourced, naturally moisture-wicking, and pre-shrunk for maximum nonchalance. Put more succinctly, a better vacation tee might not exist. Bather Bather Bather's vintage-tinged trunks—a —wear so well that you’ll have to remind yourself to wear the other shorts you packed when pooltime isn't on the agenda. Shinola Shinola Okay, so Shinola's sterling-silver bracelet is $25 over our self-imposed price threshold, but given the wear you'll get out of it, we thought we’d let it slide and deal with the fallout. Pony up the added cash and you’ve got yourself a turbo outfit-booster for any off-duty ensemble in your closet. Deer Stag Zappos If you haven’t experienced the unmitigated delight —particularly when worn with an arbitrarily-buttoned shirt—you, sir, are depriving yourself. And if you thought you had to go nuts to get a good pair, Deer Stag makes one of our all-time favorites for well under $100. Banana Republic Banana Republic When it comes to vacation pants, you'll want a pair that can handle a few different dress codes. Banana Republic’s pull-on trousers, for example, will crush with breathable leather footwear at dinner, but look like they were made to exist poolside, at the beach, or anywhere else you feel like disassociating. Our Legacy SSENSE We're aware that bucket hats can be a bit of a third rail, especially in the baseball cap-dominated world of men’s millinery. But they don’t have to be goofy! Sure, Our Legacy's comes in a vacation-worthy shade of blue, but the crown is reasonable, the brim is practical, and the vibes are overall immaculate. Sunski Huckberry Investing in pricy sunglasses before visiting a place you've never been is a risky proposition—the last thing the most itinerant item in a wardrobe needs is a series of unfamiliar locations to get lost in. The best part about Sunski's is that they’ll last you for years if you can handle the responsibility, but won’t crush your soul if you can’t. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch It’s no secret that we love, with or without an autoreply message on deck. For whatever reason, though, they hit like an absolute narcotic when you’ve got a keycard in your pocket. When it comes to sheer bang-for-your-buck value, Abercrombie's vintage-inflected polos are still some of the best you can find. Salomon Salomon No one should be worried about step count on vacation, but if you plan on relaxing exploring, Salomon's RX slides are practically unbeatable, regardless of price point. They kick back as ably as leather clogs, but boast the same off-road capabilities as sneakers. J.Crew J.Crew There’s no hard-and-fast checklist for platonic-ideal vacation shorts, but if we were to dream up a pair from scratch, we’d start by making them nice and wide, add a couple of pleats for extra comfort, and then finish ‘em with a raw hem just to up the insouciance factor. In other words, they'd look exactly like J.Crew's. Birkenstock Huckberry Birkenstocks are some of, but they tend to have a serious aversion to water. This gloriously cushy EVA riff solves that problem, and for those who like to pack options, also weighs basically nothing. (Seriously—you might wanna toss 'em in a bag if it gets windy.) Banana Republic Banana Republic Fair warning: If you buy this shirt—which is a little more laid-back than a lounge chair, and a lot more portable—for an upcoming jaunt somewhere warm, you’ll want to wear it well before you get on the plane. (You should let yourself, by the way; it'll look great with and.) Nike Sportswear Nike There are two tote bags most likely to accompany you to your next destination. The first is the canvas freebie, the lowest-profile, most disposable bag in your cluttered front hallway. The second is a tote worthy of carry-on status all on its own, the type of bag that doubles as a brolic haul-all for the duration of the trip. Nike's is one of the absolute best examples of option two. Timex Amazon If you normally rock a pricey ticker (or one with sentimental value), pack a to ensure you're not fretting over your wrist while you’re supposed to be relaxing. At the very least, Timex's handsome, hardy model gives you one less reason to check your phone. SKIMS SKIMS If you’ve somehow liberated yourself from the urge to to a suspicious degree, congratulations. If you haven’t, you should make sure the drawers you packing are spa-level comfortable. Why wouldn’t you treat your self to a vacation, you know? Patagonia Patagonia If, for some awful reason, you can only pack one pair of shorts on vacation,. They swim as well as they hike, they're relaxed but not sloppy, and they'll lend your and a dose of old-school outdoorsman energy. Packing more than one pair of shorts? You should still pack Baggies. Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the, the, or the need-to-know, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories:,, and. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (.)"
"Reggie Bush is a superhero to an entire generation of fans. During his time at the University of Southern California—where he was one of the best college players ever, winning two national championships, earning All-American honors and a during a goated career—it was hard to imagine anyone could run faster than Bush. But now, at 40 years old, nine years removed from his last NFL game, Bush has in fact slowed down. After 11 years in the league, Bush has turned to a different sport to occupy his free time. The is now an avid golfer, and he’s not shy about preaching the physical benefits of the game. And because he also wants everyone to look as fly as possible while they walk the fairway, Bush has collaborated with TravisMathew on the athleisure brand’s “A Legacy Reclaimed” line. As someone who likes to go into the store and buy an outfit straight off the mannequin, eliminating the often painstaking process of trying to put together a stylish golf fit with various pieces from around the retail floor, Bush is extremely hyped about the TravisMathew apparel he helped design, which includes a piece that combines two closet staples. “What's unique about this shirt, which has never been done before, it's a shirt with a hoodie on it,” Bush explains. “This is my design that I came up with and I'm very proud of it because I think it came out great.” When he’s not golfing, Bush is still a regular in the gym, but with a different purpose than when he was trying to avoid vicious linebackers. The lightning-quick running back is still running sprints and hitting leg day hard, but his strength training now is done to alleviate the pain of all those hits he used to take. Here Bush reveals the specifics of that workout, as well as the NFL teammate whose athleticism wowed him the most and the only beverage he keeps in his house. : I'm in the Los Angeles area. Life for me now is a lot of involvement with my three kids. They're involved in every sport known to mankind. We're driving them to practice, going through homework, dinner, and bedtime. That's pretty much a nightly evening routine for us because we're very hands-on with our kids. We don't have nannies. We do everything with our kids, [though] do have really good help though from my in-laws. My wife's parents are amazing. They give us so much help. That's like our nannies if we had them. But a lot of my life is being a dad, being a husband, working on my own personal projects, and one of those is TravisMathew. Dad life and business life. I workout five days a week. Usually my day starts out with a workout. I have a number of injuries from playing that if I don't work out, that they'll catch up to me. It's important for me to keep my body strong, keep my body fit and healthy. Because I'm constantly working on, that alleviates some pain for me in some areas. There was a time two, three years into retirement, where I was just in a lot of pain. When you lose that routine from playing in the NFL—when to wake up, when to go do all these different things—now all that is placed on your shoulders. It's a tough place to be for some people, because not everybody is able to keep it going when it's all on you. Thankfully, I've had great support at home with my wife and kids. My wife and I work out together all the time. We're actually about to work out together after this. I'll just run through it real quick. My second year in the NFL, I tore my PCL. That's the posterior cruciate ligament. That basically wraps around the back of your knee, and that is part of a couple different tendons and ligaments that keep the knee stable and strong. I tore that, and doctors advised me not to repair it, because they said I would heal quickly and get back faster on the field. I wish I never did that. But listening to NFL doctors, I didn't do surgery on it, so I actually don't have a PCL anymore in my left knee. Then the next year, my third year in the league, I tore my medial meniscus, which is on the interior portion of your knee. That led to microfracture surgery. Microfracture is very tough. For a lot of people, it is usually career ending. Basically what they do is drill holes in the bone—literally, with a drill! Because of wear and tear in that area, I had no cartilage in between my knees. The interior portion of my left knee was bone-on-bone, and that was year four in the NFL. I ended up playing 11 years. The doctors told me at that time I probably wouldn't play longer than another three years. We talk about it lightly and loosely, but —especially the injury I came back from—is one of the toughest things that you can possibly do in your career. I still have pain from it. I still get swelling in my left knee from it. It still limits me in certain ways. But again, because I focused on strengthening and staying flexible and all these different things—and I wear orthotics as well—it helps with alleviating the pain, being able to walk, and still continuing some sports. Oh, man. It depends. What time of the year? What time of the day? Is it windy? But no, I work a lot on my golf game. I love the game of golf. It's giving me an opportunity to still be an athlete. When you leave professional sports, especially football, you retire young. I retired at 32 years old, and in pretty much every other form of business, that's impossible. Nobody retires that young. Right? You retire young, and you're still very athletic, and you still have this need to compete. Golf has given me that opportunity to still be an athlete, compete, work out. A lot of my workouts are geared towards golf and strengthening my legs and different things like that. My golf game is…I think it’s in a good place. I love to hit the driver. That's my favorite. Putting can always improve, but I feel like my iron play has improved a lot as well over these last years. I'm down to a four handicap. Actually, what's funny is that I didn't play golf when I was in the NFL. I didn't pick the golf clubs up until about year 10. About two years before I retired, I picked it up, fell in love with it, and a lot of my friends and teammates were playing golf. The camaraderie was there. The ability to still compete and talk trash and bet money and all these things were in the sport. That's why I fell in love with it. Yeah. Oh my god, man. My intro to the NFL was very unique because I was drafted to the New Orleans Saints five months after. I got there at a period where there wasn't much there. The city was a ghost town. There were very few restaurants that were open, [but] a lot of fast food restaurants. I hate admitting this, but there was a Sonic very close to our facility. I was eating Sonic here and there. Then I ended up hiring a chef just because I didn't want to get stuck on fast food. New Orleans is known for its food. If you go visit, you know to leave your diet at the door, because all the food there is amazing, lots of flavors, lots of unhealthy ways it's prepared. We love to eat, and it is really good, but unhealthy long term. Obviously, because of everything they had been through—people hadn't come back yet, businesses hadn't come back yet—I actually became really close with my chef. But there were times where I was leaning on some of these fast food restaurants as well. The nutrition when I got into the NFL is nowhere what it is now. Now they have smoothie bars! They have nutritionists in these facilities now. We didn't have a nutritionist. We didn't have no smoothie bars. I think the knowledge of what nutrition athletes need has also improved significantly. Teams, owners, and GMs have started to see the connectivity between performance and the way we're eating. I'm not complaining at all about what I had, but I just went to at a very unique time. It's something that always sticks out in my mind, because I went down there at a time when the city was depleted, and they were looking for hope anywhere. We were able to step in as a team and help uplift those spirits by winning football games. It wasn't the solution to all the tragedy they had been through, but it was just a step in the right direction. I'm happy I went there because when I look back on my career, New Orleans was my favorite stop. One thing I think they need to get that’s still out there and is still an issue is field turf. When we look at the studies and the correlation between field turf and ACLs, PCLs, meniscuses, just about all leg injuries, a lot of it is traced back to the surface that you play on. They're playing on one of the most dangerous surfaces. We don't see soccer being played on field turf! In Europe, they would never allow that. Right? For some reason here—especially the NFL, which is the most dangerous sport—you're playing on the most dangerous surface. The reason why it's dangerous is because athletes are now bigger, stronger, faster. It continues to evolve. When you're that strong and that fast, something's going to give. You plant your foot into that turf and what happens is turf will grab. Grass gives. If I plant my foot going full speed on grass, it's going to tear a little bit and give. If I'm that same athlete and I plant my foot on rubber, fake grass, and I plant my cleat full speed, it's going to grab. I'm going to be able to stop a lot harder, but my joints are going to suffer because of that. You see guys not even get touched [get a] torn ACL. in the Super Bowl tore his ACL and pretty much ended his career. He hasn't really recovered since, but it's all from turf. Unfortunately, NFL owners still believe that turf is the cheapest, most cost-efficient way in a league that annualizes billions every year. It's not adding up to me. It's a repetitive cycle, and it's going to continue. It's unfortunate. It will continue until the players decide to stand up and say, “Listen, we don't want to play on turf anymore.” The thing is, all players hate it. Never ever again. No sports should ever be played on turf. I'm coaching my son's flag football team. I complain about the turf that we have to play on. My son was going for a touchdown, he got pushed, he landed and banged his head on the ground. Now he's lying on the ground, hurt. If that's grass, he's landing on something much softer. He’s nine years old and I’m mad about this! Imagine grown men who were 200-300 pounds playing this ultra-violent game on the worst turf. Players are scared at the end of the day. Whatever the players want, they can get. They hold the ultimate power, which is to just sit out. Unfortunately, that is the only way they will be able to have leverage in their negotiations with the Players' Association versus the NFL and their collective bargaining agreements. Two things: We don't have guaranteed contracts in the NFL, and we’re put on the worst surface. You're talking about a league where I can sign you for five years, 100 million. Something happens halfway into year one, and I don't like you? I can cut you. That’s a nightmare for most people. I can speak to the hyperbaric chamber, because we had a chiropractor that a lot of the guys used to go to in New Orleans, and they had [one]. I actually bought one as well. It's funny. I bought one and then never used it. It was just a waste of money. But I honestly don't know if it helped me at all or not. I slept in that thing. I would take naps in it at my chiropractor's house. I don't know, man. It’s just based on if you believe in it or not. Supposedly you're breathing the most pure oxygen, the most pure air, and your body's supposed to heal that much faster … meanwhile, I'm in pain every day. Waking up in pain, going to sleep in pain. I don't know if those hyperbaric chambers actually work, but they started showing up probably three years into my career. In college, we never used anything like that. It’s more of a tool to help you heal. It's not necessarily a performance tool to help you play better or run faster. I think to literally notice the effects you'd have to sleep in that thing seven days a week. I think you can definitely train yourself to. Everybody has their limit. What's your potential? When kids ask me how to get faster I tell them to go run track. Track and field, in my opinion, is the way to learn how to run faster. It focuses on your hip flexors, hip flexibility, explosiveness, your running pattern, your running gait, speed, agility, all that. All three of my kids run track, and I've seen them get faster since they started. I didn't start until I got to high school. I wish I had run track when I was younger because I would've been even faster. If you can even imagine that. Right? When I ran track in high school, I started because I wanted to get faster for football, but then I fell in love with the competition side of it. The me versus you. Even the relays—I ran the 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay, and it's just about competition. I've always been drawn more to dual-sport athletes who can do football, basketball, baseball, track, golf, whatever it is. I think those are some of the most successful athletes. That's why all my kids play at least two to three sports. I think it just gives you a different perspective and different understanding. You learn things in these different sports that you can apply into whatever that final sport is that you end up choosing. There's a lot. That's what football is literally built on, guys like that. Even the guys you don’t know are built like action figures. But I'll give you one guy that I played with in Detroit.. 6""6', runs a 4.3, maybe even 4.2 [40-yard dash], can jump as high as LeBron James probably. He had the speed, the height, the hands. He had it all. I'll never forget one time we were in practice—I would always run extra sprints after practice just to be in great condition—and he and I were running sprints together. I'm usually always first, whoever I'm running with. On this particular day, I'm running as hard as I can. It physically looks like I'm running hard. He looks like he's just jogging, because he has that long stride, and he was still beating me! I couldn't believe it. I was like, this dude is arguably one of the greatest athletes to ever grace this field. Tall, long arms and built like a basketball player, but has the speed of a cheetah. You just don't see a lot of guys like that, especially playing receiver. He’s the only receiver that I can remember teams actually double teaming at the line.. Jerry Rice, some of the greatest receivers ever, nobody else got that treatment. [Matthew] Stafford would still throw the ball, and he would still catch it. I still love to run. I still love to sprint. I run on the treadmill. I'll start with some form of—we call them in track—but things to open up my hips. Most of my running is on the treadmill just, again, because I have some injuries to my left knee. I like to run at a slight incline, and that helps alleviate some of the pounding, the full force of my body weight on my knee. I run probably about anywhere from 12 to 15 sprints. They're all around one minute long. I'll go up to about 12 miles an hour, which is pretty fast on the treadmill. Then once I go from there, we'll do a round of core sit-ups. I usually will focus on my legs. I try to not lift heavy upper-body anymore because I just don't need it, and I've had some shoulder injuries. I actually have a tear in this shoulder right now. I just don't want to go get surgery, man. It's been lingering since I played, and I don't want to go back under the knife. Maybe at some point I'm going to have to, because it's just going to get to the point where I'm just not going to be able to take it. But it doesn't affect my golf swing right now! I'll do mostly core, lower body. I don't do back squats anymore. I try to take the pressure off my spine and focus more on elongating my spine. I have a herniated disk in my lower back that I just need to be mindful of. I do a lot of golf-specific turns, twists, stretches, swings. Golf is healthy for you, man, because if you treat it the right way and you treat your body the right way, it helps you to lengthen out, stretch your spine, strengthen your lower body, your core. It's been healthy for me because there’s things that I've been needing to work on to keep my body stable. That's what it's about for me now: stability, lower body strength, and strong-ass core. My wife handles all the cooking. She's a beast in the kitchen. She is amazing. I'm not just talking her up because she's my wife. She could write a cookbook. She could be a chef. A lot of the food that she cooks is amazing, amazing stuff. We really rely on my wife. I don't know where we would be in this house without my wife and her cooking. Exactly, probably still eating Sonic. I try to eat as healthy as possible, but here and there, I might throw in my annual In-N-Out Burger. But for the most part, I try to focus on healthy eating, [things like] avocado, fruits, eggs in the morning. I try to stay away from sugar, but it's a little hard just because a lot of things have sugar in them. One of the things that I'm most proud of is that I take vitamins every day.. Multivitamins, vitamin D and vitamin K—those two go together—and other things that my body needs from a supplement standpoint just to keep me healthy and strong. I. We literally only have water in my refrigerator. That's my routine. I think the vitamins are ultra important, especially for me as I'm getting older. I want to make sure everything is functioning properly. I do focus on my health a lot. In-N-Out Burger, and probably ice cream. Those are my two weaknesses right now., "
"There may be no nutrient more maligned than fat. In the 90s, it was we needed to avoid fat at all costs, and food products branded as “low-fat” were everywhere. By the 2010s, the pendulum swung the other way: fat was suddenly in. The entered society’s collective conscious, people started putting butter in their coffee, and avocado toast was a hot brunch item. Cut to today: chances are you still don’t know exactly how much fat — or what kinds — you should be eating. So we consulted registered dietitians and put together this guide as a reference. It covers everything from how much fat per day to consume to the healthiest ways to get it, so you can plan your fitness goals accordingly. First, a. There are commonly found in the average diet: Monosaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are the most beneficial of the group, according to all of the dietitians we spoke to. Registered dietitian., cites a that found that unsaturated fats consumption contributed to a longer life. “These fats have strong clinical evidence to their benefits and are found in a variety of foods such as fatty wild fish, nuts and seeds, extra-virgin and avocado oils,” says Kirkpatrick. One type of polyunsaturated fat,, is especially beneficial. “Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to and and have also shown benefit in multiple trials to mental health as well, mainly depression and anxiety,” she says. What about saturated fats?., the lead sports dietitian at Fit With Food, says that saturated fats aren’t inherently bad, but he points to showing that too much of it is linked to increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, as a result of raising LDL cholesterol. That’s why you don’t want to go ham on saturated fats (pun very much intended). Registered dietitian. is similarly wary of categorizing saturated fat as “bad” or “unhealthy” because it’s found in foods that are great sources of nutrients, like red meat and eggs. If these foods are part of how you get your protein, you’ll be consuming some saturated fat. As long as you vary your protein sources, he says, you won’t need to focus on trying to meet any saturated fat goals; you’ll be consuming enough already. “Saturated fats do benefit the body, such as by playing a role in hormone formation,” he says. “But the reality is that it’s not a type of fat that is typically underconsumed [by Americans], unlike unsaturated fats.” In total, the amount of fat you should be eating each day should be between 25% and 35% of your daily calories, according to both the. Their recommendations also say that fats and trans fats should be limited to less than 7% and 1% of daily calories, respectively. You should limit your saturated fat consumption to less than 10% of overall daily calories. Reavis says you can modify the AHA and NIH’s recommendations, depending on how active you are. If you’re mostly sedentary, he says to aim for the lower end. If you live an active lifestyle or work out a lot, go for the higher end. Fat intake is a reflection of calorie intake, De Santis adds In other words, if your calorie intake goes up, so does your fat intake. Let’s say you generally eat 2,000 calories a day. With the above guidelines in mind, this means that you should aim for between 40 and 70 grams of monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats a day. (Remember, we’re limiting saturated fats to less than 10% of total calories consumed and taking out trans fats completely, which is why they’re not part of the equation.) What does this look like? has roughly five grams of unsaturated fats, has 20 grams of primarily unsaturated fats, has roughly 3.5 grams of unsaturated fat and 1.5 grams of saturated fat, and has 70 grams of primarily unsaturated fats. While these guidelines are helpful for most people in terms of figuring out how much fat per day to consume, Kirkpatrick says that it’s important to know that genetics can play a role in how the body processes and stores fat. There is a specific gene, the, that can influence how much weight is gained from a diet high in saturated fat. People with certain genetic variants of this gene should be especially careful to minimize saturated fat because they can gain weight easier from a diet that’s high in it. It boils down to this: Aim for fat intake to be between 25% and 35% of your overall calories consumed and prioritize foods high in monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats, like fish, olive oil, nuts and seeds, and avocado. Saturated fats are okay in moderation—especially if you’re getting them from foods you rely on for protein, like meat and eggs—but keep it to under 10% of your overall calories consumed. Keep those basics in mind and fat can be a heavy hitter in your diet, helping to benefit your entire body. That’s something that won’t change, regardless of which diet makes headlines next."
"Bryce Young is aware that many people view him, and every other football player, as emotionless, gladiator figures. As a Carolina Panthers quarterback who has won a Heisman and was once a number one overall draft pick, discussing his mental health can be taboo. But Young, 23, is part of a new generation of athletes who no longer fear the backlash of admitting when they’re not okay. Professional football is a beast that the general public cannot possibly comprehend fully, but Young wants fans of all ages to know that beneath every helmet is a human who likely struggles with the same thing they do. During this most recent season (his second in the league), Young made strides by doubling his win total, upping his touchdown-to-interception ratio, and shoring up some rookie fumble issues. Most notably, he went from being sacked 62 times in 2023 to just 29 last year, something that eased the physical burden of the job. As he gears up for his third NFL season, Young is hosting a football camp in Charlotte, North Carolina, where kids can learn ball from an NFL starting quarterback—and the value of mental health awareness. “We make sure that we can weave in some strategies, have some conversations, just get the kids familiar with mental health, give them some small little tokens,” Young explained. “Also, we'll have a portion for the parents as well, which is something that we believe is super important.” In a recent sit-down with Young got into the mental health spirals he often runs into, the challenges of losing, and trying to live truthfully. I think that's a great way to put it. Mental health has such a negative connotation because, like you said, when you think of mental health, people traditionally think of the struggles. Mental health is something that's ongoing, it's good, it's bad, it's up, it's down. It's something that we all are dealing with. Having more conversations about it, I think we'll realize that it's not all bad. It's not negative. It's just something that we all live with. It's the same as our physical health. The more we can have conversations, especially with the youth, hopefully we can continue to normalize it. One of the things about mental health is that there's so many tools, and so much to discuss, but ultimately everyone has to decide things for themselves. No two people are alike. Everyone can find what works for them and what their routine is to maintain something healthy. A lot of people have talked about how they feel like mental health is so daunting. I think the more that people share you understand that there're so many different ways of navigating things. Mental health is something that just is in my family. My dad was an MFT [marriage and family therapist] and a school counselor. My aunt and sister, same thing, counselor and a therapist. My grandfather was in the mental health space. Being able to have so many relationships—from sports and outside of sports—you grow up, you hear everyone else's disposition towards mental health, and you see how varying it is. There's a lot of uncomfortability. Especially earlier on, you just see how it can affect everyone's life, a lot of times without people knowing it or seeing it. That was something that I've always had a lens for. But the more that I was able to interact, especially with teammates, the more I felt called to, hopefully, make it a lot more accessible. Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young hosts a youth camp at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA in April. There’s definitely been a big stigma around [discussing mental health in] athletics for a long time. For me, I like to deal and live in the truth. I'm super grateful to have my profession. I'm super passionate about it, but we're all human. People, a lot of times, think that we don't have the same struggles, we don't deal with the same things. Our lives, at times, maybe can look different from others, but it's all a set of circumstances. The makeup of who we are, what we go through from an emotional level, it’s all the same. Yeah, for sure. Especially when I was younger, that was something that was always in the front of my mind. I'm blessed to have the path that I've had. There's a lot of things behind the scenes that went into that, of course. I always felt like I didn't have any right to complain, or any right to feel a certain way. I didn't have the right to be down. Ultimately when stuff like that would happen, it would make things worse. I would try to minimize real-life things that everyone goes through, and try to suppress emotions. That's one of the restrictions that I made growing up. It's not one or the other. You can be dealing with something, you can have an emotion, you can feel upset, angry, sad, whatever it is, and you can accept that and still be grateful. It's not,, or, You can be both. That's something that I've learned, and I definitely try to impress on others. Your mind is just so powerful in everything that you do. It's a shift in mindset of “Man, I'm selfish because I'm going to try to take care of myself,” or, “Man, it's weak to try to be thinking of yourself instead of just blindly giving your all to a team.” But in reality, it's the opposite. It's selfish if you're taking care of yourself. That shift of mindset, again, it's something I'm still working on. Being a competitor, I feel like we're always taught to be our toughest critics. I'm always hard on myself. For me, it's just finding that balance and making sure that I'm doing everything on the field and holding myself to the highest standard. To be the player that I want to be for myself—and for the team—but also doing it in a way that's sustainable and healthy. I'm big on breath control and focusing on your breath. Breathing is so powerful, both physically and mentally. That's just centering for me. Then, meditation is definitely a tool that I use when I have more time. It's something that's helped me a lot. I remember feeling like I didn't know what I was doing, didn't know what was going on, not being sure if [football] was for me. I feel like I've grown a lot in that space, and [meditation] is something that, again, has allowed me to center myself. Yeah, I got super lucky. We have a really good sports psychologist in Carolina,. She's amazing. Having someone that understands that stuff that you can express things to is always super helpful. For me, it’s more physical. I know people who, even though they're getting physical stuff done, it's a form of [mental health] treatment. It can still be a space where you’re like, “Even though I'm going to go and [physically recover], everything's down. I get my alone time. I get time to reset.” I try my best to compartmentalize. I'll do that a lot with location too. So stuff that's physical and stuff that happens at the stadium. The stadium, that's me. That's the quarterback, that’s work, that's all in. I try to leave everything at the stadium. Leave work at work. When I do leave, that's where I try to separate myself. There's an older player, I won't say the name, that had played in the league for a while. It was actually really cool. I had a couple of conversations, and the first one was very curious and very like, “Back in my time, you couldn't really talk about these things.” I ended up seeing them again, having the conversation come back up. It was more of “I definitely did struggle with this and I got through it. It took a while, and it was a lot of work, but I never took that approach toward it. We always just wrote that off as something that wasn't for athletes.” It was just cool to see how they described [how] their view changed a little bit. That's something that I've struggled with a lot. I haven't always dealt with it the best. I'm a work in progress, for sure, and it's difficult. For someone like myself—and all the other competitors out there that fill out the league—you want to win. You want to win for yourself. You want to win for your team, who also work super hard. All of us at this level have pretty much dedicated our lives to it. It's a business, and it's a business where you're judged by numbers and by wins and losses. When things don't go your way, it is hard. I try to think, Obviously, I also try not to run from the emotions. I try not to [say] “I don't care. I don't feel this.” I try to embrace how I feel, embrace when I'm hurt, embrace when I'm upset, and try to be reasonable with myself. If I'm upset, it's okay that I'm upset. I understand if I work this hard, and we don't get the result, it's okay to be upset. If I'm sad about something for our team, I try to validate those feelings first, and then move on. I think it was great for us as a unit, just as something to build off going into the offseason. [This is] the first time we'll be with the same staff, same system, a lot of continuity on the offensive side of the ball. Now it's that balance of feeling the confidence and seeing the build, but also knowing that we still have work to do. I still have stuff to improve on. We all still have stuff to improve on!"
"If you work out a lot,. Despite the fair share of shade they get, carbohydrates are. But it can be hard to know the best way to incorporate the macronutrient into your diet—especially since a carb-heavy diet can also. Enter: carb cycling, which involves alternating between high-carb consumption days and low-carb consumption days. The method’s not for everyone. And there’s definitely a wrong and right way to do it, according to sports dietitians. Here, they break down everything you need to know about the diet hack, including what it is, who can benefit from it, and what to keep in mind if you want to give it a try. “Carb cycling is a method of eating in which you alternate how many grams of carbs you eat each day, usually labeled as high, moderate, or low, and matched to your daily workout plans and long-term goals,” says, an associate professor of clinical and sports nutrition in the Department of Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Kentucky. So, for example, you can carb cycle by eating a lot of carbs on an intense workout day and eating much fewer on a rest day. Some people may opt for, eating a low-carb diet for three days a week and a high-carb diet two days a week. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all carb cycling protocol, but most people who try it sync it up with the intensity of their workouts, says registered dietitian and certified athletic trainer. There aren’t scientific studies showing the best breakdown, says White. But typically, eats between 100 and 125 grams of carbs on low-carb days and between 175 and 275 grams of carbs on high-carb days, according to, a registered dietitian and associate professor at Appalachian State University. She adds that some athletes carb cycle by consuming between 30 and 60 grams of carbs before they work out while doing other workouts with little or no carbs—like doing a morning run without eating, for example. So carb cycling can sometimes be a choose-your-own-adventure endeavor, depending on your health goals and workout routine. Here’s what the sports dietitians say carb loading isn’t: eating all the bagels, noodles, and rice you want one day and switching to a low- or no-carb day the next. All three experts say that carb loading is typically done by people following a regimented workout routine who are using it to give their body what it needs to get the most out of every workout. That said, carb cycling includes both simple carbs and. Dr. Thomas says that more emphasis is placed on complex carbs (like brown rice, quinoa, beans, lentils, and starchy vegetables) because they are more nutrient-rich than simple carbs, but simple carbs (like bread, white rice, and pasta) are used by athletes with high calorie and carbohydrate needs. The type of carbs to prioritize depends on the timing and type of exercise someone is going to be doing, White says. For example, complex carbs are typically high-fiber, which isn’t ideal if you plan on working out or going on a run soon after eating because it could lead to gastrointestinal distress. “In these cases, you would want to eat simple carbs, because they digest faster,” she says. All three experts we spoke to say that those who can benefit from carb cycling the most are serious athletes—or people who work out like them. “Carb cycling can improve performance for elite athletes who have prioritized all other aspects of training, such as sufficient total daily carbohydrates, meeting protein needs as well as total energy needs, practicing good sleep hygiene, and having a solid training and recovery program,” Dr. Wentz says. “For most amateur athletes, carb cycling won’t make much of an impact.” She adds that serious endurance athletes are especially primed to benefit from carb cycling because they typically have multiple long training sessions a day. That means they need a quickly absorbed energy source, like simple carbohydrates, to keep them going. “For serious athletes, who train one to five hours daily, the idea of matching carb needs with training load and intensity, referred to as nutrient periodization, is not a new concept,” Dr. Thomas says. “The difference is that serious athletes train and compete at high training loads or intensities and need more carbohydrates than what a standard carb cycling plan might suggest,” he says. But that carb load will lessen in the off-season or if they’re rehabbing an injury, Dr. Thomas says. All three dietitians we spoke to say that carb cycling can help you shed pounds but only if it’s part of an overall plan to maintain a calorie deficit. If dedicating a few days a week to being low-carb is your way of resisting simple carbs high in calories, then that’s a strong start toward slimming down. But it won’t help you lose weight if you’re going carb crazy on your high-carb days. If you have diabetes or another medical condition that affects your blood sugar levels, White says that carb cycling likely isn’t the best eating plan for you. Instead, she recommends talking to your doctor about what you are hoping to get out of carb cycling and coming up with a plan together about the best way to reach that goal, taking into account your individual health. The most important thing to consider is the nutrient value of the foods in your diet, both on low-carb days and on high-carb days. What’s going to provide your body with what it needs? Do you need fast-absorbing simple carbs to prep for a long run during your ? How are you going to meet your fiber goals on days when complex carbs are on the back burner? If you have no idea what your nutrient needs are and where carbs fit in, start from scratch at or. But remember: Carb cycling and low-carbohydrate diets are completely different. “Athletes should maintain adequate total carbohydrates and energy to support training,” Dr. Wentz says. “At the same time, some athletes train better and are able to better maintain their weight with moderate carbohydrate intake.” If you’re an athlete—or you train like one—she recommends working with a sports dietitian to figure out a detailed nutrition plan that’s best for you. The bottom line is if you’re doing intense workouts, carb cycling may actually be a beneficial option for you. But if you’re not all that active, you aren’t going to gain a whole lot from it."
"I had one question on my mind for Benson Boone: Sir, why are you always doing backflips? But the 22-year-old chart-topping artist behind the hit “Beautiful Things” was running late to our interview. I couldn’t blame him. Boone, as his publicist explained to me in an email, was “literally doing a flip.” You see, backflipping has become Boone’s schtick, a staple for quite possibly every performance he’s ever done since his days on. Why and how did he learn? It turns out the talent runs in his family. “My dad does flips—or,” Boone, who’s partnering with Armani Beauty to support the launch of Stronger With You, tells. “I saw him do a backflip at a family barbecue. He did it off the neighbor’s balcony, and I was like ‘Hell yeah, dad, I’m gonna try that.’ And I was like four, so I just sent one off my couch, and it actually went surprisingly well.” He tells us he’s been doing backflips everywhere since then, and he’s not lying. He did it (more than once) when he was the on in May. The sacred desk was also for a flip on Wednesday. And we’d put money that he does it at least five times when he’s co-headlining in front of 150,000 music lovers this weekend—even if that crowd size is bigger than he’s used to. “I was doing one of my first shows, I think it might have been in L.A., and it was a really, really, really tiny venue—maybe 100 people,” he says. “I was so new to performing. I had no idea what to do to entertain a crowd, so I was like ‘I could backflip.’ And I did a backflip, and then over the couple of small shows I would do a couple [backflips], and people were like, ‘I love the backflips!’ And so I just kept doing them until it turned into a bigger thing.” “Bigger thing” these days means the countless memes of Boone backflipping in random situations, a phenomenon that may have even helped him sell out his upcoming arena tour for his sophomore album, due out on June 20. For the better half of 2025, Boone will be backflipping his way across 51 shows between North America and Europe. Will he ever stop defying gravity, the same way his dad did? “Hopefully someday,” Boone says. “I don’t think I want to do backflips forever, you know?”"
"You may have heard about the 12-3-30 workout. The trendy fitness approach is all over, where the hashtag #12330 has amassed more than 374 million views. This content can also be viewed on the site it from. Any fitness trend or tips found on the internet should be taken with a handful of salt. But 12-3-30 is both grounded in basic and accessible for a wide range of people. Is it something you should incorporate into your exercise routine? We asked experts to find out. The 12-3-30 workout is refreshingly straightforward: jump on the, set the incline at 12%, speed at three mph and walk for thirty minutes. It's a low(ish)-intensity, that anyone with access to a treadmill can try without feeling too intimidated. Basically, it's a short, simple exercise routine that takes advantage of the underrated benefits of. Humans were designed to move on two legs, so it stands to reason that going for a walk is good for you—but its benefits might be more substantial than you expect. “Thirty minutes of walking a day has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness, strengthen your bones, and boost muscle strength and endurance,” says Helen O'Leary, physiotherapist and clinical director at. “Walking is often overlooked as a form of exercise but is accessible to most and you can be any fitness level to participate.” Bear in mind, however, that you probably won't see a complete fitness transformation from your daily walk. “Low-impact physical activity is good for your health and is much better than just sitting down,” says Lewis Moses, running advisor for compression brand and founder of. “Personally, I would like to see some other activity in a training plan, that is of higher intensity, but walking is always a good starting point especially if you're starting from scratch.” On top of the positive effects of walking, the incline in 12-3-30 brings heightened cardiovascular benefits. “Walking on an incline engages the muscles of the, including the calves, thighs, and glutes, while also providing a moderate-intensity cardiovascular workout,” says personal trainer. “It can be an effective form of exercise, particularly for those who are new to fitness or have joint issues.” 12-3-30 can also encourage consistency. “It gets you active and moving and it's a very simple workout to follow,” says Moses. “It's also a very safe workout and you're not playing around with too many speeds on the treadmill, so people might find it easier and safer.” Like with any one-stop-shop routine, however, what you do away from the workout counts just as much. “The 12-3-30, in principle, can aid in weight loss, some and gluteal muscles,"" says Tim Harris, personal trainer at. ""You can’t however, expect to lose weight if your diet and sleep patterns are not also part of your fitness plan.” You'll be pleased to hear that there are very few risks with 12-3-30. But beware that issues could arise from walking on an incline, such as stress on particular joints like the ankles and knees. “Those with joint issues or injuries should consult with a doctor before beginning the workout,” says Ward. “Additionally, those who have high blood pressure or heart issues should also consult with a doctor before beginning any new exercise routine.” While 12-3-30 is seen as low-impact exercise, it is still exercise, so don't be surprised to find yourself huffing and puffing in a short time. “If you are new to the activity you may find the gradient quite steep so want to start at a lower degree incline,"" says O'Leary. “The idea is not to hold onto the rails of the treadmill. Once you are comfortable with the incline and how it feels, you can gradually increase it towards 12.” Even with fairly innocuous exercise, it pays to be aware of any difficulties you might face and prepare accordingly. “Walking up a gradient continuously can put strain through places such as the, so you have to be really careful not to overdo it,” says Moses. “Remember to and glute muscles, as they will help support the lower back.” When it comes to a productive fitness plan, think of 12-3-30 as both a jumping-off point and complementary routine for a wider fitness program. “If this is a good option for you for cardio, then try to do it a couple of times a week,"" says O'Leary. “Split up the days so they are not consecutive, and in between, try adding a resistance-based workout which will mean you benefit most from exercise.” As always, make sure you keep tabs on how your body is coping and change things as needed. While the 12-3-30 workout is as risk-free and simple as you could hope for from an exercise trend, you should always do your research before trying something you saw online. “Social media is a cool way to share fitness tips, but be careful when taking advice from viral posts,” says Jamie Boudreaux, founder of. “Talk to a professional or do some research to make sure the information you're following is safe and right for you.” Even for those who have been out of action with illness or injury, and who might be more clued up on fitness, social media shouldn't be the first port of call. “Get back into movement via a medical professional, rather than social media,” says O'Leary. “This means that you can have a tailored approach which will benefit you the most and consider any limitations or modifications that need to be made. Not all trends are backed by science.”"
"Cargo pants have been absent from the collective consciousness for a moment, but luckily they never fully went off the grid. And now, the military-inspired staple is back and the best cargo pants for men go far beyond the initial intention as true-blue workwear. Those pockets—all of them—are impossibly functional, and whether or not each is occupied is up to you because, as it so often happens with utilitarian designs, cargo pants are just as vibey as they are useful. When droves of GIs returned home from World War II, they brought their uniforms with them and unknowingly ushered in a new wave of men’s fashion that included,, bomber jackets, and cargo pants. As it happened, their government-issued wares were more stylistically versatile than they knew. Generations later, menswear continues to look for new takes—from spaced-out high-fashion interpretations to one-to-one rips, the tactical pants remain relevant whether you’re on a job site or in an office. So, like, we deployed our own squad of fashion experts to find the best cargo pants for men and bring them back home. You earned this. Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie & Fitch If there’s one pair of pants you remember from the '90s it’s probably Abercrombie & Fitch’s cargo pants. The mall brand made the military pant hot going in the Y2K era and with Abercrombie’s, we’re glad to say they’re just as good as you remember. Washed down to a vintage softness you could only hope to score on the secondhand market and coupled with the drawstring waist and baggy fit, these are some of the most comfy cargo pants you’ll ever slip into. It helps that they look incredible with just about any shoe: chunky boots, dainty loafers, retro running shoes, or even sandals. Uniqlo Uniqlo It’s hard not to look good with Christophe Lemaire’s designs, and thankfully, you don’t have to go full bore and blow out your bank account for his namesake label. The master of minimalist utilitarianism has been heading up Uniqlo U for years, lending his deft eye to the Japanese retailer, so you can stock up on his covetable designs for a reasonable price. Made from lightweight cotton and cut into a wide silhouette, they’re built with an easy-going adjustable waist and sizeable cargo pockets. Needles SSENSE has built a cult following over the years, thanks to its dynamic mix of fabrics, patterns, and silhouettes that blend Western and Japanese influences into a heady fashion cocktail that would leave anyone drunk in love. If you’ve paid any attention to the streetwear side of your social feed you’ve probably seen the brand’s H.D. pants a few times. There are several versions of the H.D. pants, each with massive balloon silhouettes, but the cargo pocket iteration gives it that bit of extra chunk that feels like opting for a double burger instead of a single. Rothco Amazon If there’s a brand that really cargo pants, it’s one that supplies the military. Rothco’s earned its bonafides by crafting ultra-durable gear that’s ready to withstand anything you can throw at it. about these cargo pants a few years back and praised their relaxed straight fit, plentiful pockets, and affordable price point—and nothing has changed about that. While we don’t think the U.S. military is buying their uniforms from Amazon, the ease of shopping on the everything website is good news for regular civilians looking to complete a fit. RRL Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren’s Western-workwear-inspired sublabel RRL is coveted by denim nerds and repro obsessives for its thoroughly researched revivals and reinterpretations of vintage garments. These offbeat cargo pants are the perfect addition to your wardrobe, thanks to the unique rear cargo pocket. Based on vintage military ‘monkey pants’, these feature a hefty herringbone twill fabric, huge side pockets, and an even larger pocket at the seat. The pair is a fun and eye-catching departure from the classic cargo styles you’re used to seeing—just make sure to take out any snacks from the back pocket before you sit down. Dickies Amazon If you want a pair of straight-up, no-nonsense cargo pants that emphasize practicality and durability, there are few to do it better than Dickies. Made from starchy and hefty cotton twill, these cargos have a loose regular fit that pairs as well with a beefy work shirt they do with a hoodie. COS COS COS’ minimalist cargo pants are like a cross between Lemaire and The Row, only for considerably less money. These loose-fit cargo pants feature a hefty elastic waist and asymmetrical pockets for a slight twist on the style. Todd Snyder Todd Snyder Todd Snyder’s cargo pants are some of the cleanest we’ve come across. But where most minimalist-leaning designers stop short is in the fabric wash. Here, Todd’s gone and given his cargos a garment dye for a lived-in feel that looks great with a vintage tee and beat-up sneakers. Engineered Garments SSENSE Could there any more cargo pockets? One of Engineered Garments's many shticks is adding enough pockets to make things interesting and then a few more to make it funny (in a good way). These cargos are bedecked with a litany of flap pockets that could require some serious memory skills lest you forget where you placed your keys. 3sixteen Huckberry Built from a breathable, yet durable Japanese cotton twill that’s been stonewashed for softness, 3sixteen’s cargo pants feature an elastic waist and a relaxed, jogger-like fit that belies its military design origins. Stussy Stussy We can’t imagine a world in which leather cargo pants would be a standard issue, but that’s exactly what makes these Stussy joints fantastic. They're crafted out of supple-grained leather from waist to hem making them a hit with club kids and streetwear circles alike."
"Between the ages of four and six, I went through a terrible nightmare phase. I was convinced there were monsters in the closets, ghosts in the walls, dead people on top of me. I would bawl for my mother, and she would come in and rescue me. She even let me keep the light on until morning. Things only got worse when I turned nine—I would have panic attacks before bed and periodic meltdowns throughout the night. I'd gently knock at my parents’ door and ask to sleep with them, but I was too big by then. My mother sometimes let me keep a mattress on the floor next to their bed, but my parents became frustrated and began to resent me. My dad eventually intervened and forbade my mother from helping me. I had to grow up. It turns out some source, maybe a book they would’ve barely read, had convinced them that I suffered from separation anxiety, which, in my father’s mind, was the wimpiest, most pathetic form of anxiety. They took me to a child psychiatrist, and he encouraged them to let me fight through it. My parents set an early bedtime, pumped me full of warm milk, and gave me a bunch of self-soothing mantras I was to recite whenever I felt anxious. None of it worked. I would still try to climb into their bed, but they began to lock their door. Sometimes I'd sleep in the hallway with my head against their bedroom door. One time, my father stormed out, screamed, ""GO TO SLEEP!"" and slammed the door in my face, locking it again. We have three children, ages seven, six, and five. We didn't really sleep-train our oldest. He was our first, he was adorable, and listening to him bawl was too much for me, so I'd pull him out of his crib and plop him between us before he could cry it out. Sometimes I'd be disappointed if he actually slept through the night. Our second was tough, and we let her cry it out in her room. This was equally painful, but after 45 minutes, she'd slow down to sniffling, then into a graceful snore. And wouldn't you know it, she now sleeps through the night with no problem. When tired, she climbs into the top bunk, and she is usually the first to wake up, get dressed, and eat breakfast. Our third child, a boy, was born in February 2020 and hospitalized with RSV a month later, a week or two after the pandemic lockdown. It was a terrifying and disorienting time for a one-month-old to get an upper respiratory infection. A couple of years later, he had a terrible seizure in our family room. It scared my wife and me so much that we no longer care if he sleeps in our bed until he’s 37. Now five, he is our tiniest child, still frog-legged like a newborn. The three of us share a bed almost every night, and my wife and I are in no rush to get him back into his own, mainly because the type of seizures he has mostly occur at night, while he's asleep. It’s been a little crowded, but I don't mind. But in the past year, our seven-year-old has begun to have sleep problems too, waking up at 2 a.m., shuffling in from his room, and shoving me over to climb into my side of the bed. He is large for his age, heavy, all legs and feet. Several nights a week, there are now four of us on top of one another. What is technically a king-sized bed feels like a twin. We are constantly kicked in the stomach, smacked in the throat, or awakened by sleep-talking or sneezes or farting. Sometimes, I complain to my wife that our comfort should also be a priority, that we must be more vigilant about guarding our bed. But I rarely ever give my kids much of a hard time, because I don't ever want them to feel like my father made me feel when I had my own sleep problems as a kid. I was terrified of my father until college. I hated the sound of his footsteps, the sound of him turning on the faucet, the sound of his keys in the door when he got home from work. My bad dreams weren’t the problem; became the nightmare. When I later talked to my dad about how he handled my sleep issues as a kid, he rationalized his behavior, saying it was necessary to prevent me from growing into a codependent adult unable to sleep in his own bed: “I wanted you to be able to fend for yourself!” But this approach backfired, spectacularly. I could not sleep in a bed alone for most of my adult life. I would be restless all night; I could only fall asleep on the couch with the TV on, or after taking enough pills to knock myself out. I became more anxious, distrustful, and scared—of abandonment connection. I was unable to express my needs; I was paralyzed by fear of, well, most things. I don't take the pills anymore, but I still have plenty of nights where I'm dead tired yet unable to fall asleep, and wind up watching an old Jason Statham movie on my laptop to “relax.” Therapy has helped with this through the concept of re-parenting, through which I figure out my adult needs by first considering what the nine-year-old version of me would need. Most of the time, it's love and kindness. And safety—I want to feel safe. When my boys come into the bed, sometimes I want to shove them out, yell at them for being wimps, and tell them that they'll grow up codependent and weak. And then I try to remember the sound of the door slamming and my father yelling at me. I want them to feel safe and loved. I would most likely let them sleep with us forever, but I know they won't. Someday they'll get comfortable in their own beds. What's the rush?"
"The best sweatpants for men have evolved with the times. Way back when, they used to represent the, the culmination of a century’s worth of fabric innovation. Then they became a little more like pajamas, or the pants you pull on to take a break from all the hard work you’ve put in, even if that “hard work” was simply getting a fit off. (When you don’t want to expend another iota of energy getting dressed, they’re your fleece-lined panacea—an oasis of cozy zen in a cruel, hard-clothed world.) But the truth is, in 2025, they can also play exactly down the middle of those two extremes, and get you through all your out-the-house activities in comfort, and even a little style. That's because these days, the best of the bunch are spearheading the category's boldest transformation yet: helping you relax. With this particular evolution in mind, we've assembled a who’s who of the softest, sturdiest, most stylish sweatpants on the planet, from exquisite designer riffs rendered in pure cashmere to bulk-buy stalwarts that only look better with a light dusting of Cheetos crumbs. Then we whittled them down to the absolute best sweatpants for men, each worn, tested, and (very lightly) sweated in by a fleece-addled braintrust of editors. Reigning Champ Reigning Champ Amazon Everyday basics like T-shirts, underwear, and, yeah, sweatpants are easy to take for granted. But when you experience a true upgrade, you’ll wonder why you skimped on something so essential. For sweats, Reigning Champ was that eye-opening experience for me. The Canadian company has been a leader in the genre for decades (even if they’re not exactly a household name like Champion or Hanes), and it’s the attention to detail at every step of the process that sets them apart from the rest. At the heart of the brand’s high-quality product is the French terry fleece itself—burly and tough on the outside, brushed and soft on the inside, with plenty of gorgeous texture and made to their custom specs in Canada. It’s a midweight fabric that’s perfect for year-round wear (they also make lightweight versions for those of us who prefer a breezier option). And unlike many other options that cut their sweats from a synthetic mish-mash of materials, these are made from 100% cotton for a naturally soft and breathable experience. From there, smooth flatlock seams keep everything together while upping the durability by a considerable margin, and the relaxed silhouette is right in line with classic sweats we’re feeling these days. Though we’re partial to the adjustable open hem, they also make that’s equally as good. Champion Amazon It’s likely no surprise to you that Champion clinched a winning honorific on this list. The American sportswear juggernaut—now owned by Hanes, another national icon—has been in the sweatpants business for just about as long as it’s been around. (Over a century, for those curious.) There’s a reason big-name designers from Milan to Mexico City keep turning to the Main Street stalwart to collaborate, senior commerce editor Avidan Grossman notes: “Champion is the first name in high-quality, low-cost sweats.” Grossman has owned a few versions of this exact pair over the years, and touts their cozy fleece lining, roomy fit, and open hem as crucial selling points. “You could expend a whole lot more energy—and spend quadruple the money—on a buzzier pair,” he says, “but the only one you really need is fifty bucks.” Todd Snyder x Champion Todd Snyder Todd Snyder's longstanding collaboration with Champion is responsible for our favorite crewneck sweatshirt, so it stands to reason that they also make a top-notch sweatpant. For once, an assumption won't make an ass out of you and me—but it will make your ass look mighty damn fine. (Sorry.) Because, of course, the Todd Snyder + Champion line's sweatpants are great, and for many of the same reasons as their upper body counterpart: the fit is tailored and on point, the details are handsome and vintage-inspired—plus the French terry fabric has just the right mix of structure and softness. If you're looking for a simple, classic pair of sweatpants executed flawlessly, these are the way to go. Grossman doesn’t own a pair of Todd Snyder’s joggers himself, but he recommended them many times over to friends who just can’t quit the silhouette. “I’m not really a joggers guy,” he’s quick to assure us, “but if are, these are far and away the least egregious on the market.” Grossman especially likes the beefy French terry fabric and garment-dyed finish, both of which lend the silhouette a pleasantly throwback vibe. “I’ve sent countless jogger-pilled homies straight to Todd’s site,” he says, “and have yet to hear a single complaint.” Lady White Co. SSENSE Lady White Co. Ever since they set out to creating the perfect tee (which, they basically did on the first go), we’ve admired the folks at for their unwavering dedication to all things knitwear. I've always thought they have an almost Zen-like focus on knits that almost no other brand can touch. LWC at once has great respect for the tried and true sportswear garments they reference while constantly pushing the genre in all the right directions. These jersey lounge pants are a perfect example. Unlike many other sweats which use French terry or fleece, LWC’s are made from jersey, the same material T-shirts are made of. While that would normally make for a pretty flimsy sweatpant, the jersey in these pants is the same that’s used for the brand’s heaviest T-shirts, weighing in at 10-ounces per square yard—that’s essentially sweatshirt territory. Most midweight sweats clock in around 16 ounces or so, which puts these on the lighter end of the spectrum which is great for warmer seasons. Add to that details like clean interior drawstring waistband, a full fit and gently tapered, and these are some of the cleanest sweatpants out there. Les Tien Mr Porter When Grossman and style editor Yang-Yi Goh put together the inaugural class of, there was only one pair of sweatpants they considered. Les Tien specializes in sweats of the highest order, they wrote then, cut with a tailor’s eye for precision and an Angeleno’s appreciation for pared-back ease. In the year or so since, not much has changed. “Every time we call these into HQ,” Grossman says, “ a colleague wanders into the shoot and asks about them—and then inevitably buys a pair.” Think of them as supremely cozy capital-T trousers and style ’em accordingly. Ghiaia Cashmere Mr Porter On the athleisure spectrum, cashmere sweatpants are 0% “ath” and 100% “leisure.” And if you’re gonna lean into the royal coziness that comes with cashmere, you might as well put your shoulder into it. Ghiaia Cashmere sits in the upper echelons of quiet luxury and, as the name suggests, its seat is upholstered in ultra-fine cashmere. The plush cashmere fabric for these over-the-top sweatpants/joggers is made in a family-run factory in Italy and cut into a relaxed tapered fit that feels ultra cozy and looks even cleaner. Pro Club Amazon Trumbull Huckberry Point Blank Nike Nike Everybody.World Everybody.World Made entirely from waste material, Everybody.World’s Trash sweatpants are a treasure. The lofty yet substantial fabric feels like it’s been worn in to a vintage softness and the relaxed fit is on point. Camber All Clothing USA If we’re measuring beefiness, Camber’s Cross Knit Sweatpants would qualify as a Tomahawk steak. That heavyweight fabric is stiffer at the start than the coddled sweats you’re used to, but it just gets softer and softer with every wash and wear until you eventually have a vintage-looking pair that you created all on your own. Don’t be surprised if you still have the same pair 15 years from now because the durability on these is next level. As with any garment, it's important to consider the quality of the fabric, the construction involved, and, most importantly, your personal taste. Jonathan Streeks, a fashion influencer who has ID’d more hoodies than bouncers have ID’d club goers, has amassed a huge following for his endless sweats content and earned himself the title of Hoodie Detective. But his hoodie expertise extends to sweats as well. Some old-school sweats are designed without pockets—you might be wearing yours strictly for chilling, but having a pocket to hold your phone is probably a good idea. Streeks says there are a few non-negotiables. “Sweatpants must be comfortable over long periods of time. An elastic or drawstring waistline and fabric that does not shrink after multiple wash/dry cycles is essential and guarantees the garment will fit the same for months and years.” Ari Katz, brand director of Everybody.World says sweats should be “Practical but unfussy, made from industry-challenging earth-friendly materials and with thoughtful details like deep pockets and an inside drawcord.” Eventually, the elasticity of the fabric inside the waistband will deteriorate and lose its stretch, so that drawstring will help extend the life of your sweats. Ideally, sweatpants should be sewn with flatlock stitching. In this kind of stitching, two pieces of fabric abut each other rather than overlap, and the stitching zig-zags across the two pieces. The result is a smoother, less bulky construction.. Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the, the flyest, or the need-to-know, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories:,, and. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (.) What's the difference between sweatpants and joggers? The difference is so subtle that it’s almost not worth mentioning, but the main difference between sweatpants and joggers boils down to silhouette and fabric. Sweatpants are usually made of heavier-weight knit material like fleece or French terry, and tend to come in a baggy or relaxed fit. Warmer sweatpants will not only use thicker fleece, but will also have a brushed interior to add insulation and a soft hand. (We dig sweatpants made from 100% cotton, but a tiny bit of stretch will go a long way if comfort is a top priority.) Joggers, on the other hand, are more likely to be made of thinner, lightweight materials with a slim fit and tapered leg. That said, many of today's sweatpants feature both a traditionally heavier fleece fabric with a tapered leg, making the distinction between the two increasingly hazy. For more intel, check out our guide to the. What are the best sweatpants made of? Sweatpants come in a variety of fabrics like hoodies and pullover sweatshirts. These fabrics can range in materials, thickness, and weight. “I typically lean towards heavier weight, 100% cotton fabrics,” he says. “or poly blends with over 70% cotton in the blend. Oftentimes polyester is used to alter the feel and prevent shrinking which I don’t mind.” For the nitty gritty, Streeks says heavyweight fabrics range from 350-550 GSM (Grams per Square Meter). If you imagine a fleece jacket, you're not far off from what sweatpant fleece is. They're practically the same thing, but on a slightly less chunky scale. Fleece is made by knitting fabric to have the fibers stand up. Those raised fibers are then shorn and brushed to produce a fuzzy texture which is super soft and warm. Similar to fleece, French Terry features raised yarns which resemble loops—this is the same stuff are made of. These loops help to absorb moisture which made them great for soaking up sweat during a workout (remember that epic scene from ?). Additionally, the loops help trap heat and insulate you from the cold. French Terry most often is made from cotton as opposed to fleece which is more commonly made of synthetic materials like polyester. French Terry can come in both brushed and un-brushed forms. How should sweatpants fit? Should sweatpants be slim or baggy? That's up to you, bud! Relaxed-fit sweatpants are certainly more classic, but slimmer sweatpants can feel more streamlined and more apt for working out. Most sweatpants will come with some sort of ankle-hugging hem, whether that's made of elastic or a form-fitting ribbing, but these days, we tend to dig sweats with a wider, open hem. For inspo, check out our story on."
"In 2010, the workout program introduced the world to quadrupedal movement training (QMT), a ground-based style of fitness that draws inspiration from animal movements. While QMT, or primal fitness, has spent the better part of the past 15 years stalking the fringes of the fitness industry, the workout has recently roared back in popularity thanks to a. “We're still seeing this body weight-training boom coming out of Covid,” says coach Kristina Centenari. “A lot of people didn't have access to equipment, and they got to understand the benefits of calisthenics.” The key to QMT’s appeal—and the billions of views amassed by the hashtag on TikTok—is how accessible it is. It’s an equipment-free (and also just ) workout that you can do anywhere. And the supports its claims about improving not just mobility and stability but also, which has recently been linked to longevity. “It comes back to this idea of functional fitness,” says Centenari. “Like, how can you move through life better?” As a form of, QMT is all about strengthening the body’s weak links to improve your overall physical resilience and real-world readiness. “The idea here is that if you need to get down low and then get back up, or support yourself on your hands, or sort of lean in a weird way, you've built some familiarity with your body,” says Ben Supik, founder and CEO of in Baltimore, MD. “We want to make sure that the body is well suited to prevent injury—not just when we're going about everyday life, but in weird situations, too.” Granted, nobody’s out here bear-crawling down the street, but it’s movements like this—along with the crab reach, beast activation, and travelling ape, to name a (slightly cringe) few—that can unlock new mobility and put you more in tune with how your body moves through space. “There's research to show that when you’re in this quadrupedal base position—with your hands and your feet on the ground—it really does improve coordination,” says Centenari. Overall, getting down on all fours with QMT can help you improve your mobility and stability, and it’ll also make you stronger. Of course, body-weight training comes with its own inherent limitations, and if your goals involve or a specific strength benchmark, for example, you’d be better served using primal fitness to supplement those workouts, rather than replace them. Even if you’re not interested in going full beast mode, that doesn’t mean you can’t still use elements of QMT to your advantage. “You don’t have to stop everything that you're doing and go practice Animal Flow,” says Centenari, who recommends QMT as a great way for people to activate their muscles before big lifts. For example, “you can prime your serratus anterior muscles for the bench press with a crab reach,” she says. Primal movements are useful for warming up generally, whether you’re heading to the weight room or the soccer field. “One thing about Animal Flow that's great is that it kind of hits everything from head to toe,” says Supik. “After 10 minutes, I've warmed up all the muscles in my body and I'm ready to go play my sport or go lift heavy weights.” It’s also a killer travel workout—the perfect solution to a lackluster hotel gym—and most fitness streaming apps now offer some version of primal training. (Personally, I’m a big fan of —one of the most slept-on fitness apps out there.) While many primal exercises, poses, and flows might look intuitive, technique is crucial, given the absence of equipment to keep you on form. And the potential benefits are behind a learning curve that might not be for everyone. “When it comes to beginners, the issue is the barrier to entry is a bit high,” says Supik, who recommends people have at least a basic foundation of fitness before experimenting with QMT. “Animal Flow does offer regressions—taking an exercise and scaling it back, based on your capabilities—but it only regresses so far.” Even for the seasoned fitness enthusiast, QMT can be deceptively tricky to grasp. “The floor is often foreign to people who haven't been down there in a while,” says Centenari. “So, be open-minded to learning something new and maybe feeling a little bit uncoordinated or foreign in your body.” And, whatever you do, don’t force it. “Everyone's wrists are tight because we're on phones and keyboards all day,” says Supik. “And to have your wrist bend all the way backwards and support your body weight is literally an impossibility for a lot of people without taking the time to acclimate to it.” Of course, practice makes perfect, and the holistic benefits of QMT could be well worth your investment in mastering a new skill, says Supik. “This could be an interesting way to challenge your body in a new way that mentally keeps the spark going and keeps you motivated to show up.”"
"During an, the airways responsible for bringing fresh oxygen into the body become inflamed. The muscles in the lungs and bronchial tree (or the windpipe and channels connecting it to the lungs) swell and tighten, restricting your airflow. At the same time, the airways increase mucus production; this is an meant to trap pathogens—but in reality, it further clogs your pipes. Inflammation happens when the body fights off something it determines to be foreign or harmful. The attack leaves you wheezing, coughing, and gasping for breath. If you’re one of the 27 million Americans who lives with asthma, it goes without saying that you try to avoid it, and learning your specific asthma triggers is necessary for breathing easily. “Viral infections, allergen exposure, and exposure to irritants and poor air quality are the most common triggers of asthma exacerbation,” says, founder of the Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Center of Alaska and spokesperson for the (AAFA). Beyond these common triggers, however, there are some asthma-attack-inducing stimuli that don’t get as much attention. You might already know that irritating particles in the air—such as cigarette smoke, fumes, and odors caused by chemicals (think cleaning supplies)—could bring on an asthma attack. However, other causes of poor air quality are equally harmful. “Living in proximity to state or federal highways has been associated with a higher incidence of asthma and more severe asthma,” says Dr. Demain. Wildfires, which are tragically, are another asthma trigger. It’s important for everyone to be aware of the in their environment before venturing outdoors, particularly for exercise (something you can check ), but this could be life-saving for asthmatics. Many people's. This is because cold air, particularly dry cold air, can cause the bronchial pathways to spasm, says Dr. Demain. According to the Allergy and Asthma Network, winter can also be an especially hard time for asthmatics because colds, flu, and other viruses are more common this time of year (all of which exacerbate asthma symptoms). Yes, thunderstorms. “Weather events, such as thunderstorms, have been well reported to be associated with severe asthma exacerbations in some, especially those with grass pollen allergy,” says Dr. Demain. “Grass pollens can be swept up into the storm and result in pollen grain rupture, releasing small fragments that can penetrate deeply into the lung.” “Certain medications, most commonly non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and in a subset of asthmatics,” says Dr. Demain. An estimated ; “this subset of patients also commonly have chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps,” says Dr. Demain. However, research hasn’t proven the precise mechanism for this. According to Dr. Demain, acid reflux is often seen in asthmatics. “The reason why is not completely understood, but worsening asthma can be associated with acid reflux, and asthma can worsen acid reflux,” he says. ""One potential explanation is that when stomach acid enters the esophagus, a small amount can be inhaled into the lung, referred to as microaspiration.” Dr. Demain says that stomach acid in the esophagus can also stimulate the vagus nerve, leading to constricting the airways. “There are data suggesting that obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] is associated with poor asthma control, more nocturnal symptoms, and frequent exacerbations in asthma patients,” says Dr. Demain. The good news is that treating OSA with continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP) has also been shown to improve asthma symptoms, adds Dr. Demain. Remember in how whenever anything particularly scary happens? Turns out, there’s some truth to this stereotype. “Interestingly, emotions can provoke asthma symptoms,” says Dr. Demain. “This can occur with stress and anger as well as laughter and excitement.”"
"Summer’s not the time to overthink things. It’s hot, you’re on the move, and showing up looking remotely put together is all you can really hope for. Whether you’re battling a sweaty commute, hopping on a flight, or just trying to keep your skin smooth and style sharp, this Box has you covered. Everything here is editor-approved to help you stay cool, look good, and feel in control—no matter the temperature. Thankfully, the delivers exactly what swampy season demands. Inside, you’ll find lightweight wardrobe upgrades, grooming essentials that stand up to the heat, and ultra-smart, travel-ready gear. If you don't know already, the “GQ-endorsed products at one hell of a deal” is the whole point of the Box. Every day we're testing the latest and greatest in clothes, gear, tech, and grooming goods. When something really makes us smile, we share it with our Box subscribers. They get a Box—literally, a box!—of GQ-selected products shipped to their house.. New members will receive a pair of Bather swim trunks in Solid Pine and a woodsy-scented incense set from Bursera—perfect for beach days and winding down after. This is the kind of tee that looks good on everyone and feels even better on your conscience. Not only is the Short Sleeve Trash Tee made from reclaimed waste cotton, it’s also ridiculously soft, creating that perfectly broken-in feel from the first wear. Throw it on with swim trunks, jeans, or under a linen button-down—it plays well with pretty much everything in your summer lineup. However you decide to style it, once you try it on, good luck wanting to wear anything else. This razor might just ruin all others for you. The Single Edge SE is designed to give you that barbershop-close shave. And thanks to its genius NickStop™ tech, it dramatically cuts down on nicks and bumps. It’s sleek, weighty in the hand, and engineered to feel like a daily upgrade. Snap in a blade, lather up, and let the razor do the heavy lifting. Its smart angle makes it easy to use and get a smooth, irritation-free shave every time. Whether you’re heading to the office, the gym, or a weekend getaway, this bottle is your perfect companion. The S’well’s 17oz capacity is ideal for staying hydrated throughout the day, and the condensation-free exterior ensures it won’t sweat in your bag. Sleek, stylish, and perfect for the on-the-go in the London Chimney shade that literally goes with everything. This is the one cable to rule them all. The Omnicable charges three different device types—USB-C, Lightning, and Micro-USB—so you can ditch the tangled mess and keep one sleek solution in your bag. The braided nylon cord stays tangle-free and travel-ready, so you’re always good to go. Plug into any USB-A port, then charge your phone, earbuds, fitness tracker, and basically any of your tech. Durable, stylish, and clutter-reducing, it’s basically a modern essential. This OLEHENRIKSEN 7% AHA Dark Spot Toner deserves a spot on your counter. Powered by glycolic and lactic acids, it helps fade dark spots, smooth rough patches, and even out skin tone. It’s no fluff, no stinging, no weird scents. Just fast and noticeable results. Use it at night after washing your face—just a few swipes on a cotton pad across your skin, avoiding your eyes. You’ll feel a light tingle (that’s normal), then follow up with moisturizer. Don’t skip the SPF either. This moisturizer is the unsung hero your face has been waiting for. Packed with a blend of natural oils, like grape seed, rosehip, and jojoba, the Hydra-Restore Day Cream delivers deep hydration without that greasy aftermath. Plus, the subtle citrus and geranium scent is a refreshing bonus to kickstart your day. After washing your face, take a small amount and work it in with upward strokes over your face and neck. It absorbs quickly, keeps your skin in check, and is suitable for all skin types. ( Meet the grown-up version of your old body spray—minus the synthetic overload. Dove Men+Care’s Whole Body Deodorant Spray in Shea Butter + Cedar smells subtly woodsy and warm, not overpowering. Bonus: it’s aluminum-free and infused with vitamin E, so it’s actually doing your skin a favor. Start your day by spraying this deodorant on clean, dry skin—it’s designed for use all over, from underarms to feet. The quick-drying formula leaves no residue, so you can dress immediately and get to where you’re going. "
"The best small watches for men might just change the way you look at your wrist. Conventional wisdom dictates that the best way to find your ideal watch size is to measure the circumference of your wrist and proceed accordingly, just as you would with a pair of shoes or a belt. While that’s a good starting place, it’s not quite the whole story. Sure XXL watches do tend to look all the beefier on slender wrists, but (hot take incoming!) we’d posit that this has more to do with the ballooning proportions of timepieces than anyone’s anatomy. The fact is, smaller watches just look better. To understand why, we need to go back to the days before and became some of the most coveted watches on the planet. From the early 1900s through the 1980s, small timepieces enjoyed a long and uninterrupted reign as the pinnacle of taste and style. And for good reason: Watchmakers had been working for generations to make their movements as small as possible without sacrificing accuracy, making slimness and lightness extremely desirable traits. That all began to change with the advent of diver's watches in the 1950s (see: the ), followed by automatic chronographs in the late '60s (see: the ), and luxury sports watches (see: the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak) in the 1970s. Fifty years on (and thanks to Instagram, a platform seemingly made for flexing oversized timepieces), the original Royal Oak's 39mm case looks downright petite next to most men’s watches, which usually measure anywhere from 40mm-45mm—a size once considered unwearably large. Recently, though, as more people have discovered the charms (and diminutive proportions) of vintage watches, demand for smaller case sizes is on the rise. While large-and-in-charge cases remain the norm (for now) there are plenty of smaller options available if you know where to look. The elite selects below are the very best small watches for men on the market. You’ll have a tough time finding anything in the sub-$100 category that would qualify as “heirloom grade,” but that doesn’t mean you can’t still score an iconic design. Swatch Amazon Casio Amazon Armitron Armitron Timex Timex In the lower echelons of the market, a little extra cash can get you a lot more watch. While sub-$100 watches are mostly plastic and battery-powered, $250 can get you into a stainless steel case and even the occasional automatic movement. Praesidus Amazon Timex Amazon Seiko Amazon Timex Timex If you have $500 to spend on a watch, your options increase significantly. You now have access to a raft of respected mid-range brands, a range of high-end materials including sapphire crystals and high-end stainless steel, as well as some interesting movement options like Citizen’s light-powered Eco-Drive. Marathon Marathon Mondaine Amazon Citizen Citizen Tissot Amazon For most of us spending a grand on a watch isn’t nothing, but if you can swing it you’ll find better value and more options than anywhere else in the watch hierarchy—not to mention some of the slickest small tickers at any price. Tissot Amazon Paulin Paulin Baltic Baltic Vaer VAER Did you recently come into a large inheritance? Has your humble startup been acquired by a company with a campus in Palo Alto? Or perhaps, like most of us, you just enjoy imagining what it would be like to shop for a watch without such mundane constraints as cost. If so, here are a few small-but-mighty tickers to whet your appetite. Hermès Hermès NOMOS Mr Porter Rolex Bezel Vacheron Constantin Bezel If you have a slim wrist, or just prefer the look of a smaller watch (in which case, congratulations on your impeccable taste) your best play is to shop by the numbers. The easiest way to judge a watch’s wearability is to look at the case size (a.k.a. the overall diameter, not including the crown) but it’s also worth looking at the case thickness (which has an impact on how big a watch will look on your wrist), the type of bracelet it has (integrated bracelets tend to make a watch wear larger) and the lug-to-lug measurement (that’s the distance across the dial between the tips of the lugs that hold the strap in place). What’s the ideal size? That’s debatable (and a great way to get a group of watch nerds fired up) but most folks would agree that a small men’s watch has a case diameter anywhere between 34mm and 38mm. Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the, the, or the need-to-know, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories:,, and. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs. Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (.)"
"If it's been a minute since you've set foot in a, know that you're missing out. We're spoiled for menswear, no doubt, but BR's resurgence—several years old, at this point, has put it squarely back on the map as a go-to outpost. At least for me. That's largely because I've seen BR lean back into the styles that made it so damn good to begin with: safari-pilled fits, straight-from-the-archives reboots of classic pieces, and menswear that that looks sharp without leaning too hard into. The new Banana Republic is less worried about what I'm wearing Monday through Friday, and more about what I'll pack for my vacation days. Photos: Doug Guida All that—and, sure, a job at —explains why I found myself in Banana Republic's flagship store in New York's SoHo neighborhood on one hot and sunny day this spring. Inside the doors was a souped-up version of your average Banana Republic: two floors decked out with old telescopes and vintage Americana between racks and racks of in-season clothing. A BMW R69US motorcycle from the '60s sat pretty beside a mannequin in an all-denim look. The ground floor had a special section of vintage Banana pieces—from your dad’s days up through the aughts, sourced and for sale—that I'd come back to more than once. But to start, I was headed for the second floor, home of the men's section. Photos: Doug Guida For two hours, I hit the racks at Banana Republic with a plan to make five full looks, pulling from new arrivals, some perennial hits, and a vintage piece or two. The hardest part was stopping at just five looks. I was sweaty when I stepped into the store, and couldn't ditch my long-sleeve shirt and tailored pants fast enough. Blessedly Banana Republic's summer was in full swing. A pair of longer-than-I'm-used-to vintage caught my eye, as did a banana-hued, two-pocket short-sleeve shirt that made me think of those Progressive's commercials about not turning into your parents. Except, in this case, that's exactly what I wanted to do. In true dad fashion, I let the dogs out with a pair of leather sandals while I practiced saying, “Careful near the grill, son.” Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Crosby Square Banana Republic I've been wearing ties and a lot to work recently, sparking plenty of coworkers to ask: “What are you dressing up for?” Sue me if I want to look good at my 9-to-5! The next step for me is a full suit on a random Tuesday, and Banana's Relaxed tencel-linen jacket and pants might be the one. I've made the move towards baggier, breezier fits everywhere else, and this suit follows…suit. It fit where it should—in the shoulders, chest, and waist—while leaving room around the torso, thighs, and calves. The very airy tencel-linen fabric pooled so nicely around a pair of loafers that even if I don't get the pants hemmed, they'll like I meant to rock them long. And since I'm not closing deals or presenting to the board, I toned down the seriousness with a. The slightly deeper scoop and some subtle ribbing nicely straddled the line between slutty and suave. Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic I've been staying strong with my leg days, and when I found these neat tencel-linen shorts with embroidered detailing above the hem, I knew they'd frame things up nicely. The shorts actually paired with a matching top, but that felt a little too Hamptons for me, so I grabbed that same mesh tank from first look. Then I threw on a —not as a top, but as an accessory. In case the temperature dipped it would come in handy, but as-is, the sweater's prep vibes (and a pair of leather slip-ons) softened the 1950's gym class energy. Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic If a style move is, it's automatically on the mood board. I found this ribbed V-neck sweater vest in Banana's vintage collection, complete with a little tear on the back of the collar. A pair of pleated made it summer-ready—though I'd wear this outfit with a pair of baggy pleated pants if the situation called for it. Loafers (mine are horsebit, but Banana's penny loafers would work, too) make the whole ensemble a bit more Ivy-coded. Just my style. Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Consider this fit my audition tape for the next season of —which, coincidentally, did a earlier this year. That makes sense, since if there's one thing that new-era Banana knows how to do well, it's resort wear. None of these pieces is part of that collection, but the vibe is the same: A lacy short-sleeve top and crisp cotton poplin pants that can go from private beach to chartered yacht with ease. Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic Banana Republic"
"If you had to whittle down your to a single pair, you could do a lot worse than one of the best loafers for men. At, we’ve long maintained that loafers are the Swiss Army Knife of shoes, ready to help you puzzle through all stylistic head-scratchers you encounter. Not sure what shoes to wear with a bespoke tux for a —or just a ? Loafers. Not sure what shoes to wear with cut-off jean shorts for the after- party that same night? (The only two vibes, really.) Loafers again. Let’s put it this way: When you’re running out of the house in a frantic blur with nary a second to whip up, a pair of loafers will really save your ass. Loafers can take a well-thought-out fit and turn it into a galaxy-brain ensemble, and if these quarter-baked anecdotes aren’t doing it for you and you need a little more convincing, don’t worry—we’re just getting warmed up. No matter the style you're after, from classic penny loafers to dressy tassel loafers, we’ve tested and tracked down the absolute best loafers for men. Meermin Meermin It’s unlikely you’ll have heard of Meermin, but let this be the reason you never forget them. Technically, Meermin is a DTC label, but not in the Silicon Valley dropout solving a non-problem sort of way. Instead, the brand leans on the shoemaking heritage of its native Spain, where storied brands like Carmina and Santoni make some of the most revered derbies, Oxfords, and loafers in the world. What you get is a pair of loafers made of supple Italian boxcalf, made using top-tier construction details, and a beautiful, tasteful silhouette, at a price that you’d think was a mistake. The leather is easy to break in, the studded rubber soles are weather-ready. The silhouette is rounded but not stubby, sleek but not pointy (a difficult task, for some reason). But what really sets Meermin’s penny loafers apart from the rest is the sum of its parts. The quality is on par with loafers that cost more than twice its price and the classic style does a lot to extend its value proposition. Though you can only buy it directly from Meermin, whose brick-and-mortar presence is limited, the straightforward returns process makes it less of a pain point. G.H. Bass & Co. G.H. Bass Nordstrom Mr Porter No definitive loafer ranking would never be complete without a pair of Bass Weejuns. They've been an icon since the '30s, and when it comes to loafers—or any shoe, really—you'd be hard-pressed to find a better value. The brand's casual-leaning silhouette is a -favorite, beloved by old-school legends like JFK and modern-day loafer aficionados alike. The best way to wear them? Play down their clean-cut origins by pairing them with everything from cuffed Dickies to flower-child faded jeans. For the bargain-savvy shopper, these are about as close as it gets to a near-perfect black loafer that doesn't compromise on quality and doesn't call for a short-term loan to afford. In other words: as long as Bass keeps making 'em, we'll keep recommending 'em. In our experience, Weejuns require a little bit of breaking in—and like all leather-soled shoes, can be slippery at the outset. (We suggest taking your true size.) They may not come equipped with a Goodyear welt, the gold standard in highfalutin cobbling, but the Blake stitch construction is noticeably easier to break in—and just as resolable. “Think of these as your all-around loafer, the kind you wear everyday until they finally go kaput or you’re ready to upgrade,” says GQ style commerce writer Gerald Ortiz, who’s owned half a dozen or so pairs over the decades. It’s notoriously tricky to nail the quality-value matrix, but with the Weejuns, Bass did just that. Vinny's Mr Porter The next step from the iconic Weejun should ideally get you a pair of loafers with noticeably better materials, higher-quality construction, and upgraded stitching, not to mention charming good looks. Presenting the Vinny’s Yardee loafer. As far as quality is concerned, the Yardee is right up there with other premium options. They’ve got upgraded cow leather uppers, resolable construction, and are handmade in Portugal. But what sets them apart is Vinny’s deft blend of homage and modern appeal. The Yardee takes cues from the iconic Weejun with its beefroll details and rounded toe, but veers into 2025 with bright green leather lining and a slightly chunkier heel and sole. What’s more, the Yardee comes in a gang of leather options from supple suedes and nubucks to head-turning croc- and -lizard-embossed leathers. It’s the loafer for the discerningly stylish guy who’s prefers an updated and upgraded classic. Dr. Martens Zappos Amazon Nordstrom The Alden tassel loafers below are great and all, but the rarified price point, cordovan leather, and dainty silhouette give them a scholarly, somewhat fuddy-duddy air that might not jive with your street-leaning sensibility. That's where Dr. Martens comes in. Its cult-loved Adrian loafers are done up in the brand's notoriously tough smooth leather, and then plopped on top of its surprisingly giving AirWair soles. For Doc lovers, details like a double tassel and kiltie fringe—positioned around that signature cushioned sole—have helped loafer wearers look like counter-cultural icons since the ‘80s, and with a scuzzy cardigan and faded jeans they’ll do the same for you, too. “I love the little extra vertical boost they promise,” says GQ associate commerce editor Tyler Chin. “Though going true to size with these might’ve been a miss—they’re maybe half a size too big.” Oh, and Chin isn’t the only Tyler we know who swears by the silhouette: it was a crucial cosign from Tyler, the Creator that convinced him to finally buy a pair. Gucci Nordstrom Mr Porter Gucci The word ""icon"" gets tossed around real casually these days, but Gucci's horsebit loafer is the rare piece of design actually worthy of the moniker. (There's a reason the silhouette's barely changed since it was first introduced in the early '50s.) Gucci high-end loafers are still crafted in Italy, still embellished with the brand's signature horsebit detail hearkening back to its legacy as a small-time Florentine leather goods operation. Explaining their appeal is easy: not only do they go with everything you already own, but they'll swank up every outfit you pair them with—from the casual, everyday vibes you'll be bringing back to your re-opened office, to the wooly you've been jonesing to bust out with a funky tie. Suffice to say, Gucci’s signature loafers are masterful, down to the carefully-shaped soles and quality stitching. Chin went true to size and had zero notes on the fit—but he did note that the leather soles are relatively thin, and might be prone to wearing out quickly. The fix is simple enough: If you want to extend the life of your shoes preemptively, have a cobbler apply a rubber sole. According to Ortiz, who owns a pair in a Nicolas Cage-esque snakeskin print, the Ellis is “built like a tank.” The double-leather sole gives it a pleasantly hefty feel, a testament to its quality. Sizing, however, can be a little tricky; we suggest sizing down a half or whole size. The Ellis is “built as well as any heritage shoe,” Ortiz adds. “But the wild materials and colorways make it a hell of a lot more fun.” Jacques Solovière Huckberry We dig shoes for their unique silhouettes, which merge old-world craftsmanship with decidedly new-school flair. These Venetian-style loafers feature a gorgeous grained leather upper anchored by a slightly beefier sole, so you can wear them into the ground without visiting your cobbler. Which is great news, considering you'll want to wear them just about everywhere, and with everything, this spring: an Oxford shirt and jeans to hang out in the park, a dashing linen suit and a knit tie to a spring wedding, or shorts and a polo to. senior commerce editor Avidan Grossman doesn't own a pair of Jacques Soloviere's Venetian loafers, but he's tried them on one too many times not to weigh in here. “In my defense, I already own a ridiculous amount of loafers,” Grossman offers by way of explanation. “But these are sublime.” The grained calfskin is soft and supple, and the vamp is perfectly dialed in every way possible. “Please stop,” Grossman says, when pressed for more information. “If I spend another five minutes talking about these I'm going to buy 'em.” Sometimes even editors need a little extra encouragement. Alden Todd Snyder Tassel loafers are here, waiting, if you want something outside of a penny loafer that's still got some showmanship. Alden's signature version is absolute aces: handmade in Massachusetts from handsome shell cordovan leather (a.k.a the king of all leathers) on a deceptively comfortable leather outsole. You’d be hard-pressed to find a pair of shoes that’ll complement a pair of dark indigo jeans more effectively, or more instantly elevate a creamy pair of linen trousers to the realm of ""gracefully aging Italian gentleman.” According to Ortiz, who’s owned several pairs of Alden loafers, “the break-in period can be tough”—but it’s worth every blister. Shell cordovan is a little bit heftier than other leathes, but the patina it accrues it unmatched. “Start by wearing them every other day,” Ortiz says, “and after a couple of weeks they’ll be as comfortable as any other shoe in your rotation.” One important note: The shape of the last and toe box is sleek and narrow, so if you have wide feet, consider a wider width—or simply sizing up. J.M. Weston Nordstrom Rarified air as it may be, the few shoes held with stratospheric regard are more than just a few. You’ve got your stalwarts like John Lobb and George Cleverley, as well as newcomers like Viberg. To debate which one is the one true king would be a waste of time because you can only argue so much about quality before the rifts come down to personal taste. So with that said, our favorite loafers for the menswear nerd is the 180 loafer from French shoemakers J.M. Weston. The loafer gets its name from the number of steps it takes to make the shoes, which are produced in the Weston factories in Limoges. The flagship model comes with luxurious French boxcalf leather uppers, calfskin lining, vegetable-tanned leather outsoles, Goodyear welted construction with a closed channel (or rubber soles), and the signature split apron toe design. They’re nice. Nice as hell. But what gives the 180s the edge over other famed high-end loafers is the overall design. That split apron toe is distinct but versatile, and the toebox strikes the ideal level of roundedness where others have a snooty point. Sebago Mr Porter Beckett Simonon Beckett Simonon Allen Edmonds Amazon Hereu SSENSE Yuketen Mr Porter Lemaire SSENSE Belgian Shoes Belgian Shoes Morjas Morjas The loafers on this list range in style, make, and price, but the throughline across each of them is simple: overall value. Whether you have $100 or $1,000 to blow on a new pair of shoes, you should be spending that money judiciously—any old loafer won’t quite do it. What that involves, practically speaking, is assessing a loafer by its quality, first and foremost. For our purposes, we tried to avoid loafers that can’t easily be resoled by your local cobbler, i.e. ones made with soles actually stitched to the uppers, not glued. Stitching the soles improves a loafer’s wearability by leaps and bounds—and can extend its lifespan by the same metrics (with proper upkeep, of course). You know the saying “fashion hurts”? It shouldn’t. We don’t really buy into the notion that you should suffer for what you wear; any loafers we tested that failed to meet our highly scientific, not-at-all arbitrary comfort threshold after the requisite break-in period were nixed without a second thought. (Though, yes, comfort is subjective, and break-in periods may vary.) Oh, and one final word on price: you’ll see a solid degree of variety in the options above, from damn-that’s-a-steal to they-must've-added-an-extra-zero-here. That’s by design. Frankly, we’d love to say you can find an excellent pair of loafers for a mere fifty bucks, but in our experience, we’ve yet to encounter a zero-notes pair for less than $150. In 2025, loafers come in more shapes and styles than colors of the rainbow. These are the four you’ll hear us talk about most. How do I choose a loafer? Simple: Think about what you're going to wear them with, and then refine your search accordingly. (For more styling how-to, see below.) Are you looking for dainty leather soles or do you need stompers with a little more heft? Are you jonesing to slip your dogs into classic-leaning penny loafers or are the freakiest, flyest loafers on the market? Once you've found a pair of that’s right for you and your wardrobe, slip ‘em on without a second thought, and claim your certified style god status at checkout. It really is that easy. What you should be asking yourself is: How do I choose one? What are the best loafer brands? Thanks to the Great Loafer Boom, there have never been more options—from heritage menswear brands and big-name designers and tiny startup labels alike. You'll always be in good hands (er, ?) with mainstays like Alden, Dr. Martens, and G.H. Bass. But plenty of indie hard-bottom peddlers are making waves you might want to catch, too. When in doubt, dust off your favorite, double-check who makes them, and then review their loafer selection; chances are they sell a bang-up pair. What should I wear with loafers? Good news on this front: it's nigh impossible to find an outfit that a pair of loafers won't look absolutely fly with. T-shirt and jeans ( or otherwise), a proper blazer and trousers or without), —especially the —and beyond. (In other words, just about everything.) Naturally, loafers look right at home with chinos and a sweater vest, but they can also smarten up your wildest 2025 fits with surprising pizazz. For more inspo, be sure to check our guide on. Though loafers come in a variety of styles, there are still some common themes that we hope each pair of loafers hits. Like any piece of clothing, we look at overall style, quality, comfort, and price. The mainstays that have had a deep track record are sure to get our approving nods but there are always seasonal bangers or trending styles we can honestly get behind. We tried to avoid loafers that aren’t easily resoled by your local cobbler. That means loafers we opted for loafers with soles actually stitched to the uppers rather than ones that use cheap glued construction. This improves a loafer’s quality by leaps and bounds and can actually make a shoe last for years longer (with proper upkeep, of course). We don’t really buy into the notion that you should suffer for fashion so we preferred loafers that were more comfortable. That said, comfort is subjective and break-in periods vary. Prices range from suspiciously cheap to first-born child and we would love to tell you that a pair of $50 loafers is good, but we can’t say that we’ve ever encountered a well-made pair of loafers for less than $150. Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point. Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. We’ve handled more loafers than any one person should experience in a single lifetime. From working retail to incessant shopping to endless showrooms to miles and miles of loafin’ around over the years, the GQ Recommends team has seen it all. With our own experience laying the groundwork, we asked ourselves: if loafers were the only shoes we could wear, which ones would we pick? We burrowed deep into the rabbit hole, we sifted through dozens and dozens of contenders. We parsed through the longtime classics, the genre-defining catalysts, and the soon-to-be stalwarts, narrowed it down to a select few and summoned them to the high court of GQ Recommends. Then we got to work. We slipped our sexy feet into each loafer bopped around as we normally do, commuting to work, logging our daily 10,000 steps, and subjecting loafers to the rigors of a daily life. Along the way, we assessed the straight-away comfort, how each pair wore in, how the soles faired over time, and, crucially, how each loafer looked with our outfits. Finally, we assembled our team and ran the numbers. After some nerding out and more heart-to-hearts than we were expecting (three is normal for us), we came up with what we believe to be the best loafers on the market right now. We’ve got it all, from the entry-level starter loafers to the status symbol horsebits to a handful of very right-now picks we couldn’t ignore, this is our ideal loafer list."
"Show Notes, from day one of Milan Fashion Week Men’s, and welcome back to. When I originally pitched this newsletter in 2022, I envisioned it as a daily report from the front lines (and at that point most definitely the second or third rows) of fashion week. As Show Notes grew and I found my footing on the circuit, and even started getting a better view of most runways, it evolved into a more feature-driven franchise than a diary. I figured readers would enjoy finding exclusive interviews with the likes of in their inboxes, and my focus turned to covering the rock stars of our era—the fashion designers who were influencing our culture at unprecedented levels. I pocketed the insider’s diary idea. But the fashion world is entering a new phase, and so is Show Notes. The big kahunas of the fashion world are still important, some more than ever, particularly those who have new jobs and the chance to take bold creative risks. I personally can’t wait to see how Demna will surprise—and hopefully shock—us at his debut for Gucci, and you can bet you’ll be reading about it in Show Notes. But I’m moving the newsletter back to a daily format, at least during fashion week. Simply put, I want to cover more ground. Show Notes has always been animated just as much by the stuff happening off the runway as on—like and the between “artistic directors” and “creative directors.” (I still don’t know the answer to that one.) And in recent seasons I’ve seen so much in showrooms and presentations that don’t get even a fraction of the headliners’ coverage. Frankly, capital-F fashion isn’t particularly cool right now. Perhaps it’s the state of the wider world (burning) and the fact that the industry is in an unusual creative transition period, but it’s undeniable that the tastemakers of our time aren’t shopping with luxury brands right now the way they once did, at the leading edge of a wider sales slump. Don’t take my word for it. This week’s headlines say it all: LVMH is “reeling” and Kering is in “crisis.” It was telling that on Friday, as the spring-summer 2026 season got underway, the name on everyone’s lips—besides Giorgio Armani, who is ill and won’t be attending his men’s shows—was. Benan, a bearded, stogie-smoking veteran of the Milan and Paris runways, told me that what gets him out of bed these days is languorous hangs with his well-heeled clientele, to whom he serves as tailor and personal style shaman. “The creativity here is a little bit of a silhouette, a little mix of fabrics,” Benan said. “But there's not too much creativity in the sense of fashion, right? I'm more interested in the conversation with the client. That's what satisfies me.” Umit Benan won Milan Fashion Week before he opened the doors to a glossy new retail store. On Wednesday, his wife gave birth to their second child. On Friday, Benan sat in a mahogany club chair in his shop, wearing a lightweight pink overshirt and vintage denim, accessorizing his hospital bracelet with Chrome Hearts. (Style and luxury is, quite literally, his offsprings’ birthright: Benan’s wife, Margherita, is the daughter of late cashmere titan Sergio Loro Piana.) Despite the heatwave outside, which had already started to melt me, there was nary a bead of sweat on his brow. The store marks a rebirth of sorts for Benan’s namesake brand. For years, the Istanbul native was a menswear raconteur whose collections channeled the masculine badass: Cuban revolutionaries, Tokyo gangsters, rock ’n’ roll legends. In one typically cinematic runway show, the set piece was a staged commando boot camp, including a live tattoo session and a bunch of naked soldiers. After stepping back from the catwalk in 2016, Benan’s business became much more IYKYK. He became a style shaman quietly creating supremely elegant bespoke tailoring out of his Navigli studio. Now, thanks to investment from New Guards Group co-founder Davide De Giglio, Benan has real funding behind his next-level suiting shop, which was already popping barely an hour into business. As Benan and I started catching up, Palm Angels founder Francesco Ragazzi bounded in with a group of friends. The partnership with De Giglio, who backed Virgil Abloh’s Off-White, is a testament to the fact that Benan’s louche vision has captured Milan’s young, monied creatives. Umit Benan spring-summer 2026 How a demo that was rocking rare streetwear not so long ago converted to the church of fine tailoring isn’t particularly hard to explain. Where several years ago it seemed like all the most aspirational men in fashion were making sneakers and graphic tees, now the coolest guys are making suits. In Paris, has revived ’70s YSL style; in New York you have J. Mueser’s band of merry club kids. You can feel Benan’s superlative taste in every piece of the brand. Did you see that of Lee Pace at the Tribeca Film Festival, looking like the most dashing version of Lee Pace in a stupendous tuxedo shirt jacket? You can detect via some inaudible frequency that the man who designed it, married a Loro Piana, has a closet full of kaftans, and appears to spend most of his waking hours on a series of beautiful sea craft. Benan’s poise and confidence oozes through the clothes. Which is why Ragazzi and co. bypassed the merchandise and made a beeline to the VIC lounge downstairs. That’s where Benan is picking up his private practice. Though he’s been selling off-the-rack collections to elite boutiques for several years, about half of Benan’s turnover is from exclusive appointments. “It shocked me the numbers you can get to just in one-to-one in a half day,” he said. Benan laughed. It turns out most guys don’t go to him for a suit here and a couple of shirts there. Benan is more of a dream weaver, his eye meeting his clients’ sartorial fantasies. He mentions an American lawyer who lives in Abu Dhabi who came in for suits and ended up designing silk pajama sets to wear, you guessed it, sailing. The typical appointment starts with at least an hour of conversation about the life they lead—and the one they to lead. “Downstairs, we create a wardrobe,” Benan said. “You can do anything you want. You let them be involved in the game.” At $8,000 (give or take) for a suit, Benan’s pixie dust does not come cheap. But if you can afford it, I’m not sure there’s a better way to shop right now. On my way out, I took the opportunity to ask Benan for a little free advice: How do I dress in this oppressive, soupy heat? He chuckled. “It doesn’t matter much what you wear, you’re still going to be hot. But the less you move, the better.” Just about the only thing America has going for it right now? Ralph Lauren. At the Polo empire’s traditional presentation for Purple Label, held in the brand’s stately midcentury palazzo, the clothes wisely shied away from the more overtly patriotic associations conjured in last summer’s for a more subtle form of American style soft power. One room was reserved for a nautical yacht club theme, where I noticed the chunky striped sweaters had exhaled a bit since I last checked. (Ralph has stuck to slim fits in recent years.) Ralph Lauren Purple Label spring-summer 2026 In the main room, devoted to safari tone tailoring and sportswear, the suits had the same sense of ease, with wider lapels, broader shoulders, higher waists, and fuller legs. You could see the care being put into the fine menswear pieces—according to John Wrazej, senior creative director for men’s Polo and Purple Label, the brand has never sold more ties, and the suits are keeping up with this new sartorial wave. Per a statement from Mr. Lauren himself, spring 2026 is a testament to the “modern voyager.” America didn’t warrant a mention. Friday’s tailoring tour continued at, where the earliest trend of the season continued. Like Ralph, Brunello has for years carried the flag for athletic suiting, with narrow-ish lapels and tapered trousers. But this time around the lapels were two centimeters wider, the shoulders broader, the jackets longer, the waists higher. Brunello Cucinelli spring-summer 2026 Was he, I asked, preparing for his movie star moment, following the news that a documentary on his rags-to-riches life, directed by Oscar winner Giuseppe Tornatore, is premiering later this year? Cucinelli winked. The suits, he explained, “are like a Los Angeles mood, 50 years ago.” Next stop: Hollywood! Satoshi Kuwata cut his teeth on Savile Row. Was I in for yet another tailoring masterclass? (In case you couldn’t tell, that’s kind of the vibe of MFW.) Actually, no. Though Kuwata won the 2023 LVMH Prize for his clever innovations in pattern cutting—his hero product is a pleated jacket that folds into a perfect packable square—his sophomore runway show went deep into his other obsession: fishing! Kuwata is a die-hard fisherman, and his latest collection started with a trip to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe—the best place to catch tiger fish, apparently—which inspired a series of wearable-ish woven sculptures made in collaboration with the local Batoka tribe, who turn river reeds into fishing baskets. The woven hats and skirts were certainly much more poetic accessories than rods and tackle would have been, and indicated that Kuwata is perhaps exploring further afield from his comfortable home base of clever functionality. Setchu spring-summer 2026 Since fine tailoring doesn’t tend to mix with fishing, Kuwata trained his shears on an ingenious convertible set in bright cotton stripes, with buttons that allow the arms to breezily unfurl from the body. The few blazers in the lineup were paired with short-shorts or an intriguing unzippable sweatpant-skirt, which had a new and unexpected tenor of sensual practicality. It was a much more casual side of Setchu. Afterward, Kuwata acknowledged he had been nervous to try something new, but emphasized that he had wanted to lean into his personality and not just his skills as a tailor. “I’m not famous,” he said, “so I think I can do whatever I want. Not many people know exactly who I am compared to you guys. So I’m just trying to be who I am. I think being unique is my only focus I’m trying to express here.”"
"Show Notes, On Friday afternoon in Milan, co-founders Christopher Nying and Jockum Hallin were taking a walk down memory lane. “Ah, here’s the hate mail,” said Nying, the brand’s creative director, grabbing a graphic T-shirt on which he’d reprinted a few actual letters from an inexplicably irate fan: “You are sellouts,” “You fucked up assholes,” etc. Standing in their bustling Milan showroom, they paused, trying to remember exactly what they did to deserve it. “I think it could have been a Stüssy drop?” Nying wondered. Hallin, who leads Our Legacy’s fulsome collaboration business, noted that the messages arrived before LVMH’s venture capital arm in the brand last year. “So before we actually sold out,” Nying said, laughing. This year marks 20 years since Nying and Hallin first launched Our Legacy with a line of T-shirts. In the two decades that followed, they authored one of contemporary menswear’s greatest and perhaps most unlikely success stories by bringing a hardcore attitude and experimental spirit to high-quality, wearable clothing, a mission that they’ve actually doubled down on (hate mail notwithstanding) to mark their latest milestone. Rather than reissue a catalogue of greatest hits to celebrate—Our Legacy’s famous digital denim-printed jeans, square-toe Camion boots, billowy raw silk shirts, the list goes on—the co-founders revisited the B-sides, reviving deep cut designs, fabrics from the cutting room floor, and employee favorites. “We brought back stuff that was slept on or forgotten or didn't make it, that was edited out,” Hallin noted as we strolled through the brand’s airy Milan showroom, pointing out some pointy cowboy boots from, “like, a space cowboy collection.” “We also took some old techniques that we never really achieved,” added Nying, grabbing a gossamer silk cupro coat with a crinkly wax finish—luxurious in Our Legacy’s subtle, unpretentious way. “We tried to do it 10 years ago, but it was really bad. But now we know how to actually do it.” A necktie printed with an airbrushed winged skeleton that looked ripped from a death metal band tee caught my eye. The motif, Nying explained, was featured in their very first collection in 2005. He shook his head. “At that time, I felt like Our Legacy is a good name—but maybe Archangel is even better!” It’s hard to imagine Archangel cornering the upper-middle menswear market. (Headline: “LVMH Luxury Ventures and Archangel’s Space Cowboys: a Match Made in Heaven?”) It’s also hard to imagine it becoming a star of. But that’s exactly what Our Legacy is these days after making the rare move from Paris to Milan after the pandemic. “We wanted to try something new, and in Milano we have the advantage of being one of the first collections the buyers get to see, they come in with fresh eyes and good energy,” Hallin told me. It’s not just buyers who come to see them. Despite the fact that it isn’t even on the official MFW calendar, Our Legacy has actually become one of the week’s main draws, evidenced by the brand’s Midsommar bash at hip local joint Pizza Stella, where New York-style pies and glasses of ice cold natural wine fueled hours of revelry on the packed street. It was a dose of much needed energy. There are only a half-dozen or so significant runway shows on this season’s schedule, and I’ve been hearing the serious suggestion that Milan Fashion Week should merge with menswear trade show Pitti Uomo in order to turn things around for both events. This is not to say the men’s edition of MFW will go the way of London Fashion Week Men’s (RIP), but if it dries up any further it could lose a critical mass of editors and buyers. Already it feels like there are much fewer street style photographers this season—a canary in the clothing mine? So Our Legacy’s presence in town feels all the more significant, even if it is slightly aloof from the wider scene—Nying and Hallin don’t even go to Emporio Armani, Our Legacy’s. But as I browsed the showroom, admiring the incredibly creative fabric finishings that help set Our Legacy apart from other “accessible” menswear labels, I thought about what Nying and Hallin have in common with Milan’s big shots: the utter seriousness they bring to the craft. They just don’t take the rest of the fashion game too seriously. Next to the hate mail tee was one emblazoned with another archangel graphic. Hallin stopped and sighed. “What could have been!” he said. “For a moment, it would have exploded. And then…” Dolce & Gabbana SS26 “Pyjama Boys”: Sometimes the show title says it all. Dolce’s sleepwear-fest was frankly a riot, an army of hunks swaddled in crisp cotton PJs and the odd exotic coat marching down the catwalk to booming Beethoven. It was like a bunch of hot calmly evacuating a house fire, and it reminded me that Italians do the best pajamas. (And that I need to pay a visit to Schostal next time I’m in Rome.) For the finale, the boys changed into their, uh, evening sleepwear, which was encrusted with mounds of flashy embroidery. Dolce is at its best when Stefano and Domenico embrace their extra-ness. Paul Smith has been experimenting with more in recent seasons; last time out in Paris, the menswear icon got up in front of a small group of editors and told 20 minutes of stories as models filtered through the room. For his official Milan Fashion Week debut, a whole 55 years in the making, the soundtrack featured Smith’s musings on the Cairo street markets that inspired this season’s explosion of color and charm-y embellishments. More designers should voice-over their runway shows. (Just imagine Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana shouting over a Beethoven symphony.) In the morning, we walked through the racks, which reminded me of another Show Notes maxim: if you get the chance to kick it with Sir Paul, do it. In between showing me where he’d replaced the buttons on a handsome springy wool double-breasted jacket with eye-catching souvenir trinkets, he let the legendary anecdotes rip: “I used to make trousers for Jimmy Page!” he exclaimed at one point. “I measured him, he had a 24-inch waist. And then at the hem the trousers were 28 inches!” Today, SPS’s sporty and springy trousers are on point for times, the perfect companions to clean and colorful shirting and the odd mismatched jacket. “I think that the travel thing is such a cliche inspiration for many brands,” Smith said. I was glad to tell him personally that he pulled it off like the pro he is. Then it was back to the stories."

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