Spring has evaded us long enough; it owes us a few warm days and a year’s worth of bottomless mimosas. The damn groundhog was right and we’ve had more than our fair share of sub-freezing mornings. But, there’s a break on the horizon; 60° is close. Now’s the time to prepare to start dressing like it. When it comes to activewear this season, you need a new backpack, some shorts, some sweatpants, and a new favorite t-shirt to break in while you’re exercising or just looking the part.
Nike Air Max 270
The 270 features Nike’s biggest air bubble yet. The new, stylish colorway will keep you comfortable and cool in the coming months. It’s a breathable shoe that has enough structure to stay snug and enough give to perform in.
$150
Lululemon Assert Backpack
Your winter bag is probably salt-stained and off-smelling. It’s done its job. It carried gym clothes and bag lunches to and from work for, probably, the past two years. Now it’s time for it to go. Treat yourself to a backpack from the activewear pros at Lululemon. This bag is extremely lightweight but big and resilient enough to withstand everyday use. It’s waterproof too, so it’ll keep your belongings dry during even the dampest moments of spring.
$148
adidas Ultraboost Block and Knit
The Ultraboost line is an obvious success. Since their inception, Ultraboost shoes have demanded outrageous resale prices, caused backstock to disappear, and forced adidas to re-release a new colorway quarterly. Their newest release, the “Block and Knit” colorway, features a sturdy knit base; mismatched stripes, heel and midsole; and adidas’ famous “trek” outsole. It’s our current fave, but most Boosts will do.
$200
Nike Pro Training Tights
The weather’s turning—and you obviously want to start wearing shorts to go to the gym or to shoot hoops—but it’s not quite nice enough to commit to just shorts. Put a pair of Nike’s training tights on underneath and you’re set—and stylish. They come in a variety of colors, though we recommend the gray. They also might be the cheapest purchase on this list.
$35
Todd Snyder x Champion Cut Off Gym Shorts
These are splurge-worthy. Yes, they’re sweatshorts. Yes, they’re $98. If you buy flimsy, cheap sweatshorts, they’ll barely last you a month, though. Invest in a short made from nicer materials, and you’re getting at least a year or two out of them.
$98
Saturdays NYC Stanley Italics Hat
Saturdays is one of the best newer brands in the United States. They’re an NYC-based, surf-inspired design house that began by selling surfboards and fine art. Today, they’re releasing some of the industry’s best menswear—and brewing delicious coffee alongside it. Their hats are the coolest thing to put on your noggin this season.
$50
Champion Reverse Weave Joggers
Champion is one of the most trusted brands in sweatwear. Trust them when it comes to sweatpants. They’re guaranteed to be comfortable, versatile, and everyday-ready. They won’t stretch, give at the knees, and lose their pockets. In other words, they’re sweatpants that are designed to last. See any vintage boxing or wrestling video for proof.
$64
J.Crew Broken-In T-Shirt
J.Crew makes the best broken-in t-shirt. Don’t @ us. The quality and durability are unmatched. We swear we have plain black J.Crew tees from 2010 that look and feel better than ever. They’re only $25, too. So it’s not like we couldn’t get a new one; we just didn’t need it.
$25
Champion Premium Reverse Weave Hoodie
Oops, here we are again. Here’s another release by the sweat-gods at Champion. This one is one of their solo pieces and it should be a staple in every man’s closet. You should get a couple of them, truthfully. Maybe one in each color? Maybe one for every year for the rest of your life? You’ll like them so much you’ll consider dropping your entire next paycheck on a decade’s supply.
$115
Carhartt Retro Script Tee
This tee is so damn good looking you could get away with wearing it to Easter brunch. It’s pink, lightweight and maintains its shape well enough to stay in your rotation for years to come—or just a season if wearing pink is a temporary thing for you.
$35
