Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by OHMME, Rhone and KOZM. While YBC was compensated for this post, all opinions - as always - are our own. This post also contains some affiliate links which means we receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you happen to make a purchase through one of our links. Thanks for the support!
A few months ago we did a call out asking for writers and blog ideas to help out while I was out of town on my trips to London, Greece, Dubai and Kenya, and one of the most prominent blog idea suggestions we got was more content for men. To that point, I enlisted the help of Dan, our recent addition to the YBC Team, to source up and coming yoga and activewear brands for men since we heard the pickings were slim. We wanted to find pieces that were functional, flattering and well made. Here are four pieces Dan tested out.
OHMME Namoustache pant
1. OHMME Namoustache Pant, $75 - We liked this pair of pants for a few reasons. First and foremost, the cut. We liked the on-trend tapered leg, which ensured you could step forward from downward dog and not deal with a baggy pant leg getting in the way. We also liked that while it was a somewhat narrow cut, the pants were not in any way tight. We also liked the pockets, and the fact that the fabric allowed for movement by having just the perfect amount of stretch.
Rhone Phase Short
Rhone Phase Short
2. Rhone Phase Short, $68 - These would be fantastic for a hot yoga class because their breathable material is feather-light. In 2017, Rhone launched a proprietary fabric technology named GoldFusion, an eco-friendly solution made from real gold particles that cuts drying time, lasts 3x longer than any existing treatment and permanently controls odor. Why should you care? Because these shorts are lined with a GoldFusion compression short! The compression short is nice because not only does it wick away moisture, but it also means that you'll be covered and feel comfortable when your shorts naturally go up when you're in downward dog, or as you see on the left on Dan, in a handstand. We also were big fans of the mesh insert lining. Don't let the word 'mesh' through you off, though, you can't even really tell it's mesh until you're up close, but it's just one more way these shorts are even more breathable. Currently, Rhone is sold in all Equinox locations, at select REI and Bloomingdales locations, as well as Peloton Studios, and close to 150 specialty stores and gyms. Below are a few other items we liked:
Kozm Baja Hoodie
3. Kozm Baja Hoodie, $84 and Pocket Tee, $48 - We love this brand for its eco-friendly products. The Baja Hoodie from Kozm is made from hemp and recycled PET blend and it's a loose fitting lightweight design perfect for throwing over a tee as you head out to the yoga studio. There's a drawstring 100% cotton cord on the bottom and through the hood. Their pocket tee is knit jersey made from 50% upcycled recover cotton and 50% recycled PET sourced from plastic bottles. The high thread count keeps it feeling soft against the skin, and the 50/50 blend holds its form wash after wash.
So there are some great companies out there that do create activewear - and, more specifically, yoga wear for men. I think the biggest problem is that yoga clothing is mostly marketed to women, but the industry is ignoring the fact that there are lots of guys out there practicing yoga as well. I found some others from companies I know and trust down below as well. If you're a guy and know of a brand we forgot, let us know down in the comments section.