Embracing Men's Workout Leggings

July 22, 2016 Gabriel Rafael

Workout week concludes today, and I wanted to briefly once again touch on the subject of workout leggings for guys! I've long been a fan of compression pants, or workout leggings for guys. I think its the perfect solution for chilly mornings when you just want to stay warm on your way to the gym. Even in warm weather, leggings are a perfect choice as they are equally as breathable as they are warm, they work by keeping the cool or warmth in when needed.

Check out my favorite picks for leggings and don't be scared to rock those hard worked leg gains!

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Monday Workout Motivation

July 18, 2016 Gabriel Rafael

It's fitness week on the site this week! Nothing makes me happier than a good workout under the belt first thing Monday morning. It almost kicks off my week in the best way possible. While in theory it sounds wonderful to wakeup and hit the gym, sometimes I struggle to get myself out of my bed. Between a stream of emails & an endless Instagram feed, I tend to lose my motivation before I even put my clothes on.

I find that the best way to get myself into the gym first thing in the morning is to seek out motivation that pushes me towards that workout. My motivation is always different, one day it could be a great new song that I'm really feeling, or a fitness Instagram page that motivates me to up my gym game. Regardless of what motivates me to get it done, I ALWAYS feel better afterwards.

So tell me, what gets you motivated to workout in the comments below. Also check out this great chest workout that I like to pump out every Monday.

CHEST WORKOUT

8-10 Reps of Bench Press x 3 Sets
6-8 Reps of Incline Flyes x 4 Sets
8-10 Reps of Piston Presses x 4 Sets
6-8 Reps of Hammer Presses x 4 Sets
8-10 Reps of Svend Presses x 3 Sets

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The Perfect Gym Shoe, Nike's Flyknit Lunar 3

March 30, 2015 Gabriel Rafael

For about the last year or so, I've dedicated myself into going into making it to the gym at least three times a week. While I may not have the perfect body, I have appreciated the extra effort into bettering myself physically & mentally. I've found myself though in the last year constantly looking for the perfect gym shoe that works efficiently in the gym but also translates well into streetwear, because lets face it, we all have those days when we just want to throw some sneakers on & head out the door!

This month Nike launched their latest iteration of the Flyknit Lunar sneaker series with the Flyknit Lunar 3. The lightweight shoe is constructed on the top with a one-piece, knit threaded material that almost feels like a second skin while providing support on the sole with Nike's Lunarlon technology. The end result is a shoe that almost feels as if isn't there, all while providing much needed support that one requires from their gym shoe.

The Flyknit Lunar 3 comes in four different verities, ranging from the classic Black & White to the vibrant combinations of Bright Crimson, Blue Lagoon & Bright Citrus. Head over to the Nikestore website to check them out & pick out your favorite pair today.

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Update Your Gym-Wear

August 5, 2014 Gabriel Rafael

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I can't help but notice week in & week out how many gym-goers (myself included) seem to fall into a rut of their gym-wear. We fall back on our favorite workout shorts/shirts & kind of just wash and repeat every few weeks. If we care so much about how we look out in social events & our office-wear, why don't we care about how we present ourselves in the gym? In a sea of Lululemon & Nike shorts, how can we set ourselves apart from others?

When I look around the workout room at my gym I pretty much see a lot of the same worn on everyone, baggy basketball shorts, ratted college shirts cut into tank tops & pretty atrocious sneakers that just from plain sight can give my stomach a turn or two. This has got to stop.

Just because you are in your workout gear for only 2% of the day does not mean that no one is paying attention to what you wear. Opt for more slimmer fitting pants, shorter shorts than normal & some functional shirts. You're in a gym, you're working on your body so might as well flaunt it. The following five pieces are some essential options to updating your gym-wear that will keep you looking good & hopefully give you that extra oomph in the gym to go for that extra rep.

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ADIDAS 'Tiro Slim Fit Training Pants / Nike Dri-FIT Tank / ADIDAS Adizero Split Shorts

ADIDAS Energy Boost 2.0 ESM Shoes / Marc by Marc Jacobs Holdall / Nike Speed-Dri Tights

Traditional Varsity Style

March 12, 2014 Gabriel Rafael

There is a certain kind of nostalgia that comes up when you see some traditional Americana Varsity inspired looks. From high school to college, we all have a space in our hearts for collegiate style. Just because it may have been a few years, or even decades since your graduation, it doesn't mean you can't rock an effortless and chic collegiate look.

You don't have to go digging for your varsity jacket, as some brands have reimagined the look into modern and updated pieces. The following head to toe look is simple, classic and updated but yet keeps a few throwback accents to make this a modern take on the college look. This look works perfect for these last few weeks of slightly chillier weather, for example this Wallace & Barnes Baseball Bomber Jacket from J. Crew will keep you warm but doesn't scream 'winter style' by any means.

Wallace & Barnes for J.Crew Baseball Bomber Jacket / Burkman Bros Reversible T-Shirt

Bonobos Stone Cutters Slim Tailored Chinos / Nike Vintage Waffle Racer Sneakers

Affordable Menswear Workout Clothes To Upgrade Your Gym Style

July 17, 2013 Gabriel Rafael

Rarely is any thought put into our sartorial picks for the gym when we workout. Just because you're working up a sweat, it doesn't mean that you can't rock the best menswear workout gear available. Ditch your ratty tank tops and ill-fitting shorts and replace them with these great picks to look stylish while working on your fitness. From high performance, moisture wicking materials, to sophisticated poly French terry hoodies, the following five picks are the best of the best.

Gents Purple Line Cap Hat

Horny Toad Hi Jack Hoodie

Nike Legend V-Neck Men's Training T-Shirt

Lululemon Precise Short

KOR ONE Hydration Vessel

Cole Haan x Fragment Design Footwear

January 22, 2013 Gabriel Rafael

Cole Haan and Nike's partnership on the LunarGrand collection, one that fused Nike's Lunarlon foam cushion soles with Cole Haan's footwear, which lead to a widely successful line that was worn by every style savvy footwear aficionado this fall, is back again with a third collaboration. This time Cole Haan expanded its collaboration with Fragment Design's Hiroshi Fujiwara to bring three new wingtip's and loafers into the collection. The LunarGrand collection is a great way to wear traditional style shoes that our parents and grandparents would wear but with a pop inspired touch of color. The sole is made from Nike's lightweight foam cushion, which means that if you're constantly on the go you'll never have a problem of your shoes killing you, making them the perfect pair of shoes for trekking across the city while looking great. So ditch those trainers and uncomfortable wingtips that leave your heel in agony, and head to your closest Cole Haan store now, the last Hiroshi Fujiwara designed Cole Haan spectator wingtips were such an instant success that designs were up for grabs online for almost four times the original price. The line is set to launch January 25th in Japan and February 6th in the US.

Tokyo Designed Nike Gear To Weather Out The Elements

October 30, 2012 Gabriel Rafael

Running is like “meditation with adrenaline” according to Tokyo designer, Jun Takahashi. Takahashi, in collaboration with Nike, has produced a line of sportswear to help you fight the elements on your chilly runs this fall. Nike decided to work with Takahashi’s Tokyo brand, Undercover, to bring about a sleek and urban look to the Nike x Undercover Gyakusou line. All of the pieces bring about a mixture of Nike’s cutting edge technology with Undercover’s sartorial style, take for example the convertible jackets that let you detach the sleeves. With Nike’s Dri-Fit technology and unique touches, like having the jacket zip to the chin to keep your neck warm, this gear is sure to strike envy among members of your running group. Along with the detachable sleeves, the garments use strategically placed drawstrings, thumb holes and concealed zip pockets to make sure you're protected against the elements. When creating the designs for the line, Takahashi made sure that the clothes would work with the runner's stride and body movement while maintaining a zen and peaceful look to every piece.