Are Cotton Gym Shorts For Men Really That Bad?

Cotton has been considered a poor fabric for any activewear clothing, but then why do we see so many cotton shorts, tees and even hoodies made specifically for the gym? Is cotton really that bad when it comes to high-performing cloth, or is it just another one of those norms that needs a reality check?

Cotton is great for everyday use cases due to its high breathability, soft feel and inexpensiveness, but for sports and exercising, where moisture-wicking and shape-preserving are some must-haves, cotton automatically takes the back seat. 

But then, how come cotton gym shorts for men are so trendy right now?

Stick till the very end to find everything you need to know about Cotton Gym shorts, their types and if you should even get them or not…

Introduction: Why Cotton Is Not Suitable for Activewear Clothing?

Cotton is perhaps the most used fabric in the entire world, and surprisingly it’s not that difficult to understand why, Cotton is highly breathable, hypoallergenic and soft which makes it ideal for regular summer clothings, In fact it’s also very versatile for being used to make jeans collection and even heavyweight coats for winter. 

But athletic clothing is a different world altogether, there is sweat, bad odours and even risk of bacterial infection if garments are made using cotton. This is why Polyester, Nylon and Spandex are go-to choices for not just customers but even activewear manufacturers.

Here’s how Cotton is considered a poor choice for sportswear shorts and other high-impact garments:

1- Little to No Flexibility:

Since cotton fabrics are naturally obtained, their fibre composition is a bit rigid due to external environments and refuse to become malleable enough for gym shorts. While working out, muscles contract, relax and need a bit of support. Sure, we make loose clothes to accommodate muscle flexing, but cotton still fails when body support is concerned. 

2- No body-forming Fitting:

Cotton is characterised by its loose drape and fit. One way for body-fitting is to just make clothes tight, but soon you would realise how great a mistake that was! Cotton, if stressed, tears very quickly, and let’s be honest, nobody wants half-ripped shorts during a strenuous workout.

3- Prone to Wear and Tear:

As stated beforehand, Cotton, due to its rigid formation, can only take so much stress. If it’s pushed beyond its limits, you can expect tears and rips all around. Suppose you manage to take care of your lightweight cotton workout shorts, but even then, after some time, you would find signs of degradation on them.

–> Why doesn’t cotton last for so long?

Cotton fabric has a loose structure, meaning it’s easy to damage even if you are just wearing it for normal use. In fact, you can try this out for yourself. Grab one of your old cotton t-shirts or shorts and continuously rub your fingers at one spot for a few seconds. You will see that the spot will become loose and damaged beyond repair.

4- Poor Moisture Management:

Cotton can absorb sweat, but it is still very poor at managing moisture. Unlike polyester, which wicks moisture from the body and spreads it out for quick drying, cotton just retains the moisture and becomes damp. At first, you might like the lightweight feel of cotton, but after a few hours, you would realise how unfunctional and uncomfortable cotton-made activewear is.

–> What happens if moisture is not managed correctly?

You can face issues like rashes, chaffing in either region and even possibilities of bacterial infection.

5- Generally Not a Great Time for a Workout:

Combining all of the above factors, one can easily conclude cotton shorts are not great for a workout and that to some extent is quite true. Do you really want to exercise with restricted movement and a damp feeling? Chances are, most of us wouldn’t like it so much, and even those who think it can’t be that bad just need to try them out for once.

You may be thinking, if cotton fabric is so bad, then why are they so popular right now? You are absolutely right on that point, but the story hasn’t ended. There are various advancements, workarounds and even design strategies that have made cotton gym shorts for men quite viable.

How Cotton Gym Shorts For Mens Became Popular?

Despite the drawbacks of cotton, many gym enthusiasts and designers still prefer to work with cotton gym apparel. There are several reasons behind that:

1- Soft & Lightweight Feel of Cotton:

Cotton is one of the softest materials out there. Although its fibres are rigid, due to having smooth structures, it gives a gentle feel to the body. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say cotton glides on the body and this smoothness is combined with its natural lightweightness, making cotton one of the finest choices for making casual athletic shorts.

2- Exceptional Breathability:

Nobody likes to feel clampy and encapsulated while working out. This is why having porosity for air flow is a must-have property of every activewear collection. Most activewear fabrics provide some breathability, but none are greater than cotton. With cotton shorts, you are guaranteed a light and airy feel in the gym.

Related Read: Guide for Startups: Activewear Fabric Types You Need to Know

3- Affordability of Cotton:

Cotton is by no means cheap, but when we talk about polyester and nylon blends with spandex, cotton becomes very viable for affordable shorts. Economically, cotton is everything we ever wanted: Reasonable prices but high returns on investment.

4- Easy Maintenance and Care:

Cotton is one of those fabrics that you can wash however you like. Although cotton is easily wrinkleable, it can also be ironed out on a regular basis. These are something you have to avoid when dealing with typical gym shorts and apparel. Since cotton gym shorts for mens are very easy to care for and maintain, you don’t have to spend on specialized detergents, nor do you need to follow time-consuming routines to maintain your shorts.

5- No Artificial Feeling: 

Although polyester and nylon based mens gym shorts are great for working out and sports but there is this one thing, we all dislike and perhaps sometimes even hate. It is that artificial feeling, like something doesn’t feel right. Cotton takes the lead here as well. It feels natural and light on the body, which gives an unexplainable satisfaction.

6- Cotton Is Suitable for Everyone:

Believe it or not, many people are allergic to artificial fabrics like polyester and nylon; for that reason, their athleisure options are very limited. Cotton gymwear, including shorts and tops, becomes the leading choice here. Cotton, due to being made of cellulose fibres, is highly hypoallergenic, which means there are virtually no allergy concerns when you wear cotton.

Types of Men’s Cotton Workout Shorts

• 100% Cotton Shorts:

These shorts are great for light workout sessions and cardio activities like cycling and running. Gym shorts manufactured using 100% cotton are guaranteed for maximum breathability and an allergy-free wearing experience. 

However, depending upon the situation at hand, you can either opt for heavy cotton shorts or lightweight cotton shorts. Both are great for their own intended use case. Heavyweight cotton for protection against environments and light cotton for an airy experience.

Here are some trendy cotton gym shorts:

• Old-school gym shorts for casual weightlifting and basic conditioning for maximum movement.
• French Terry gym shorts are great for strength training or cooler gyms.
• Mid-length gym shorts are excellent for general gym workouts and moderate cardio.
• Wide-leg gym shorts are perfect for low-impact activities like yoga and mobility drills, where you want absolutely no fabric restriction.
• Basketball long gym shorts are characterised by a very loose and baggy fit, which is great for low-impact exercises and shooting hoops on the basketball court.

• Cotton-spandex Shorts:

Cotton shorts are not just made with pure cotton; in fact, blended fabrics where there is high cotton composition are also known as cotton shorts. Cotton lacks flexibility on its own, but 5% of spandex is blended with it, cotton becomes a highly functional fabric with stretchability, shape-forming fitting and all standard cotton properties. 

Gym shorts made from this fabric blend are suitable even for high-impact workout sessions. But they can be a little expensive as compared to pure cotton shorts.

• Cotton-polyester Shorts(60/40):

Although you might think, surely poly-cotton gym shorts can’t be as lightweight and functional as standalone cotton. But if one fabric’s proportion is higher than chances are such a blended fabric will attain more of these characteristics, and in this case, cotton plays a dominating role. So you can expect high air flow, lightweightness and natural feel along with tear resistance and durability of polyester. 

This blend is perhaps the most popular option out there, for both gymwear and regular clothing. Poly-cotton gym shorts are actually quite affordable and are great for custom prints and heat patches.

• Cotton-modal Shorts:

Modal is a type of regenerated fabric renowned for its shape retention, respectable moisture-wicking and environmentally-friendly origins. When blended with cotton, even in little amounts, it makes some of the premium gym shorts you have ever seen. With flowy drape, even greater softness and an easy care routine, cotton-modal gym shorts are a fine choice for those recovery days we all deserve.

Fabric Finishes To Make Cotton Gym Shorts More Functional

• 1- Mesh Addons:

Have you ever seen those mesh shorts for men and thought What’s the deal with those? Well, mesh panels are usually strategically placed in high-sweat and heat-forming areas, such as the inner thighs, for dissipating and evaporating heat and moisture quickly. Adding a mesh panel greatly increases the viability of cotton gym shorts.

• 2- Gusseted Crotch:

Instead of stitching two fabric pieces together, an extra cross diamond-shaped piece of fabric, often called a gusset, is added. This modification improves range of motion by huge margins, especially for non-stretchy fabrics like cotton. Shortly, you can say that adding gussets can formulate high-impact cotton workout shorts for men.

• 3- Adjustable Waistbands:

If made using 100% cotton, such shorts have a difficult time being activewear pieces; however, manufacturers like PLCM have found a way around it. They begin to add adjustable drawstrings, which give some level of control during strenuous workouts. Just tighten the strings before heavy sets, and afterwards you can lose them for a nice little break.

• 4- Moisture-wicking Coatings:

One of the biggest reasons against cotton gym shorts is their poor moisture management; however, just as stated beforehand, textile advancement is seeing a major glow-up. Now there are after-finish coatings that can grant high moisture wicking even onto natural fabrics like cotton. TransDRY is one such example. 

They claim to make just about any fabric as moisture-wicking as other synthetic materials, or perhaps even better.

• 5- Anti-odour/ Antimicrobial Coatings:

Cotton gym shorts are also prone to bad smells and microbial growth; this is why it’s always a good idea to apply an anti-microbial and odour coating. 

–> How do anti-microbial and anti-odour coatings work?

Silver and copper are naturally anti-bacterial and odour removing, textile engineers leveraged these properties and started using either all-over sprays or submerging solutions to apply these coatings onto fabrics. 

Final Thoughts: Should You Get Cotton Workout Shorts?

There are so many ways cotton can be improved for proper athletic wear, and owing to its natural feel and exceptional breathability, cotton workout shorts become a top choice for those living in warmer climates. If you are still unsure about pure cotton gymwear, then the next best option is to go for high-concentration cotton blends. 

Cotton gym shorts for men are highly likeable and budget-friendly, so if you are someone who is just getting into sports or the gym, then these shorts are probably best for you. 

Quick Questions

Are there black athletic shorts in cotton?

Yes! Black is a very common colour for all types of athletic shorts, including cotton-based ones as well. There are many brands that offer classic black cotton gym shorts in different sizes and fittings.

Are 100% cotton shorts more expensive than cotton-blended shorts?

There are so many factors that control the pricing structures; however, if we talk solely by fabric, then pure cotton actually is a lot more budget-friendly than those performance cotton blends.

Which cotton gym shorts are better, Heavyweight or Lightweight?

It really depends on your preferences and the place you live in. Go for lightweight cotton shorts if you are living in hot weather and only exercise casually. On the other side, opt for heavyweight cotton gym shorts if you are living in a bit colder environment and want a durable and sturdier garment for your workouts.