The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Men’s Workout Clothes

The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Men’s Workout Clothes

Looking for the perfect gift for the eco-conscious fitness enthusiast in your life? Dive into our curated list of ethical men’s activewear brands, from workout gear made from upcycled materials and fabrics made with waterless dyes to brands giving back to the earth and the people on it. Discover the latest in environmentally-friendly men’s workout clothes and give the gift of sustainable fitness apparel.

And if you’re looking for sustainable women’s workout gear, we’ve got that too.

tentree

Elevate your workout wardrobe with tentree’s sustainable athletic clothing for men. Crafted from recycled polyester, organic cotton, and TENCEL™ lyocell, their eco-friendly gear blends performance and sustainability. Check out the inMotion 7” Short for the best wear-anywhere shorts with side zip pockets – a hard thing to find in men’s workout shorts.

For every item purchased, tentree plant trees, (trees are more than just a name) to “regenerate ecosystems, capture carbon and provide planting jobs in communities around the world.” To date, tentree has planted over 100M+ trees AND even built a maternity care center.

Image of the bottom half of a man's body wearing black drawstring shorts from eco-friendly activewear brand tentree.
Source: tentree.com

Rapanui

Embrace ethical activewear with UK-based Rapanui’s range of sustainable men’s clothing made from organic cotton and printed in a renewable energy powered factory. Their designs have a cool, surfer vibe with an emphasis on ocean and water conservation (like this Leave No Trace hoodie) and are ready for all your outdoor adventures.

What makes Rapanui unique? Rapaui understands the negative impact dye has on clean water systems and found a unique way to combat this. Where their products are dyed, the water is recovered, cleaned (enough to drink!) and recirculated back in a closed loop system to eliminate waste and pollution. They also offer a take back program for their clothing, or anything that’s 100% cotton, to earn money to spend on their site.

View of the back of a man viewing the ocean. The man has brown curly hair and is wearing a navy hooded sweatshirt. The sweatshirt has pink writing on it that says "Leave no trace" as part of Rapanui's mission to make sustainable men's activewear and workout clothes.
Source: rapanuiclothing.com

Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi’s sustainable outdoor apparel and men’s activewear are perfect for the guy that likes to stand out while working out. Their hiking, running, and climbing clothes and gear have iconic color blocking that are unlike anything you’ll see from many other brands. If there’s one brand that can make a bucket hat cool, it’s Cotopaxi.

Today, 94% of Cotopaxi’s products contain repurposed, recycled, or responsible materials with a commitment to up that to 100% by 2025, making them a top choice for eco-conscious outdoor enthusiasts.

Cotopaxi’s Guaranteed for Good™ program allows you to repair damaged gear to give it a new life or you can start a trade-in if you’re ready for something new. You can even check their Resale page to get great quality men’s workout clothes at a discount.

Image of a multicolored bucket hat on a white background. The hat is red, green, khaki and blue and is made sustainably by Cotopaxi.
Source: cotopaxi.com

Icebreaker

Icebreaker uses the natural performance of merino wool to create eco-friendly workout wear that stands the test of time. Yes, we said wool – but hear us out.

Merino wool is temperature regulating, naturally odor resistant, and dries quickly, making it the ideal material for activewear. Sourced ethically and sustainably, their merino wool gear combines comfort and sustainability for your active lifestyle.

Icebreaker has a great collection of apparel for running, hiking, travel and more but what really shines is their underwear. Never underestimate the power of good underwear. After all, it’s the fabric sitting closest to some of your most sensitive areas and can prevent some serious chafing. Their natural odor resistance and fast drying capabilities make them ideal for long days on the trails, camping and more.

Repeating image of three pairs of men's black underwear from Icebreaker. The underwear have a black waistband and black and grey stripes and are made of sustainably sourced merino wool.

Coalatree

Gear up for outdoor adventures with Coalatree’s sustainable athletic clothing for men. Utilizing recycled materials and innovative fabrics – including reusing coffee grounds from local coffee shops – their products are designed to withstand the elements while minimizing environmental impact.

Instead of creating new fabrics to create additional waste, Coalatree’s partners find discarded yarns and plastics, then melt them down and spin them into new fibers. They also use waterless dyes to reduce energy and water waste at their factories.

And because we love a company that gives back, each year they use surplus fabric to create warm blankets for the homeless in their hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. Check out their best-selling, stink-proof Trailhead Pant for all your hiking, climbing or even just hanging-around-the-house needs.

A picture of a man free climbing on a large rock. The man is wearing blue hiking pants from Coalatree.
Source: coalatree.com

Threads 4 Thought

Elevate your workout with Threads 4 Thought’s sustainable athletic clothing for men. Threads 4 Thought is committed to transforming would-be waste into high-quality materials. Their fabrics are thoughtfully sourced, pesticide free and developed for comfort and quality.

You may know them for their iconic super soft tee shirts and henleys but they also have eco-friendly men’s activewear options, including workout tops, bottoms, compression shorts and more.

Image of the bottom half of a man. The man is wearing black drawstring shorts with black compression shorts underneath from eco-friendly brand Threads 4 Thought.
Source: threads4thought.com

BAM Bamboo Clothing

Ditch the plastics and embrace the softness of bamboo fabric with Certified B Corp BAM Bamboo Clothing’s activewear for men. Bamboo is known for being super soft, temperature controlling and UV protective. Their performance-driven pieces are crafted from sustainable materials, offering both style and sustainability for yoga, running, hiking and beyond. You won’t find a better men’s workout top than their Men’s Seamless Active Top.

The back of a man wearing a light green, almost mint seamless activewear shirt from BAM Bamboo Clothing. The man is in front of a cream colored background.
Source: bambooclothing.co.uk

These brands may not be as widely recognized as some of the larger athletic clothing companies, but are just as (and probably more so!) committed to sustainability, style and function for men seeking accessible eco-friendly activewear. Explore these ethical activewear brands and make a positive impact on both your fitness journey and the planet.

And when you’re ready to get rid of your old exercise clothes for these new, more sustainable options, do so responsibly by following these steps for recycling your old workout gear.

Had you heard of any of these brands before? Which ones did we miss? Drop us a line. And if you thought this was helpful, save this for future shopping inspo.

Upgrade his fitness wardrobe with top sustainable men's workout clothes! Discover eco-friendly fitness gear, recycled fabric activewear, and organic athletic clothing from ethical brands. Perfect for the eco-conscious athlete.

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