Lululemon Review for Men: The King of Athleisure?

With Lululemon stores in major cities everywhere, what started as a brand specifically for women’s yoga gear has become a worldwide fashion phenomenon.

But you’re probably wondering: “Does the brand’s men’s gear stack up as well as its offerings for ladies?”

Yes! And, since I’ve tried a little bit of pretty much everything from Lululemon, in this Lululemon review for men, I’ll give you my insider insights as to what’s good, what’s great, and what you might want to avoid.

About Lululemon

Founded in 1998 in Vancouver, Canada, Lululemon originally focused entirely on clothing for aspiring yogis. 

But it wasn’t until the company’s initial public offering in 2007 that Lululemon began to really pick up steam. Now fortified with investments, the brand branched out into every area of athleisure clothing — and in the process, became all but synonymous with the style.

Now a well-established brand with over 500 brick-and-mortar stores, Lululemon continues to debut new and innovative materials and clothing styles for men and women.

My Build

For reference, I’m 5’6” in shoes and about 125 lbs after dinner. I have a 35” chest and almost always order XS tops. 

My off-the-rack suit jacket size would be 34S, and my ideal pant size is usually 28×28.

What I Tried

I’ve been wearing Lululemon’s clothing for years now and have collected quite a few pieces from their catalog.

Here are the pieces in this review:

• Commission Pants
• Commission Shorts
• Down For it All Vest
• Fast and Free T-Shirt
• Speed Tab Socks
• Always In Motion Boxer
• Surge Jogger (shorter length)
• ABC Joggers (shorter length)
• Engineered Warmth Joggers
• Balancer Shorts (similar)
• Surge Jogger (Ryan tried these)
• Surge Half Tight 10″ (Ryan tried these)

Let’s go through them one at a time, and I’ll give my verdict on whether each particular item is worth spending your money on — because of all the things that Lululemon is, inexpensive is not one of them.

Note: TMM editor Ryan Hallstrom also has experience with lululemon. He’s added his thoughts to the end of this review.

Commission Pants

The Commission pants are one of Lululemon’s most popular items for guys, and with good reason: They’re pretty awesome.

I really like these pants. They’re basically a chino but made with a tech fabric that’s lightweight and breezy. They fit just right on me, and there are a lot of sizes and lengths to choose from.

I would wear these to a more modern office, but they’re probably a little too sporty for a traditional office wardrobe.

Commission Shorts

From the Commission Pants, we move to the Commission Shorts. 

They’re very similar, of course, but I notice that the shorts are cut a little wider. Overall that makes them not bad, but I prefer a slimmer fit with smaller leg openings.

Again, these are made from a tech fabric that’s lightweight and comfortable. The length is right on the money. I enjoy wearing these throughout the summer and when I’m lounging around the house.

Down For it All Vest

The Down For it All Vest might be my favorite item I’ve picked up from Lululemon, even though it’s a little bit big on me.

It’s super lightweight but provides so much warmth for how light it is. It feels like a real performance jacket but looks so much better than the purely technical vests you’ll find for hiking and camping.

Lastly, the two-way zipper is a perfect touch here. That gives it versatile styling options and a comfortable fit no matter whether you’re sitting or standing.

Fast and Free T-Shirt

An extremely lightweight and somewhat fitted tee, the Fast and Free T-Shirt is one of my go-to workout shirts.

I like the length of these tees — not too long, but not too short either. A lot of workout tees tend to be way too long for me, but this one is just right. It’s just a really good workout shirt, and I’ve been wearing mine for years through a lot of sweat and a lot of wash cycles.

Speed Tab Socks

Here’s an example of where I think Lululemon is missing the mark.

The Speed Tab Socks are cut pretty low. They’re decent for the price, but nothing to really write home about, you know?

Before you think about buying these — because they’re pretty expensive — I’d recommend checking out our no-show sock guide first. You’ll probably find a better option for a better price.

Always In Motion Boxer

So there are two main materials that you can choose from for Lululemon’s Always In Motion Boxer:

A cotton blend, and a mesh blend. Or at least, that’s what was available when I was first trying these out — now it looks like their Always In Motion underwear is made from a modal blend.

Similar to the socks above, these boxers and boxer briefs are just okay. For the price, you can honestly find a better pair for yourself in our boxer brief guide.

Surge Jogger Shorter Length

As a shorter guy, finding joggers that are just the right length is a challenge for me. But Lululemon got it perfect with their Surge Joggers, offered in a shorter length.

These feel like they’re made for running. They’re really lightweight, with a flattering taper, cuffed ankles, and a zipper at the ankle for fine-tuning adjustments.

The Surge Joggers definitely get the Modest Man seal of approval.

ABC Jogger Shorter Length

Alright, so where the Surge Joggers above were just the right length, these ABC Joggers really miss the mark.

They’re easily two to three inches too long on me, even in their shorter length option.

And they’re very tight around the waist and hips. I don’t know — they might be good for guys who are tall and thin, but not anyone on the shorter side who works out.

Engineered Warmth Jogger

Looking for a pair of pants perfect for lounging in the wintertime? The Engineered Warmth Joggers will do the trick.

These are very fitted, with a length that matches up well with my proportions. They’re made with a waffle knit texture that’s almost soft like wool, and they’re very warm.

I like them a lot and can fully recommend them.

Balancer Short

Made specifically for yoga, the Balancer Shorts do a good job as an all-around workout short.

They’re made with a very soft and stretchy material and have a nice texture inside the side zip pockets. 

I’ve been wearing these for a couple of years now, and you can see where they’re starting to pill up.

Overall, they’re pretty durable and comfortable shorts for the money. And the fit is just right for me.

Surge Jogger

Ryan: I have Lululemon’s Surge Jogger in size XS. These joggers are a tad too long, but I just roll over the waistband once or twice and that fixes the problem. Lululemon does have this item in a shorter length which probably would’ve been better for me. 

These joggers are super comfortable. They’re also functional because, unlike most joggers, I can actually comfortably run in these.

I don’t wear them running often, but if I was, for instance, getting ready for a cross-country race on a chilly fall morning these are what I’d wear to warm up.  

These sleek joggers can also be worn casually. In the summer I like pairing them with white minimal sneakers and a Buck Mason tee.

Surge Half Tight 10″

Ryan: As a runner, I’ve tried out a lot of different styles of running shorts. These half-length Surge tights are very high quality. Even after many washes, they’ve retained their shape and color. 

They are very comfortable to wear and are great for both speed workouts and long runs. While these can be worn underneath regular, looser-fitting running shorts, they’re constructed in a way that they can also be worn on their own (though, I’d recommend wearing a shirt that’s on the long side if you do). 

The shorts’ longer length, thicker fabric, pockets (there’s a phone pocket on the right side and a small zippered pocket on the left for storing keys), and reflective accents are what distinguish them from compression short underwear. 

What I Like, Summarized

So overall, I like a lot of what Lululemon makes for men. Here are some of the highlights:

• Their Commission Pants are really solid
• All of their workout gear is comfortable and reasonably durable
• Having shorter length options on their pants is a big plus
• Overall, the brand’s offerings are fashionable

I’d say they’re a solid brand.

What I Don’t Like, Summarized

There are a few things that I’m not so keen on from Lululemon, though. Those include:

• The leg openings on their Commission Shorts could be more fitted
• Their Speed Tab Socks really don’t do it for me, especially for the price
• Not all of their joggers have the right length for me as a shorter guy
• Overall, the brand is fairly expensive.

Every brand has it’s cons.

Overall Impression

To sum things up: Lululemon is still the best in the game in the athleisure category. I wouldn’t necessarily buy all my workout clothes from them though, and some of their product categories can be pretty hit or miss. 

If you have the chance, go try Lululemon’s clothes on in person at one of their stores before committing to buying.

Frequently Asked Questions

And before we go, here are some answers to the questions we’ve heard guys asking about Lululemon.

Is Lululemon Popular for Men?

Though they’re better known for women’s clothes, Lululemon is becoming increasingly popular for men’s athleisure as well.

Can Men Wear Lululemon to Work?

You might be able to wear Lululemon clothes to work if you’re in a more modern office, but I wouldn’t recommend wearing them to a traditional office.

When Did Lululemon Start Making Men’s Clothes?

Lululemon debuted its first men’s clothing in 2014.

Why Is Lululemon So Popular?

Lululemon has become popular because of its wide range of fabric types and styles, as well as its distinct athleisure aesthetic.

Conclusion

So is Lululemon a good brand for men? Absolutely. Your mileage may vary on each individual item, but overall their quality is high and they have a very nice selection of fabrics and styles to choose from.

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!