# Workout guys - a moment of your time please **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118 "2012-01-29T23:15:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/21 "2012-01-30T14:05:52Z")
I had that problem until I found a really good solution: running shorts. These are gym shorts that have a liner (much like a men’s bathing suit). There are a couple things to note: 1. They don’t have to be short-short. [I get 'em regular gym short length.](http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3190508&mr:trackingCode=D315C3C2-1B5B-E011-BB8E-001B21631C34&mr:referralID=NA) 2. There seems to be two kind of these shorts. One with stiff inflexible fabric, and one with a woven fabric which has a give. Get the woven as it gives a much wider range of motion and freedom while at the gym. 3. Pockets are all over the place on these type of shorts. Some have regular pockets you can place your hands in. Some have small pockets inside of the shorts or on the back of the shorts big enough for a key. If those needs are relevant, check out the shorts first. 4. You don’t wear underwear with these. It’d be redundant and probably uncomfortable. The tight liner keeps you and your friends in place. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/22 "2012-01-30T14:18:37Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > I just checked wikipedia. It would appear that you’re correct. They’re for supporting AND protecting. He just said that as stupid as it sounds, he never even thought of a jock strap for just regular exercising. Being nutless, it never occurred to me either. He should have paid attention in HS gym class. That is when they force you to do things like wear a jock and take a shower. Things that seem so obvious to most people until you encounter someone who didn’t get the message. Just like a woman wears a jog-bra to keep things from flapping around when they exercise, guys need something to keep the beans and franks in place when they are jumping around. That is what a jock does. To protect the nuts you need a cup, is much like a jock with a hard shell. Never liked to wear a jock myself, briefs did the job just fine. I can’t imagine exercising in boxers but plenty of guys do. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/23 "2012-01-30T14:26:56Z")
If you don’t need the protection of a cup, don’t bother with a jock strap. Compression shorts or running shorts with a built in brief work much better for running/biking/rowing. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/24 "2012-01-30T14:40:15Z")
I never wear underwear when I work out- I always wear running shorts. They have an inner liner which keeps everything contained and out of the way of any dangerous weight equipment. This is the case whether I’m running or just using the machines. And if that doesn’t work, electrical tape. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/25 "2012-01-30T15:53:18Z")
Thanks for all the tips everyone. He is feeling very silly right now for not thinking of a jock strap, but as he said, I haven’t worn one of those since I was 10 (that was almost 30 years ago). He has to work today so I took some measurements and I’ll get him a pair of compression shorts before I meet him at the gym tonight. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/26 "2012-01-30T16:01:59Z")
Another vote for compression shorts. I do a lot of running, so I don’t have the “sitting on things” issue, but I’ve found that running briefs do a great job of keeping everything “in place”, as it were. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/27 "2012-01-30T17:00:32Z")
> [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](#): > > Commando. Not small or otherwise unobtrusive and never had an issue. Granted I don’t run, in which case if I did I’d be sure to bind the boys in a jock to prevent jostling. > [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Just what flavour of crazy juice are you drinking? Commando to the gym?!?!?! I can’t imagine any less practical. Dude - he has a cat. A _ **guy** _ with a cat. What did you expect? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/28 "2012-01-30T17:18:29Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > … He has to work today so I took some measurements … :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/29 "2012-01-30T17:22:17Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > :dubious: His waist and his butt. Just that. I don’t _need_ to measure other things. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/30 "2012-01-30T18:49:03Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > He should probably be wearing compression shorts. That takes care of everything with no jock needed for exercise. He must be handing pretty loose if this is even a problem. I’m a lady but my brothers and SO wear the compression shorts exclusively. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/31 "2012-01-30T19:14:56Z")
Clearly, athletic tape is the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/32 "2012-01-30T20:14:08Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > I don’t know firsthand - I’m a girl, but I thought that’s what jock straps are for. > [@congodwarf](#): > > I thought they were to protect them from impact from the front. I don’t think he has ever had a reason to wear one because he seems pretty clueless too. A jockstrap without a cup is for retention. With the cup is for protection. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/33 "2012-01-30T20:39:36Z")
Thirding compression shorts. In my case, I wear them to keep my thighs from rubbing together on the treadmill or bike, but they also keep the boys firmly in place. Way comfier than a jock strap, in my opinion. Brands probably don’t matter, but I’m a fan of Under Armour. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/34 "2012-01-30T20:49:35Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > My boyfriend has asked me to ask you this question because he’s too embarrassed to ask the trainers at the gym. > What do you do with your nuts? They always seem to be in the way, he says, when he uses the bike or rower or really any other sit down machine. He wears boxer briefs which fit him perfectly but the nuts don’t seem to want to stay where he puts them and it’s quite uncomfortable. > Thanks guys 😃 Not all boxer briefs are created equal. Target’s C9 line of athletic wear includes athletic style boxer briefs that have a tighter “cup” than normal boxer briefs from Hanes, etc. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/35 "2012-01-30T21:37:20Z")
I use a bra. The regular ones weren’t big enough, so I had to get one from a stripper. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/36 "2012-01-30T23:01:12Z")
We got him a pair of Under Armor compression shorts. I was surprised at the price. Under $30 at Olympia. Glad we went there instead of Dick’s. The same brand was 2-3x as expensive at Dick’s. But, Olympia was having a winter clearance so that might have been why. He LOVES them. He said they feel awesome. They are wicking too, which he really likes. He forgot to try the rower today but he said the bike was way more comfortable and he even noticed a difference on the treadmill. Thank you all for the input. He’s very glad he didn’t have to go the jock strap route. forgot to say - as we were leaving the mall, he leans in to me and whispers, “am I supposed to wear these under or over the boxers?” ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/37 "2012-01-31T00:44:25Z")
Here’s a solution: don’t use sit-down machines (ie, do squats, deadlifts, bench press, overhead press, and barbell rows). ---
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118/38 "2012-01-31T00:47:21Z")
Tape? Get some tightie whities or boxer briefs, or a jock strap. Simple solution. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/workout-guys-a-moment-of-your-time-please/611118.md?page=1)