Men's Pilates Clothes: Lined Shorts or Tights, a Top That Stays Put, and Grip Socks

Wear fitted shorts with a built-in liner or tights, a top that stays down when your hips are above your shoulders, and grip socks if your studio asks for them. That covers mat and reformer Pilates. Studios themselves say little more than "athletic wear you can move in," so below is what their rules mean once you're on your back with your feet in the straps, and which lined shorts, tights and tops from trusted sellers fit the brief.

We haven't tested these; the picks come from the makers' product pages and listings, the studios' own guidance, and our tested men's yoga clothes review, which covers the Vuori Kore short hands-on.

What studios actually ask for

Dress codes are short. Club Pilates' FAQ answers "What should I wear?" with "Comfortable athletic wear that you can move in," and "Do I need grip socks?" with "Yes - bring your own or purchase some from our retail boutique." Gymbox, a UK chain that runs reformer classes, says to "wear comfortable, form-fitting activewear, nothing loose that can catch on the kit" on its class page, and calls grip socks "highly recommended" rather than mandatory. solidcore, which runs a reformer-style strength class, is the outlier: "Our workout is done barefoot and grip socks are optional. Shoes are not permitted on machines."

None of them mention men. Under Armour's Pilates guide is the closest thing to a brand speaking to us, and it says to avoid "loose items like basketball shorts," wear "shorts or pants made from a stretchy material like spandex or nylon," and pick "fitted T-shirts or tanks" so excess fabric stays out of the way.

So the rules are: fitted, stretchy, no loose shorts, socks where required. The rest is choosing between shorts and tights.

Lined shorts or tights

The deciding exercises are leg circles, frog and anything with your feet in the straps, where your legs are up and apart and the whole room is behind you. A 2-in-1 short with a built-in liner covers that. Loose, unlined gym shorts don't, which is why the studios' "nothing loose" line exists.

Tights are the reformer-first choice for two reasons. The teacher can see whether your knees track over your feet in footwork, and there is no hem to ride up. The trade-off is heat and, for some men, self-consciousness in a mixed class. A 3/4 tight splits the difference and ends above the sock. Our reformer leggings guide explains why a hem that clears the ankle matters on the carriage, and the same logic applies to men.

The shorts

CRZ YOGA 2-in-1 7": the lined short to start with

CRZ's 7-inch lined short is a mid-rise, 7-inch outer short with a mesh liner, an elastic waistband with a drawstring, two side pockets and one zip pocket. It belongs to CRZ's Feathery-Fit collection, which the maker's 3.5-inch version lists as 88% polyester and 12% spandex. There is no fly or button at the front, which matters when you lie face down on a box.

Seven inches is the length to buy for Pilates. It's long enough that the liner, not the hem, does the covering in frog, and short enough not to bunch behind the knee in footwork. CRZ also sells it as a 9-inch for men who want more coverage, and a 5-inch for running. Empty the zip pocket before class; a key against the carriage is the fastest way to scratch studio upholstery.

If you'd rather shop elsewhere, Baleaf's 7-inch running short with liner is the same idea with a knit brief liner in 92% polyester and 8% spandex; we couldn't find the lined version from Baleaf's own store on Amazon, so we've linked the maker's page.

Under Armour HeatGear compression shorts: the liner you add

If you already own fitted, unlined training shorts, the simpler fix is a compression short underneath. Under Armour's HeatGear 6-inch is 84% polyester and 16% elastane in what the maker calls an "ultra-tight, second-skin fit," with a wide elastic waistband, no fly and a drop-in pocket on the right thigh. A 9-inch version exists for more coverage.

The catch is two waistbands at the back, which you'll feel in roll-downs; wear the compression short's band a little higher than the outer short's so they don't stack.

The tights

Under Armour HeatGear Armour Leggings, and the 3/4 version

Under Armour's HeatGear leggings are 79% polyester and 21% elastane with a 28-inch inseam, mesh gusset panels, a drop-in pocket at the right hip and no fly. The maker describes the mid-rise waistband as staying "flat & locked under shorts," which also means it lies flat on a carriage.

The full length runs to your ankle, where it meets your grip sock. If that bothers you, the HeatGear 3/4 leggings use the same 79/21 fabric with a 21.25-inch inseam that Under Armour says "hits at mid-calf," so the sock sits on bare skin. Both are sold by Amazon.com. For a heated studio, stick with shorts; these are warm.

Tops: fitted beats loose

A top goes wrong in Pilates in one way: it slides toward your face when your hips are higher than your shoulders, in bridge, shoulder bridge and the short spine series on the reformer. Fitted fixes it. CRZ's Breathable Texture crewneck is a classic-fit tee whose listing describes a lightweight, stretchy jacquard with ventilated small-hole panels that are "not see-through," and a scalloped back hem cut longer than the front. It still moves a little in inversions, so tuck it into your waistband for bridge.

If you want the sure thing, a compression tee stays put everywhere. Under Armour's HeatGear compression short sleeve uses the same 84/16 fabric as the shorts, with mesh under the arms and across the back and seams the maker says are placed off high-abrasion areas. It is a compression fit, and it looks like one. Under Armour's own Tech 2.0 tee, which we recommend for yoga, is a looser "right-down-the-middle" fit by the maker's description, and the looser cut is what you're avoiding here.

Grip socks sized for men

Club Pilates requires them, Gymbox recommends them, solidcore makes them optional. If your studio is in the first two groups, buy a pair before your first class rather than at the desk.

Most grip socks are labeled for women, but Tavi and ToeSox size them on one chart with a men's row: a men's US 9.5 to 11.5 is a Large and 12 to 13.5 an XL. Tavi's Base 33 line is the one made for men, in a closed-toe cut with hex grip under the sole and, per its listing, 70% organic cotton. Our men's grip socks guide has the size chart, the toe styles, the Base 33 and ToeSox picks, and the brands that don't publish a men's size. Our toe style comparison explains full toe, half toe and toeless.

What to leave at home

Metal is the enemy of a reformer. Our what to wear to Pilates class guide lists what damages studio equipment; the short version for men is no zips at the back of the waistband, no belt, no steel watch bracelet, and nothing in the pockets. The CRZ short's zip is on the side and the Under Armour pieces have drop-in pockets without hardware, which is why they're here. Shoes stay by the door: solidcore puts it plainly ("Shoes are not permitted on machines").

Washing them

Fitted synthetics lose their stretch when they're washed hot or softened. Under Armour's care note is specific: machine wash cold, tumble dry low, no iron, no dry cleaning and no softeners, which it says "coat fibers & degrade wicking over time." CRZ's care instructions for its Feathery-Fit shorts are the same: wash cold with like colors, do not bleach, tumble dry low. Our workout clothes washing guide covers sweat smell, and the grip sock washing guide covers the socks. If your studio runs a Pilates-plus-strength format, our hybrid class guide covers what changes when weights come out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can men wear leggings to Pilates?

Yes, and on a reformer they're the better choice: no hem to ride up in feet-in-straps work, and the teacher can see your knees in footwork. Under Armour's HeatGear leggings are full length; the 3/4 version ends mid-calf and clears grip socks.

Do men need grip socks for Pilates?

If the studio says so. Club Pilates requires them for every participant, Gymbox recommends them, and solidcore trains barefoot. Tavi and ToeSox size their socks on one chart that includes men's sizes; Tavi's Base 33 is made for men.

Can I wear basketball shorts to Pilates?

No. Under Armour's own Pilates guide says to avoid loose items like basketball shorts, and reformer studios ask for nothing loose that can catch on the equipment. Loose shorts also expose you in leg circles. Wear a lined short, or a compression short under the shorts you have.

What should a man wear to reformer Pilates?

Lined 7-inch shorts or tights, a fitted tee or tank, grip socks, and nothing metal: no zips at the back, no belt, empty pockets. Shoes stay off the machines.

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