Wearing Lycra in Public - around town & sports

[CompressionMan]

I’m a guy, 6’2, 200 pounds, early 40s. Married with kids, living in suburbia. Can I pick your brain for a minute?

If I go to the grocery store (or anywhere public) at midnight, can I wear a fleece hoodie pullover, white low-cut ankle socks, running shoes and long black Nike, Under Armour or 2XU compression pants…and NOTHING ELSE (including underwear)?

Do you think I should toss on a pair of fleece running shorts over the leggings? What color shorts? Does color matter?

And instead of white low-cut ankle socks, can I wear thick white slouch socks with the leggings tucked in (socks in size to fit)?

How about this clothing combination for an overnight errand: a T-shirt, white low-cut ankle socks, running shoes and fleece shorts over three-quarter-length black tights (Nike, UA, Reebok, etc.). No underwear.

Do men's three-quarter-length sports tights too closely resemble women's capri yoga pants when worn without athletic shorts?

If any of this gear is unacceptable for the grocery store, what about a neighborhood jog at 5:30 in the morning? Or the gym?

Have you ever seen a guy wearing compression tights in public? Where? Was he discreet? Did others notice?

Let’s assume all the clothing described here was made for men by reputable, family-trusted designers and sold in your local mall big box sporting goods store. No crossdressers, no gay porn, no pantyhose, no nylon, lycra or spandex fetish.

Full disclosure: In the past year, I’ve replaced all my underwear with compression shorts. Someday all men will discover what I’ve learned and do the same. Sure, all your drawers will cost $25-$30 a pop, but the comfort makes ’em worth every penny!

Also: I’m not trying to show off my bulge (not much to show anyway).

[singletlover]

Good day CompressionMan,
I say wear what you want to, and don't worry about it. Running tights or compression shorts are acceptable wear in all your scenarios. I have yet to understand the wearing of loose shorts over tights, been questioning this for years. As an option you could wear a extra long or oversized t-shirt if you are wanting to cover what every man has. In the end you are not out flaunting anything. I have seen many a man out doing every day things in tights and all seem comfortable in their own skin (or tights).

Now, for me personally, the 3/4 length "capri" style is not my favorite. Again this is just me talking.

[aquabikini]

I have been wearing a dancers belt for many years now. I love them.

I accidentally stumbled onto them one day by visiting a dance shop that was next to a dance studio. For whatever reason, this day I was wearing sweatpants this day. I am always looking to buy lucrative pants or shorts to my wardrobe. When I'm not at work, lycra is usually all I wear. I was just looking around at all the different colors and designs, even though I only wear solid colored lycra. I came across a light gray and a red pair. I asked the lady at the counter if I could try them on. She said yes in the back as long as I leave my underwear on. I was taking off the red pair, just about to put on the light gray ones. The lady came by and asked how do they look and feel? I said they look and feel great. She told me I could come out and walk around to test them out if I wanted to. I was wearing dark blue bikini underwear, which was showing through the light gray lycra. Oh well, I opened the door and her eyes got big and her mouth opened a little and then immediately went back to her business look. I have big junk. She said the lycra looks great, turn around. I asked for her honest opinion, since I only have dark colored lycra. She liked almost any color on guys and her sales in light colors for guys had been increasing over the year.

I liked them both and went to pay. The lady mentioned their "active belts" (dancers belt) were on sale. I had no idea what she was talking about. She told me and got one out of the package to show me. I wore regular thongs under my lycra, but I never felt the comfort or support. She explained how it works, giving me the support it looks like I needed, and most of her guy running customers love them. And since I was buying these two lycra pants, she would recommend the tan active belt.

I got home and immediately but on the active belt. It felt great! Very supportive and comfortable. I then put on my new light gray lycra pants. The combination looked great, NO underwear lines. I went around town running errands. My junk stayed in place the whole time.

Later that week, I went back to the store. I was wearing the active belt with my blue lycra pants. The same lady was there. She asked me how the active belt was holding up. I laughed and said I'm wearing it now and I love it. She said she could tell. I said that is why I'm here, I need more. I bought 2 more tan pairs and 3 black pairs.

[need4speedo]

Much like George Costanza and his love of velvet, I would wear spandex 24/7 if it were socially acceptable. I take advantage of those situations where I can wear them without attracting too much attention. Cycling, working out, swimming and occasionally doing chores around the yard. I also have several pairs of light spandex leggings that I wear around the house or for sleeping.

[MexGCM]

I wear compresion pants/shirt for the gym & do my stuff on them when needed (shopping, grocery a, school of my kid) with self confidence, i'm not embarrased if my manhood shows.
Also, there's only thongs under my tights, i like the support, the feeling & clean lines on my activewear.

[swim suit eddie]

They really feel good and Iv'e wore one on a few occasions during the cold winter months under a nice pair of warm black colored footed dance tights. The dance belt fits very comfortable under my dance tights and feels great., but when called to the doctor's office for a rescheduled physical exam, I'm not ready to give up my warm, well fitting tights and soft, snug dance belt, but loose in the end to the doctor, now naked and hard without my dance belt and black tights. They are great winter underwear with spandex men's body suits and tights.

[swim suit eddie]

Another fun time, wearing lycra in public, is at the doctor's office in the examination room when getting ready for the doctor to do my exam. Before undressing, Many fellow patients see me dressed in a snug winter snowsuit with lycra leotards underneath. It does feel so warm and snug while still wearing my outfit, but others do get to see me undressing and at times with the nurse's help. I get to keep my leotard and tights on for a while, as the other patients and medical staff see me still encased in lycra. I don't have any shame with others seeing me wearing my wintertime lycra leotard and tights, both the men and women patients and nurses like seeing me in them. There are a few times when fellow patients will see others undressing while getting ready for their examination, yet no one minds, but when it's my time they do get to see me slowly peeling off all those warm snug layers of lycra including the sexy nylon briefs with the nurse's help. Many patients, after their examinations usually put on a change of clothes to wear home or elsewhere. I do the same, wearing loose boxers and baggy trousers. and certainly miss wearing and being seen again by other wearing my warm snug favorite lycra outfit.

[MrMusik]

So, I know this is a pretty old post and CompressionMan is no longer with us, but I thought I might share some thoughts on the questions he proposes...

Originally Posted by CompressionMan

I’m a guy, 6’2, 200 pounds, early 40s. Married with kids, living in suburbia. Can I pick your brain for a minute?

Understood... sure, my brain is always available for picking, but who knows what you might find in there... LoL!!!

Originally Posted by CompressionMan

If I go to the grocery store (or anywhere public) at midnight, can I wear a fleece hoodie pullover, white low-cut ankle socks, running shoes and long black Nike, Under Armour or 2XU compression pants…and NOTHING ELSE (including underwear)?

Sure, I see absolutely nothing wrong with this. I do things very similar regularly, and not always under the cover of darkness. I'll do very similar in the middle of the day in broad daylight. I never wear anything under my spandex, regardless if I am wearing a swim brief, jammers / bike shorts, or leggings.

Originally Posted by CompressionMan

Do you think I should toss on a pair of fleece running shorts over the leggings? What color shorts? Does color matter?

No, wearing shorts over your leggings is silly. I did this for a minute when I first started to wear leggings and I quickly realized there is absolutely no point in wearing the shorts, at all. When working out my equipment would get overly warm because the sweat wouldn't be able to evaporate. I quickly ditched the shorts.

Originally Posted by CompressionMan

And instead of white low-cut ankle socks, can I wear thick white slouch socks with the leggings tucked in (socks in size to fit)?

Sure? I guess? To me the slouch socks look sloppy. I much prefer the no-see ankle socks in this situation. I feel that it just looks better.

Originally Posted by CompressionMan

How about this clothing combination for an overnight errand: a T-shirt, white low-cut ankle socks, running shoes and fleece shorts over three-quarter-length black tights (Nike, UA, Reebok, etc.). No underwear.

Again, no need for the silly fleece shorts. Just wear your 3/4 leggings, it is all good. Again, no need for underwear, you are wearing your leggings. For the t-shirt, you can always make it undersized, or go with a spandex shirt of some flavor. That would look really good, especially if it matched the design of your leggings.

Originally Posted by CompressionMan

Do men's three-quarter-length sports tights too closely resemble women's capri yoga pants when worn without athletic shorts?

No, men's 3/4 length tights may be called "capri" as that is what they are. This type of legging is often used in yoga and there is not a thing wrong with wearing them. Just get out there and do it.

Originally Posted by CompressionMan

If any of this gear is unacceptable for the grocery store, what about a neighborhood jog at 5:30 in the morning? Or the gym?

All of this gear is totally acceptable wear for pretty much anything where you would dress casually. Grocery store, drug store, to the mall, gas station, gym, running, whatever... be comfortable and do your thing.

Originally Posted by CompressionMan

Have you ever seen a guy wearing compression tights in public? Where? Was he discreet? Did others notice?

Sure, it is common to see this sort of thing in most any metro area. What do you mean when you ask "Was he discreet?" He is just another guy going about his day, doing this thing. He damn sure was not standing in the middle of the street jacking off. Most people do not notice. The sad thing is that as much as we may feel like we are totally on display, if you are not acting weird other people will not notice. So just act normal, do your normal thing, and be your normal self. Will people notice? Sure, a few might. Will they say anything? No, the chances of them actually saying anything to you about anything is extremely small. If they do say anything, take it as a complement, smile when you talk to them, and be friendly. If they say things that are not nice, ignore them.

Originally Posted by CompressionMan

Let’s assume all the clothing described here was made for men by reputable, family-trusted designers and sold in your local mall big box sporting goods store. No crossdressers, no gay porn, no pantyhose, no nylon, lycra or spandex fetish.

Full disclosure: In the past year, I’ve replaced all my underwear with compression shorts. Someday all men will discover what I’ve learned and do the same. Sure, all your drawers will cost $25-$30 a pop, but the comfort makes ’em worth every penny!

Also: I’m not trying to show off my bulge (not much to show anyway).

A-ha! now I see where you are coming from with these questions! You are working from the perspective of compression shorts and tights are underwear. Sure, they can be used as that. As you have found they are absurdly comfortable to be used that way. However, it is perfectly acceptable to wear only compression shorts and nothing else if you wish. I have seen guys wear only compression shorts and socks and shoes in the summer when it is hot out and they want to lose the shirt. This is just fine, there is not a thing wrong with it.

As I mentioned above, I never wear anything under my swim briefs, jammers / bike shorts, or leggings. I know some guys like to wear something under their shorts, and that is fine. I find it uncomfortable and I don't like it. The only thing I could wear that might be reasonable would be a thong or g-string, but I don't really see the point in that.

The biggest thing with all of this, and you will see it is a recurring theme in my responses above, be normal. Act normal. As soon as you start acting weird, people notice and wonder what you are up to. Be friendly, be approachable, be nice to people. It really is astounding how absurd your clothing can be if you act normal. If anyone asks, and you feel like you need to have a reason to be dressed this way, you can always say you are on your way to the gym, from the gym, just had a few errands to run, or even that you are meeting up with some friends to go biking. Personally, I'd just tell them that it is super comfortable.