![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-925393154-d6c3.jpg\")
\n\t\tAre you team pants or team commando? (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tAre you team pants or team commando? (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re getting dressed for the gym, underwear might seem like a pretty straightforward decision.<\/p>\n
But while some people wouldn\u2019t dream of attempting a workout without the protection of pants, others see the extra layer of fabric as nothing but a sweaty inconvenience.<\/p>\n
A recent Pour Moi survey of 1,500 UK women found 5% never, or rarely, wear underwear to the gym, but if online forums are anything to go by, the real number could be far higher.<\/p>\n
On r\/womensfashion<\/a>, a number of users said they go commando, including Commercial_State_767 who wrote: \u2018Who can stand panties under skin tight leggings or workout gear?\u2019<\/p>\n Another, nicadic, said underwear \u2018feels gross\u2019 after a period of rigorous exercise, while spicy_fairy added on r\/yoga<\/a>: \u2018I sweat too much to be comfortable with undies on under my leggings.\u2019<\/p>\n When the debate reared its head on The Girls Bathroom podcast<\/a> recently, hosts Sophia Tuxford and Cinzia Baylis-Zullo both admitted to doing the same, with the latter saying: \u2018I always go pantless in a legging\u2026 you just don\u2019t need them.\u2019<\/p>\n That\u2019s certainly not the viewpoint of every gym-goer, though.<\/p>\n \u2018This is the reason I wipe gym equipment down before and after I use it\u2026 commando just sounds horrible to me,\u2019 wrote girlsledisko on r\/beginnerfitness<\/a>, with GoldxBrownSugar adding: \u2018That\u2019s honestly disgusting. Why would you not?\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Every gender<\/a> should be wearing the best barrier they can, it\u2019s already gross enough in there,\u2019 commented IT_chickadee, while BlackMagicWorman called team no-pants \u2018so filthy.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tAsk Metro<\/p>\n Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about \u2013 powered by Metro and trusted publications.<\/p>\n After the recent Hyrox scandal, where athlete Joanna Wietrzyk competed with visible diarrhoea running down her legs<\/a>, fitness-related hygiene issues are at the forefront of many people\u2019s minds.<\/p>\n But is working out without underwear genuinely a hazard, or are people getting their knickers in a twist over nothing? Metro investigates.<\/p>\n The case for wearing underwear<\/p>\n For Stephen Roland, founder and PT at\u00a0Fortify Personal Training in London<\/a>, \u2018wearing underwear in the gym is mainly a hygiene issue\u2019, since \u2018less fabric to absorb sweat\u2019 means \u2018more sweat ending up on the machines.\u2019<\/p>\n There are health benefits for you too, with Dr Asiya Maula, director and GP at\u00a0The Health Suite<\/a>, telling Metro: \u2018Underwear can provide a useful layer of moisture absorption during exercise, especially if you choose breathable, natural fibres like cotton.\u2019<\/p>\n This can be particularly helpful when activewear is made from synthetic materials, which she says \u2018aren\u2019t always kind to sensitive skin.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t Dr Maula continues: \u2018Without underwear, sweat, bacteria, and discharge come into direct contact with the fabric, and then the fabric sits directly against the skin. <\/p>\n \u2018If those leggings are reworn without washing, or worn for hours after the gym, that can raise the risk of irritation, folliculitis, or yeast and bacterial infections, including UTIs in those prone to them.\u2019<\/p>\n Odour is another consideration. <\/p>\n Anwen Davies, certified personal trainer and gym and fitness product developer at Net World Sports, says this is \u2018probably the biggest argument against exercising without underwear,\u2019 as research shows polyester worn during intense exercise becomes far smellier than cotton.<\/p>\n \u2018Synthetic fibres are oil-loving, so the fatty compounds in sweat cling to them and feed odour-causing bacteria, which barely show up on cotton at all,\u2019 she tells Metro. \u2018Underwear acts as a buffer layer that absorbs a lot of that sweat before it seeps into your gym clothes.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tWhat are your thoughts on going commando at the gym?<\/p>\n It\u2019s more comfortable and practical.Check<\/p>\n It\u2019s unhygienic and I wouldn\u2019t do it.Check<\/p>\n I think it\u2019s a personal choice, but not for me.Check<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tSign up to Metro’s The Slice newsletter for your guide to what’s on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s chafing, which can really impact your flow during activities that require repetitive movements such as running and cycling.<\/p>\n While \u2018underwear won\u2019t remove the risk of this entirely,\u2019 the PT says it \u2018adds a layer that reduces direct contact in some of the areas most prone to rubbing, particularly around the thighs and groin.\u2019<\/p>\n Finally, there\u2019s the question of modesty, which is the point Anwen would \u2019emphasise most for clients.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Not every pair of gym leggings or shorts is built to handle a deep squat or a deadlift,\u2019 she adds. <\/p>\n \u2018Fabric stretches with increased load, and if it\u2019s not manufactured for that level of movement, you can end up showing more than you intended. If you\u2019re going without underwear, this is the risk you\u2019re signing up for.\u2019<\/p>\n The case for going commando<\/p>\n For some, avoiding VPL (aka visible panty line<\/a>) is a major benefit of this, but for others, aesthetics have nothing to do with the decision.<\/p>\n \u2018I have actually had a client tell me that they preferred working out without underwear on as they found it more comfortable and less restrictive,\u2019 says Stephen. \u2018Thankfully we had no decency issues at any point in time!\u2019<\/p>\n While many object to this due to the ick factor, Dr Rupa Parmar, GP and medical director of Midland Health<\/a>, tells Metro there\u2019s \u2018nothing inherently unhygienic\u2019 about exercising sans pants \u2014 and \u2018provided your gym clothes offer enough coverage, they should generally provide \u2018enough of a barrier between you and a gym bench.\u2019<\/p>\n In fact, there may even be a hygiene argument for ditching them. <\/p>\n \t\t \u2018Bacteria thrive in warm, moist conditions, and an extra layer of fabric can actually give them a better environment to grow in,\u2019 explains Anwen. <\/p>\n \u2018This also applies to male gymgoers. If underwear becomes warm and damp due to sweat, it can cause something called jock itch<\/a>. Looser gym wear without underwear is sometimes recommended specifically to keep that area cooler and drier.\u2019<\/p>\n As Casey Lee, owner of Purposeful Strength training studio in Richmond, Vermont, highlights, \u2018a lot of clothing is now compression based or even comes with liners built in to the shorts, pants, or leggings\u2019, meaning there\u2019s no fear of an accidental flashing incident.<\/p>\n Even if there was a danger of this though, he tells Metro he\u2019d \u2018simply swap out a few of our movements to make sure they\u2019re in positions that keep them covered up,\u2019 adding: \u2018It\u2019s just another thing to manage in a session.\u2019<\/p>\n Either way, etiquette is key<\/p>\n Ultimately, whether you wear underwear or not, there are some gym hygiene rules that are worth following.<\/p>\n Dr Parmar warns that \u2014 whether you\u2019re wearing underwear or not \u2014 when it comes to shared equipment, germs can pass between exposed skin and surfaces, particularly if somebody has cuts or broken skin <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s why it\u2019s wise to wipe equipment before and after you use it, use a clean towel as an extra barrier if you want to, and wash your hands after using shared equipment,\u2019 she advises.<\/p>\n \t\t Lewis Pearce, owner at Boxstop x Boiler Room Fitness in Wakefield, echoes this, saying that although he wants to foster a \u2018welcoming environment where people feel comfortable, confident and able to train without feeling judged\u2019, clothing may become an issue if it starts \u2018affecting the experience of the people around them.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018The point where we would step in is if it became inappropriate, visibly uncomfortable for other members, or created a hygiene issue within the training environment,\u2019 he tells Metro.<\/p>\n \u2018Hygiene is particularly important in our gym because our sessions can get pretty intense! With functional fitness, Hyrox-style training, kettlebells and hot-room sessions, there\u2019s plenty of sweat flying around regardless of what anyone is wearing.\u2019<\/p>\n Denise Chakoian, certified fitness trainer and owner of Core Cycle and Fitness LaGree, agrees that it\u2019s less about whether someone is \u2018technically wearing underwear\u2019 and more about whether their clothing provides adequate coverage and works for the movements they\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n \u2018If clothing were very loose, sheer, or revealing during certain exercises, I might suggest a different option simply to avoid an uncomfortable situation,\u2019 she tells Metro.<\/p>\n As Dr Maula concludes, neither choice is \u2018wrong\u2019, but \u2018it\u2019s the habits around them that really count,\u2019 and \u2018washing kit, showering after exercise, and choosing breathable fabrics are what matters most.\u2019<\/p>\n Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2157002407-873d.jpg\")
\n\t\tGyms are pretty sweaty places at the best of times (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2246065699-b537.jpg\")
\n\t\tFor many people, it\u2019s about avoiding VPL (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2198653176-1b34.jpg\")
\n\t\tA little consideration can go a long way (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Topman\u2019s new autumn jackets start from \u00a335 and solve every cold-weather wardrobe dilemma<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Best men\u2019s cardigans and jumpers for autumn from Next, M&S, ASOS and Uniqlo<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: A parasitic bug that eats human skin cells is thriving in the UK right now<\/a><\/p>\n