Dear Davey,
I’m new to the gym and, quite frankly, I need all the help that I can get. When I was a young guy in sports, I remember that a lot of my teammates would wear jockstraps. Since I’m working out again, is there any advantage to exercising in a jockstrap?
From,
Bill
Hey Bill,
I couldn’t be more excited for an excuse to talk about jockstraps!
But first, let’s have an educational moment.
As best I can tell, jockstraps were invented in the mid 1870s by a Chicago sporting goods company. They were popular among the bicycle jockeys that rode the cobblestone streets of Boston. With an open backside and a pouch in the front, jockstraps provided an element of safety and support, and kept things nicely in place for the jockeys. Over the years, jockstraps became more popular with athletes and were often fitted with a cup for extra protection.
In essence, men wear jockstraps for the same reason that women wear bras.
But times have changed, and there are more modern options. For those of us not engaging in high-risk sports, simple compression shorts or athletic underwear are a more supportive and comfortable choice. Today, there are hundreds of brands and underwear styles specifically designed and engineered to help you get the most out of your workout.
So are jockstraps a relic of the past? Not exactly. Some men still opt for jockstraps because, let’s face it, they’re sexy. And the open backside is convenient for other, non-gym activities. Wink, wink.
So while modern athletic underwear may be a more functional choice, wearing a jockstrap just might give you that extra boost of confidence and pep in your step. If that’s the case, more power to you.
And send me a picture.
Love,
Davey
P.S. For a core workout that you can do at home (with or without a jockstrap), download Davey Wavey Six Pack Program and receive a free gift!
