If you’ve been to either a local park or a gym recently, chances are you’ve noticed a bit of a shift in both places: more men are working out in outdoor spaces like parks, and fewer are spending time at the gym. While gyms definitely aren’t in any danger of folding from lack of customers (the dedicated gym bros aren’t going anywhere!), the new trend for outdoor exercise amongst men is noticeable.
But why? Why are more of us braving the weather and stares of the great outdoors rather than working out in the gym? Let’s take a look:
It’s cheaper
Often, it’s as simple as the fact that pavements are free and treadmills are expensive. In this cost-of-living crisis, more and more of us are cutting down on ‘luxuries’ like gym memberships and taking up cheaper or free alternatives. All you need to go for a run outside is a good pair of trainers, a comfortable men’s running vest, and some shorts or joggers that work for you – all investments that will last a long time and cost a lot less than a monthly gym membership. Similarly, you can do sit-ups with a park bench as an anchor, and you only need the ground and your own body for press-ups. Exercises that don’t require a lot of equipment, etc., are easy to do outside, and can save a lot of money. In fact, even exercises that do require equipment are becoming increasingly accessible in public outdoor spaces, which leads us into the next factor:
Outdoor exercise equipment
Why pay through the nose for a stationary cycle or use a pull-up machine at the gym when you could use the free ones that the council kindly installed in your local park? The trend for outdoor, public gym equipment in the UK is huge and growing at the rapid rate of 6% per year – the market is estimated to reach a whopping 12.3 billion USD by 2033. Demand is high, and it’s increasingly rare to find parks and public rec areas in the UK which don’t have a dedicated workout space with machines and equipment that anyone can use, for free. If you’re not self-conscious about your form, if you like the outdoors, and if you want to save money, public workout equipment is a godsend.
It’s less repetitive
Part of the change comes down to how repetitive indoor workouts can feel – especially when it comes to things like running and cycling. Treadmills and stationary bikes are fixed to one spot. The belt moves at a steady pace, the view stays the same, and everything unfolds in a controlled loop. That’s fine if you want to put a movie on your tablet and watch while you work out, but if that’s not your thing, then ‘stationary’ indoor workouts can get dull and repetitive. Outside, things are constantly changing – even if you always take the same route. You’ll see the land changing according to the weather and the seasons, you’ll get to watch different people, birds, animals and so on as you pass, the ground changes underfoot, and you generally get a more varied, more stimulating, less repetitive experience.
Time factors
Time also plays a big role. A gym session often involves more than the run itself. There is travel, changing, and waiting for equipment at busy hours. Outdoor workouts, on the other hand, remove most of that. You step out, work out, and return. That simplicity and flexibility often fit more easily around work and other commitments than carving out time for a gym session.
Gym culture
Gym culture is a big attraction for many people, and has been instrumental in pulling a lot of men into the gym. But some people find it off-putting – especially when they prefer a more self-directed form of workout. Gym culture often centres on fixed routines and shared workouts. Outdoor workouts, on the other hand, are often a more private and self-directed matter – despite the ostensibly more public nature of the location. There’s also a lot less aesthetic pressure with outdoor workouts, whereas gym culture sometimes prioritises a certain look and a certain amount of visible effort.
Social patterns
Building on the previous point, the social culture around outdoor workouts is often very different from that of gym workouts. A lot of people join outdoor running groups, for example, and tend to find them more relaxed and informal than the ‘burn’ sessions and groups you’d find at a gym. Or, you can easily run or work out on your own outdoors, without being interrupted by people who want to use your machine or who want to offer unsolicited advice on your form.
Is the gym over?
All in all, there are a lot of reasons for the trend towards men working out outdoors rather than in gyms. Does this mean that the gym is over? Absolutely not. Many people love the gym for the very same reasons that some men are eschewing it. What’s more, plenty of the men you’ll see running and cycling outdoors also like to mix it up with the occasional gym workout. However, it is interesting to note the shift – and to remember that, despite what some gymfluencers would have you believe – working out doesn’t have to be expensive, or fixed in one place. Fitness is for everyone – and you can get fit for free if you want to!
Images courtesy of unsplash.com and pexels.com
