Earlier this year, Lenny Kravitz went viral for working out in, of all things, leather pants. Yep, the man who’s made 60 look like the new 30 decided to give "athleisure" a whole new meaning, because who needs joggers when you can hit the weights in full rock-god attire? Naturally, fans couldn’t decide what was more impressive—his chiseled form or his dedication to exercising in skin-tight leather. Spoiler: if you’re an ageless rock icon, apparently you can pull it off.
But what’s it really like to work out in leather pants? Unless you’re rocking your own leather collection (and if so, respect), it’s not exactly the easiest experiment to try. Enter Slate’s Luke Winkie, who took one for the team. He threw on some leather pants, took a page from Kravitz’s workout, and put his dignity on the line to give us the lowdown. “The man is 60 years old with the physique of a Roman centurion,” Winkie noted—before diving into what it’s like to walk a mile in Lenny’s pants.
First, Winkie had to make sure Kravitz’s workout wasn’t some mystical rock star-only regimen designed to destroy mere mortals. So he consulted a pro, Ian Douglass, to confirm it was legit. Verdict? Kravitz was doing a “barbell pullover decline sit-up with an overhead press at the end,” proving the guy isn’t just winging it with his gym moves.
Once Winkie started Kravitz’s workout, things got, shall we say, sweaty. The mesh top he wore? Not bad; he might even keep it around. The leather pants, though? A total ordeal. “Leather pants are oppressively cinched in any context,” he wrote, “and they’re even worse when you’re cranking out an outrageously precise exercise circuit.”
So, the final takeaway? Unless you’re Lenny Kravitz or a glutton for punishment, stick to the usual gym wear, folks.
