Men and women have started wearing flip-flops, Crocs and sandals with socks to the gym, in a ‘grim’ trend that has divided the country’s fitness community.
According to some low-level athletes, the trend started in basketball and football classes, but is now beginning to “leak” onto the gym floor.
Although it seems like the trend has ‘popped up’ everywhere – and it didn’t happen quietly – with many people begging to know the reason behind the ‘ugly’ shoe code.
Others seemed concerned about the safety of the tricky combination.
“If I’m honest, I don’t care what you wear to the gym, but I’ve seen so many guys in my gym wearing socks and sandals, and even doing leg exercises, shouldn’t this ruin your grip on your feet?” and you slide around,” one man asked on Reddit.
Sandals, slippers and crocs with socks are becoming a staple in the wardrobe of many fitness fanatics
The trend is as consistent on TikTok as it is on the gym floor
‘I’ve seen so many people have an accident with their sandals and emerge a week later with proper footwear. It’s dangerous,” said another.
Many people joked that ‘times have changed’ and that wearing socks with sandals used to be the most ‘daggy’ thing ever.
‘Many young people wear slippers only with socks. I’ve told some students at work that when I was a kid it was considered unfashionable and an “old man thing.” They told me that wearing slippers without socks is “dirty,” one teacher said.
Others saw the bright side.
‘How much benefit would the average free-weight user get in the gym from wearing special weightlifting shoes? “Normally people like to buy unnecessary things, so maybe it’s a good thing they don’t for a change,” one man said.
Men and women seem to use the shoes during both lifting and cardio sessions
‘Imagine the airflow. They just use their everyday shoes – they wouldn’t slide in them with socks on. It sounds like a great idea,” said another.
“It feels good and hides ugly feet,” said another.
The trend has also taken over TikTok, with hundreds of videos uploaded showing off the ‘comfortable’ shoe combination.
But it seems some gyms have banned the trend due to safety concerns.
‘I work in a gym and it drives me crazy! I need to have conversations with fully formed adults about why they should wear closed toe shoes in the free weight area. A stone for the brain and a huge sense of equality are not a good combination,” said one man.
‘I wish I could wear my slippers and socks, so comfortable – I hate closed shoes – but my gym has banned them.’
The link between professional sports culture was made on Reddit.
‘In basketball, the culture is to only wear your basketball shoes on the court. Maximizes rubber wear and also keeps dirt out of the track (inside). Players often wear flip-flops to and from the field, and once there they put on the shoe,” one man said.
Another said the same applied to ‘footy’.