Robert F. Kennedy Jr.seems to really love wearing jeans. Who doesn't, really? Whether they're skinny or baggy, dark- or light-wash, denim jeans are a fashion staple. ButRFK Jr.seems to also love wearing jeans to ... exercise? The Health and Human Services Secretary has been spotteddonning jeans at the gym. Most recently,on a hike in blistering heat. Many onsocialmediawere quick to question the behavior: "It's really weird to me that this guy seems to always be exercising in jeans." Others wereless skeptical: "RFK Jr is single-handedly showing the nation that 'activewear' is a myth. You can train, hike, run, cycle in normal clothing." OK, let's play along here. Some experts tout thebenefits of hot yoga. Many people lead active lifestyles outdoors in jeans every day. Maybe working out in jeans is no different? Here at USA TODAY, we couldn't help but wonder: Would we be happy breaking a denim-soaked sweat? With Finn atop Camelback in Phoenix this morning.pic.twitter.com/ANl7OKnBiR — Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr)July 19, 2025 So we tried it out ourselves, to mixed results. The second I stepped outside in my light-wash, baby blue jeans to go for a run a July morning in Washington, D.C., I regretted the choice. The humidity seeped into my pores, and beads of sweat pooled all across my body. Including my denim-covered legs. I typically run in shorts, a running tank top and a sweatband. That day, I channeled RFK Jr. and ran like the wind, or something like that. The breezy rush of air that usually whispers at my legs never materialized. The denim laced heat onto them instead. I wanted to shout at each runner and dog-walker I ran by: "This is for work! I promise! I don't like this!" One mile passed, then two and then a third. I took my usual route, though nothing about the run felt particularly usual. I felt constricted. Contained. Confounded. How could anyoneenjoythis? But then it clicked. Just because this didn't work for me didn't mean it couldn't work for others. Maybe some are self-conscious about their legs, and find jeans a comfortable solution for their exercise routines over athleisure. Maybe some like the heat the denim brings. Maybe others just like breaking the status quo. Will I be running in jeans again? No. But I'm glad I tried it – even if a friend saw me and won't let me live it down. ––David Oliver, Deputy Wellness Editor In case you need:Running is great exercise, but many struggle with how to get started. Here are some tips. Even in sweat-wicking fabric, Solidcore is no walk in the park. The pilates-inspired reformer workout has a cult following among New York City 20-somethings for packing a core and oblique focused challenge into 50 EDM-filled minutes. Each station on the studio floor is marked with a motivational phrase. Mine read "Make someday today."I don't think they meant the "someday" you attend a workout class in jeans,I thought as I lunged and crunched to the chorus of "Harlem Shake." Even with the lights dimmed, I couldn't help but feel self-conscious in a sea of matching Alo yoga sets and Lululemon leggings. When I dropped into the first Bulgarian split squat of class, flashbacks of the time I split my pants during a high school PE class raced through my mind. But truth be told, it wasn't as bad as I expected. I got a few confused looks, but once I realized everyone in the room was more concerned with surviving the plank section than with my choice of attire, the class moved on as normal, albeit with more sweat. If you forget your workout clothes, jeans can work in a pinch. (It likely helps if they're 94% cotton and bootcut like mine were). Still, I wouldn't test the limits by trying it out in a more sweat-inducing class like SoulCycle or CorePower. ––Rachel Hale, Youth Mental Health Reporting Fellow More details:RFK Jr. hiked 'extremely difficult' Phoenix trail in July heat – while wearing jeans My dark-wash denims were made to move – well, really more to suck it up and keep it tight. They pack "tighter tummy technology," with 77% cotton, 21% polyester and the hardworking 2% Spandex. So when I set my position to bang out 15 squats at the start of my workout, I expected them to feel like a second skin. And, to a degree, they did. Not too long into my second set, it was like a skin I was desperate to shed – now, now, NOW! While I didn't tap out of my workout, I did have to abandon my jeans. It was not my favorite experience knowing exactly where sweat was gathering and soaking into my pants that grew just a little heavier. That might seem like a perk in a workout, but I assure you it was not. That said, if I did feel like spontaneously smacking the battle ropes in the backyard, being in jeans wouldn't deter me. ––Michelle Maltais, Executive Editor for Lifestyles & Financial Wellbeing We are glad we tried RFK Jr.'s jeans workout (hey, it makes for a good conversation starter) but none of us can say we'd readily repeat it. Maybe the Make America Health Again guru knows something we don't. We can't be sure – he didn't return our request for comment on the subject. Feel free to send us your "hot" takes on working out in jeans by emailing David at doliver@usatoday.com. And for anyone wanting to jump on the trend, please keep in mind jeans may not be safe to work out in, depending on the activity and your individual health needs; please consult a health care provider if you have any concerns about it and remember to follow the rules of your gym. Some institutions don't allow working out in jeans (and we now understand why). This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:RFK Jr. jeans workout: We tried it. It didn't go well.
