How polyester took over clothing

A Short History of Your Shorts

People used to wear cotton & wool. Now they wear actual plastic. How did that happen - and what should you do about it?

The part that matters is 1958. Keep scrolling.
1920s footrace in front of a grandstand

How plastic ended up in your gym shorts

1900

Cotton and wool. That was it.

Every sport, every gym, everyone wore the same thing: cotton and wool. Straight from the sheep & Earth. Why? That's all there was - but it worked just fine.

Early 1900s college calisthenics class in cotton and wool
1940

Nylon gets used during WWII - and needs a place to go when it ends

Nylon was used in parachutes and tents during the war. But when the war ended, the factories were still there. All that surplus fabric needed somewhere to go. What if we started wearing it?

1940s textile mill looms
1958

A new plastic that stretches

Dupont invents spandex. Why? To replace the rubber in corsets. It wasn't designed for sport. It was designed to be cheap and hold its shape.

It was this moment that changed clothing forever. Natural fibers subsided - and synthetics began to take over.

1950s corset with stretch elastic panels
Today

Same fabric. New logo. $100 price tag.

The world of sport changed. The spandex from 1958 didn't. No more cotton. No more wool. Just plastic. Big brands slapped a logo on plastic. Called it "performance". And marked it up 10x. Lulu. Vuori. Same story.

Is plastic worth what you pay for it?

Polyester shorts care label
2023

One guy read the tag

And he couldn't unread it. So he went looking for shorts made of something real. Everything "natural" was baggy, scratchy, or lying about what was in it. So he built the thing himself - and Ryker was born.

See the shorts

check the tag

Flip your current gym shorts inside out. This is what you'll find.

"The Other Guys"
92% polyester label
92% Polyester
8% Spandex

That's plastic.

Ryker
Ryker label: 100% organic cotton, 100% merino wool liner
100% Organic Cotton
100% Merino Liner

That's it.

Polyester, nylon, spandex. All plastic - in disguise. And every wash & wear sheds this plastic onto your skin.

Garrett, founder of Ryker

I read the tag on my own shorts and couldn't get past it. I'd been training in plastic for years and paying $100 for it.

So I went looking for the natural version. Everything I found was either baggy, scratchy, or not built for the gym. Nothing fit like the shorts I was already wearing.

So I made them. Organic cotton outside, merino wool inside, cut to fit like the shorts you already own.

Garrett, Founder of ryker

What's actually in these

Most brands make promises. We publish the tests.

Organic cotton farm in Turkey Organic Cotton Short

Most of our organic cotton is grown in a single field in Turkey. No shortcuts.

New Zealand merino sheep Merino Wool Liner

Merino is nature's miracle fiber. It pulls sweat off your skin and naturally resists odor.

Lab tested non-toxic Lab Tested Non-Toxic

Our shorts are lab tested. Completely free of toxins like BPA & "forever chemicals"

A return to

where it began

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The Apex Short - (100% Organic Cotton + 100% Merino Wool Liner)

100% organic cotton outer short + 100% organic Merino wool liner

Organic cotton from GOTS-certified sources + fabrics from OEKO-TEX certified partners

Fits just like Lululemon shorts

Naturally stretchy, temperature regulating and odor resistant

$99.00

$66.00

$99.00

$89.10

$99.00

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RUNS LARGE - SIZE DOWN FOR A PERFECT FIT

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The Apex Short

$99.00

$68.30

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100% Natural Fibers

Certified Non-Toxic

3rd Party Tested BPA & PFAs Free

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Customer Reviews

Based on 781 reviews
88%
(687)
6%
(50)
3%
(20)
1%
(9)
2%
(15)
C
CFred
$99.00 for a pair of shorts.

$99 for a pair of shorts?! I went back and forth on these for about a week because, damn, that’s a lot for shorts.

Then they arrived.

As soon as I felt them, I got it. Man, these things are soft and comfortable. Now when I put on my old shorts from the big-name company, they feel like I’m wearing a plastic bottle.

Ryker’s are officially my new favorite shorts. I like them so much, I’m getting a pair for my nephew now too.

Yeah, they’re expensive—but I’d buy them again.

D
Dylan Zweifel
Worth every penny

I’ll be honest, I hesitated before pulling the trigger on these because of the price — Ryker shorts aren’t cheap, and I’ve been burned before by “premium” athletic wear that doesn’t actually perform any better than the $25 stuff. These are different.
I wear them for lifting (3-on-2-off split), longer bike rides, and just knocking around the house, and the difference in comfort is immediately noticeable — no chafing, no weird bunching, and the fabric breathes way better than I expected for something this substantial. The fit holds up whether I’m under a bar or on the bike for 15+ miles, which is more than I can say for other brands I’ve tried.
Are they expensive? Yes. Do I regret buying them? Not even a little. This is one of those cases where you actually get what you pay for — the quality is obvious the second you put them on, and they’ve held their shape wash after wash so far.
I’m planning to put these through real long-term use — daily training, higher mileage rides, the works — so I’ll come back and update this review after 3 months of consistent wear to report on durability. So far, though, I’m sold. Ryker please contact me when able.

C
Cam Ross
Awesome, but sized down

Great shorts that hold up even after many washes! I would suggest getting the smaller size if you're between sizes like I am. I'm 6 foot 2, 200 lbs and the medium is much better than the large.

S
Stephen Hall
Best workout pants ever!!

I picked one pair of your joggers. I want to wear them all the time!! Best workout pants ever!!

M
Matt L
Incredible and Comfortable Gym Shorts

I have been all about replacing important clothing with all-natural and ethically sourced materials. While these shorts are expensive, I can confirm they are insanely comfortable and great for the gym. They are my go-to gym drivers now. So much so that after my first two, I am buying more so I have a fresh pair for every lift. They are delicate: wash cold with a mesh laundry bag and hang to dry 100%! Customer service has been very quick to respond to any and all inquiries I have had. Shipping is mixed, when in stock on the site they arrived the following week. When not in-stock seems to take longer (obviously). The only reason I don't give 5 stars is that it is a steep price and I have only had the very a month now (hoping the hold up in the long run). But it has been difficult to find anyone making a short like this for cheaper that is also trusted. Thanks, Ryker team!

Our Customers

Put It Best...

MH

Mark H.

Founder & CEO

Miami

I optimize everything else. This was my one blind spot.

"I spend $600/month on supplements, recovery, and bloodwork. I track every input that goes into my body. Then I realized I was spending 4 hours a day training in petroleum-based plastic that's been linked to hormone disruption. Once I saw the data on polyester and endocrine disruptors, I couldn't unsee it. Switched to Ryker, and I won't go back. These are now a non-negotiable in my protocol."

WT

William T.

Managing Director

New York

I looked at the research. The decision was obvious.

"I don't buy anything based on marketing alone. I looked at the actual studies on polyester, microplastics, and BPA - and the data is hard to argue with. Ryker's third-party lab results showing zero endocrine disruptors sealed it for me. The Merino liner is genuinely more comfortable than any synthetic I've worn. These are the only shorts I train in now."

JG

James G.

VP, Technology

San Francisco

The last gap in my health stack.

"Eight Sleep, WHOOP, my sauna - I've invested in all of it. But I was still training in polyester shorts that shed microplastics. It's absurd when you think about it. Ryker closed the last gap. The fit is identical to Lululemon, the Merino liner handles sweat better than any synthetic, and I'm not absorbing endocrine disruptors through my skin for two hours a day. Should've done this years ago."

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US VS THEM

Ryker Vs.

"The Other Guys"

They use plastic. We use natural fibers. But that's not the only difference...


"The Other Guys"

Material

100% Organic Cotton Shell + 100% Merino Wool Liner

Polyester, nylon, or modal blends loaded with elastane

Made of Plastic?

Absolutely not - just premium natural fibers from nature, not a lab

Made of 100% plastic - it's like you're wearing a water bottle

PFAS / Toxic Chemicals

Zero - 3rd party tested with published results

Extremely common - with zero transparency or 3rd party testing

Protects from Microplastics

Yes - no plastic fabrics, ever.

Leaches millions of microplastics onto your skin.

Breathability

Naturally breathable - Merino wicks sweat & odor

Synthetics trap heat - only breathable when you add chemicals

Odor Resistance

Naturally antimicrobial - can wear multiple times with NO stink

Bacteria clings to plastic, making you stink after just one wear

Temperature Regulation

Merino regulates – warm when cold, cool when hot

Plastic traps heat – hello swamp crotch

Trusted by 50,000 men like you

Shop Natural Fibers

3rd Party Tested

BPA & PFA Free

Certified & Third Party Lab Tested

Our products use certified materials & 3rd party tests to guarantee our gear is free of harmful chemicals.

GOTS Certified Organic Cotton

Grown without pesticides or harmful chemicals, our cotton is safer for your skin and better for the planet.

OEKO-TEX Certified Materials

And Dyes

Our facilities only use OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified materials - to avoid the toxins found in traditional apparel.

Third Party Lab Tested

Completely free of BPA, PFAS ("forever chemicals"), and phthalates - so you can trust you're safe.

See Full Lab Results

We Even Publish Our Results...

BPA Free. PFAS Free. Phthalate Free. Full transparency - because that's what you deserve. Full report published below.

See Full Lab Results

★★★★★ Trusted by 50,000+ happy customers

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials do you use?

Won't wool be hot?

Why is it more expensive than some other synthetic brands?

What are GOTS & OEKO-TEX Standard 100?

What dyes do you use?

Are your clothes 3rd party tested?

What size should I get / will your products shrink?

What's the return policy?

A hundred years of natural had it right the first time

Read the tag, then decide.

90-day no hassle returns

Don't love your Ryker shorts? Return quickly and easily with a 90 day money back guarantee.

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In stock gear ships directly from our Wisconsin warehouse within 24 hours! After that, just 3-6 days until it's at your doorstep.



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