Kiwis practically live in singlets, but a gym singlet is not a beach singlet. The cut, the fabric and the fit all do a different job when there is a barbell involved. Here is the breakdown of the three sleeveless cuts you will see on a gym floor, and how to pick between them.
Singlet vs stringer vs tank: what is the difference?
The gym singlet
A classic bodybuilding singlet has a full body with generous armholes cut for shoulders in motion. It covers the torso properly while letting your delts and arms breathe. This is the everyday sleeveless option: presentable enough for the street, open enough for a pump. Our Relentless Singlet and Olympia Singlet are cut this way, on premium cotton.
The stringer
The stringer is the old-school bodybuilding cut: thin straps, deep scoop, maximum shoulder and chest exposure. It exists so nothing gets between you and the mirror on delt day. If you have built the shoulders, this is the cut that shows them. See the Relentless Stringer and DIV18 Stringer.
The tank
Sitting between the two, a tank keeps a fuller chest panel with wider straps than a stringer. It is the most versatile of the three for training and general wear. Our Vertical Tank is cut to flex without looking like it is trying to.
What makes a proper gym singlet
- Armholes cut for movement: deep enough that pressing and pulling never binds, without gaping to the waist
- A body that stays put: long enough to stay tucked-ish under a belt, trim enough not to billow
- Real cotton at a real weight: premium combed cotton holds its shape; thin promotional-tee fabric goes see-through and saggy within weeks
- Clean trims: bound edges and quality stitching are where cheap singlets fail first
Which one for your training?
Heavy pressing and pulling days suit a singlet or tank, since straps stay clear of a bar on your back. Arm and shoulder sessions are stringer territory. If you only buy one, buy the classic singlet: it does eighty percent of everything.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a stringer and a singlet?
Strap width and coverage. A stringer has thin straps and a deep-cut body for maximum exposure; a singlet keeps a fuller body and wider straps for everyday training.
Are singlets allowed in NZ gyms?
Almost everywhere, yes. A few chains ask for fuller coverage, which is exactly what a classic singlet gives you over a stringer.
Should a gym singlet be tight or loose?
Fitted through the chest with room to move: close enough to show the work, loose enough that it never restricts a rep.
Browse the full JCKD singlets and stringers range, cut for lifters, made from premium cotton, shipped fast across NZ and Australia.
