Month: May 2026

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

In This Story

Why We Love This Deal

New Balance’s RC42 traces its lineage back to the brand’s ’70s training and racing shoes, an era of athletic footwear built around low-profile designs and stripped-back construction. It’s one of many recent novelty lifestyle drops from the 100-year-old brand, debuting in 2024 during Junya Watanabe’s S/S 2024 Paris Fashion Week show, capitalizing on the hype around retro running shoes. And while the trend may be here to stay, at least for right now, this shoe might not be.

The $110 New Balance RC42 Sneakers are on mega sale during Joe’s New Balance Outlet’s Extra 30% off event. They have an initial discount to $70, and the extra 30% off brings the price down to $52. This sale is only for the white and blue colorway, but all sizes (except for 14) are in stock. The sale lasts through May 3, so get a pair while you still can.

New Balance RC42 Sneakers, $52 (was $110) at Joe’s New Balance Outlet

What Shoppers Should Know

• Upper: Suede and mesh
• Insole: Removable padded insole
• Outsole: Rubber
• Best For: Everyday wear, running-inspired streetwear, minimalist looks, Samba alternative

The RC42 is about as uncluttered as a New Balance shoe gets because it’s low to the ground, has minimal paneling, and a suede-mesh upper that’s clean and breathable. That low-profile design gives it the versatility that chunkier heritage runners can’t deliver, and a look that’s easier to style with. If the 480s are the understated classic, the RC42s are for those who want something even cleaner. 

Speaking of the 480s, they’re also on sale for about $50 at the moment, so it’s worth comparing the two. The 480s have more history and that New Balance look, while the RC42s are a little more niche and something other fashion-minded people will appreciate. 

Related: New Balance’s ‘Cool’ and ‘Comfortable’ 480 Sneakers Are on Sale for Only $49

What Shoppers Are Saying

There’s only one review at JNBO (which is five stars), but there are many more on New Balance’s site. One helpful reviewer said, “Never expected that it would be this stylish yet very comfortable.” A second shopper wrote they were even comfortable “after walking around 9 hours every day.”

Adidas’ iconic Sambas likely played a part in this inspiration for the RC42s, and some even prefer the latter: “I like the sleeker look of these and IMO are better looking on than a Samba.” This same shopper also wrote, “If you’re looking for something Samba-like that isn’t being worn by everyone, you’re on the right track.”

The New Balance RC42 Sneakers can be yours for $52, but the brand’s lifestyle silhouettes sell out quite fast on the outlet, so now’s the time to get a pair before sizes run out.

Shop More Deals

• New Balance 574, $45 (was $100) at Joe’s New Balance Outlet
• New Balance 740, $56 (was $115) at Joe’s New Balance Outlet
• New Balance 471, $51 (was $110) at Joe’s New Balance Outlet

If your hamstrings constantly feel tight, you’re probably doing what most people do—stretching them more. You feel tension in the back of your legs, so you assume the muscle is shortened and needs to be lengthened, right? But if that tightness keeps returning no matter how often you stretch, there’s a good chance you’re treating the symptom rather than the cause.

As a weightlifter and long-distance runner, I can relate. Over the years, I’ve dealt with chronically tight hamstrings, assuming that if I kept stretching them, they’d loosen up. But it never seemed to work, and I couldn’t figure out why.

According to physical therapists, the term “tight” hamstrings is a bit of a misnomer. Oftentimes, the muscle isn’t actually shortened at all. Instead, it’s overworked and under constant tension because it’s compensating for other weaknesses in your body.

“In reality, many people with ‘tight’ hamstrings actually have hamstrings that are over-lengthened and overworked, not shortened,” says Wendie Green, LPTA, Clinic Director at Bethesda Physical Therapy. “That tight, grabby feeling could be your hamstrings doing more than their fair share of the work to stabilize the pelvis.”

To fix the issue, you need to look beyond the hamstrings themselves. Here’s what’s actually causing that tight feeling—and what to do about it.

Want the latest fitness advice and workouts to tackle any adventure? Sign up for our Blueprint newsletter.

Why Your Hamstrings Feel Tight in the First Place

Your hamstrings are part of a larger system that includes your glutes, hips, and core, all of which need to work together to help your body move and stay active. When that system functions like a well-oiled engine, your hamstrings help out with movement and force production. But when certain muscles aren’t doing their job, research says your hamstrings step in to compensate, taking on a stabilizing role they aren’t designed to handle on their own.

One of the main reasons your hamstrings feel tight could be sitting too much. “Prolonged sitting is becoming an increasingly common cause [of tight hamstrings],” says Adam Fujita, PT, DPT, CAFS. “Sitting in the same position for long periods can lead to the tightening or shortening of muscles, and over time, even atrophy. Failing to regularly move risks reducing strength, balance, and even stability in key lower body muscles, increasing the likelihood of suffering from discomfort in the hamstrings as they become overworked.”

Additionally, weak glutes and tight hips can make your hamstrings feel tight. When your glutes aren’t firing properly during movements like hinging, running, or lifting, your hamstrings are forced to take over as the primary driver of hip extension. The result is a tightness, even though the muscles may already be lengthened.

Related: How to Do the “World’s Greatest Stretch,” the Single Best Dynamic Warmup

Why Stretching Won’t Fix the Problem

Your hamstrings feel tight, so it’s natural to want to stretch them. But while stretching can help reduce stiffness and improve range of motion in the short term, it doesn’t address the reasons why your hamstrings are under constant tension.

“Dynamic stretches (active movements) are generally better before workouts, while static stretches (slower, sustained movements) are best saved for cooldowns or recovery sessions,” explains Fujita. “More importantly, focusing exclusively on the hamstrings ignores the role of surrounding muscles. If the glutes, hips, and core remain weak or inactive, the hamstrings will continue to pick up the slack, and the tightness will keep returning.

How to Relieve Hamstring Tightness

To remedy tight hamstrings, shift your focus from the muscle itself to the system it operates within. Instead of trying to stretch and lengthen your hamstrings, your goal should be to restore balance and improve how your body moves as a whole.

Fujita recommends incorporating dynamic movement-based exercises into your routine that help improve mobility and coordination. Specifically, he recommends spinal rotations, roll-downs, and windmills.

“These three stretches can help tackle tension that builds from long hours of sitting or intense training, especially in the hamstrings and lower back,” says Fujita. “They can help your body feel less stiff, lighter, and more balanced over time.” These movements are effective because they don’t isolate the hamstrings—they train the body to move more efficiently across multiple joints.

In my experience, taking two to three days off from exercises that heavily engage the hamstrings—like running, deadlifts, and squats—and adding yoga and Pilates to my routine has helped ease my chronic hamstring tightness and improved how I feel and move.

Related: Strength and Conditioning Specialist Shares 5 Simple Stretches to Instantly Reduce Sitting-Induced Tightness

The Long-Term Fix Most People Overlook

When the muscles surrounding your hamstrings are doing their job, your hamstrings no longer need to act as the main stabilizing muscles. As a result, the constant tension that creates the sensation of tightness begins to fade away, allowing you to move better and feel your best.

If your hamstrings always feel tight, it’s worth rethinking your workout routine and habits. In most cases, the issue isn’t that the hamstrings need more stretching; it’s that they’re doing too much work in a system that isn’t functioning properly. Fix that system by giving your hamstrings time to rest and incorporating dynamic movements that strengthen the surrounding muscles—and the tightness will resolve itself.

The shoulders are one of those body parts that instantly stand out on a strong physique. Whether you’re humbly wearing a t-shirt or catching some sun on a warm summer day people can’t help but take notice. Relying on the usual suspect exercises, like overhead presses and lateral raises, is definitely a great way to build shoulder size. But if your shoulder growth has been lagging, it may be worth taking a closer look at your weekly workout routine.

“If you’re not devoting at least some portion of your effort to be on developing all three heads of the delts, you’re not going to develop them fully,” says Jeff Cavaliere, MSPT, CSCS, of Athlean-X, in a recent video.

Hitting all three heads of the delts—the front, middle, and rear—is what separates average shoulders from capped ones that are noticeable from a distance. Below, Cavaliere shares a dumbbell-only shoulder workout you can use as a standalone. Or, implement the various exercises into your weekly workouts to build better-developed shoulders.

Related: Physical Therapist Reveals a 5-Minute Warmup to Eliminate Shoulder Pain and Protect Aging Joints

Dumbbell Shoulder Workout

How to Do Standing Overhead Press

1. Stand tall with dumbbells at shoulder height and palms facing forward.
2. Press the weights overhead until arms are fully extended.
3. Lower under control back to shoulder level.
4. Perform 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps.

How to Do Iso Front Raise

1. In a standing position, hold dumbbells at your sides.
2. Raise one arm using strict control to start the movement.
3. Lift to shoulder height.
4. Lower slowly, then alternate arms.
5. Perform 1 to 2 sets of 10 to 12 reps.

How to Do Upper Limit Lateral Raise

1. Sit on the floor holding a light pair of dumbbells just an inch off the ground.
2. Raise arms out to your sides, keeping a slight bend in the elbows.
3. Stop at about shoulder height.
4. Lower slowly, but don’t let the weights touch the floor
5. Perform 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps.

How to Do Cheat Lateral Raise

1. Hold a pair of dumbbells at your sides.
2. Use a slight body drive to initiate the lift, raising weights out to the sides explosively.
3. Control down to the start as slowly as possible.
4. Perform 3 sets of 6 to 8 reps.

How to Do Rear Delt Row

1. Hinge forward with dumbbells hanging under your shoulders.
2. Row the weights back with elbows flaring slightly out.
3. Squeeze at the top, then lower with control.
4. Perform 2 to 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps.

How to Do Hip Huggers

1. Stand holding dumbbells at your sides.
2. Keeping the dumbbells close to your sides, pull them up your hips and side, allowing elbows to drift outward and backward.
3. Lower while maintaining tension.
4. Perform 2 to 3 sets of 12 to 15 reps.

Related: A Personal Trainer Swears by This 25-Minute Kettlebell Workout for Men Over 40 to Grow Bigger Arms

Spirit Airlines is preparing to close, but several major airlines say they will step into the breach to help passengers if that occurs.

American, United, and Frontier Airlines have indicated that they will try to help Spirit travelers. “Spirit Airlines is preparing to cease operations,” the Wall Street Journal reported on May 1. According to WJS, Spirit was “hoping to finalize a $500 million lifeline from the government before running out of cash,” but that help has not materialized.

According to Axios, a Spirit spokesperson wasn’t commenting on the closure reports. But “a Spirit liquidation could leave customers with future bookings in the lurch if the airline stops flying.” That’s where the other airlines come in. However, according to Reuters, a final bailout proposal is on the table as the budget airline lurches toward closure.

American Airlines Says It Will Implement Fair Caps for Spirit Routes as Spirit Airlines’ Stock Plunged

As news broke that Spirit’s end was imminent, American told Reuters that it was “prepared to do all it can to support Spirit Airlines customers and team members,” adding that it has already “immediately implemented fare caps on Main Cabin tickets for Spirit routes where we also offer nonstop service and will continue to support as many customers as possible.”

According to The New York Times, the no-fills airline revolutionized air travel by focusing on low airfares with few amenities. However, a number of issues imperiled Spirit in recent years, including “high fuel prices, competition from larger airlines,” The Times reported, adding that some investors opposed a government bailout because the government would have ended up owning about 90 percent of the airline.

According to The Times, when the company would stop flights was not clear. In the past, “other airlines have offered free or discounted tickets to travelers stranded by companies that abruptly shut down,” wrote The Times. Spirit hasn’t reported a profit since 2019, according to The Times.

However, CBS News is reporting that Spirit could cease operations as soon as Saturday, May 2. Reuters noted that a shutdown could come by Friday evening. Spirit Airlines’ stock prices plunged as a result of the news, according to Barron’s. However, Business Insider described the stock as being on a “rollercoaster” and taking a “wild ride” on May 1.

United & Frontier Airlines Also Released Statements as Spirit Prepared to Close

We are ready to support customers who may be impacted if Spirit Airlines ceases operations, with a focus on helping people continue their travel plans with low-fare options.

— Frontier Airlines (@FlyFrontier) May 1, 2026

United Airlines also released a statement after news broke. That airline told Axios that it was “preparing to support Spirit customers and employees in the event of a shutdown and we’ll likely have more to share later.”

Frontier wrote on X that it’s “ready to support customers who may be impacted if Spirit Airlines ceases operations, with a focus on helping people continue their travel plans with low-fare options.”

According to CNBC, Spirit “could be forced to liquidate without a lifeline.” A rise in fuel prices complicated Spirit’s recovery plans, the network reported, adding that Spirit has twice filed for bankruptcy in the past year.

Spirit was a popular airline for a time. According to CNBC, “1.7 million U.S. domestic passengers” flew on Spirit over the years. However, the bare bones flight experience and extra charges turned some travelers off.

Related: