Men have mocked a $35 (£26) 'Booty Bib' designed to cover women's backsides at the gym, prompting its founder to defend why some women want an extra layer while lifting. The criticism comes as a video showing the wraparound accessory during a squat workout circulates on Instagram this week.
Los Angeles-based fitness creator Jessica Martin developed the Booty Bib after years of watching women adjust their leggings and worry about unwanted attention. She has described 'the stares' and concerns about leggings becoming see-through during exercise. Instead of telling women to dress differently, she says the accessory lets them choose how much coverage they want.
Some male commenters questioned why women could not simply wear more modest clothing, according to Martin. Meanwhile, women responding to the product described a familiar workaround: tying a sweatshirt around their waist before exercising.
The $35 Gym Cover-Up Explained
The Booty Bib is a lightweight panel worn over leggings or shorts to cover the buttocks while leaving the rest of a workout outfit unchanged. It is designed for squats, deadlifts and stretches, when close-fitting gymwear can feel particularly revealing. Unlike a hoodie tied at the hips, it provides coverage without bulky sleeves or excess fabric.
The product costs $35 on the brand's website, excluding shipping and taxes. It is advertised in a mocha colour and comes in small, medium and large sizes, with a size guide based on hip measurements. The brand describes it as breathable and sweat-wicking, although those claims have not been independently verified.
Martin, a Venice, California, fitness creator who lists half marathons among her experience, says the idea came during a late-night weightlifting session. She wanted an alternative to a full pump cover, the oversized layer some gym-goers wear over their training clothes. Her website sums up its purpose: 'Not modesty. Not performance. Choice.'
Why Are Men Mocking the Booty Bib?
Martin says the product attracted criticism from men who questioned its necessity, including those asking why women did not start with more modest outfits. She also described receiving abusive comments, some of which she removed. The scale of the backlash cannot be independently established from the available public posts.
Addressing the contradiction, Martin said some men disapprove of women showing skin but are also unhappy when they cover up, saying 'they're mad if we choose to cover up'. She maintained that the Booty Bib was created for women exercising, not to accommodate men's preferences. The founder says the accessory serves women who want coverage without changing their entire workout outfit.
The dispute arrives amid wider scrutiny of women's workout clothes. Comedian Shane Gillis also faced criticism following his 10 October 2026 Saturday Night Live monologue in which he joked about women's gym shorts.
Women Share Why They Want More Coverage
Some women responding online described the accessory as a replacement for the jumper they already tie around their hips. 'I always wrap my hoodie around me, but this would be so much better,' one commenter wrote. Others welcomed extra coverage during their periods or when doing exercises that involve bending over.
Martin's pitch focuses on flexibility rather than making fuller coverage a rule for everyone. The bib can be worn for particular movements and removed when it is no longer needed. According to its founder, the point is that women can decide for themselves when to use an additional layer.
The argument has brought a small gymwear accessory into a larger conversation about unwanted scrutiny. For women already carrying an extra sweatshirt to the gym, the Booty Bib offers another option. Whether they use it or not remains their decision.
