Questions from the floor
FAQ.
The funny part stops wherever you need a straight answer. Something missing? alex@granqworks.com. A person will read it.
The shorts
What am I actually buying?
Linen sauna shorts: running-short cut, 5" inseam, cotton liner, drawcord, and a hidden pocket on the front of the liner for a soft cold pack. Full Benefits ($68) comes with two packs. Basic Coverage ($54) doesn't. Right now you aren't buying anything, because we aren't taking money. You're holding a pair with an email address.
Will it show?
The design brief is that it reads as shorts from three feet away. Wool felt and film add some thickness at the front, and a loose short is how we plan to hide that. We haven't proved it on a body yet. The first prototype will tell us, and we'll post the picture.
Why linen?
Most gym shorts are polyester. Ours are linen. It's a shell you'd want to wear for its own sake, and it wrinkles, which the Local considers seniority. We're still sampling washed linen against linen/cotton and linen/Tencel, so we won't state a final fiber percentage yet.
Is it all natural?
No, and be suspicious of anyone who says so about a garment with elastic in it. A linen shell and a cotton liner sit against your skin. The waistband elastic includes rubber, the reflective film in the pocket is polyester-based, and the cold pack has a plastic film. Full list in the footer of every page.
How do I wash them?
Planned care: take the pack out first, wash cold with like colors, hang dry. Hand wash the wool sleeve in cold water and lay it flat. Final care goes on the label once the fabric is settled.
Where are they made?
Origin to be confirmed before production. We'll state it here.
The cold
How long does the pack stay cold?
We don't know yet. A bare pack in Alex's informal experiment went warm in about 15 minutes at about 200°. The goal for the pocket is a full round of about 15 to 20 minutes. That's a goal, and we test next. We'll publish the method and the numbers either way.
What kind of pack is it?
A soft freezable pack about 4.5" x 4". The exact type isn't chosen yet, and we won't tell you more about it than we know.
Is a frozen pack safe to wear?
The pack sits behind fabric. Never put a frozen pack directly on bare skin. If you go numb, take it out. Numb isn't a badge of anything. Heat isn't for everyone either. Leave when you want to.
How do I get it to the gym still frozen?
The Lunch Pail is a wool felt sleeve made to carry a frozen pack in a gym bag. How well it holds up over a long workout goes in the same test as everything else.
What happens when the pack warms up?
You now have a warm pack in a pocket. Take it out or leave it, and leave when you want. Nothing here depends on you staying in the room.
Does it drip on the bench?
The goal is no. It's a sealed pack inside a pocket inside a short. We'll confirm that in testing. Sit on a towel regardless. See Article I.
Money and timing
Am I paying anything today?
No. We aren't taking payments. The last step collects an email and holds your size and setup. No card, no charge.
When will it ship?
We're aiming for summer 2027. We'll confirm a real date before we take any money. A sewn prototype and a factory quote have to exist first, and neither does yet.
What happens when deposits open?
We email you first. The plan is a $10 deposit per pair, refundable any time before your order ships, with the balance confirmed by email before it's charged. You can also just not respond, and nothing happens.
Why $68?
That's the first-batch price with two packs. We plan to sell at $84 afterward. That's a plan, and plans change.
Do you ship outside the US?
United States only for the first batch. Shipping and any sales tax are confirmed by email before you pay anything.
Which sizes?
S, M, L and XL, for waists 29 to 38 and hips 37 to 46. The size guide has the numbers. They're drafted from the pattern and not yet measured on a sewn pair, so you can change your size any time before you pay.
The Local
Is this a real labor organization?
No. Stokers Local is a clothing brand. Nobody here can represent you, bargain for you or get your hours back. People who do that work for real deserve better than to be confused with one person and a pair of shorts, which is why it says so at the bottom of every page.
What does membership get me?
A card, some bylaws and the right to file grievances that go nowhere. It's free. It doesn't require buying anything, and we keep no list of members. If you'd like email, that's separate and optional.
Is there a contest? A record? A league?
No. Nobody gets a medal, and the Local will not be issuing one. Standing comes from showing up and making room on the bench, and never from time in the room.
Where can I wear them?
Gyms, hotels and mixed saunas with a dress code. Always check your sauna's rules.
Health
Will this do anything for my health, fertility or testosterone?
We make no claim that it does, and we haven't tested it. This is clothing. It doesn't treat, prevent or cure anything. If you're trying to conceive or worried about fertility, the usual advice is to talk to a doctor and consider skipping the sauna, so please do that.