I'm not even sure I needed to read the article, I agreed with title in terms of the specific application to hiking, and any other tenuous analogies one could come up with.
Want to start going to the gym? Do it in jeans until they're too uncomfortable, then buy something that helps you keep the momentum going.
How about running? Yep, jeans.
Swimming? Maybe not honestly.
Climbing/bouldering? Yep, although you might be looking for an alternative quickly.
I don't think gyms let you wear jeans. Something about friction with the seats or something.
That said, appropriate gym wear is readily available at Wal-Mart. T-shirts, sweats, cotton athletic shorts. Ladies are going to want a sports bra, and may wish for leggings which my wife picks up for $5 a pair at Old Navy all the time.
I forgot about that, and had this issue for a while, it varies, but now I just go to a gym that doesn't care. Otherwise ya some cheap shorts or whatever can be easy to come by.
Want to start going to the gym? Do it in jeans until they're too uncomfortable, then buy something that helps you keep the momentum going.
How about running? Yep, jeans.
Swimming? Maybe not honestly.
Climbing/bouldering? Yep, although you might be looking for an alternative quickly.