Mancations are the hot new trend as more UK men take single-sex holidays with their mates and leave their partners behind.
However, these are not the drink-fuelled lads-trips of the nineties where over indulging and clubbing was the norm.
According to a study for menswear retailer Jacamo, today’s male-bonding trips are more likely to be VIP-vacations, where the only sign of a headache might be from the size of the bill after an activity filled break.
Six out of ten men (59%) say they think taking a break with male friends and leaving long-term partners at home once a year is a good idea and two thirds (68%) expressed a desire to go on an activity-based trip with mates than on a sea and sun-lounger break.
Eight out of ten men aged 35 and above, (79%) said they would drink less alcohol on a trip with male friends than they did five years ago, that dropped to around half, 48%, of younger men (aged 21 – 35).
Just over a third of those questioned said they have taken a trip with mates, not wives or partners, at least twice in the last five years, (34%) while three out of four men (76%) said going away with male friends at least once a year for up to one week would not in any way damage their current relationship.
Celebrities have also helped to drive the trend with famous faces including Prince William, George Clooney, David Beckham, Ewan McGregor, Mark Wright and Ryan Giggs being recently spotted on men-only holidays.
The new research revealed the most popular type of “boys’-break” was going to watch, or participate in, a sporting event or tournament, followed by music festivals, cycling, golfing, music festivals, hiking, beer festival. Fishing, shooting and road trips by car or motorbike, were the chosen pursuits of many, while others went for more endurance-style activities such as skiing, climbing, scuba diving, triathlon/ironman training, and surfing/windsurfing. Other activity breaks which those polled mentioned included learning survival skills, health club/spa retreats, cookery courses, art classes and metal detecting/treasure hunting.
Experts have speculated that the growth in man-tripping is partly due to people becoming more affluent, and spending more on travel and leisure compared to our parents’ generation, with many couples now able to afford both an annual family holiday and one with friends.
Added to this our sedentary working and home lives have led to an increase in people seeking more activity during their time away.
Jenni Bamford for Jacamo said: “In the past lads-holidays have gained a tarnished image, being linked with excessive drinking, antisocial and lude behaviour. Women have long known the benefits of getting away from normal day to day life for an all-girl-break and enjoyed the mutual support and friendship that comes with it.
“It’s great that men are now seeing the rewards of this quality time together where they can enjoy time male-bonding as well as learning new skills or brushing up on old ones.”
Top 20 activity breaks for men.
- Sporting event/tournament
- Cycling
- Music Festivals
- Golfing
- Hiking/walking
- Beer festivals
- Fishing
- Skiing/snowboarding
- Road/motorbike trip
- Shooting
- Climbing
- Wine-making/tasting tuition
- Scuba diving
- Surfing/windsurfing
- Rally/racing car driving
- Survival course
- Spa/health club
- Sailing/canoeing
- Art course
- Treasure hunting/metal detecting
