Working out is an essential factor when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. And as any fitness enthusiast knows, you need reliable workout clothes to perform well at the gym. The foundation, of course, is the best underwear, but after that comes a great shirt. Surprisingly, it’s not just as easy as grabbing one of the best t-shirts for men from your drawer. You might be thinking, how does a shirt affect a workout? Well, let’s just say it can become very uncomfortable to wear while performing exercises like cardio and weightlifting.
Standard cotton shirts can be abrasive and weigh you down as they get wet from sweat. Additionally, cotton is a great breathable fabric, but you need something that also wicks moisture when it comes to working out. Materials such as merino wool and polyester help avoid odor due to their more hydrophobic properties. That’s what the best workout shirts and designed to do.
When looking for the best workout shirts, you want to make sure it’s moisture-wicking, anti-chafing and can keep you cool while working up a sweat. Not to mention, it needs to be anti-odor because no one wants to walk around in the gym with b.o. The best workout shirts will feature all of the properties we just listed, but most will only have a few. Which only makes it harder to come by the perfect t-shirt to stay active in.
So to make sure you find the best shirts to hit the gym in, we curated a list of our picks for the best workout shirts that will keep you cool, comfy and smelling fresh all day, even during the most intense workout sessions.
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1. Bonobos The Gym Tee
BEST OVERALL
If you’re a fitness enthusiast, you know how important it is to have the perfect workout gear, and this tee from Bonobos does not disappoint. The classic fit shirt is made from a blend of polyester and spandex fabric, preventing it from bunching up when performing exercises. It’ll even keep you cool during intense workout sessions as the shirt is breathable and has moisture-wicking abilities.
2. Gymshark Crest T-shirt
RUNNER-UP
Gymshark is known for its high-quality products, and this Crest t-shirt from the brand is just that. The crew neck tee is made from cotton that is comfortable and soft to the touch. It’s a lightweight and breathable shirt that is great to wear when doing cardio or lifting weights.
3. Allbirds Long Sleeve Sea Tee
BEST LONGSLEEVE
You can never go wrong with a long sleeve tee, especially when you’re working out in colder temperatures. This tee from Allbirds features a TrinoXO material that reduces odor, ensuring you’ll stay smelling fresh during your workouts. The shirt isn’t restricting at all, thanks to its relaxed fit.
4. Moerdeng Athletic Workout T-Shirts
MOST COST-EFFECTIVE
Fitness apparel can be expensive sometimes. Luckily, Moerdeng has gym gear that is cheap and doesn’t lack quality. The shirt is made from a lightweight and breathable fabric keeping fitness enthusiasts comfy all day long. It quickly absorbs sweat and discharges it into the air keeping you dry and fresh during the most intense workout sessions.
5. Hylete Nexus Crew Tee
MOST COMFORTABLE
Nothing is more annoying than wearing an uncomfortable shirt at the gym to perform exercises in, but you won’t have that problem with this tee from Hylete. It’s designed from a lightweight and smooth fabric that provides the utmost comfort. The shirt is sweat-wicking and is quick-drying to prevent it from sticking to your chest. It’s one of the comfiest shirts to wear at the gym or to lounge around the house in.
6. lululemon Metal Vent Tech Sleeveless 2.0
BEST SLEEVELESS
Have you been hitting those weights faithfully for months, and you’re finally ready to show off your progress? Then you’ll love wearing this sleeveless shirt from lululemon. It has a seamless construction to reduce chafing and improves its stretchability when training. The sleeveless design allows you to stay cool when you’re working up a sweat.
7. adidas Fast Graphic Primeblue Tee
BEST DESIGN
Most workout shirts come in solid colors, but you can always count on adidas to bring the heat with their design aesthetics. This gray and olive green cheetah print shirt will remain a favorite in your closet among your other workout gear just from its design alone. The shirt is light as a feather, making it the perfect top for runners. It’s moisture-wicking and made from 100% recycled polyester mesh.
8. Fourlaps Venture Half Zip
BEST HALF-ZIP
Do you like to go out for early morning runs on the beautiful scenic trail in your neighborhood? Make sure you stay warm with this half-zip shirt from Fourlaps. It’s made from a soft jersey fabric equipped with a 37.5 technology that will keep your body at an ideal temperature. When you’re hot, active particles in the material will remove sweat in the vapor stage just before liquid sweat forms to cool you down. And when you’re cold, energetic particles will trap your energy to help you warm up.
9. Rhone Reign Short Sleeve Top
MOST ODOR-RESISTANT
When working out, some people might sweat more than others causing you to have an odor, but you won’t have to worry about that with this odor-resistant shirt from Rhone. The shirt is made from a soft nylon poly jersey blend with a GoldFusion technology to help fight odor. It also features UPF50+ technology to protect from the sun when exercising outdoors.
10. Fabletics The Training Day Tee
BEST FOR HEAVY SWEATERS
If Rhone’s t-shirt is a bit expensive, then opt for Fabletics’ The Training Day tee. It’s another great shirt to work up a sweat in as it has anti-stink technology and is sweat-wicking. The shirt features mesh panels with ventilation to increase airflow, keeping you cool during your workout.
11. Vuori Strato Tech Tee
BEST FIT
It can be tough finding the perfect workout shirt that fits your body perfectly, but Vuori tees seem to fit right in all the right places thanks to its 4-way stretch. The Strato Tech tee is soft to the touch and moves along with you for optimal range during activities.
12. Alo Yoga Idol Performance Tee
MOST LIGHTWEIGHT
This crewneck shirt from Alo Yoga is made from a stretchy and lightweight fabric that is breathable and comfortable to wear all day long. It has a relaxed fit and will become a go-to staple for your workout.
13. Nike Dri-FIT Miler
MOST DURABLE
Nike is known for its durable sportswear, so it should come as no surprise that we recommend a shirt from the brand. It’s made from sustainable materials and features Dri-FIT technology to help you stay dry and comfortable when exercising. The shirt seams at the shoulder are rolled back to allow your arms to move freely. No matter how many times you wear this t-shirt, it will never lose its shape.
14. Under Armour Velocity Short Sleeve
BEST MOISTURE WICKING
Whether you go every day or twice a week, it’s great to have a sweat-wicking shirt to work out in to keep you dry and cool. And Under Armour makes one of the best moisture-wicking shirts on the market. The velocity tee is made from UA fabric that’s quick-drying and features anti-microbial and anti-odor properties to ensure you stay fresh all day.
15. Baleaf Running Shirt
BEST FOR RUNNING
Protect yourself during your morning runs with this running shirt from Baleaf that features reflective tapes & a logo for low-light visibility. The shirt is made of 90% polyester and 10% spandex for a lightweight and stretchy top. It has ergonomic seams that allow runners a greater range of motion when active.