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By Kyle Hodge and Tyler Chin
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The best workout shirts for men should be masters of multi-tasking (just as versatile as your fitness routine), combining sturdy and breathable fabrics that can clear the wringer of sweat, movement, and spin cycles in the wash without emerging significantly worse for wear or perpetually odorous. And when you hit the gym to knock out your New Year resolutions (or, more likely, get back into them while there's still time left in the year), it helps if you show up wearing something that won't garner glares or side-eyes. For those in search of the perfect gym shirt, we've got you covered with some of the best workout shirts for men, from tees to tanks to long-sleeves.
Cotton feels great on the skin and is super breathable, so you might be surprised to hear that it makes for a terrible workout shirt. That’s because cotton absorbs moisture instead of wicking it away. So as your cotton T-shirt takes on sweat, it blocks airflow and can make you feel hotter. Most activewear brands avoid using all-cotton fabrics for that reason and it’s also why you’ll rarely ever see an athlete wearing a jersey made of the stuff. Instead, the best materials for gym shirts are polyester or a polyester blend. They’re not only breathable, but they’re moisture-wicking and fast-drying too, so your sweat can dissipate and you can keep you cool through your most grueling gym sessions. Some workout shirts are designed with strategically placed mesh for even more airflow.
But it’s not just about keeping cool. The best workout shirts for men also offer a good range of motion and won’t hold you back from getting to that next-level yoga pose or work against you when you’re trying to set a personal best on the shoulder press machine. Workout tanks are great freeing up your arms, but whether your gym shirt is sleeveless or not, it should have some level of stretch. High-quality workout shirts will use elastane that will stretch and conform to your every move and will keep its stretch for a long time.
Well, there’s no perfect fit because it’s entirely up to you. Tighter activewear garments like compression shirts can help increase blood flow which can lead to better performance and decreased soreness. But looser-fitting gym shirts have better airflow which can help keep you cooler. Basically, it all comes down to personal preference.
When it comes to matters of the heart-pumping workout, these were the non-negotiables: the T-shirt has to be lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, comfortable, and, ideally, stylish. (Hey, we’re probably not gonna wear a gym tee outside of its sanctioned context, but wearing a cool shirt has to help your workout a little bit, right?) We also prefer workout shirts that have some kind of odor-blocking properties. Like, the gym’s already a funky place, but there’s no need to make your fellow gym rat’s workout harder.
We've put the best workout shirts for men through their paces by running, lifting, training, and sweating abundantly in them—even liking some of them so much that they've ranked among our favorite fitness pieces of all time in our annual Fitness Awards. Some are extra-ventilated with mesh panels, others offer UPF50 sun protection, while still others are so fly that they provide extra motivation for getting out there to run laps in the dead of winter. Above all, they're a perfect medium of comfort, breathability, and design to help you work out in style. Here are some of the best workout shirts for men that deserve a spot in your fitness rotation.
To see more of the best workout clothes and gear handpicked by GQ editors, check out the GQ Fitness Awards.
Reign Short Sleeve Workout Shirt
Material: Nylon, polyester, and elastane Sizes available: S to XXL Standout features: UPF50+ sun protection, moisture wicking, GOLDFUSION anti-odor technology
Rhone's four-way stretch Reign tee clings in all the right places (around the biceps, for example, so that the sleeves don’t ride up and down) and none of the wrong ones (the shoulders, the armpits, and—[shudder]—the gut) thanks to raglan sleeves and a slightly looser fit. It’s breathable enough to prevent soak-throughs, but not so thin that that a brisk day will highlight your nipples to everyone on the track. The best part, though, is that the fabric is infused with little bits of gold for anti-odor protection, which the company says delays the onset of that dreaded perpetual funk that most other workout shirts succumb to eventually. It sounds dumb, but for us, contemporaneously acquired shirts from other brands have already acquired a certain musk that this one, mercifully, has not.
Material: Cotton and polyester Sizes available: S to XXXXL (with tall sizes) Standout features: Moisture-wicking Dri-FIT
Every brand now makes their own version of sweat-wicking fabric, but after almost three decades on the market, Nike’s Dri-Fit is still a more-than-capable challenger to some of the more expensive counterparts. High armholes and a slim body make the tee comfortable enough for runs and fitted enough for weightlifting, while an array of classic colors let you wear this shirt on the regular without signaling to others that yeah, you lift, bro. At half the cost of our other top picks—plus, Nike products frequently go on sale at retailers—this is the most cost-effective solution to the reprehensible cut-off tee collection that you're still clinging to.
Metal Vent Tech Short Sleeve 2.0
Material: Polyester, elastane, nylon Sizes available: XS to XXL Standout features: Moisture-wicking, odor-resistant
A shade looser than the Rhone, this updated version of one of our favorite Lululemon workout tops deserves its spot in these hallowed rankings because it lets in a whole lot of air. That's thanks in large part to a series of visible, larger-than-usual holes that somehow don’t show any skin. Also, the heathered colorways and contrast-stitched seams provide a nice reprieve from the bright solid colors available at your local sporting goods store. For those of you who aren’t inclined to shill for an athletic apparel giant without an endorsement deal in place, the logo—already small and unobtrusive—is tucked away on the back, just below the neck.
Material: Polyester, elastane Sizes available: XS to XXXL Standout features: Moisture-wicking
Under Armour's HeatGear compression shirt will help you focus on your workout without any interruption from the brisk winter weather. Its super-light fabric delivers superior coverage without weighing you down. It includes a mesh underarm and back panels for better ventilation to help wick sweat and keep you dry. For an affordable $32, this HeatGear top is a must-have. The cold won't be an excuse next winter.
Material: Spandex and polyester Sizes available: XS to XXL Standout features: Moisture-wicking, anti-microbial
Tracksmith has developed its own niche in the running community because of its New England heritage-inspired athletic apparel—think Ivy League style comes for your running short shorts and workout tops. Its Van Cortlandt tee is made of lightweight mesh (yes, it's a little sheer and you can somewhat see through it) which makes it breathable for those super-long summer runs. Unlike other shirts that can end up triple its weight at the end of a sweaty workout, the Van Cortlandt manages to wick away moisture away from the body and expel it from the shirt so that even the top isn't drenched in your sweat. The top is finished with Tracksmith's signature sash motif that does nothing for the workout benefits, but adds that extra layer of Ivy cool so engrained in the brand's ethos.
Power Dry Jersey Raglan Long-Sleeve Tee
Material: Polyester Sizes available: S to XXL Standout features: Moisture-wicking
Winter is here, but don't let your weather app scare you from getting your workout in. To help combat the coldness, our favorite long-sleeve shirt, the And Wander’s PowerDry tee will be your go-to option. A lightweight, double-knit jersey made with super cozy Polartec fabric to keep you warmer then your morning coffee as you go get your miles in. On sale for only $75, there's no better time cop the best long-sleeve workout shirt of the season.
Material: Merino wool Sizes available: XS to XL Standout features: Moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, thermoregulating
Most workout shirts look like, well, workout shirts. Satisfy Running is one of the few brands that are making athletic gear fit-pic worthy. The brand's Cloudmerino tee is cosmic cool and a far cry from what you'll find at your local sporting goods retailer. Not only does it look more like a fashion piece than a piece of gear, because each one is dyed by hand, no two will be the same. So you can rest assured that you still won't have the same exact tee at the very swaggy gym you attend. And it's more than just a pretty shirt. The Cloudmerino tee is made using an extremely lightweight merino wool (a.k.a. Mother Nature's wonderfiber) which does many of the fancy stuff that synthetic performance fabrics do—namely, moisture wicking, temperature regulating, and odor blocking.
District Visions's featherlight shirt is constructed with a proprietary hidden mesh that only reveals itself when stretched—as you run the shirt literally lets in air. This tech works so well that we'd consider using it even if the shirt's fit were slightly off, but the DV Air-wear is perfect in that department as well
Ten Thousand's “durable” shirt is the one you reach for when you're expecting to do some damage at the gym with an intense workout of high-impact reps, without needing to replace it after a couple heavy cycles. It's why we deemed it the best every day workout shirt in our 2021 Fitness Awards.
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