To see more of the best workout clothes and gear handpicked by GQ editors, check out the GQ Fitness Awards.
The Best All-Around Workout Shirt: Rhone Reign
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.
The Best Budget Workout Shirt: Nike 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.
The Best Vented Workout Shirt: Lululemon Vent Tech 2.0
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.
The Best Cold Weather Workout Shirt: Under Armour HeatGear Compression
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 long-sleeve top is a must-have. The cold won’t be an excuse next winter.
The Best Workout Shirt for Runners: Tracksmith Strata
Tracksmith has carved out its own niche in the running community for its preppy New England athletic apparel—think Prefontaine-era silhouettes with a dash of retro Ivy League style. Its Strata tee, a 2023 GQ Fitness Award winner, is a super lightweight top that offers a barely-there feel so you can focus more on clocking miles than making sure your nipples aren’t chafing. An added UV treatment to the exterior protects your skin from the sun’s damaging rays, and the tee manages to wick away moisture from the body and expel it from the shirt so that you don’t emerge from a run soaked in sweated.
The Best Workout Tank: Rhone Swift Tank 2.0
Chest day got you feeling like you want to show a little more off? Fellas, behold the muscle tank. In our testing, the revamped Swift Tank, with its refined neckline and added bindings on the sleeve openings, muscled its way to the top. An additional anti-odor treatment cuts back on any over-the-top funk as you emerge from the gym, and its overall flattering design will have you feeling like the most svelte guy in the weight room.
The Best Long-Sleeve Workout Shirt: Lululemon License to Train
Even beyond the dead of winter, some folks prefer to work out in a long-sleeve, whether it’s to help absorb excess sweat or to create a hotter environment that helps you sweat it out even more. Lululemon’s License to Train tee is best for those kinds of people—because of its construction, it won’t cling to your sticky skin, while the anti-odor properties won’t have your gym bros keeping their distance from you when you’re in need of a spotter. Also, unlike so many other long-sleeve tees that prioritize a slim fit for accentuating the look of your upper body, this option has a regular-fit that’s easy to slip off and toss in the laundry hamper at home.
The Workout Tee That’s Also a Menswear Grail: Satisfy Cloudmerino
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.
Plus, 7 More Workout Shirts We Like
Read the full article here
