While cotton T-shirts are certainly the most comfortable for everyday use, don’t make the mistake of wearing them for your workout. They retain moisture, which makes them heavy and increases the risk of chafing and irritation.
What you should be wearing:
Synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and spandex are designed to wick moisture away from your body, and they tend to dry out more quickly than cotton. For athletic apparel, you want a synthetic shirt.
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You also need a shirt that fits well (while still showing off your awesome muscles) gives you enough room to move around and survives heavy sweating/regular washing. Plus, you want moisture-wicking, which will reduce the risk of your getting sick when you step outside the gym – at the very least. (Plus, the ladies love a good workout shirt!)
We’ve done the research to bring you only the best workout shirts for men, from tank tops to long-sleeved shirts to shapewear to compression shirts—everything you need to be comfortable while hitting the weights, treadmill, or running trail!
#1 Best Workout Shirt Overall
Under Armour Tech Short Sleeve T-Shirt
- Ultra-soft, sleek material feels wonderful on your skin, even when wet
- Both moisture-wicking and quick-drying
- Stay cool and comfy in this workout shirt; ideal for high heat and humidity
Pros
Durable, super comfortable, quick-drying, wicks sweat away from your body, loose fit without being oversized, good elasticity, perfect for summer wear, affordable, and darker colors hide sweat.
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#2 Best Cotton Blend Workout Shirt
Under Armour Charged Cotton Sportstyle T-Shirt
- More hygienic than synthetic fabrics, produces less body odor with heavy sweating
- Super soft, lightweight, and comfortable!
- Thicker material is more durable than lightweight workout shirts
Pros
Super-soft, less odor, quick-drying, moisture-wicking, stylish, sleek fit, affordable, good material quality, durable, good length and width, and great for layering/cold weather use.
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#3 Best Long-Sleeved Workout Shirt
Under Armour Tech 1/4 Zip Long-Sleeved Shirt
- Great for heavier users; loose fit, excellent moisture-wicking and quick-drying fabric
- Soft, comfortable, and versatile; a great shirt to wear during the cooler months
- Lightweight and durable material
Pros
Excellent winter wear, loose fit, durable, lightweight, all-weather use, stylish, fits well in the shoulders, good length for taller wearers, useful for layering, and breathable material.
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#4 Most Versatile Workout Shirt
TSLA Men’s Quick Dry Short Sleeve T-Shirt (UPF 50+)
- Breathable, comfortable, and durable
- Stay cool and dry whether you run, lift, practice Yoga, or play sports
- Protects your skin (UPF 50+) from UV rays; great for outdoor activities
Pros
Designed for all sports and activities, quick-drying, moisture-wicking, great ventilation, UV radiation protection, lightweight, comfortable, versatile, reduces body odor, sleek, and excellent price.
#5 Best Athletic Shapewear for Men
Esteem Apparel Compression Workout Shirt
- Improves appearance of “man boobs”; perks up chest muscles
- A practical solution to looking better in any shirt
- Lightweight and form-fitting without being too tight or slimming
Pros
Reduces chest sagging, slimming for chest and stomach, fits under any T-shirt or collared shirt, it’s soft, breathable, and lightweight. It’s the perfect mixture of nylon and spandex, extra firm, encourages better posture, provides back support, and features great elasticity.
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#6 Most Durable Men’s Workout Shirt
Nike Legend Short Sleeve Tee
- Dri-Fit fabric wicks moisture away from the body and dries quickly
- Stay cool and comfy while you move
- Lightweight, durable, and reliable—a must-have for your gym wardrobe
Pros
Bright colors, durable fabric, Dri-Fit material, flat seams to reduce chafing, performance design, lightweight, comfortable, ribbed neck, not too pricey, and colors don’t fade.
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#7 Best Base Layer Workout Shirt
TSLA Cool Dry Compression Baselayer Short Sleeve T
- Stay warm in winter and cool in summer
- Offers compression and shaping for a sculpted upper body look
- Durable, comfortable, and reliable; a great workout shirt!
Pros
Designed for all-season use, breathable, good elasticity, compression not too tight, good price, odor-resistant, UPF 50+ protection, flat-lock seams, and smooth on your skin.
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#8 Best Compression Workout Shirt
Under Armour HeatGear Short-Sleeved Compression Shirt
- Good versatility and elasticity while still providing solid compression
- Soft, smooth, and comfortable all day long
- Well-ventilated, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying
Pros
All-day comfort, keeps you cool and dry, excellent breathability, durable, stylish, bright and bold color choices, good mobility, no odors, and decent price.
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Men’s Workout Shirts Tips & Advice
Whether you indulge in a weekly CrossFit class or you are an avid fan of weightlifting, investing in the right exercise clothes will enhance your workout in many ways.
From the local gym to your favorite running trail, wearing the right workout shirt will ensure that you’re comfortable, protected, and performing at your very best. So sit back, relax, and read on. It’s time to find clothes that work as hard as you do.
5 Reasons to Invest in Proper Workout Shirts
1. Wearing the right exercise gear improves performance.
You already know that wearing a pair of Chuck Taylors for a run won’t give you the support and cushion you need. The same applies to workout shirts, too.
Donning a regular cotton shirt to the gym may not seem like a big deal, but it actually prevents you from performing at your best level. A specially-designed workout shirt will wick away perspiration and dissipate body heat, therefore helping you last longer and push harder during your workouts.
2. A well-fitted workout shirt improves freedom of movement.
Buying well-fitted workout shirts will give you the freedom of movement you need to execute any routine safely and effectively. A too-tight cotton shirt simply won’t have the same breathability and flexibility. You might even end up doing your movements wrong if your shirt is too restrictive.
Even if you can comfortably move around in a regular shirt while doing your day-to-day activities, it’s a different matter altogether when we’re talking about the movements associated with bench presses, CrossFit, and other compound exercises.
3. The correct workout apparel boosts confidence.
Our mindset has a massive effect on what we end up achieving in life. If you feel awkward, insecure, and unsure of yourself, you probably won’t reap the same results as if you were more confident.
Wearing a proper workout shirt is going to make a real difference if you believe that it’s going to improve your performance. If you know that you look great and are supported by the right kind of apparel, you’ll likely act it out, too. What’s more, awesome workout shirts make the prospect of going to the gym even more exciting. If you need extra motivation to exercise, cool gym clothing should do the trick.
4. The right athletic clothing protects you from health risks and injuries.
Wearing shoes that are not the right size is a great way to score painful blisters, cramps, and other discomforts. Likewise, wearing a shirt that isn’t designed for working out can lead to unnecessary health risks and injuries.
If you like running outdoors, you’re going to want to invest in a workout shirt that will protect you from the elements. If it’s hot and sunny where you live, a shirt that is both breathable and UV-resistant will protect your body from sunburn and overheating. If it’s cold and windy, a long-sleeved top will help keep the chills at bay.
To add, baggy cotton shirts may be comfortable, but all that extra fabric puts you at risk of being caught in dangerous gym equipment.
5. A compression shirt can aid in post-workout recovery.
Compression clothing has been shown to help recovery after workouts. If you’ve never dabbled in the world of compression workout clothes, you’re missing out!
Factors to Consider When Shopping
Comfort
Comfort is the most important deciding factor there is. After all, it’s difficult to perform well when you’re not comfortable. Also, the idea of wearing a shirt that feels “off” could discourage you from going to the gym altogether.
Your shirt shouldn’t only feel good while you’re wearing it to be considered comfortable. It should also adapt well as you execute various muscle-building movements at the gym. So go ahead and stretch, jog, squat, and jump in that workout shirt before buying it. That way, you’ll know if your body jives well with the shirt even before you buy it.
Fit
Even the priciest, comfiest, most technologically-advanced workout shirt is no good if it doesn’t fit you well. A nice-fitting top won’t only let you feel great, but it will also accentuate your hard-earned gains and losses. Granted, none of us should really care too much about how we look during exercise, but a flattering workout shirt never hurt anybody!
Besides, nothing feels as motivating as seeing yourself looking fine in the mirror—and that is impossible to do if you’re constantly hiding under layers upon layers of baggy workout clothes.
Fabric
We’ve already said it before, but cotton shirts aren’t beneficial to your workouts—no matter how comfy they may feel. Fabrics that wick perspiration away from your skin are the undisputed top choice. Such fabrics include nylon, lycra, and polyester. Not only do they keep you dry, but they also resist getting weighed down by sweat.
Design
Sure, having awesome workout clothes is a great motivation, but don’t overthink it! Workout clothes should be fun and encouraging, not calculated, and boring. Blacks, whites, greys, and blues may seem like staple colors if you want to be safe, but don’t sleep on bright reds and lime greens, too!
Price
This is an obvious one. Whatever your budget is, there’s probably something for you out there. You don’t have to empty your bank account to score nice shirts for the gym. The world is filled with both luxurious and reasonably-priced workout outfits for everyone.
Quality
On the flip side, be wary about cheap but low-quality clothing. You are going to torture your workout shirt, after all. You will push your body to its limits and experience a physical transformation with these clothes on, so they better be durable enough to withstand the grind!
Compromising on quality just for the sake of saving a few bucks could backfire in the long run. Before you know it, you already shelled out more money constantly replacing cheap clothes that have worn out incredibly fast. So really, don’t think twice about investing in quality.
More On Compression Shirts: Are They Worth a Shot?
As you can probably tell from our list above, compression shirts are a constant favorite among fitness buffs. But why exactly are they so popular? And more importantly, are they worth the hype?
Compression wearables are characterized by a skin-tight fit and spandex-type fibers. The idea behind them is that they compress your muscles to the point of gentle stimulation. This gives your muscles some support and containment while the slight pressure improves your blood circulation.
Compression also helps clear lactic acid from your muscles. This speeds up your recovery after an intense lifting session. It’s not surprising why many athletes swear by compression clothing during recovery days.
And, of course, we’d be lying if we didn’t mention how sporty AF they look. As we’ve stressed probably five times by now, workout shirts don’t only let you perform at your best level—they also deliver psychological benefits that stem from the confidence boost you get as you put them on.
Caring for Your Workout Shirts
- Wash your workout clothes right away. Tossing a sweaty shirt in a hamper and leaving it there for several days is an open invitation to all sorts of gross microorganisms. Mildew and bacteria love moist environments, and letting them fester in your clothes puts you at risk of skin irritations and infections.
- Soak the shirt before you wash it. If washing right away is impossible, fret not! You can still take good care of your workout shirts with some help from good old white vinegar. Soak your clothes in a solution of one part white vinegar and four parts water for about 30 minutes. Rinse with cold water and hang dry before tossing the shirts in the hamper.
- Don’t reuse dirty workout clothes. Many of us are guilty of pulling yesterday’s workout clothes out of the hamper to reuse them one more time (or multiple times, TBH). Yes, you’ll just sweat right through them again anyway, but reusing dirty clothes is a surefire way to contract infections. Not to mention, this practice probably makes you stink really bad, too.
- Don’t use hot water. High-performance fabrics will thrive best in cold or warm water. Although cotton socks and towels call for hot water for the best cleaning results, high temperatures are bad for moisture-wicking fabrics. That said, you should definitely skip the heated dryer, too.
- Use a mild detergent. And use just the right amount of it! If you’re worried about bacteria multiplying among your clothes, it’s tempting to overcompensate by using copious amounts of strong detergent. However, mild detergent in nothing more than the recommended amount actually works best.
- Turn your shirts inside out. After all, it’s the inside of your clothing that comes in direct contact with your skin. Washing your shirts inside out will make it easier to wash away any built-up sweat, germs, and dirt.
- Avoid fabric softeners at all costs. They’re plenty useful for almost any other piece of clothing, but they’re disastrous for workout clothes. Remember that fabric softeners leave a smooth film on your clothes to make them feel extra soft. In doing so, they tend to trap bacteria, sweat, and oils in your clothes. What’s more, fabric softeners can affect the moisture-wicking abilities of high-performance fabrics.
- Always hang your shirts to dry. Workout clothes are way too delicate for machine drying, so stick to air-drying instead. Besides, they are made of thin and breathable fabrics, which means they should dry up in no time.