2016 Running Gear Guide: Men’s Tops
The latest shirts, T’s and singlets have better materials and cuts than ever, with natural-feeling knits, and are now firmly designed with style in mind.
$35, Zootsports.com
This San Diego brand likes to embrace its Southern California roots—and so a retro surf-style striped T with technical material was an inspired design. It’s got a narrow, performance-oriented cut, with a very thin but not flimsy knit that’s great for the summer—or just the feeling of an endless summer.
$28, Saucony.com
Perfect for training or racing at the peak of summer. It’s hard to state how wispy the Hydralite material is, yet it has a plushness that you don’t often find in the sea of shiny and scratchy singlets. Go ahead and pour an extra cup of water on your head at the aid station: This thing also dries fast.
$70, Thenorthface.com
Perfect for hot days, the sleeveless shirt from The North Face’s Flight Series line of lightweight apparel has a soft, stretchy knit and plenty of reflective details. The lower back is thinner and designed to be more breathable to help prevent the dreaded swamp-back sensation at the waist.
$90, Nike.com
Among all the running T-shirts out there, this might be one of the best. Flat seams, a raglan-like shoulder design, a non-restrictive cut and reflective details check off all the boxes. Nike claims its Aeroreact fibers expand when hot to help keep you cool—in any case, it’s comfy in all conditions. Also available in long-sleeve and half-zip.
$60, Brooksrunning.com
As simple, base-layer long-sleeve shirts go, this is about as good as it gets. The Steady has the standard long wrists and thumb holes, a slim profile that allows for easy layering, and a thin weave with a silky-smooth texture that feels great and doesn’t chafe. There’s not much more to it—and nothing else needed. Also available with short sleeves.
$70, Icnysport.com
Leave it to ICNY to come up with a cool, casual running shirt with performance features and high visibility. The polyester blend won’t soak up sweat, and the ancient-Greece-inspired runners graphic gives off 360 degrees of reflective brightness for the nighttime—all of which means it’s great for before, during and after your run.