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Introduction | The 5 best mens running tops | Mens running tops FAQ
For most people running is a chore: it’s an unpleasant means to a pleasant end – that of keeping trim(ish) and healthy (hopefully). And few people find running easy. It’s probably for that reason why of all the different exercise modalities, it’s the least liked.
If these terse sentences sum-up your feelings towards running, then it’s important to avoid making the experience anymore unpleasant. If you don’t, run sessions may start to decline while couch sessions start to increase.
One easy way to attenuate the unpleasantness of running is to ensure that you’re decked out in comfortable clothing. I imagine that some readers are shaking their heads incredulously: ‘A swanky pair of slacks and a sleek tee are never going to make running enjoyable for me.’
Personally, I was of the same opinion – until I purchased a pair of proper running leggings and fitted top. These simple items of clothing made the experience of running more pleasant. How? By improving comfort, offering support and reducing the build-up of moisture – which in turn minimises skin-irritations and chaffing.
In addition, because running attire tends to feature high-visibility elements and reflective strips, it makes early morning and evening runs safer.
In this article you’ll find ten tees that might just make your run sessions a bit less of a burden and a bit safer to boot. But enough blab, let's have a look at five of the best mens running tops.
Short sleeve mens running tops
Product Overview (click image for availability)
Super lightweight, breathable fabric.
Vented panels either side to provide strategic cooling during exercise.
Reflective print ensures visibility when running in low-light conditions.
Flat lock seams reduce chafing, ensuring you workout in comfort.
A mere £16.99
TCA’s performance mens running tops, with their light, QuickDry fabric, will keep you feeling a fresh as daisy even during long distance jaunts. This super lightweight training top is made from non-absorbent material – polyester and elastane – which wicks sweat from the skin; thus reducing skin-irritations and abrasions. In addition, the vented air mesh panels provide ‘strategic’ cooling keeping you dry and comfortable.
Nearly 5 stars with over 500 reviews
TCA mens running t shirt
Product Overview (click image for availability)
Lightweight, stretchy training t-shirt perfect for running and general training.
Moisture wicking fabric is QuickDry and absorbs sweat from the skin keeping you dry and comfortable.
Fitted design ensures the material follows the contours of your body for streamlined performance.
Galaxy spacedye knitted pattern for a unique look.
Current price £19.99
TCA’s Galaxy short sleeve running top offers superior comfort. The ‘athletic fit’ is designed to follow the contours of your torso thus limiting baggy excess. Meaning when you run on particularly blustery days it won’t feel as though you’ve donned one of the “Pequod’s” sails. The stretch fabric sits close to your skin which allows it to more freely wick away sweat. This will not only reduce skin-irritations and sores (especially on long runs),but will keep you feeling fresh.
Very well rated: 5 stars with over 300 reviews
Under Armour gym shirt and running t shirt mens
Product Overview (click image for availability)
Short-sleeved tee is designed to be worn during running or other physical activity.
Ultra-light material will not impede movement.
The breathable technology reduces excess heating and sweat accumulation during training.
Current price £18.90.
Offering both comfort and style, Under Armour’s running top is apparently ‘designed for active men with a passion for exercise and sport.’ Because the t-shirt is crafted from a lightweight and breathable material it will facilitate the dispersal of surface heat.
This in turn aids the removal of excess moisture which reduces the likelihood of sores developing during that half-marathon. Furthermore, the anti-odour technology of the fabric will help keep your new favourite tee smelling as sweet as freshly picked roses.
Immense feedback: almost 5 stars with a jaw dropping 22,000 reviews!
Mens compression running tops
Product Overview (click image for availability)
The elasticated fabric offers superior comfort giving that ‘second skin’ feel.
Reduces drag and doesn’t impede movement .
Breathable material reduces sweat build-up and facilitates the transference of surface heat.
Currently retail for £14.99
MEETYOO’s compression mens running tops act like a second skin. Granted, compression wear is not everyone’s cup of tea: because it closely maps the topography of your anatomy nothing remains – shall we say – left to the imagination.
Thus, if you’re overly self-conscious about that barrel, belly roll or those wobbly moobs, you’re not going to feel comfortable running in public places in this tee.
However, if you couldn’t careless what people think, then MEETYOO’s compression top is perfect for running. Seriously, when you slip into this top you’ll feel like you’re wearing nothing at all. Also, it’ll double up as a thermal layer during the winter months.
Excellent rating: 4.5 stars with over 4,000 reviews
MEETWEE mens running t shirt
Product Overview (click image for availability)
Light and breathable mesh material improves comfort.
The 4-way stretch fabric is designed to move with your body.
The super-absorbent technology removes sweat quickly, keeping you dry, cool and comfortable running.
Current price £14.98
MEETWEE maintains that they’re a ‘professional seller’ of training attire who offer ‘excellent quality and comfortable wear’ designed with the exercise enthusiast in mind. The customer feedback supports MEETWEE’s highly confident self-affirmation.
Over 2,000 people have took the time to write a comment about this running top. The vast majority are highly favourable. People have commented on the quality of the material and comfort of the fit.
The lightweight and breathable fabric works with the movement of your body while wicking surface sweat. In addition, the 4-way stretch design ensures that this tee works with your body and not against it. All for less than £15!
Excellent feedback: 4.5 stars with over 2,000 reviews
Mens running tops FAQ
What are the best fabrics for running tops?
Nylon is the most common fabric used for running tops. This is because of its superior sweat-wicking properties and because the material is lightweight and is comparatively stretchy.
Another preferable material for funning tops is polyester. Again, like nylon, polyester is lightweight, durable and non-absorbent.
Should running shirts be tight?
Like Baby Bear’s porridge running tops should be somewhere in the middle. That is, not too tight that it cuts off blood circulation to your hands, but not so baggy that it flaps about like a flag. Preferably your running tee should fit nice and snug.
Will a running top make me go faster?
In searching out the best running tops for this article I did happened across other reviews. A couple of them, in their pre-review spiel, likened the importance of running tops to trainers and maintained that a ‘proper’ tight-fitting top could help you best your 10k PB.
Personally, I think this is pure poppycock. The most important part of a runner’s attire, by a country mile, is what they wear on their feet; and, unless your t-shirt was once a parachute, I doubt that it will in anyway – positively or negatively – impact on the outcome of a PB.
In saying that, though, properly designed running tops do offer positives over that of your threadbare half-marathon freebie you’ve been running in every day for the past 10 years. For example, a proper running top will be lighter and more comfortable. Also, they should be seamless which reduces sores and skin abrasions during long runs. And, finally, as mentioned above, they should feature high-visibility elements which makes running safer.
About Adam Priest –
A former Royal Marines Commando, Adam Priest is a content writer, college lecturer, and health and wellbeing practitioner. He is also a fitness author and contributor to other websites. Connect with Adam via LinkedIn or info@hungry4fitness.co.uk.