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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, it's always a boost of confidence to show up in something that doesn't make you feel like a schlub. To that end, we've got you covered with some of the best workout shirts for men, from tees to tanks to long-sleeves that are streamlined, breathable, and even stylish.
Save the heavy lifting to us and get straight to our favorite men's workout shirts right here.
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 moisture-wicking and fast-drying too, so your sweat can dissipate through your most grueling gym sessions. Some workout shirts are even designed with strategically placed mesh for more airflow.
But it’s not just about keeping cool. Your workout shirt or tank should also have enough stretch to accommodate a wide range of motion for that next-level yoga pose and work with you when you’re trying to set a personal best on the shoulder press machine. High-quality workout shirts will use elastane that will stretch and conform to your every move, and remain flexible for the long haul.
Fit is another consideration, depending on how you want to train. Tighter activewear garments like compression shirts can help increase blood flow for better performance and decreased soreness, while looser-fitting gym shirts have better airflow to cool you down. It's all a matter of preference.
We put the best workout shirts for men through their paces by running, lifting, training, and sweating abundantly in them—even anointing some our favorite fitness pieces of all time with a GQ Fitness Award. 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 the perfect medium of comfort, breathability, and design to help you work out in style—with bonus points given to any shirts with sweat-wicking and odor-blocking properties. 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