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The Best Men’s Running Shirts of 2025

We put countless miles into finding the best running shirts. Here are our picks from Icebreaker, Arc'teryx, and more.
Written by Cory Smith
The author in Soar Hot WeatherThe author in Soar Hot Weather Tee; (photo/Nick Presniakov)
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The Best Men’s Running Shirts
Best Overall Men’s Running Shirt
Best Budget Men’s Running Shirt
Best High-End Men’s Running Shirt
Best Wool Men’s Running Shirt
Most Comfortable Men’s Running Shirt
Best of the Rest
Men’s Running Shirts Comparison Chart
How We Tested the Best Men’s Running Shirts
Buyer’s Guide: What to Look For in a Men’s Running Shirt
Price & Value
Frequently Asked Questions

By now, we all know the best running shirts should be moisture-wicking. But why is moisture-wicking so important? Sweat is the main mechanism by which your body cools itself, but did you know that not allowing sweat to wick off your skin can be a source of overheating?

If sweat isn’t removed from your skin through evaporation or wicking, it can impact your body’s ability to cool itself. The solution? You guessed it — a high-quality, moisture-wicking men’s running shirt.

Like the best running shorts or any good workout apparel, the best running shirts will feel soft and comfortable when running and will help wick sweat off your skin, drying it quickly to prevent moisture buildup. Some shirts even come with anti-odor properties and can guard against harmful UV rays.

Finding the best running shirts isn’t easy — there are loads of options out there. We took a wardrobe’s worth of running shirts out for countless miles to find the best ones for sweat-wicking, drying quickly, odor-prevention, and more. If you’re looking for a running shirt, odds are there’s one on this list that’ll work for you. 

To find out more about what to look for in a running shirt, check out our Buyer’s Guide section, Comparison Chart, and Price & Value sections, or you can scroll down to the best in each category below.

Editor’s Note: For our November 7, 2024, update, we added a Price & Value section to our buyer’s guide content. 

The Best Men’s Running Shirts

Best Overall Men’s Running Shirt

Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III

$80 at REICheck price at Icebreaker
The Best Men’s Running Shirts of 2025

  • Material: 100% merino wool
  • Weight: 5 oz.
  • UPF rating/protection: 30
  • Anti-odor: Yes

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Breathes extremely well
  • Dried within minutes
  • Excellent anti-odor properties

Cons

  • Merino wool still gets that “wet dog” smell when it gets wet
  • Wool isn’t the most durable material

Icebreaker has long been a classic, thanks to its excellent use of Merino wool, and the Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III ($85) is no exception. We’ve probably beat the properties of Merino wool into the ground by now, but let’s reiterate — this shirt wicks sweat, allows airflow to cool your body, and dries extremely quickly.

The speed with which this shirt dried on long runs is borderline silly. During testing, we soaked the shirt during sprint intervals in hot weather. Our tester hung it on a branch during a short water break, and it was just about dry by the time we were ready to go again. 

The offset shoulder seams kept friction (and the resultant irritation) to a minimum, and the weave kept the air flowing through the shirt during long runs. There is no listed sun protection score, but Merino wool generally falls between UPF 30 to 50+. 

But the aspect of this shirt that really stands out is its top-notch odor resistance. After a week of runs and workouts without a wash, the shirt was stiff with dried sweat but still didn’t stink. Our tester even left it in a hamper for four days under a pile of dirty workout clothes, and it came out smelling neutral. 

While we haven’t found any rips or holes yet, Merino wool is generally not as durable as synthetic material, so that may be an issue over time. But if you’re looking for a shirt that hits the high notes — sweat-wicking, breathability, quick-drying — and has top-notch odor-resistance, the Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III is the one.

Best Budget Men’s Running Shirt

Path Projects Basis Logo Tee

$48 at PATH projects
The Best Men’s Running Shirts of 2025

  • Material: 74% polyester, 19% Tencel, 7% Spandex
  • Weight: 4.8 oz.
  • UPF rating/protection: 50+
  • Anti-odor: Yes

Pros

  • Great value
  • Soft against the skin
  • Plenty of stretch

Cons

  • Takes a while to dry
  • Anti-odor treatment not the strongest

We’ve found that most low-cost moisture-wicking shirts feel a bit scratchy, but not the Path Projects Basis Logo Tee ($48). It has a soft, supple feel — almost like cotton — and the polyester/Tencel/Spandex fabric does a great job of wicking moisture away and drying it quickly. Plus, it’s extremely soft and stretchy. The Tencel material gives this shirt a cotton feel and what feels like an unlimited stretch.

Weighing in at just under 5 ounces, it’s not the lightest shirt we’ve tested, but it compares favorably to many of the higher-end shirts on this list. Still, we’ve tested a good amount of budget tech tees, and you won’t find a higher quality, more comfortable moisture-wicking running shirt at this price point.

Additionally, the cut and muted colors make it an option for running errands or going out. We’ve gotten several compliments on the shirt when going out for drinks after a long run. 

If you run frequently but let your laundry pile high, you can have two Path Projects Basis Logo Tees on deck for the price of a single high-tech running shirt from one of the boutique brands on the list.

Best High-End Men’s Running Shirt

Arc’teryx Men’s Norvan Downword Logo Long Sleeve

$100 at REICheck price at Arc’teryx
The Best Men’s Running Shirts of 2025

  • Material: 100% polyester
  • Weight: 3.9 oz.
  • UPF rating/protection: Not specified
  • Anti-odor: Yes

Pros

  • Extremely lightweight and airy
  • Laminated neckline reduces irritation
  • Long sleeves provide plenty of sun coverage

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Long sleeves aren’t for everybody

Arc’teryx is no stranger to our “Best Of” lists, and the Arc’teryx Men’s Norvan Downword Logo Long Sleeve ($100) is a good example of why. The thought put into this shirt shows that it’s meant for long runs in the mountains. The shirt pairs Arc’teryx’s soft Phasic FL fabric with ultralight mesh on the back for excellent airflow. 

Merrow seams and laminated finishes kept chafing at bay on long, sweaty runs, and the shirt wore well under hydration vests without any bunching or irritation. 

Even though it’s a long-sleeve shirt, this is one of the lighter ones on this list, thanks to the incredibly airy open-mesh back. Plus, the long sleeves provide full sun protection. The only way to get more would be to make this a hoodie. 

Thanks to the different materials throughout the shirt, the material feels light but isn’t fragile. The mesh at the back lets air flow, while the front panel and sleeves (where you’re more likely to encounter branches and whatnot) are made with a more substantial material. 

Now, it is a pricey shirt, but with the Arc’teryx Men’s Norvan Downword Logo Long Sleeve, you can see where the money went. You’d be hard-pressed to find another shirt better suited for grinding out long miles in the mountains.

Best Wool Men’s Running Shirt

Ibex Merino Tencel

$80 at Ibex
The Best Men’s Running Shirts of 2025

  • Material: 45% merino wool, 45% Tencel, 10% nylon
  • Weight: 4.3 oz.
  • UPF rating/protection: 50
  • Anti-odor: Yes

Pros

  • Outrageously soft
  • Not scratchy
  • Natural UPF 50 protection and anti-odor

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Can get warm in really hot temps

Needless to say, we’re huge fans of wool. In our experience, it has the best moisture-wicking and fastest drying time of any fabric. While we find most wool running shirts a tad scratchy, it’s not enough to prevent us from wearing them.

However, the Ibex Merino Tencel ($85) is the exception. Made with Tencel and a nylon core to increase durability (which it does), we found it to be more comfortable than other wool shirts, somehow achieving a much smoother texture. Ibex advertises it as a regular fit, but we found their typical size large to be more fitted than usual.

If you’re a fan of wool and interested in a slightly more comfortable, less itchy wool shirt, we strongly recommend checking out this well-designed running shirt.

Most Comfortable Men’s Running Shirt

Vuori Strato Tech Tee

$54 at REIcheck price at vuori clothing
The Best Men’s Running Shirts of 2025

  • Material: 96% polyester, 4% Elastane
  • Weight: 4.1 oz.
  • UPF rating/protection: 30+
  • Anti-odor: Yes

Pros

  • Crazy soft to the touch
  • Great color options
  • UPF 30 and anti-odor

Cons

  • Long drying time

There’s nothing quite like a well-worn cotton tee. Unfortunately, even the best tech tees just don’t replicate cotton’s comfortable, soft-to-the-skin feeling. Meet the Vuori Strato Tech Tee ($54), a moisture-wicking running shirt with cotton’s cozy, supple feel.

In fact, it’s more comfortable than your softest cotton tee. Our tester found himself doing a double-take to ensure it wasn’t cotton. Sure enough, it’s 96% polyester and 4% Elastane. It also has anti-odor and a UPF rating of 30.

The tradeoff for all that comfort? During testing, the Strato Tech Tee took the longest time to dry. It’s certainly better than cotton, but doesn’t compare to the other shirts tested in that category. If you drip sweat like a faucet, you may want to look elsewhere, but if you’re a mild sweater looking for a downright comfortable tee, this functions as one of the best running shirts you can buy.

And if you prefer simple, inconspicuous, but fashionable shirts, this will likely quickly become one of your favorite everyday tees.

Best of the Rest

Rab Sonic Tee

check price at amazon
The Best Men’s Running Shirts of 2025

  • Material: 100% polyester
  • Weight: 3.4 oz.
  • UPF rating/protection: No
  • Anti-odor: Yes

Pros

  • Extremely lightweight
  • Airy
  • Good value for money

Cons

  • Thin

Rab makes some of the best technical mountain apparel we’ve tested, and the Sonic Tee ($40), a lightweight wicking tee designed for mountain running, is no exception.

Made with 100% polyester, it’s incredibly light and airy. The relatively thin fabric sits nicely against the skin and does a great job of venting and wicking the moisture off your skin to dry. Where it truly shines is in drying time. A soaked Sonic Tee dried up in just a few minutes of direct sunlight. It even comes with an antibacterial treatment to ward off odor between washes.

Rab advertises it as a regular fit, but we’d call it a slim-fitting shirt. If you prefer a looser-fitting lightweight shirt, you may want to size up. The bottom line is that the Sonic Tee is a well-priced, highly functional technical tee that is perfect for any warm-weather activity. It can quickly become your go-to running shirt for scorching days on the trail.

Black Diamond Rhythm Tee

check price at backcountry
The Best Men’s Running Shirts of 2025

  • Material: 100% merino wool
  • Weight: 3.3 oz.
  • UPF rating/protection: Yes
  • Anti-odor: Yes

Pros

  • One of the lightest wool shirts you can buy
  • Fast drying time
  • Natural UPF protection and anti-odor

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Durability issues

The Black Diamond Rhythm Tee ($85) is one of the most unique shirts we’ve ever worn. It’s basically weightless. And thanks to Nuyarn wool, a spinning technology different from most wool shirts, sweat seems to evaporate as soon as it hits the shirt. Even when the shirt was soaked, drying time was better than any other shirt tested.

One of the benefits of Nuyarn wool is that it’s 35% stretchier than merino wool, so it’s best worn close to the skin. If you’re not a huge fan of tight-fitting shirts, go a size up for a more relaxed fit.

Like all wool products, the Rhythm Tee has durability issues. After a few snags on trees and brushes, we had ripped a few tiny holes in it. But again, it was no surprise. One issue we found unique to Nuyarn Wool is that after many washes, the shirt started to lose its form and stretch out unevenly.

Despite these common durability issues, the Black Diamond Rhythm Tee is an excellent option for those who want the wicking/drying speed of wool and anti-odor properties, but find most wool shirts too heavy. You definitely won’t find this shirt too heavy or stuffy. If you run in open spaces in hot weather, this could become your go-to running shirt.

Men’s Running Shirts Comparison Chart

Men’s Running ShirtPriceMaterialWeightUPF RatingOdor Control
Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III$85100% merino wool5.0 oz.30+Yes
Path Projects Basis Logo Tee$4874% polyester, 19% Tencel, 7% Spandex4.8 oz.50+Yes
Arc’teryx Men’s Norvan Downword Logo Long Sleeve $100100% polyester3.9 oz.Not specifiedYes
Ibex Merino Tencel$8545% merino wool, 45% Tencel, 10% nylon4.3 oz.50+Yes
Vuori Strato Tech Tee$5496% polyester, 4% Elastane4.1 oz.30+Yes
Rab Sonic Tee$40100% polyester3.4 oz.NoNo
Black Diamond Rhythm Tee$85100% merino wool3.3 oz.YesYes

How We Tested the Best Men’s Running Shirts

Our Expert Testers

Long-time running gear reviewer and running coach, Cory Smith is our lead tester for men’s running shirts. Cory has been running for over 25 years and has been reviewing running gear since 2014. 

For the 2024 update, Affiliate Managing Editor Billy Brown tested about a dozen new running shirts. Billy has spent over a decade testing running gear from Northern California’s Trinity Alps to the Wadi Rum desert wilderness in southern Jordan. 

The author in Lululemon Fast and Free
The author taking a break mid-test; (photo/Nick Presniakov)

Our Testing Process

Cory ran road, track, and trails in Southern California and Mammoth Lakes, Calif., to vet and ultimately find the best running shirts on the market today. 

Billy ran months of distance and sprint intervals in Central California, heading to the nearby Sierra Nevadas to see how the shirts performed on trails. We evaluated each shirt for comfort, wicking ability, drying times, and bonus features such as UPF and anti-odor properties.

Buyer’s Guide: What to Look For in a Men’s Running Shirt

Buying the perfect running shirt may not take as much effort as running shoes or even shorts. However, knowing a few key features can help you pick the best running shirt for your unique needs. Consider the options below before simply choosing your next running shirt based on style or color.

Fabric

As highlighted at the beginning of this article, moisture-wicking is the name of the game here. Luckily, pretty much every running shirt these days uses a moisture-wicking fabric.

There are two types of moisture-wicking fabrics: synthetic and natural. The three most popular types of synthetic moisture-wicking fabrics are polyester, polypropylene, and nylon. Wool, like the merino used in the Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III, is by far the best natural moisture-wicking fabric.

Each fabric has its strengths and weaknesses. For example, wool tends to be one of the best moisture-wicking fabrics and is capable of retaining 35% of its weight in water. It has natural anti-odor properties, but is more expensive and less durable than polyester and nylon.

On the other hand, polyester, polypropylene, and nylon are all extremely durable and more affordable, but not as good at wicking and odor control as wool.

Many running shirts are made with a blend of fabrics, enabling them to get the best features of each material. The most popular blends are polyester, polypropylene, or nylon blended with a stretchy fabric like spandex or Elastane. This gives the fabric just enough stretch to increase mobility.

GJ Running Shirts BG Jack Wolfskin venting
Some shirts use physical vents to release hot air; (photo/Billy Brown)

Fit

Fit is somewhat of a personal choice and largely depends on your body type and preference. It is expressed in two main ways: how tight around your body the fabric sits and the length of the hem and sleeves.

Manufacturers will often disclose how a shirt is intended to fit in the description. From tightest to loosest, here is a list of terms most companies will use: skin-tight, slim-fitting, athletic fit, and relaxed fit.

Those with a larger midsection may want to consider shirts with a longer hem to ensure enough length to reach below your waistline. Loose-fitting shirts can feel heavy and annoyingly floppy when wet. Because of this, many prefer a closer-fitting shirt, such as skin-tight or slim-fitting, when it’s raining.

One thing to consider if you’re interested in shirts with UPF sun protection is the more stretched out a shirt is, the less effective it is at blocking the sun’s UV rays.

The author in TNF Wander
Wicking away sweat is a key factor in evaluating running shirts; (photo/Nick Presniakov)

Wicking

Wicking is the process that draws moisture away from the body and transfers it into the fabric. It works by using tiny capillaries (tubes) in the fabric’s weave. These capillaries work by sucking the moisture from your skin into the fabric’s inner layer and then moving it toward the outer layer to dry.

Every shirt we tested had above-average wicking ability, especially against a non-performance fabric such as cotton. However, there were varying degrees of wicking power. For example, the Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III and Ibex Merino Tencel had the excellent wicking power, while the Vuori Strato Tech Tee had the worst but offered a far softer feel than both the Lululemon and Ibex options.

Drying Speed

As mentioned above, most of today’s best running shirts do a great job of wicking sweat off your body. The most significant difference can be found in how quickly they dry once wet. Drying speed measures this, and if you’re pushing yourself enough to sweat, it’s perhaps the most crucial factor to consider when buying a running shirt.

When moisture is wicked away from your body and absorbed into the fabric, that moisture is then transferred from the inside layer of the shirt to the outer layer to dry with the help of wind and the sun.

Shirts with poor drying time will stay wet longer. Wool tends to have the best drying time, followed by polyester and nylon. A shirt’s thickness also affects drying time.

Anti-Odor

Let’s start with a little odor science. Believe it or not, sweat isn’t the sole source of B.O. It’s when sweat and bacteria that live on your skin react that a foul smell is created.

Because moisture-wicking fabrics pull the sweat away from your skin and move it through the inner layer to the outer layer to eventually dry, bacteria can grow in the tiny capillaries in the fabric. As bacteria gets trapped in the fabric, odors start to release.

There are two ways that shirts can help ward off odor. The first way is through the use of natural fabrics such as wool. Wool’s unique chemical makeup blocks odor by locking away the bacteria within the fibers.

The second way to ward off odor is through an antimicrobial treatment, which can be through chemicals or natural metals such as silver or gold.

GJ BG Running shirts Arc'Teryx flatlock seam
Low-profile flatlock seams can reduce chafing and irritation; (photo/Billy Brown)

Seams

For simplicity, let’s divide seam stitching into two categories you should be aware of: flat and overlock. Flat seams are when two pieces of fabric are bonded together at their edges, creating a low-profile seam where they meet. Overlocking seams are folded over one another, producing a flap where the two meet.

Generally speaking, most running shirts use a flat seam construction because the low profile is less irritating and less likely to cause chafing. If you struggle with chafing that’s centered around the seam, we suggest looking at the type of seam.

If it’s an overlock, shop for some new shirts with flat seams. The best running shirts will avoid placing seams in high-friction areas such as under the arms and on the shoulders.

Sun Protection

Runners spend a lot of time in the sun. While many runners will think to put sunscreen on their face, arms, and legs, putting sunscreen on the skin underneath your shirt may not be as obvious. The sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate most fabrics, leaving the skin under your shirt exposed to sunburn.

Cotton, for example, only offers a UPF of 5, whereas polyester and wool have a UPF of around 30. The American Cancer Society denotes, “A UPF of 30 to 49 as offering very good protection, while UPF 50+ is rated as excellent.”

Some shirts will offer added protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays by adding a chemical treatment that can give a shirt a UPF rating of 70+. Most running shirts that offer extra UV sun protection will list their UPF number in the description.

Price & Value

Budget

Obviously, you can run in a $10 Hanes t-shirt if you want, but cotton shirts tend to retain moisture, don’t always breathe well, and put you at risk for the dreaded nipple chafe. And while it’s entirely possible to spend $100 on a running shirt (more on that in a bit), you can find plenty of viable options for under $50. Our budget pick, the Path Projects Basis Logo Tee ($48), for example, is made of a polyester, Tencel, and spandex blend that has the feel of cotton but dries quickly and effectively wicks away sweat.

Mid-Tier

Going up to the $50-$90 range delivers more premium materials and some extra features. Our top pick, the Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III ($85), is made up of merino wool, which, in addition to the moisture-wicking, quick-drying properties that you’ll find in budget running shirts, is also so odor-resistant that we wore it for days on end without stinking.

The Black Diamond Rhythm Tee ($85) is also made up of a higher-end material — Nuyarn. It’s merino wool that’s spun in a proprietary way to make the material extremely fast-drying and more lightweight and stretchier than most merino wool shirts.

Premium

High-end running shirts can cost $100 or more, and the added price comes with some added features. The Arc’teryx Men’s Norvan DownWord Logo Long Sleeve ($100) is made up of quick-drying polyester and strategically placed mesh panels for exceptional ventilation. The seams are also laminated to prevent chafing, and the polyester weave is lightweight but still surprisingly durable. There’s a higher price of entry with this level, but if you’re looking for top-tier material and design, you can expect to pay $100 or more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of shirts are best for running?

The best running shirts are made with a material such as polyester, nylon, polypropylene, or wool. Known as moisture-wicking, these fabrics are designed to wick (or remove) the sweat from your skin while running. The moisture is then absorbed through the fabric and moved to the outer layer to dry faster. The result — you’ll be more comfortable and feel cooler.

Why shouldn’t you run in cotton?

Cotton is considered a “non-moisture-wicking” fabric because instead of wicking moisture through the fabric to the outer layer to dry, cotton absorbs the moisture and takes an excessive amount of time to dry.

While running in a sweat-drenched shirt may seem harmless in the dead heat of the summer, it actually affects how your body cools itself, and accumulation prevents heat from escaping. Once a piece of the garment becomes soaked through, sweat starts to pool on your skin, acting as an insulator and blocking your skin’s ability to cool itself.

Should a running top be tight or loose?

There is no universal rule on how your running shirts should fit, and it’s 100% a matter of personal preference. The most important thing is that the shirt feels comfortable when you’re running.

However, when it’s raining, a tighter shirt may be better than one that is loose. Loose-fitting shirts tend to get heavy and excessively flop around once soaked through, which can be annoying. A close-to-the-skin shirt will stay put.

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