Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Lifestyle
Peter Bevan

Best running tops for men in 2022: Workout t-shirts and singlets reviewed

T-shirt, £58, Allbirds

(Picture: Allbirds)

It may be true that you can run in any old T-shirt, but investing in a quality running top is essential if you want to be on top of your game.

We’ve all been there - getting ready to go for a run and digging out a crumpled T-shirt from the bottom of your wardrobe that hasn’t seen the light of day in years. Well, let me tell you, a creased, soggy, sweat-patch infused tee isn’t a good look on anyone.

Enter the running T-shirt, with its sweat-wicking, quick-drying, and chafe-avoiding attributes, instantly notching up your performance with no added effort. If you’ve a penchant for running in the early hours or the dusky evening, or if your job forces you to do so, they often sport reflective accents to keep you safe in the dark.

And, if you’re interested in style as well as substance, they’ll make you look the part too. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or are just starting out, half of the battle is in your mind, so in the long run (sorry…), investing in new kit will make you feel motivated to go the extra mile - quite literally.

So it’s time to run your personal best in one of our carefully selected running T-shirts that will spur you on with style and speed.

Falke Ergonomic Sport System Logo-Print T-Shirt

Cut from the silkiest of technical fabrics, Falke’s humidity-regulating T-shirt is extremely light for ultra-fast drying and cooling capabilities. In a bright blue with reflective strips, you’ll stand out in the dark, or in the race. Pair with the brand’s shorts featuring the same blue for a coordinated look from head to toe.

Buy now £100.00, Mr. Porter

Tracksmith Strata Singlet

Masters of the vintage collegiate vibe, Tracksmith’s running gear wouldn’t look out of place in seventies America. With a focus on high performing technical fabrics (which even have built-in UV protection) and fashion forward design, they have the best of both worlds and deliver kit that will make you give your training everything you’ve got.

Buy now £96.00, Tracksmith

ASICS Icon SS Top

Crafted from a lightweight knit fabric that wicks away sweat and keeps you cool during your workout, ASICS’ ICON SS TOP features a reflective logo to keep you safe in the dark. At £28 and in a delightful sage green, it’s a no-brainer.

Buy now £28.00, ASICS

Allbirds Men’s Natural Run Tee

Sustainable brand Allbirds’ running tee is carbon neutral and crafted using a quick-dry ultra-light mesh that’s a mixture of merino wool, recycled polyester, and eucalyptus tree fibre. Coming in eight colourways, our favourite is the pine green which highlights the texture and contrast seams.

Buy now £58.00, Allbirds

Nike Dri-FIT ADV Techknit Ultra

Designed with a slim fit using Nike’s breathable, moisture wicking Dri-FIT fabric, Nike’s tee is soft, smooth, and allows maximum movement to help you push towards your personal best. Made using 100 per cent recycled polyester fibres, the subtle chevron pattern is a reference to the brand’s iconic Windrunner jacket from 1978.

Buy now £54.95, Nike

Adidas Adizero Engineered Singlet

If you’re partial to a singlet, Adidas has a pink ombre number that calls for a pair of seventies short shorts to complete the look. Made up of 40 per cent recycled ocean plastic waste as part of the label’s on-going Parley collaboration, the moisture-absorbing Aeroready fabric will feel like a second skin, leaving no distractions while you’re pelting along the track.

Buy now £45.00, Adidas

Gymshark Apex T-Shirt

Best known for its influencer-favourite gym-wear, the billion dollar brand also does a great range that can be worn on the treadmill and beyond. With engineered heat-mapping zones, Gymshark’s Apex T-shirt will keep you cool and dry during your workout, and the side split at the hem combined with high stretch fabric means your motion won’t be restricted so you can focus on pounding the pavement.

Buy now £35.00, Gymshark

Under Armour Men's UA Iso-Chill Run Laser T-Shirt

If you, like me, go a bright shade of tomato after running, opting for a red tee could help tone it down. Under Armour’s Iso-Chill top will pull the heat away from your skin, leaving you feeling, and hopefully looking, less hot.

Buy now £45.00, Under Armour

Pruzan The Marahon T-shirt

With a new vision for technical performance, independent London-based brand Pruzan use recycled and deadstock fabrics to create minimal yet elevated sportswear that step away from the traditionally logo aesthetic. Designed to be entirely unisex, there’s a piece that works for everyone.

A great additon to any sportswear collection, this T-shirt is quick drying, chafe and crease resistant, and super soft and lightweight- you’ll barely feel it’s there. Pair it with the brand’s Marathon Shorts for the full look.

Buy now £70.00, Pruzan

Castore Mango Layou Tee

From a brand that makes high quality sportswear for leading athletes, Castore knows its way around a running T-shirt. Designed specifically with runners in mind, it’s made using breathable and moisture wicking fabric, whilst the construction is developed to flow easily, acting like a second skin. If standing out in the crowd is your thing, the bright orange will make sure you’re noticed while going the distance.

Buy now £60.00, Castore

Hoka Glide Singlet

Made using 100 per cent recycled polyester, Hoka’s Glide Singlet has an upgraded lighter fabric compared to the brand’s previous tanks. Its antibacterial qualities, reflective patches on the front, back, and side seam, and bonded hem are the premium finishes that take it from basic to brilliant.

Buy now £30.00, Hoka

Satisfy Distressed Logo-Print MothTech Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt

Looking for an outfit that would look good on and off the track? Satisfy is the activewear brand for you. This distressed tee is made using MothTech cotton with strategically placed ventilation holes that change over time to mold to the wearer’s needs. With a hidden inside pocket for a key, and a detachable care label so nothing rubs while you run, they’ve covered all the bases.

Buy now £120.00, Mr. Porter

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.