The best running tops: for training and races on all terrains

The best running tops are the ones you forget you're wearing. They do their job so well and feel so light that you can fully focus on what really matters during your run. Whether that's checking your split times on the roads, not getting lost on a trail run or not being blown off a mountain ridge on a sky run, your best running top will be with you for bead of sweat that leaves your body.

Performance is what sets the best running tops apart from standard t-shirts. Designed to feel soft against the skin, wick moisture away, keep you cool and to dry quickly, they enhance your running experience. Some even boast anti-microbial qualities, which means they repel sweaty odors.

To test the best running tops, we've laced up our trail running shoes and road running shoes and threw ourselves at adventurous training runs and spicy races. Every top in our selection is there on merit, thought we especially like the eco-creds and all round performance of the Patagonia Ridgeflow running T-shirt, which we think is the best running top money can buy.

We've found today's best prices for each top below, but if you're looking for a bargain then you might want to wait until Amazon Prime Day, which will take place on 11-12 July. We'll be rounding up all of this year's best Amazon Prime Day hiking deals, camping deals and Garmin watch deals, so stick with Advnture to make sure you get the best prices.

The best environmentally friendly running tops

Impressively made with entirely recycled poly material, and fair-trade sewn in Sri Lanka, Patagonia’s Ridge Flow running T-shirt is ideal for tackling trails throughout the summertime and in warmer climates. The jacquard patterned T has a mesh design, which allows air to flow through the garment constantly while you’re running, and any sweat that does build up is wicked away and very quickly dries. Unsurprisingly, given its mesh construction, we found the T-shirt is extremely lightweight and very comfortable to wear, with flat seams throughout. 

It also features HeiQ odor control, which prevented the build up of nasty smells on test. It won’t keep aggressive flora and fauna at bay, however, and the level of sun protection isn’t particularly high. Also, while the Patagonia logo is reflective, road runners going out amongst traffic after dark should be aware that there is no high-vis detailing on the back. Overall, though, this is an excellent, if slightly pricey, top for summer running. 

Read our full Patagonia Ridge Flow running T-shirt review

This relaxed-fit active-wear T-shirt from Norwegian brand Helly Hansen is extremely lightweight and on test we found it breathes well when worn during trail and road running outings. The Lifa Active poly material, which is 60% recycled, wicks sweat away beautifully, and the fabric has been infused with used coffee beans (a process HH call S.Café), which heightens the garment’s ability to protect the wearer from the harmful effects of the sun, giving the T-shirt a UPF sun protection rating of 50+. 

The coffee – which the brand claim will not wash out – also helps prevent the build up of bad odours caused by bacteria. While good for a range of outdoor pursuits, the lack of any reflective detail on the T-shirt is a shame for road runners who venture out after dark.

Read our full Helly Hansen Lifa Active Solen T-shirt review

The best trail running tops for long-distance runs

The perfect accompanying top half to the Jason Schlarb running shorts, this running tee has been designed for long outings in all sorts of conditions and on varying terrain. To perfect this garment, Boulder-based brand Ultimate Direction collaborated with Schlarb, an endurance athlete who has many ultra run achievements and accolades to his name.

So, what makes this tee good for big runs in tough conditions? Mostly the fact that it’s made half from merino wool and half from a partly plant-based fabric called sorona, all body-mapped into high sweat zones for optimal breathability. A magic material, the merino wicks moisture, provides warmth when required and keeps you cool when conditions are hot, doesn’t stink up easily because of its natural antibacterial properties, and feels lovely next to your skin. Merino’s many qualities do not, however, extend to longevity, so this is where the sorona fabric comes in, helping the tee last longer and keep its shape, so you can wear it for multiple marathon-plus escapades, or just for lots of training runs. 

On test we liked this tee. The flatlock seams, combined with the merino feel, do make it super comfortable, and the underarm gussets help with free arm movement. But, it is pricey, and we would like to see it offered in some different, lighter colors (the onyx is very dark and attracts and holds heat in the sun). It also gets pretty heavy once it’s wet – from sweat or rain – and takes a while to dry.

The best running tops for racing

The inov-8 Elite Base Layer running tee is exactly what most people are looking for when hunting for an all-purpose trail training and racing top. It’s lightweight, boasts breathable mesh panels right across the back and under each arm, and has been treated with an anti-stink treatment to prevent the build-up of friend-losing aromas. 

Despite being synthetic, we found the next-to-skin comfort levels are good, and we experienced no rubbing during testing, even wearing it straight out the packet for a 20-mile race. Being entirely synthetic, it dries super quickly, doesn’t get heavy when wet and still provides some level of thermal cover even when drenched – although the amount of mesh in the design does mean that this top is far from windproof, so it can be a bit breezy while you’re waiting on the start line (once you’re running, this turns into a real positive). 

While the design is quite loose, allowing for plenty of freedom of movement, and feels aimed more towards trail runners, there are reflective flourishes that will help drivers see you if you’re running on dark lanes and roads at night (although these are very small). And, of course, it’s made almost entirely with recycled polyester, which each top accounting for around eight 500ml PET bottles. 

It’s available in both long and short-sleeve versions, and the longie has thumb loops.

Read our full inov-8 Base Elite Short Sleeve Base Layer 3.0 review 

Pulling the Ultra S-Tech Trail Running t-shirt over your head instantly puts you in a racing frame of mind – the material mix and very close-fitting cut of this dynamic tee means it clings on tight to your torso, which is perfect if you’re in top fighting fitness form and want to avoid snagging on anything while running through the mountains and woods (but it leaves nowhere to hide if you’re carrying a few extra rations in the belly department). 

Despite the tightness, the material boasts four-way stretch, so we found it didn’t feel restrictive on test, even when we were hopping over rocks and tackling other trail obstacles. It’s unbelievably light, and the poly material barely takes on any moisture if you get caught out in the rain, so it won’t get any heavier no matter what the weather throws at you. 

The breathability levels are decent, with good mesh elements employed across the back and chest, and the design is seamless, which adds to comfort levels. On the downside, there is no recycled material content in this top, and it hasn’t been treated with an anti-pong/bacteria substance, so odors could accumulate after extended use. You need to be a bit careful how you wash it too – there’s not much room for it to get any tighter.

Read our full Dynafit Ultra S-Tech Shirt running top review

Firmly a running top for people who run hot, or who run regularly in warm conditions. This collaborative product, made by Italian brand Karpos with Polartec Delta as the main component, is comprised almost entirely of a mesh material, which meant it breathed like an absolute dream when we were working up a sweat on test, and we also found it wicks moisture away from the skin like a champion, but it did leave us shivering somewhat when we got caught out in less warm or more windy conditions. 

However, this is exactly how it’s been designed, and so long as you’re aware of this and wear it in appropriate scenarios, it works really well. 

It’s a real body hugger this one, which most faster runners will appreciate. There’s plenty of dynamic movement across the garment, but it can ride up a little bit under other layers or packs.  The fabric has been treated with polygiene to reduce the accumulation of pong, and we wore this top on sweaty runs all last summer, and can happily report that it remains relatively stink free. 

Read our full Karpos Moved Evo Jersey with Polartec running top review

Designed to offer a dynamic race fit, the Sabre hugs your torso and upper arms tight, so there’s no excess material to flap around in the wind or get caught on brambles and bushes when you’re out on the trails. On test, we found It didn’t feel restrictive, however, as the material has a reasonable amount of stretch – more than expected for a 100 per cent polyester garment. Weighing in at just 105g / 3.8oz, the Sabre barely feels like you’re wearing anything when you out it on. 

Equally functional for on-road or off-road running adventures, the tee comes in three pleasing colors and boasts reflective flourishes on the side and back, so car lights should pick you out (although, as with many designs, these are not very big). The rounded, low-profile merrow-stitched seams don’t rub or irritate during wear, and the material wicks moisture away when you sweat (and barely takes on any extra weight when it’s wet). 

The Apex PK fabric features polygiene permanent odor control – we will report on how this holds up after extended use. Sadly, there doesn’t appear to be any recycled fabric in the material mix, which is a bit of a let down. 

Read our full Montane Sabre running T-shirt review

The best running tops for value

As we have come to expect from the British brand Berghaus, this running top is a no-nonsense garment that does exactly what you want it to do, for a very reasonable price. No bells, no whistles, just a functional tee that’s ideal for running trails or roads. 

It’s made with entirely synthetic poly materials, which means it’s light, won’t absorb water (and therefore gain weight) if you’re running in rain, wicks sweat away excellently, and will still provide a level of thermal protection, even when wet. On test, we also found it dries very quickly. 

On the downside, such materials are not great for the planet – we’re pleased to see the fabric used is bluesign approved (although we’re not sure why, as there doesn’t appear to be any recycled content). The material has been given an anti-stink treatment, which is also a relief, since synthetics do tend to get a bit nose-wrinkly after a few good hard wears. 

We found the fit to be a bit on the baggy and generous side, with quite a lot of excess material. There are no reflective flashes on the top, which would have been nice safety addition for running on roads and lanes in the dark. 

Read our full Berghaus 24/7 Tech Tee Baselayer running top review

How we test running tops

We tested the best running t-shirts during road-running sessions, trail-scampering adventures and races in a range of climatic conditions, both with and without secondary layers and hydration packs.

How to choose the best running top

Everyone’s running needs are a little bit different, but here are some things to consider when buying a top to make sure you get the the best running t-shirt to suit your needs.

Materials

Probably the single biggest factor in any of the best running tops is what material to go for. The choice is typically between synthetic (which will be lightweight, quick-drying, good in wet weather and quite cheap, but are terrible for the environment, can be more abrasive to wear, and often start to pong) and a natural material, like merino wool or bamboo – both of which offer far better comfort, breathability and thermal performance levels than synthetics, and tend to stay nicer smelling. However, they do tend to cost a bit more and don’t last as long. A lot of brands use a mixture of synthetics and natural material, and this can offer the best of all worlds.

Design

A running top is a running top, right? Well, yes and no – not all tees are made equal. There are some obvious considerations to take into account, such as whether you want long or short sleeves, but other things to look at are mesh inclusions in sweaty areas (under the arms and across the back), which will really help with breathability, and extended back panels or good quality waist hems, which prevent tops riding up when you’re wearing a hydration pack. 

Fit

Some are looking for something baggy in the best running tops, others like their gear to be as streamlined and performance-focussed  as possible – it’s a completely subjective choice. Obviously, if a top is too loose, you may end up getting it snagged during trail runs.

Odor control

Synthetic tops in particular are prone to accumulating nasty sweat smells (which boils down to bacteria building up), so it’s worth seeking out tees that have been treated to deal with this.

Sustainability

Natural materials like merino wool and bamboo have a much lower carbon footprint, and are far less damaging to the environment all round than synthetics, not least because garments made with natural fibers are biodegradable at the end of their useful life, while synthetics t-shirts will be hanging out with the cockroaches long after the rest of us have become extinct. Increasingly, brands are using recycled plastic to make garments such as running tops – this isn’t perfect, because micro-plastics can be released during washing, but it is a step in the right direction. 

Safety features

Whether you run on trail or road, or a mixture, it’s likely you will find yourself jogging along a dark street or lane at some point, and a couple of reflective flourishes on the back and arms of your top can make the difference between a driver seeing you or not. These are always good inclusions. 

Price

The price of seemingly quite similar tops can vary an awful lot. If a top seems expensive, drill down into what it’s really offering you – including elements such as anti-odor treatments that should improve the usable lifespan of the garment – and make an informed decision.