Not all of us want to or are comfortable heading out in a sports bra, a crop top, or shirtless for the guys. And many of us want protection from the sun’s harmful rays, especially in areas of intense UV rays. So today we’re looking at some of the best summer running shirts!
To help you find the perfect summer running shirt, our team has been out sweating the miles away to review the best options for men and women. We’ve considered fabric, size range, price, style, and also tried to include a few that have a UPF rating as not all shirts have that extra feature.
I’m confident there are some great options on this list to keep you cool and comfortable all summer long. Let’s start with the women’s side!
7 Best Summer Running Shirts for Women
Regardless of where you live, dressing appropriately and comfortably for the summer weather can be a particular challenge. We battle increased sweating and thus chafing, but also the need to find clothing that helps keep us cool and even protects us from the sun’s rays.
Please note, these are in no particular order.
#1 Flattering Fit – Oiselle Altitude
Oiselle is a great brand geared towards women with clothing designed to help you feel strong and perform well. The Altitude Short Sleeve is a great summer running top.
The crew neck shirt boasts a more relaxed fit, which I find very flattering, and it feels really soft and light. The top is made of a moisture-wicking nylon/spandex fabric that’s odor-resistant. I can attest to this as I’ve worn it on back-to-back days (no judgment please!). 
It comes in three colors and features Oiselle’s signature bird graphic all over.
For those looking for a little less coverage, the Altitude also comes in a tank style or for cooler weather running, you can check out the long sleeve version.
- Arque Nyelle (nylon/spandex)
- XS-XL
- $58
- Anti-odor
Alternative: Looking for something that goes up to a size 14? I just got the Train to Be Ultralight shirt from Lululemon and I like the not so tight fit, the hip- length and thinness of the shirt!
#2 Thin and Breezy – Salomon Sense Aero Shirt
New for the 2024 spring and summer running season, the Salomon Sense Aero line boasts new fabric technology, fun colors, and loads of other benefits. My initial take was that this shirt was larger fitting, but it turns out I just had a medium compared to a small in other brands.
The crew neck shirt is made of Salomon’s new Knit-Flow fabric with two different textures.
It is absolutely SO LIGHT and has felt fantastic on a number of runs and hikes.
Made with Ionic+Botanical and 37.5 fabric tech, it helps air flow between your skin and the fabric, even on warmer days when you sweat more. They say this also helps with odor, but I’m not so sure about that part.
A unique feature of this slim fit shirt is its construction using glued seams. This means they’re flatter and smoother and reduce the risk of chafing that may occur with stitched seams.
An added bonus is you can find the same fabric used in this shirt also in a singlet, shorts, jacket, and more!
- 100% Polyester
- XS-XL
- $70
- 79g
- Anti-odor
- Machine wash, line dry
#3 Thinnest Option – SOAR Hot Weather T
With a name like “Hot Weather T” you know the shirt is meant for hot weather running. But honestly all of their shirts are so incredibly thin, they would work.
Like all good workout gear, the top is designed to wick sweat, but it’s also incredibly lightweight. As they describe it, you should barely notice you’re even wearing it. It has bonded seams for less risk of chafing and has both an open-weave mesh on the torso to keep you cool while a more closed weave fabric offers UPF protection.
I’ve previously reviewed some SOAR products, which you can check out for a deeper dive into the company and its gear.
One main drawback of the products is that because they’re so incredibly lightweight and thin, they can snag easier than other shirts, particularly if you wear a hydration vest or other pack.
- 100% PES
- XS-XL
- $110
- UPF 50
- Machine wash, line dry
#4 Lifestyle Fit – Tracksmith Session Tee
The Session Tee, which comes in 10 colors, is made of a lightweight, sweat-wicking, and anti-microbial stretch knit. It’s also a relaxed cut for comfort, but Tracksmith does tend to run a LOT small so you may want to size up.
Coach Laura has been a big fan of their gear because of the lasting quality and overall fit. Once you find the right size, there is a definite feel of quality about the gear.
It’s not the thinnest shirt on this list, but it has an attractive fit for run to life.
Similar to the Rabbit shirt, it also had thousands of perforations increasing airflow in and out to keep you cool and comfortable whether you’re on an easy run or putting in an intense speed effort.
- Polyester/Spandex
- XS-XL
- $80
- Anti-odor
- Machine wash, tumble dry
#4 UPF Short Sleeve – Athleta Solar UPF Tee
Looking for cute, flowy and sun protection? Meet yet another great shirt from Athleta.
This waist length option won’t hug you too tight and even has a slit up the back for extra breathability. 
This is one of the few times that Athleta isn’t winning the game with a variety of sizes. In most gear they go up to 3XL, so I assume this is a limited time shirt.
The Ultimate Mesh Tee is another really fantastic option that is more size inclusive. While it doesn’t have the UPF, it is a thin mesh along the bottom and the whole shirt is very thin and light! It also has a longer back than front, which many find an overall flattering fit.
- Polyester/Spandex
- XSS-XL
- $80
- Machine wash, tumble dry
#6 Best Budget Buy – Under Armour Tech V-Neck
While by no means the most lightweight shirt on this list, the Tech V-neck shirt from Under Armour stands out for a few reasons.
The shirt has a nice loose fit, so if you’re not a fan of clingy or more compressive tops this may be a good option. UA’s tech fabric is quick-drying and soft and has odor control technology.
Honestly, I’ve gone through SO MANY UA shirts over the last 20 years running! They’re good quality and get the job done on a budget.
Photo of David because it was way more fun than me in these tops and the men’s UA are great too.
In addition to coming in a ton of colors, one of the most attractive features of this shirt is its price point. At only $25, it’s incredibly budget-friendly.
While I mentioned that it’s not the most lightweight shirt on the list, for those whose summers are more mild, this is a great shirt. For those in warmer climates, this is a good shirt to handle the transition periods between cool and hot weather.
- Polyester
- XS-XXL
- $25
- Anti-odor
- Machine wash, tumble dry
#7 Long Sleeve UPF – Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Long Sleeve Hoodie
For those looking for the most sun coverage while still trying to stay cool, look no further than the Crater Lake Long Sleeve Hoodie. The UPF 50+ rated loose-fitting hoodie is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as it filters out harmful UVA and UVB rays.
I admit this is a shirt I NEED to be wearing more. I often think I’ll be cooler in short sleeves, but my husband has repeatedly proved me wrong in his long sleeve gear.
The fabric is a soft, jersey knit but is lightweight and moisture-wicking to help keep you cool regardless of whether you’re logging long miles or running errands. It also has a hood for head and neck protection and a small pocket large enough for a key, cash, or credit card. The shirt has thumb holes on the sleeves and a drawcord in the bottom hem.
- Polyester/Elastane
- XS-3XL
- $70
- UPF 50+
- 120g
- Machine wash, tumble dry
5 Best Summer Running Shirts for Men
Now on to the men’s side. Several of the women’s shirts included above also come in a men’s version so don’t forget to check them out. But here are a few additional options worth a look!
#1 Great Fit and Fast Drying – Brooks Atmosphere Performance Shirt
The Brooks Atmosphere short sleeve shirt is an ultralight shirt made for those hot weather days. It’s made from Brooks’ Performance Drilayer fabric, designed to quickly get sweat away from your skin.
They’ve even timed how fast it takes to feel dry again and claim it’s only 7 minutes. Our testers didn’t time it, but said it absolutely seemed to dry quickly.
The fabric also offers 4-way stretch so this shirt will work great on the roads and at the gym. And if you want to wear it multiple times before washing, it has another great feature: the Brooks DriLayer Burst treatment to help prevent the growth of nasty bacteria linked to stink!
They also offer the top in a singlet and long sleeve version and it comes in several colors.
- Polyester/spandex
- XS-2XL
- $48
- Anti-odor
- Machine wash, tumble dry
#2 Super Thin and Light – On Performance T
Another great option for men (and women) is the On Performance T. This top has taped seams and On’s DryTec fabric is very lightweight, again light enough to feel like you’re not wearing it. A unique feature that stood out to me was that it’s abrasion-proof, which might provide good protection against falls or trees and brush along trails.
The back is mesh to improve airflow and the shirt has reflective aspects in case you’re in low-light conditions. The crewneck shirt is fitted, but not tight and comes in six colors.
They have this in women’s too, but I just found the fit really unflattering.
- Polyester/elastane
- XS-2XL
- $80
- Machine wash, tumble dry
#3 Fitted Run Shirt –Lululemon Fast and Free Short Sleeve
The Fast and Free line at Lululemon is known for its lightweight feel, whether it’s tops or pants. Their Fast and Free men’s crewneck short sleeve is made from their Breathe Light Mesh fabric that has a lightweight feel and is quick-drying and sweat-wicking.
While it has a slim fit, it’s not tight, meaning it should just lightly skim the body offering plenty of room and no movement restriction.
While it only comes in two rather dull colors, the shirt has bonded seams to prevent chafing and is treated with their No-Stink Zinc technology to keep your shirt odor-free between washes.
- Polyester
- XS-2XL
- $78
- Anti-odor
- Machine wash, tumble dry
#4 Best UPF – Freefly Men’s Elevate Hoodie
While known for being great to wear on the water, the Free Fly Men’s Elevate Hoodie also makes a great running top. David took it on our New Zealand trip and wore it for runs, water days and beach days.
He said he never felt too warm in it and definitely felt like he wasn’t worried about burning thanks to the UPF 30+ rating. The sleeves have thumb holes and the crossover hood provides good protection at the head and neck.
They have other options made bamboo making which are naturally odor-resistant and lightweight, but we really liked the added sun protection for these super long outdoor days. Instead, this shirt has more of that technical fabric to wick away moisture while you run.
- Lyocell blend
- S-XXL
- $88
- UPF 30+
- Anti-odor
#5 Highest UPF Sun Shirt – Janji Sunchaser 50 Hooded Long Sleeve
I also wanted to include a men’s long sleeve with an even higher UPF rating. Janji offers an excellent men’s shirt with UPF 50+ protection. And this brand just has such a good vibe and good quality, you can’t go wrong with any purchase.
Designed for running, this shirt is made from a lightweight, cool-to-the-touch fabric consisting of a polyester/spandex blend. It has a large hood and runs a bit longer than other shirts to increase sun protection.
The sleeves have thumb holes and the seams are designed to reduce the risk of chafing. The shirt, overall, has a relaxed and loose fit.
- Polyester/spandex
- S-XL
- $78
- 164g
- Machine wash, tumble dry
All right my warm weather runners, hopefully these summer running shirts give you some ideas! For whatever reason, I remain firmly in the shirt or tank top category and it’s great to know there are some really fantastic options available now!
Truly…I ran in cotton t-shirts for like a decade. Ohhh the disgustingness.
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