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!
5 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 Flyout Short Sleeve
Oiselle is a great brand geared towards women with clothing designed to help you feel strong and perform well. The Flyout 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!). 
For those that run on the hotter side, it’s made from Flyout HoverFit™ by Polartec increases breathability and enhances your body’s own cooling processes.
- Sizes: XS-3X
- Colors: 8
- Anti-odor, fast-drying fabric
- Temperature-regulating Flyout HoverFit by Polartec
- Available from Oiselle.com for $72
#2 Thin and Breezy – Feetures Stride Flex Tee
This relaxed fit tee became one of our go-to running tops. If you’ve ever dealt with arm chafing from a tank top, this is definitely one to check out.
Feetures made it with a lightweight technical fabric that’s moisture-wicking and quick-drying, making it a great choice for hot summer runs, workouts, and race days.
The fit it not overly long or cropped, so it hits the perfect spot for having enough coverage but also doesn’t feel like you’re swimming in an extra flowy shirt or that you need to constantly pull it down.
It’s versatile enough that you can wear it while working out, or for a more athleisure look, throw it on with a pair of jean shorts and head out for brunch or to run some errands.
- Size: XS- XL
- Color: 7 available
- Available in 2 and 3 packs
- Available from Feetures.com for $59
#3 Sweat Wicking Wool – Smartwool Mesh Short Sleeve
Wool is a material that you can actually wear year-round, and we love what Smartwool has been coming out with recently.
The Smartwool Mesh Short Sleeve is super lightweight, breathable, and honestly just really comfortable to wear. One thing I noticed right away is that it didn’t even leave me feeling super sweaty or smelly after hours outside.
The fit feels just right, not too short, not too tight, and not overly baggy either.
Wool is actually a great material to wear during the summer since it helps with moisture management. Smartwool has a bunch of summer gear you should definitely check out.
- Sizes: XS-XL
- Colors: 3
- Available from Smartwool.com for $70
#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.
- Sizes: XS-XL
- Colors: 2
- Anti-odor, moisture-wicking and Odor-resistant with a Polygiene® finish
- Available from Tracksmith.com for $85
#5 Best Budget Buy – Baleaf Horizon Twist Knot Short Sleeve Tee
The Horizon Twist Knot Short Sleeve Tee was a surprise hit for me! I don’t normally lean towards crop tops these days, but I find myself throwing this one on repeatedly in the weeks since I first tried it out. I found this shirt to be light enough for a run but fitted enough for a gym lifting session, something I felt confident moving around in.
This lightweight tech tee looks like a basic workout shirt, but it has a twist knot design on both sides. This simple addition makes this top look more tailored and expensive than just a plain white tee, and it cinches in the waist at just the right spot on my athletic frame.
The shirt itself is made of moisture-wicking polyester with the bonus of UPF-50 sun protection for your outdoor adventures. It would be a perfect top for any sport in the Spring and Summer, and its simple design makes it a solid basic to pair with any athleisure outfit.
- Available from Amazon.com for $25
- 4 colors available
- Sizing goes from XS-XXL
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 Dash Short Sleeve Shirt
The Brooks Dash 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.
- Sizes: XS-2XL
- Colors: 2
- Sweat wicking, Odor resistance, Fabric provides UPF 40+ sun protection
- Available from Brooksrunning.com for $55
#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 five colors.
They have this in women’s too, but I just found the fit really unflattering.
- Sizes: XS-2XL
- Colors: 5
-
On DryTec™ breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabric
- Available from On.com for $80
#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.
- Sizes: XS-2XL
- Colors: 2
- Body-mapped zones of open-knit mesh for targeted ventilation
- Available from Shop.lululemon.com for $88
#4 Best UPF – Pyrenees T19 Hoodie
The TENCEL blend keeps you cool and odor-free, along with being extremely environmentally friendly. Wait for it…it’s made from recycled eucalyptus wood pulp. Don’t ask us the science, we can’t tell you how, but can tell you it creates a really soft very lightweight material.
It dries quickly and wicks moisture, and is soft enough to help with any chafing concerns you might have. David once again to the rescue with testing because Sun shirts are becoming his specialty.
We love that it has casual look, with a loose, true-to-size fit. When it’s super hot, he’s not into anything feeling too tight and trapping heat. This one also has a watch hole on the sleeve which we always appreciate. And those fun athletic shorts…also from Path.
Bonus points for using non-toxic chemicals when coating the fabric to provide that UPF rating!
- Sizes XS-XXL
- Colors: 8
- UPF of 50+
- Unisex
- Available at pathprojects.com for $78
#5 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.
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.
- Sizes: XS-4XL Tall
- Colors: 12
- UA Tech fabric is quick-drying
- Available from Amazon.com for $25
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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