Fitness
Fitness and Style Editors Tested Tons of Workout Shirts. This is the Best One
WHEN IT COMES to training gear, an excellent workout shirt can make all the difference. Essentially, you want something that’s not only breathable and moisture-wicking, but stretchy enough to move with you through all sorts of sweat sessions.
At Men’s Health, our intrepid fashion and fitness editors tried more than 30 different options from a range of contemporary athleisure brands. After weeks of testing, our team landed on a clear winner: the Athletegy’s Flex Tee. It’s a high-functioning and flattering tee that does a bang up job of keeping you dry and cool, and has the right amount of stretch to accommodate a range of movements. Plus, it’s cheaper than a typical tee from Lululemon or Nike, while offering similar performance specs. In short, you’re getting a God-tier top without the sticker shock.
The Material
The Flex Tee is crafted from a blend of polyester, spandex and CoolMax—a fabric that’s basically the secret weapon of workout clothes. It takes sweat away from your skin and spreads it across the surface of the material for quick evaporation. Of all the other moisture-wicking shirts we’ve tried, CoolMax’s fiber structure is the most breathable, and kept us feeling relatively fresh even after long lifting sessions and short sprints outside during a heatwave. With its durability and comfort, it’s a solid pick that outshines all of the other workout tops we’ve put through the paces.
Also in the mix is added stretch. Although plenty of tees offer some form of flexibility, this one is designed with just the right amount to keep up with every twist, turn, and reach. Trust: out editors sported this during HIIT, yoga, and long runs and found it moved like a second skin. There’s none of that awkward tugging in the arm or chest. It adjusts and bends without losing its shape or feeling tight, giving you the freedom to move however you need. If that wasn’t enough to sell you, it’s treated with anti-odor protection and UPF 50+, so you’re covered against smells and sunburns as you power through it all.
The Fit
The Flex Tee arrives in an athletic fit, which hugs your body in all the right places. It’s snug around the chest and shoulders, giving a defined look up top, while offering a bit more room through the torso so you’re not feeling restricted. This cut works best on lean, muscular, or buff types that want to shows off their gains, while complementing your shape. Also, if you’re someone who prefers a more streamlined silhouette that moves with your body, this is up your alley. It’s a step up from the old, raggedy t-shirt that you usually throw on for a quick errand run. The clean tailored look makes it suitable to wear beyond daily runs and gym workouts. Regardless, if you’re grabbing your morning latte or picking up lunch with friends, the fit will keep you looking put-together.
Why We Love it
I could tell right away when I first tried on the Flex Tee that it was designed by someone who really gets what guys want out of an athletic shirt. On first impression, I liked that it didn’t look like a gym shirt, meaning I could get a lot more daily use out of it and was able to wear it before or after a workout. The fit is great, I’ve experimented with a lot of training shirts over the years, and these guys nailed it. It’s form-fitting, but comfortable, with sleeves that really show off my biceps.
Personally I really like how breathable and airy it feels. As a guy who runs warm and can perspire a lot during workouts, the last thing I want is to have to walk around with a heavy, sweat-drenched shirt after hitting the gym. With its perfect balance of style and function, Athletegy’s Flex Tee is the best in class.
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Ted Stafford is the Fashion Director of Men’s Health. He oversees all style and fashion content for the brand, and also styles their fashion stories. His active lifestyle informs his passion for translating great designs into real-life style, a favorite part of his job. Prior to joining Men’s Health he worked at GQ magazine and Calvin Klein
Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more. Following an early life in athletics, Charles became a NASM-certified trainer and began writing programs alongside the most respected coaches in the world.
Since entering the world of fitness content, Charles has had the opportunity to learn from and train alongside high performance individuals from the NFL, UFC, NBA, Formula 1, CrossFit, US Olympics, and Navy SEALs. When he’s not writing about training programs or gear, he can be seen at the gym or in the wild, putting them to the test.