17 Moisture Wicking Shirts to Keep You Dry and Fresh

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IF YOU'RE working out hard, you're bound to get sweaty. That perspiration is a sign that your body is putting in the hard work, which is a good thing, no doubt. But there's no denying that exercising in a drenched t-shirt can be uncomfortable and distracting. Whether you're conquering cardio with a lengthy run or intense sprints on the treadmill, or exploring a new strength training regimen, the last thing you need is a sopping wet top getting in your way.

Read more: How Men's Health Thoroughly Tests and Reviews Fitness Products

The key to staying dry, comfortable, and smelling fresh throughout your toughest workouts lies in donning the best moisture-wicking shirts. Made from lightweight materials that are specially designed to draw moisture away from your skin, rapidly dry sweat, and keep you cool, these shirts are made for high-performance wear. Some of the more innovative moisture wicking shirts incorporate anti-microbial materials to stave off odor-causing bacteria, too. (Let's be honest, we've all smelled that post-workout funk.)

Through years of testing and comparison, Men's Health style and fitness editors have curated a list of the most exceptional moisture-wicking shirts for men from top-notch brands like Nike, adidas, Reebok, and more. We put performance t-shirts, long sleeves, and tanks through hundreds of workouts to determine which remained free from the discomfort of clinging, sticky fabric. The shirt that impressed us the most not only offer superior breathability and moisture management, but look great, too.

Using our curated picks as a guide, you can say goodbye to the misery of soggy workout tops. Below, the 17 best moisture-wicking shirts to keep you dry, cool, and funk-free, no matter how much you sweat.

Best Workout Shirts for Men | Best Tank Tops for Men | Best Zip-up Hoodies for Men | Best T-Shirts for Men | Best Zip-up Hoodies for Men | Best Workout Clothes for Men

Strato Tech Tee

There's no doubt about it: Training in this ultra-lightweight piece made with Vuori's next-level soft fabric feels like a luxe experience. Not only is it incredibly soft, but it's also incredibly quick-drying.

The fabric offers really comfortable stretch and a cut that is seemingly universally-flattering. It's treated with anti-microbial technology, too, so help keep away odor-causing bacteria. At $58, it isn't the most affordable shirt we approved, but it isn't the priciest either. It is, however, the most well-loved by bodies of all shapes and sizes, and for nearly every type of workout.

Read more: Best Running Shorts

Men's Dry Training Top

Just because you might be opting for long sleeves doesn't mean you won't get sweaty. Adding an extra layer with this fitted (but not tight compression) shirt made with Nike's Dri-Fit sweat-wicking material is a great choice for keeping your arms from catching a chill in the colder months.

It also makes for a great sun-protective layer all 12-months of the year. The material is so great at managing moisture, it can keep you cool even when things warm up.

Read more: Best Moisture-Wicking Underwear

Men's Capilene® Cool Lightweight Shirt

This tee is made from Patagonia's lightest-weight material ever and is 52-100% recycled polyester. It's designed using odor-controlling technology, too, meaning less after-sweat funk (and maybe even less washes). Compared to most shirts with claims of anti-odor tech, we found this material to really deliver. One editor took it out for a spin for 12 miles of running and a coffee stop, and came home fresh as a daisy. All around, it's a conscious choice for the eco-friendly.

It's offered in a solid range of sizes, but a little limited when it comes to color options. At just under $50, we don't consider it priced at a premium, despite the quality and Patagonia name.

Read more: Best Athletic Shorts

Twilight Tee

Tracksmith's high-style running shirts usually draw lots of attention for their Ivy League-designs (think: collegiate piping). For guys who want an understated-but-still-handsome workout top that can be donned for casual outings and HIIT classes alike, opt for this Twilight Tee (named after casual track meets).

The colors it's offered in are more toned down compared to, say, Janji's tanks, but the shirt still boasts plenty of the brand's performance features: A soft and lightweight mesh that's both breezy and fitted, and of course a moisture-wicking fabric.

Read more: Best Moisture-Wicking Socks

Reign Short Sleeve

Rhone's short sleeve training tee is made to take on any workout, with raglan sleeves and specialized stitching to allow you to move around without chafing. Moisture-wicking material and GoldFusion tech to stave off smelliness help when you get sweaty are a necessary feature in our books, and this product delivers.

The soft jersey blend is virtually wrinkle-proof, having come out of crumpled messes in our gym bags virtually crease-free time and time again. Plus, it's available in a ton of colors and sizes, making it a versatile choice for most exercisers.

Read more: Best Running Hats

M's Run All Day Tank

Yes, tank tops are great for warm weather runs, but if you really want to beat the heat, then you need a sleeveless shirt that dries fast and doesn't cling to your back once you cross the 10k line. Janji's M's Run All Day Tank does both, and comes in plenty of styles and colors so you can look and feel cool during all your summer jogs.

Read more: Best Tank Tops for Men

Tradewind Performance Tee

Read more: Most Cushioned Running Shoes

Moisture-Wicking Tech T-Shirt

This Helly-Hansen short sleeve tee is made from the brand's technical polyester fabric that is quick drying and moisture-wicking. It also has flatlock seams to minimize abrasion.

Read more: Best Running Sunglasses

2 Pack Workout Tank Tops

If you're looking for a great deal, these Babioboa moisture wicking tanks come in a 2-pack. They're made of quick-drying polyester and spandex for a lightweight and breathable feel.

Read more: Best Weighted Vests

Merino Wool Crew Neck T-Shirt

Add some wool to your workout wardrobe with this simple moisture-wicking crewneck tee from Unbound Merino. The high-quality material is also antibacterial and odor resistant, so you won't gross out the rest of the gym after multiple wears.

Read more: Best T-Shirts for Men

Men's Windridge Short Sleeve T-Shirt

This Marmot tee was designed specifically for windy conditions, and will help you stay dry thanks to its 93 percent polyester and 7 percent elastane fabric makeup.

Read more: Best Workout Shoes

Metal Vent Tech Long-Sleeve Shirt

Take on runs without too much on top with this lightweight long sleeve made from Lululemon's moisture-wicking material. It's also infused with Silverescent™ to minimize odor-causing bacteria.

Read more: Best Zip-up Hoodies for Men

Men's Wander Hoodie

This activewear hoodie from The North Face has FlashDry technology for sweat wicking, plus thumbholes in the cuffs for full hand coverage.

Read more: Best Workout Clothes for Men

Versatile Shirt

This do-it-all shirt from Ted Thousand really does live up to its name. A proprietary "easy care fabric" has a a silver ion treatment that fights sweat and stink. Built-in stretch means it moves with you like a second skin during any workout.

Read more: Best Workout Shirts for Men

Men's Tech 2.0 V-Neck

This v-neck tee from Under Armour gives your sweat session a subtle style pop while keeping your sweat under control. Pick from a huge assortment of colors and make this your go-to basic top.

Read more: Best Joggers

Fast and Free Short Sleeve Shirt

This slim-fitting top from Lululemon features the brand's sweat-wicking, The brand's Breathe Light Mesh Fabric that is lightweight and made of recycled polyester.

Read more: Best Cooling Towels

Intraknit Merino 200 Colorblock Crew Long Sleeve Shirt

This fitted Smartwool long sleeve top is made with 3D-knitting for a near-custom fit, plus the brand's Intraknit Merino 200 fabric that offers ventilation and moisture-wicking capabilities, as well as body temperature regulation.

Read more: Best Hoodies for Men

How do Moisture-Wicking Shirts Work?

Moisture-wicking fabrics are synthetic, designed to handle wetness better than traditional materials. There are tiny spaces for liquid to move through the material through "capillary action," according to REI Co-Op Journal. When you sweat wearing a moisture-wicking shirt, the liquid quickly moves to the outer layer of the garment, where it will dry quickly instead of saturating the fabric. Since these synthetics handle moisture so well, they're perfect for exercise clothes.

These fabrics include: polyester, Gore-Tex, nylon and spandex. Double checking the tags on your tops, or reading about the materials it's made of will help you pick proper shirts for your workouts. And thankfully, you can find moisture-wicking materials in tanks, short sleeve tees, long sleeve tees and hoodies.

Why You Can Trust Us

At Men's Health, we take great pride in providing our readers with reliable and trustworthy product recommendations. We believe that our readers deserve the best, which is why we always make sure to conduct thorough research and testing before making any recommendations. Our writers and editors thoughtfully select experts for collaboration on product recommendations, and are also experts in their own right, using their informed opinions to select products and ensuring that our content is of the highest quality.

Our product recommendations are purely editorial, and while we may receive free products to test and review, we only recommend the products we are most impressed by. We never let retailers or public relations contacts dictate our content or product coverage. Which is why you can trust us to provide you with reliable and unbiased product recommendations.

How We Selected the Best Moisture Wicking Shirts

For the past two years, we consulted with Men's Health's Fitness editors and writers on the top moisture-wicking shirts for men. Experts including Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., and Senior Fitness Editor Brett Williams, NASM, put countless men's moisture-wicking shirts through the wringer during their own strength training, running, and martial arts workouts to evaluate their fit and how dry they kept us. The products represented in the list above proved superior than most in breathability, moisture management, and odor-reduction.

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