The 11 Best Workout Shirts Will Help You Get In Shape

Dri-FIT is one of Nike's most celebrated and long-lasting lines, and that's saying something. For decades, the pieces produced under this banner, from tees and shorts to outerwear and socks, have been lauded by pro athletes and hobbyists alike. The silhouettes fit the body but allow for maximum movement. On shirts, the armholes are usually high and the chest slim. The fabric is incredibly cooling, quick-drying, and durable—all the qualities needed for intense activity.

If you prefer a sleeveless option, Alo's classic tanks are the way to go. The brand has a handful of core colors that stick around year-round, and then adds seasonal colors into rotation. The performance jersey fabric is soft and the arm holes are cut with depth, so they don't get in the way with lifting and any other overhead movement.

Though tight to be sure, compression shirts are said to improve oxygen and blood circulation, and lessen the body's recovery time after intense training. And the name to know when it comes to the style is Under Armour. The brand's HeatGear line is especially great, consisting of pieces that are meant to feel like a second skin: they're incredibly lightweight, stretchy, and feature an ergonomic design that reduces friction on the seams.

Lululemon is the brand that made athleisure cool and covetable, and it has kept that up over the years. The License to Train tee is a classic: it gets the job done without getting in the way. It's one of the pricier options but it delivers on its drop shoulder fit, high-quality fabric, and gym longevity.

For the outdoor crowd, Arc'Teryx is the best of the best. This T-shirt is loose and airy, keeping you cool regardless of how much you sweat. It has sun protection built in, making it ideal for hiking, trail running, and other outdoorsy stuff.

Rhone's Origin tee is no-fuss. It's a well-made, well-fitted T-shirt made with premium performance cotton and every kind of workout in mind.

Quince is the master of high-quality fashion at shockingly affordable prices. Like this shirt, which is made from a moisture-wicking and anti-odor material that is also sustainable. And under $20? Truly, no notes.

This shirt might appear simple at first glance, but the features set it apart from the rest. It has a permanent silver ion anti-odor treatment, anti-chafe seams, and sweat-wicking and quick-drying capabilities. Plus, it's passed testing for over 20,000 anti abrasion rubs and over 100 pounds of pressure per square inch.

If you, like Mark Wahlberg, want golf equipment with a real workout bend, here is our pick from Municipal. The brand comprises it from its TurboDry fabrication, which is one of the fastest drying fabric technologies that exists.

If you're a runner, this tank top is a stellar option. The minimalist, streamlined design is made for speed, and the lightweight fabric won't hold you back. You might as well get a pair of the brand's fabulous running shoes while you're at it, too.

Vuori creates some incredibly comfortable shirts, the kinds of moisture-wicking, anti-odor, and UPF-infused tops that you'd want to wear every day, in and out of the gym. The Current tee, made with four-way stretch, is one of the best for wearing not just for a workout but for long travel days that involve a lot of lifting suitcases and moving about.

We already told you that we know a lot about workout clothing, but sure, we can qualify ourselves for you. From marathon runners to competitive athletes to intense gym rats to the occasion long-walker, our Esquire staff has the workout spectrum covered. While we all may get our gains in different ways, there's one thing we have in common: we like to be comfortable and stylish when we work out.

So when it comes to the picks on this list, all you need to know is that personal testing, review scouring, and our Esquire stamp of approval have gone into this curated selection.

We're not going to tell you something is great unless it's actually great. Every product in Esquire's roundups is carefully curated by our fashion and e-commerce teams.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists!) comes from years of wearing different things, seeing what we love and what we don't, and going from there. No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. But if you're looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.