Over the weekend, I went out looking for running shirts. We live in the South, where it gets hot, hot, hot during the summer. On top of that, I’ve been running in cotton t-shirts. Big mistake, I know. After a few miles, my t-shirt feels like it weighs about ten pounds. Not good. Time for a change!
My first and only stop on this shopping trip was Academy Sports. While Academy has a decent selection of brands and designs, keep in mind that you won’t find running shirts from New Balance, Brooks, Atayne, Patagonia, and the like.
My only other complaint was that they were a bit lacking in terms of size selection. This is, however, a common problem for me, as I’m 6′5″ and typically wear an XLT or 2XL (rarely a 2XLT). Nonetheless, I still had plenty to choose from.
What follows is a quick rundown of the shirts I tried, and my initial thoughts.
Under Armour HeatGear running shirts
The first rack that we walked up to was filled with Under Armour HeatGear. Unlike old school Under Armour shirts, which are referred to as “compression” shirts, these were advertised as being “fitted.”
Unfortunately, they weren’t comfortable at all. While I understand that “fitted” shirts are going to be a bit more streamlined than a traditional cut, the shoulders were far too narrow, even in a 2XL. The end results was sleeves that rode up my arms and bound in my pits.
Aside from the poor fit, the Under Armour shirts were also amongst the most expensive shirts in the store at around $30. Time to move on…
Nike Dri-Fit running shirts
Our next stop was the Nike Dri-Fit section. Nike has tons of designs and I unfortunately neglected to write down the names of the various shirts that I tried on. I did, however, find a very comfortable design that was lightweight and fit well.
Unfortunately, the Nike section was very picked over in terms of sizes, and I could only find a single 2XL in the design that I liked. If that was the best I could do, I was prepared to buy that one for $25 and hunt for more later, but I wasn’t done shopping yet.
Russell Athletic Dri-Power running shirts
I next moved to the Russell Dri-Power shirts. These were amongst the most comfortable shirts that I tried on. Like the Nike’s, they were very lightweight, and they fit great. However, they had a fatal flaw… The fabric is prone to snagging.
While taking one of the shirts off the hanger, I snagged the fabric on the shoulder. I later noticed that pretty much every shirt on the rack had at least one snag in the fabric.
Hmmm. Great comfort and just $14.99, but I was hoping for a bit more durability.
Adidas ClimaCool running shirts
Perhaps the most disappointing section in the store was the Adidas ClimaCool section. Their fabric wasn’t particularly lightweight, and the shirts were not (in my opinion) particularly comfortable. I can’t really put my finger on it, I just didn’t like them.
Given that the Nike Dri-Fit shirt was much more comfortable, and comparable in price, I quickly moved on knowing that I had already found a better option.
Academy Sports BCG running shirts
I was just about to take the one Nike Dri-Fit shirt and head home when I spied another rack of running clothes. As I approached, I saw a name that I didn’t recognize – BCG. As it turns out, BCG is the Academy Sports “store brand.”
As I picked through the shirts, I found a number that I liked in the right size. The fabric was a bit heavier than the Nike Dri-Fit, more on par with Under Armour, but it was fairly comfortable and the price was certainly right at $12.99/shirt.
Buying my new shirts
After considering my options, I ended up buying three BCG shirts. It remains whether or not I’ll like them, but I’m hoping that they’ll do the job. I’ll be sure to post an update as soon as I know more.
As an aside, I’ve heard from several people that the Champion Duo-Dry shirts at Target are a great value. Low cost, comfortable, and effective. I’ll probably swing by and pick one up for comparison when I get a chance.
Okay, now I’d love to hear your thoughts… Do you have a preferred running shirt? If so, which one, and what do you like about it? And are there any that you’ve tried and hated?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a handful of dri-fit shirts. Half of them I received as part of a race (they’ve given them out at the triathlons I’ve done). The ones I bought are UnderArmor but aren’t compression. (Compression really goes a step beyond “fitted.”) They are also sleeveless, so the shoulders are not an issue. (I am not the shape that most clothing companies think I ought to be, so I have trouble finding clothes that fit well.) I bought them at Dick’s Sporting Goods maybe a year ago. I don’t know if they come in men’s or 2XT sizes.
I’m finding my running shirts only last 6 months for me anyway. By then, they’re just too musty-smelling (to put it politely) and have to be replaced. Even if I’m diligent about throwing them in the laundry after I get home from work, they eventually become unwearable due to the smell.
Anyone have any suggestions for getting the stinky, sweaty smell out of running gear?
Vinegar? I’ve not tried it, but vinegar kills pretty much everything, so it might work. Also line-drying them in the sun might help. But my clothes don’t get perma-stink, so I’m just throwing things out there…