7 Best Workout Shirts for Women in 2024

You’re at the gym working out and working up a sweat. Your body feels great, but your cotton shirt is becoming uncomfortably hot and see-through. You power through the workout, but leave feeling flustered and embarrassed. Sound familiar? There are few things worse than poor-quality, ill-fitting clothing when you’re trying to work out. Fortunately, the best workout shirts for women have you covered (quite literally). They’ll hug your body just right, providing all the support and comfort you need to finish your workout with confidence and style.

Our favorite pick is the Nike Women’s Dry Tee Drifit Crew for its overall quality, but there’s an assortment of excellent apparel on the market. Join us as we check out a variety of options for every body.

Our Top Picks: Best Workout Shirts for Women

Let’s jump right into the list with an overview of our favorite picks:

• Best Overall: Nike Women’s Dry Tee Drifit Crew. The Nike Drifit Crew offers an athletic fit with quick-dry polyester and plenty of color options, making it our top pick out of the best workout shirts for women, bar none.
• Best Budget: Hanes Sport Women’s Heathered Performance V-Neck Tee. On a tight budget? Don’t sweat it with the Hanes Sport V-Neck Tee, a high-performance athletic shirt under $10.
• Best Moisture-Wicking: Reebok Women’s Performance Shirt. If you’re a serious athlete, you need a moisture-wicking top that conforms to your body. The good news? Reebok has you covered.
• Best Tank Top: Adidas Women’s Essentials Linear Loose Tank Top. This sleek tank from Adidas boasts three comfort- and performance-enhancing fabrics to create a one-of-a-kind workout shirt.
• Best Sports Bra: Lemedy Women’s Sports Bra. If you’re looking for a quality sports bra, the Lemedy is the best-selling option on the market, with a smooth and breathable polyester/spandex blend.
• Best Long Sleeve: Under Armour Women’s Tech Twist. With lightweight UA tech and a zippered collar that’s extra versatile, this long-sleeve pullover from Adidas is an ideal top for running and gym work.
• Best Athleisure: Tough Cookie’s Women’s #Beast Burnout Tank Top. Take your workout up a notch and hit the mall, all in the same attire. The sexy #Beast Burnout Tank from Tough Cookie is the best athleisure shirt on the market.

The Nike Legend Short Sleeve Shirt is an athletic-fit tee that’s ideal for all types of workouts. It’s made from 100% polyester that’s formulated with Nike’s Dri-FIT technology to provide a clean, dry experience no matter the intensity.

As for the fit, it’s neither too tight nor loose (assuming you choose the right size), and it contours to your body like a dream. Combined with the iconic swoosh logo on the upper-left, this top boasts the perfect blend of style and functionality. This T-shirt is also machine-washer safe for added convenience.

Overall, it’s one of the best women’s workout tops on the market!

We get it — Hanes isn’t exactly known for their premium shirts. That said, you’d be surprised at the quality and performance of their Sport V-Neck Tee.

First off, it’s made from Polyester and Cool DRI interlock fabric, which wicks away moisture and keeps your body at the perfect temp. It also comes with a 50+ UPF rating to keep you protected in the outdoors during those hot summer months. 

Choose from half a dozen different colors, and enjoy a sleek and modern V-neck fit that’s sure to impress!

The Reebok Women’s Performance Shirt combines the best of both worlds — it features the moisture-wicking qualities of polyester alongside the elasticity of Spandex. The result is a performance top that’s perfect for working out in the gym, on the track, or in your favorite sport court.

Sizes range from small to extra-large, meaning it’s easy to find the right fit for you. Moreover, the shirt tapers to hug your top and widen at the mid-section. In other words, it looks great and offers the ideal level of support.

If you’re seeking the best workout tank for women, the Adidas Essential Tank Top may be the right fit.

This is one of the most comfortable tops you can choose for your fitness needs. It features a lightweight design that comes with Climalite technology, which wicks away moisture to leave you with a cool and dry workout experience. Another major bonus? The top is made from a unique blend of cotton, viscose, and recycled polyester. That means you get all the performance of top-rated materials alongside eco-friendly craftsmanship.

Do note that the neck on this tank is a little high. Though not ideal for some, it’s an excellent choice for smaller-chested girls and women, who can even wear the tank without a sports bra inside! Super cute, comfortable, and perfect for working out — what more could you ask for?

What’s the #1 best-selling sports bra online? Believe it or not, it’s this incredibly affordable top from Lemedy!

There are several reasons why it’s such a popular pick. It comes in five sizes, from small to double XL. It’s also perfectly padded for comfort and convenience, no matter your bra size. And, the breathable blend of Spandex and polyester comes in over a dozen colors to match your desired aesthetic.

No matter what type of workout you prefer, from yoga to weightlifting, this is the best bra for fit, fashion, and function.

What’s the best long workout top for women, you ask? For ladies seeking a quality garment from a reputable brand, you can’t go wrong with the Under Armor Tech Twist.

This 100% polyester pullover top boasts UA Tech for the ultimate in breathability and moisture-wicking properties. It also offers anti-odor control, which prevents the growth of odorous microbes and keeps you cool, fresh, and clean.

The top comes in nearly three dozen colors, all of which feature a ½ zipper front that you can pull up or down for customizable levels of support and coverage. Regardless of where you position it, the raglan sleeves extend all the way down from the collar to cuff for a flexible and flattering fit. Oh, and despite all the features, this top weighs under six ounces!

If you work out during the colder winter months, the Under Amour Tech Twist is an absolute must-have and easily made our list of the best workout shirts for women.

Tough Cookie’s #Beast Burnout Tank Top is a comfortable workout shirt that comes with an inspiring tagline. The motivational message on the tank will help you to stay focused while working out!

It doesn’t matter if you’re going to the gym or hanging out with friends — you can wear this tank whenever, and it’s sure to catch eyes. The material is a nice lightweight blend of polyester and cotton that’s ideal all summer long. Moreover, the tank-cut offers unmatched versatility that flexes with your body no matter the sport.

Overall, Tough Cookie’s tank is among the best workout apparel for women in terms of comfort and style, since you can wear it anytime, anywhere.

What to Look for in the Best Workout Shirts for Women

What should you look for when shopping for the best workout shirts for women? Let’s consider the most important factors: type, material, and fit.

1. Type

Workout tops come in all shapes and sizes. Among the most common are short sleeve crewnecks and v-necks, tank tops, sports bras, and long-sleeve pullovers. And that’s just a sampling of your options!

Think about what you want from your workout shirt and when you plan to use it. More of an indoor Pilates kinda gal? A sports bra may be a fantastic option. Maybe you prefer to run during cold winter nights (hey, no judgment here)? A long-sleeve pullover is probably better suited for that.

2. Material

What’s the best material for workout clothes? While there’s no correct answer, a few materials (and material blends) excel at providing comfort, flexibility, and moisture-wicking capabilities to your exercise routine. These include:

• Polyester
• Spandex & Lycra
• Viscose

What about cotton? On its own, cotton isn’t a fantastic option for workout wear. That said, when blended with another fabric (like polyester), cotton can add affordability and odor-resistant properties to a top.

3. Fit

After you’ve chosen which type of shirt and which type of material you want, it’s all about how it fits! We’ve curated this chart to help you measure out the right size for your body. Compare this against the measurement of your favorite options.

Our Process

For this guide on the best workout shirts for women, our team spent 3 hours researching the most popular options from over 25 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about one hundred user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each shirt. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 7 women’s workout shirts on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.

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