20 Coolest Summer Tops
Summer tops that offer a blend of fashion and function
Running in the sun is all about staying comfortable, but if you happen to look good, so be it
1. Columbia Titan Ultra From £25, columbiasportswear.co.uk
This is packed with smart features: a dropped rear hem to cover your bum, fast-wicking polyester, an antimicrobial treatment to ward off odour and a series of small blue circles woven on the inside of the top that react with your sweat to generate a cooling sensation.
2. Saucony Freedom Tank £35, saucony.com
This lightweight vest is a great option for races and speed sessions – the anatomical cut means it’s not too tight and will move nicely with your body. It features a scoop neck, racerback (put on sun cream unless you want a diamond-shaped tan mark) and an extended lower hem for extra coverage.
3. Asics Fusex V- Neck £30, asics.co.uk
This is an excellent training top that works well over a variety of distances and is ideal for cross-training, too, as it’s durable, soft and unfussy. It comes in several colours, but the white option is a little see-through, so wear a boldly coloured layer underneath or give it a miss if you’re on the shy side.
4. Tribesports Engineered ShortSleeve Tee £35, tribesports.com
A fitted T-shirt that is best suited to those who have an athletic physique. The ergonomic panels allow it to move in perfect sync with your body on the run. Minimal seams cut down on irritation, while mesh panels on the back and the chest offer excellent breathability.
5. Ashmei Women’s Tee £75, ashmei.com
No, we haven’t lost our minds; we know that £75 is very pricey for a T-shirt, but if you have the money to spend, you’ll find the premium blend of merino and carbon results in a piece of kit that helps to regulate your temperature, wicks superbly, dries quickly and feels utterly dreamy against your skin.
6. Canterbury Racer Vest £19, canterbury.com
Rugby brand Canterbury has branched out into kit for running and other sports. This entry-level vest does everything that you would expect for the price: it’s a standard cut with medium-sized arm holes; and wicking and breathability are reasonable. The flatlock seams are a bonus.
7. On Tank Tee £60, on-running.com
About as floaty and lightweight a top as you’ll find. Some sports tops get heavier as they absorb sweat, but there’s no risk of that here because the breathability of the stretchy fabric is excellent. The tee sits loosely on the hips, flares subtly at the bottom, has large arm holes and will keep you cool on the hottest summer runs.
8. 2XU Ghst SS Top £40, 2xu.com
If you’re going to a hot country for your summer holiday, bung this top into your suitcase. Not only does it weigh a mere 96g – so it won’t put you over your allowance – but also the weave contains xylitol, which produces a cooling sensation when in contact with moisture and also acts as a UV reflector.
9. Crewroom Essence Tee £34, crewroom.com
A decent mid-range top that will serve you just as well out on the roads as it will in a gym class or yoga studio. Its wide neckline and loose fit around the hips mean it’s suitable for a variety of body shapes, and the supersoft weave is stretchy and also wicks away sweat with ease.
10. Adidas Ultra Primeknit Parley Tank £60, adidas.com/uk
This top keeps you cool, dry and comfy, and you’ll be doing some good for the environment: as with all products in the Parley range, some of the yarn is made from recycled plastic waste that’s been taken from beaches and coastal areas before it gets to the ocean.
1. Under Armour Swyft Hoodie £60, underamour.co.uk
This loose-fitting top will suit most shapes, although dedicated club runners might find it a tad heavier than is comfortable. As part of UA’S Heatgear range, it does a good job of wicking sweat away and the huge ventilation strips also work well. The hood will keep the sun at bay and could prove handy in a summer shower.
2. Patagonia Windchaser Shirt £55, patagonia.eu
This is a super-light polyester top that does everything you would want from a warmweather T-shirt, but the bigger story here is an ethical one: it’s part of Patagonia’s Fair Trade Certified sewing programme, so the factory workers share in the profits from sales.
3. Sundried Les Diablons Muscle Tank £30, sundried.com
The name of this top is a little misleading: it is just as good for race day as it is for treating everyone to a gun show in the gym. The polyester and polymide mix of the fabric makes it soft and stretchy – and durable enough to last you a couple of summers.
4. Adidas Freelift Climachill Tee £40, adidas.com/uk
A mass-appeal tee of the type that Adidas is so good at: boxy cut for all body types, a weave that wicks superbly and a durability that means it retains its shape wash after wash. There are also small aluminium-silver dots on the inside back that conduct heat away from the body.
5. Dhb Run Singlet £11.99, wiggle.co.uk
If you saw this without the Dhb logo you’d never guess it was an entry-level vest. It looks and feels like a pricier top: ergonomic cut, flatlock seams for minimal chafing, arm holes that aren’t too cavernous and flappy, and even the presence of anti-odour treatment Polygiene in the weave, so you won’t have to bin it after a few races.
6. Castore Harrop Tee £95, castore.com
A premium price, but if you have the money, this is a good investment. It features some of the best anti-odour technology we’ve come across and is cut from one piece of cloth to limit chafing. It may be a little heavy for some, but the weave helps to regulate temperature, so you’ll stay cool.
7. Björn Borg Tee £25, bjornborg.com/uk
This one comes with a bold claim from the company: ‘this T-shirt is one you’ll want to buy in bulk.’ Asking for trouble, you might think, but this is excellent value. It has few bells and whistles but it’s comfy, reliable, distinctive, hard-wearing and comes in a standard cut that’s accommodating without being shapeless.
8. 2XU Ghst Tee £40, 2xu.com
We like this top so much that it features in both the women’s and men’s line-ups in this review. Its primary function is to be comfortable and light enough to make you almost forget you’re wearing it, and it does a great job. For long training runs in the dog days of August, this should be a go-to piece of kit.
9. Falke Air Ventilation Tank Top £80, falke.com
The clue is in the name here. It’s a close-fitting top that is, in essence, just one big mesh panel. But it manages to be breathable, ventilated, wicking and fast-drying with no fuss. Think of this as the butler of your running wardrobe: classy, unobtrusive and efficient.
10. Soar Raglan T- Shirt £69, soarrunning.com
Raglan sleeves are always welcome in a running top – the greater freedom of movement they offer means there’ll be no riding up or underarm chafing on long runs. It’s a semi-fitted cut, so it sits quite close around the hips and stomach. There are reflective logos on the front and back for running in the twilight.