The 5 Best Gym Tops for Men, Tested for Fit, Comfort, Breathability and Stretch

I highly rate this gym top from ThruDark. It's the one I reach for whenever I have a gruelling lifting session on the cards. Its performance was the best of all the gym tops I tested when it came to stretch and range of motion, and it performed just as well for breathability, remaining lightweight and drying quickly whenever I worked up a heavy sweat.

The raglan shoulder cut is the best feature of the Force Core T-Shirt. Unlike standard tees, which have seams that sit across the shoulders, these run diagonally down from the neckline so there's a continuous piece of fabric that spans the shoulders and arms. This gives you more room in the arms and prevents tightness during overhead and lateral presses and pulls. I also found that this style looks more flattering on my body shape, as the sleeves drape naturally over my shoulders and upper arms.

ThruDark has deployed its very serious-sounding DarkMatr™ Hex Tech in this tee, which performed exceptionally well whenever I was exercising on hot days. I sweat a lot, but even on a 40-minute cycle commute in 32-degree heat, during which I had a rucksack pressed against my back and my head was drenched in sweat, it felt surprisingly dry and retained very little moisture.

I don't love the split hem, but I presume it's there to minimise bunching, which is necessary since this top is slightly long in the body to ensure you still have coverage when doing exercises like pull-ups.

I tested a size large and it fit true to size, with an athletic yet spacious cut across the upper body and enough length so that it didn't ride up, but not so much that it bunched. If you're broader through the upper body than I am, you may find that it fits tighter across the chest and biceps, so consider sizing up if you want a looser fit.

Sometimes, you just want a boxy gym top that you can sling on, cover up and feel comfortable in, even if it's not the most effective at moisture-wicking. Such occasions call for the Gymshark Power T-Shirt.

The main draw of this gym top is its boxy, oversized fit. Sometimes, comfort isn't just about how the fabric feels in your hand – it's about how you feel in it and how much it covers up. I love the Power T-Shirt's loose fit; it leaves plenty of room between me and the top across my chest, shoulders, upper arms and core. Because there are no tight points, it was also surprisingly practical for overhead lifts. It never felt restrictive and always gave me a complete range of motion.

The Gymshark Power T-Shirt was a great pick for when I didn't plan to train too intensely, but when I did, it noticeably retained moisture, leaving big sweat patches across my chest and back. Whenever I wiped my brow with the hem, it also left marks, but despite the cotton material's poor sweat-wicking performance, it was plenty durable. Under an 80kg barbell, the material acted as a good barrier, reducing friction against the knurling.

Because of the boxy fit and cotton material, this is a gym top that I routinely wear day to day. I tested a size large, but a medium would probably fit me better, so if you have a similar build to mine, consider sizing down.

Also consider Gymshark's Arrival T-Shirt. It's made from a lightweight, moisture-wicking fabric and features a more athletic fit, making it more suitable for workouts with lots of movement.

I rarely wear tanks, but I make an exception for the Represent 247 Numbers Vest. The Numbers range is one of the most stylish gym wear collections around right now, and this Graphite Grey colourway with teal detailing is one of its best pieces. It's not a case of style over substance though – far from it. This vest performs just as well as it looks, delivering excellent fit, comfort and breathability across a variety of workouts.

If I'm wearing a vest, then you know it's either exceptionally hot or I'm running. In this case, it was both. The strategically placed mesh panelling under the armpits and across the upper back allowed plenty of air to pass through. This proved handy for both the press-up-heavy bodyweight plan I was following at the time and my go-to 10km route – particularly on one run when temperatures reached 33 degrees. The Numbers Vest wicked away sweat effectively and stayed cool, comfortable and lightweight throughout each workout.

I tested a medium, which was a good fit overall. I did find it a little tight across one side of my chest, so sizing up might be wise if you have a broad chest. The length provided a good amount of coverage whenever I did pull-ups, and the close-fitting neckline avoided that uncomfortable V-neck feeling you sometimes get with vests. I also rate the cut of the shoulders – there's plenty of room to swing your arms, but not so much that it feels revealing.

For less than £25, you really can't go wrong with Nike's Dri-FIT Training T-Shirt. A lot has been reported about the brand of late, but behind the headlines, the quality that we've all come to expect from Nike is still there. This tee is an excellent example of that.

The fit is exactly what I want from a gym top. I found it spacious around the shoulders and upper body, but with an athletic cut that meant there was no excess material like you get with oversized tees. It is slightly long in the body, which I don't love from a style perspective, but it did mean that I always had coverage over my abs when hanging from a barbell or snatching dumbbells.

The Dri-FIT fabric feels very synthetic but from a performance perspective that's not a bad thing. It felt soft on my skin throughout weightlifting workouts and outdoor runs, with no chafing or tight spots. It did hold on to moisture more than I'd expect from a Nike training tee, but it remained lightweight and breathable nonetheless.

I tested a size large and it fit true to size. I've washed it four times, and the logo has shown no sign of peeling and it hasn't lost its shape. Overall, it's a solid gym top for the price, but others – like the ThruDark Force Core T-Shirt – perform better in hot and very sweaty conditions.

If you like your gym tops to be lightweight, you'll love Lululemon's Metal Vent Tech Shirt. It feels thin without sacrificing that robust feel you expect from gym apparel. The mesh construction gives it tons of breathability, while the elastane provides plenty of stretch and flexibility, which you can really feel when you handle it.

For me, the fit is a little awkward. Lululemon says it's 'designed to skim the body from chest to waist', but on my build, it ends up feeling a little too close-fitting, with not enough coverage across the shoulders and upper arms. The raglan sleeves provide plenty of freedom of movement, though, so those who favour slim-fit tees will probably get on well with it.

This is also a great gym top to reach for whenever it’s hot outside or you’ve got a particularly intense session on the cards. It was one of the best performers at wicking away sweat, and its lightweight feel meant I never felt uncomfortable or weighed down while wearing it.

The On Train-T has a lot going for it. I'm a big fan of the material, which has a textured yet soft-to-the-touch quality that makes it feel really premium and durable despite it being polyester. It retained its shape on the body and sat nicely over my arms and across my chest. Breathability was also on point whenever I worked up a heavy sweat.

I was close to including the On Train-T in my top five, but ultimately the slightly tight fit around the shoulders and waist meant it didn't make the cut. Since testing, On has released a 'refreshed' version with 'the perfect amount of room to move', which I'll be wearing over the coming months, so it'll be interesting to see how it compares.

This is easily the softest gym top I've tested. It's so unbelievably comfortable that the first time I wore it, I was convinced that it would hold on to sweat. Luckily, I was wrong. It somehow manages to combine softness with sweat-wicking ability, making it an excellent choice for both comfort and performance.

It fits well too, leaning towards a slim fit in certain areas while still passing as relaxed. During workouts, it sat close across my shoulders, chest and arms, giving it an athletic feel. The length is also ideal for my build, providing plenty of coverage without leaving excess fabric around the hem.

Over the two years I’ve been wearing it, it's retained its shape and colour through repeated washes. I tested a large and found it true to size.