Here Are the 7 Best Long-Sleeve Shirts for Cold-Weather Workouts
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FALL IS HERE, and with it, the chill is starting to hit the air. This change in temperature shifts the spotlight to what we think is the unsung hero of your fall and winter workout wardrobe, especially when it comes to your workouts: the long-sleeve T-shirt.
Best Long-Sleeve Workout Shirts
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Best Overall: Vuori Long Sleeve Strato Tech Tee
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Best Budget: DSG Men's Long Sleeve Compression Crew
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Best Oversized Shirt: Gymshark Power Long Sleeve T-Shirt
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Best for Warm Weather: Barbell Apparel Arid Drop Hem Long Sleeve
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Best Compression Shirt: Under Armour HeatGear Compression
Whether you're trying to ward off goosebumps or protect your skin from the sun, long-sleeve shirts are a solid choice for training. Many are made from the same performance fabrics as our favorite workout shirts ; they can wick moisture and keep you cooler than a wool layer while offering more coverage than a short-sleeve tee.
Collectively, the Men's Health editorial team has trained in dozens of long-sleeve shirts and pooled our experience to bring you seven picks for different types of training.
1) Vuori Long-Sleeve Strato Tech Tee
The long-sleeve sibling of our best overall workout shirt also snags the top spot in our roundup of long-sleeve workout shirts. After all, it's virtually the same shirt, just better suited for fall and winter workouts.
The Strato Tech Tee is among the softest shirts I've ever worn, and after a year of consistent use, mine still looks, feels, and performs much like it did during my first week of testing. Its four-way-stretch fabric contributes to its excellent comfort, and despite the shirt's paper-thin feel, it was surprisingly effective at wicking moisture during our sweatiest workouts.
Because it's lightweight, keeps sweat at bay, and is versatile enough to double as an everyday shirt, the Strato Tech earns its near-$70 price tag. It's the kind of staple worth investing in.
Read More: Best Workout Shirts for Men
- Incredibly soft
- Holds up to a lot of wear
- Doubles as an everyday shirt
- Fairly expensive for a single shirt
- Some sizes aren’t restocked as often
2) DSG Long Sleeve Compression Crew
The skin-tight fit of compression gear doesn't appeal to everyone, but compression shirts offer plenty of utility. You can wear one on its own, under a short-sleeve tee for a fall or winter workout, or as a base layer for skiing and hiking.
Dick's Sporting Goods' DSG compression crew is a good option for skeptical buyers. It costs $30 per shirt and comes in more than 15 color options. The trade-off for that affordability is slightly less comfort. In particular, the seams that run along the arms can be a little annoying. It also runs a bit longer than I prefer, so I opted to tuck mine in.
Read More: Best Compression Shirts, Tested by Us
- Inexpensive for a workout shirt
- Lots of color options
- Works well as a base layer
- Not everyone likes compression gear
- Colors are fairly generic
- The seam placement may bother some
3) Gymshark Power Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Gymshark has cemented itself as a major player in the fitness apparel space, not just because of the quality of its clothing, but also because its marketing and product lines often reflect what the current generation of gymgoers are wearing.
The Power Long Sleeve T-Shirt is a good example. It leans into the current pump-cover trend , where lifters wear oversized layers at the start of a workout and shed them once they're warmed up and pumped. The Power Tee fits oversized but true to size and keeps the look simple, save for "Gymshark" printed across the back. It also comes in four colors.
Because it's made from 95% cotton, expect it to hold onto more heat and sweat than a technical training shirt. I wouldn't reach for it for hard runs or conditioning sessions, but for lifting, it works well either as a standalone shirt or as an extra layer to keep you warm between sets.
- Keeps you warm
- Popular among those who like pump covers
- Minimalistic design
- Doesn’t wick moisture
- No odor control
4) Under Armour HeatGear® Men's Compression Long Sleeve
When people think of Under Armour , they often think of compression gear, so its HeatGear line—a collection designed to provide coverage while keeping athletes cool—is a natural pick for anyone who wants to keep their arms covered during spring and summer workouts.
Athletes who wear pads, trail runners looking for protection from brush, and even people with sun-sensitive skin can all benefit from the extra coverage. HeatGear fabric is ventilated and described by Under Armour as "ultra-light," so the shirt offers protection without adding much bulk or warmth. And at $40 with 16 color options, it's an affordable, versatile choice that works as either a standalone training shirt or a base layer.
- Relatively inexpensive
- Comes in a lot of colors
- Wide sizing range
- An ultra-tight fit isn’t for everyone
- Best for use in hot weather
5) Municipal Enduro Stretch LS T-Shirt
Co-owned by Mark Wahlberg, Municipal is a lifestyle and fitness brand that makes gear for activities including training, golf, and running. The Enduro Stretch LS can work as a running shirt, but its minimal branding and simple design make it versatile enough for lifting, errands, or casual wear, too.
It has the hallmarks of a solid workout shirt: super stretch, moisture-wicking fabric, and a lightweight feel, all from a 100% polyester construction. The ribbed cuffs bring a lot more durability to the sleeves and a little style, so that you get more use out of this piece.
Municipal is still a relatively young brand, and the Enduro Stretch LS is only available in three colors, with fewer customer reviews than some of the more established options on this list. At this price, that makes it a slightly less proven pick, but its simple design and performance-focused construction give it plenty of appeal for runners and lifters alike.
- Brings superstretch fabric
- Feels lightweight despite the look
- Brings a variety of uses
- Only comes in three colors
6) Ten Thousand Tactical Long Sleeve Shirt
If most of your training takes place outside, this is the shirt worth investing in. Ten Thousand—a brand that's made it onto our best workout shirt and best workout shorts lists—built the Tactical Long Sleeve with sun protection, odor-blocking technology, and micro-mesh fabric designed to help regulate body temperature.
The shirt also uses flatlock seams, which lie flatter against the skin and help reduce irritation while reinforcing high-stress areas. The upper back, or yoke, is reinforced to better withstand ruck sacks , plate carriers, and weighted vests . There are a few trade-offs: It only comes in two colors (black and green), the care instructions are a little finicky, and it costs close to $100.
The Tactical is one of those buy-once, cry-once purchases that cost more up front but may save you money if it holds up longer than cheaper shirts. And Ten Thousand does have a one-year guarantee on their clothes. That said, not everyone wants to—or can— spend that much on a workout shirt, and you certainly don't need one this rugged for every outdoor training session.
- Has odor blocking and UV protection
- Reinforced stitching and yoke
- Designed to help regulate your body temperature
- Most expensive shirt on our list
7) Barbell Apparel Arid Drop Hem Long Sleeve
If you like wearing sleeves year-round, it's worth investing in a lightweight shirt that keeps you covered without trapping too much heat. Barbell Apparel's Arid Drop Hem Long Sleeve is made from a blend of bamboo, polyester, and a touch of spandex for added stretch and mobility. Customers describe it as lightweight and flattering, which tracks for a brand that built its name making clothes for people with more athletic builds.
Designed for warm-weather use, the Arid also includes odor control and UV protection, while its looser fit through the torso helps keep the fabric from clinging as you sweat. Aesthetically, it fits in just about anywhere, and its two neutral color options—black and a grayish blue—make it easier to get more mileage out of the hefty price tag.
- Lightweight and breathable
- Comes with a lifetime guarantee
- Will swap sizes for free if you lose weight
- Expensive
- Only comes in two colors
What to Consider
What Fabric Is Best for a Workout Shirt?
Most workout shirts are made primarily from synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon, and elastane. These fabrics tend to dry faster than cotton and can be engineered to move moisture away from your skin, which helps keep the shirt from feeling soaked during a workout.
Cotton, by comparison, absorbs and holds onto more moisture, which can leave a shirt feeling heavy and damp and may contribute to chafing or irritation. That doesn't mean cotton has no place in workout gear. Some shirts blend in a small amount to soften the fabric and improve comfort. An all-cotton shirt may be less appealing for sweaty sessions, but a little cotton in the blend isn't necessarily a drawback.
What Gives a Shirt Odor Control?
Odor control generally comes down to two things: how quickly the fabric dries and whether it has been treated to limit odor-causing bacteria. Moisture-wicking, quick-drying fabrics can help keep sweat from sitting against your skin for as long, but the fabric itself doesn't automatically prevent odor.
Some manufacturers also treat fibers with antimicrobial technologies designed to slow bacterial growth. Silver, copper, and zinc-based treatments are common examples. Other brands use different chemical or bio-based treatments to achieve a similar effect. If odor control matters to you, look for a specific antimicrobial or anti-odor claim rather than assuming every synthetic shirt has it.
Do I Need to Worry About the Seams at All?
You probably don't need to obsess over seams, but they're worth paying attention to if you're prone to chafing. Look for flatlock seams, which sit flatter and feel less bulky against the skin, as well as thoughtful seam placement in high-friction areas.
The armpit is one of the more annoying places to have bulky stitching, which is why some workout shirts use raglan sleeves. Instead of a traditional sleeve seam that starts at the shoulder, raglan sleeves extend up toward the collar and create diagonal seams across the upper chest and back. That construction can reduce irritation and allow for more freedom of movement.
Are Long-Sleeve Workout Shirts Only for the Fall and Winter?
No. Many long-sleeve workout shirts are lightweight enough to wear comfortably during spring and summer, depending on the temperature and your personal preference.
There are also practical reasons to cover up in warm weather. Long sleeves can help shield your arms from direct sun and offer some protection from rough brush, branches, gravel, and other elements if you train outdoors or spend a lot of time on the trails.
How We Chose
As a fitness writer, personal trainer, and guy who likes to train, I spend a lot of time in workout clothes , usually while lifting or running. I'm fortunate that companies send me samples throughout the year—always with no strings attached—to test, and Men's Health will occasionally ship specific products to my house for dedicated testing.
Creating this list was a collective effort between the Men's Health editorial team and me, including Fitness and Reviews Editor Charles Thorp, NASM , Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S. , and Reviews Director Christian Gollayan . Our standard testing protocol is to wear each shirt for at least two weeks and put it through common exercises like pull-ups , push-ups , and deadlifts . At the time I wrote this article, I was also logging 15 to 25 miles of running per week across the treadmill , road, and local trails, so I rotated several of these shirts through those sessions to see how they held up.
We take notes on each shirt's style, fit, comfort, price, versatility, and performance, including stretch, moisture management, and breathability. We also pay attention to sizing—whether a shirt fits true to size or runs large or small—and how the fabric holds up after repeated workouts and washes. What we don't do is chase trends. Our goal is to recommend shirts that perform well now and should still make sense years from now.
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