Price: $50
The Right Shirt For: Runners who want superior sweat-wicking
When I slipped on this shirt, I didn’t know it was called “Better Than Naked”—but that is exactly how it feels. It’s the most efficient sweat-wicking top I’ve ever worn, which makes it cooler, drier, and more preferable to me than running in just a bra.
Light and airy, I never once got that soggy or clammy feeling while wearing it, which I often experience with lightweight shirts that can stick to your body after a hard, sweaty workout. And I especially liked the shirt’s looser cut—no chafing in the armpits, or anywhere else due to the soft and sleek fabric. Plus, the slightly dropped-tail hem meant that I could deep stretch my stiff hammy without revealing my back to the entire parking lot.
While the Better Than Naked is supposed to resist odor, I have definitely been able to make it stink—but it doesn’t hold on to smell. With one regular wash, the shirt was no longer radiating with those postrun aromas.
FlashDry Fabric For the Sweatiest Runs
Part of the North Face’s elite performance Flight Series line, the Better Than Naked is built with the brand’s high-tech, hot weather fabric. The material works by forcing moisture and sweat to the shirt’s surface so it can evaporate quickly. A 100% polyester construction makes it wonderfully light on the skin, and so sweat-wicking and durable that The North Face backs it up with its Lifetime Guarantee.
It looks good too—the fabric doesn’t darken when it’s wet, so there were no visible sweat rings around my neck or underarms, and comes in eye-catching colors: bluebird blue and fiery coral for women, and fiery red and Turkish Sea blue for the guys. Flat-stitched, flattering seams run down the sides for a chafe-free experience, and reflective tabs on the lower back improve your visibility, so you can feel safe when you’re squeezing in that predawn run.
Riley is a writer and outdoor adventure guide currently based in Tucson, Arizona where she leads mountain bike rides, rock climbing, and hiking trips. In her spare time, she writes stories and reviews outdoor and fitness gear. Find her writing in publications including Outside, Lonely Planet, SHAPE, Bicycling, Runner’s World, and others. When she’s not playing in the mountains, she’s probably laying down somewhere or eating (or both).
