One day, we’ll show off fits in real life again, even if it takes a little re-learning along the way. The Highsnobiety Summer Style Guide is here to help, ensuring that lightweight pieces still result in heavyweight looks.
It’s getting hot out there. In Berlin, home of Highsnob HQ, temperatures went up to a wild 96°F last week. Attempts at cooling down, by way of a shoddy desk fan, ice packs to the head, and body weights in water just didn’t suffice. And when even a standard tee isn’t cool enough, it’s time for something more advanced. Your tee needs to breathe.
They might usually be the reserve of serious runners but, in peak summer, we deserve this democratization of the breathable tee. I’d usually swear by a heavyweight, thick cotton t-shirt, but sometimes comfort needs to come first.
The best breathable T-shirts will include moisture-wicking tech — a term you’ll likely hear a lot when shopping this category. In basic terms, it means that the tee will transport sweat away from your skin to the surface of the fabric, where it’ll evaporate from.
Below, we’ve picked out the best breathable T-shirts on the market right now, from Uniqlo’s much-loved Airism tee to options from outdoor wear experts like Arc’teryx.
Over the past few years, cycling gear has become actually cool, and Pas Normal is one of the brands leading that charge. Where once existed skin-tight dad-ready apparel now thrives fire stuff like this. The properties of this tee help with both moisture-wicking and temperature control.
Even the thought of camping used to make me feel nervous. Now, that thought is quickly followed by the Snow Peak gear that might accompany me on that camping trip and I can sleep again. Its tees are great too. This breathable one was born to be outside.
Running T-shirts are always a good place to start when searching for a solid breathable tee. Nike’s Dri-FIT tech does what you’d expect, staying dry even when you’re really breaking a sweat. Whether that’s on the mountain trail or at your desk — like me.
Loud neon tees aren’t only for the gym. Like Oakley sports glasses, alien gear like this has carved a place in mainstream style. I need a while to think about styling options, though.
The perforated detailing on this District Vision shirt not only helps with the whole breathability thing, but it actually looks good, too.
At the budget end of this tee spectrum, is a beloved lightweight T-shirt option from Uniqlo. Its AIRism fabric packs DRY technology to do the business when it comes to keeping you comfortable during both workouts and silly-hot days.
You don’t need me to tell you that Arc’teryx knows how to do outdoor gear. And do it damn well. As well as keeping things covered on the moisture-wicking front, this one is made from a textile that provides protection from exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
If HOKA’s lightweight T-shirts are even a small percentage as comfortable as its shoes, then this might just be worn all summer long.
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