6 Best Workout Tops For Women Of 2025, Tested & Reviewed
But, finding the right workout top all comes down to personal preference. Because there are so many options to choose from—think T-shirts, tanks, and long-sleeve tops—we asked experts and tested tons of options ourselves to find styles we think will fit a wide range of needs and preferences. From lightweight, flowy options, to compression shirts great for high-intensity workouts, we’ve highlighted our absolute favorite workout tops, below.
What To Consider
Materials
Cotton: This fabric is comfortable and breathable, but typically doesn’t dry sweat as quickly as synthetic materials like polyester and nylon, she says..
Spandex: Spandex is stretchy, comfortable, and can provide compression and great support, she says.
Nylon: A soft, stretchy, and durable fabric that’s sweat-wicking—perfect for tops when you want to keep sweat stains at bay during a high-intensity or heated workout.
Stewart’s pro tip? For high-impact or high-intensity workouts, look for materials that are shiny and smooth to reduce chafing and wick sweat. For lower intensity workouts, look for matte fabrics that have a soft, buttery texture for comfort and flexibility.
Built-In Shelf Bra
Some workout tops have built-in shelf bras or bra pad inserts, but this can be a “love it or hate it” situation, says Stewart. For bigger busts or high-intensity activities, a built-in bra may not provide enough support, so you might need an extra sports bra underneath. However, for smaller busts, we find that they provide ample support for light and medium intensity workouts. “A built-in bra should feel supportive and not bothersome and shouldn’t be too tight or digging in to restrict your movement,” says Stewart.
How We Chose
There are tons of workout tops out there, so even finding the absolute best options to test can be difficult. When I began the 2025 rewrite of this article, I revisited our original version from February 2024 to see which of the picks our team is still wearing. Some of them are still team favorites, but I went back to the drawing board and asked editors, including fashion director Kristen Saladino and assistant fashion editor Rose Lauture, and experts which workout tops they were loving. From there, I removed the picks that we are no longer wearing—I mean, we get so many products to try, we gotta keep up with the best of the best—and added the options we’ve been reaching for the most.
I made sure that the final picks on this list were options that we wear across all sorts of activities, from compressive options perfect for HIIT workout classes to lightweight, flowy tops we like for lounging or lower-impact exercise. Some of the contenders on this list come in tons of different colors and styles, have built-in bras, and are made with the most high-quality materials for their price points
Out of all the workout tops we’ve tried over the years, editors agree that the Lululemon Ebb to Street Tank is our favorite. It’s super soft, seamless, sweat-wicking, and ultra stretchy. Plus, the built-in shelf bra adds just the right amount of support and coverage for low-impact workouts like Pilates, yoga, and walking.
“I love how versatile this top is, along with its longer length and the buttery-soft blend of nylon and elastane,” says Kristina Earnest, CPT, founder of Kristina Earnest On Demand. This is her go-to top when she’s working out at home, and wear it under a sweater for her cold weather errands. It feels incredibly comfortable thanks to its seamless racerback design—no pesky straps, seams, or tightness to get in the way during your sweat session. However, you should note that because there’s no adjustable straps, you can’t customize the fit of this tank.
The most convenient part: it has a built-in shelf bra, so you don’t have to wear a separate bra underneath (unless you want to for more support!). And, we found that it actually does keep us feeling covered and protected during low-impact exercise, which we didn’t find to be the case with other tanks that have built-in bras. Another pro? The longer length of this top (it hits at the hip) keeps us feeling locked in and covered during workouts where we don’t want a ton of stomach showing.
We put this tank to the test during a variety of workouts like HIIT training and running and found that it’s not the best choice for high-intensity training. During jumping or high-impact moves, we noticed that it didn’t go a great job of holding the breasts in place during high-impact moves and felt the need for more padding and compression. But based on our extensive testing, it’s difficult to find a tank with high-impact support. That’s why we recommend pairing this with our favorite high-impact sports bra, the Under Armour Infinity 2.0 High Sports Bra.
This tank is meant to be worn over your favorite sports bra as an added layer of coverage. The loose, cropped fit is easy to throw on, and the round neck with the knotted side detail adds a touch of style. Our fave part about this tank? The cotton material is super breathable, so you never feel overheated or constricted like you would with a tighter top.
“I love that this top isn’t too tight,” says Jacqueline Kasen, CPT, trainer and senior director of group fitness at Anatomy. “It’s super comfortable and loose whether you’re running or lifting, but it still stays in place without bunching up.” Plus, it holds its shape after multiple washes and never pills or frays, making it as durable as it is functional.
The tank is made with cotton, but it also has a bit of spandex woven throughout, which makes it stretchy and instead of too sturdy. This is essential during workouts, as you want your top to move with you instead of against you at the gym.
We noticed that the shirt can look a bit boxy if you go too oversized, so we recommend sizing down for a more flattering, snug fit.
Material
Cotton, spandex
Sizes
2—14
Colors
31
Built-in Bra?
No
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Best Tank Top
FP Movement Free Throw Muscle Tank
Pros
Compressive and supportive
Sweat-wicking
Comes in a ton of colors
Cons
Only offers medium support, so not the best for high-impact workouts
This tank won the top spot in our Best Workout Tank Tops story for a few reasons: It’s super flattering, never rides up, is compressive, supportive, and sweat-wicking.
We tested this ribbed tank across many different workouts—running, yoga, lifting, and HIIT—and we found that it never moves or rides up. And, we love that it’s a tighter spandex tank with high compression, as it holds us in all the right places and doesn’t allow for any boob bounce. It doesn’t have a built-in bra, but it’s tight enough to hold the chest in place.
It’s also super moisture-wicking. WH fashion assistant Rose Lauture wore this during an intense workout and said there were no sweat stains, no matter which color she wore, thanks to the soft nylon. Because it’s moisture-wicking, it also does a great job at preventing body odor.
This option offers some pretty solid support for not having a built-in bra (it’s all about the compression!). However, it is made for medium support, so we like to wear an extra bra underneath this tank from time to time when our workouts get extra intense.
Materials
Nylon, elastane
Sizes
XS—XL
Colors
24
Built-In Bra?
No
Best Long Sleeve
Athleta Momentum Top
This is a great winter top to wear for your outdoor runs since it provides more coverage, or as a layering piece during your cold weather commute to the gym. Stewart says this long sleeve top is one of her all-time favorites for working out because it not only feels super soft, comfortable, and lightweight on the skin, but it’s also moisture-wicking, so you never need to worry about sweat buildup or BO when your workouts start to get intense.
We love that this shirt has a totally seamless construction, so we never found that it chafes. Plus, it has grippers on the inside of the hem to prevent it from riding up, so it stays in place during our entire workout, which is a huge plus. We found this especially helpful during movements like burpees or downward dog, but also during running.
This top is a winter favorite, thanks to its thumbholes that help keep you warm and hold the sleeves in place. Another bonus? It has a UPF 40+ coating, offering sun protection when you’re exercising outdoors. Plus, it’s incredibly breathable—it never feels too tight during workouts and allows for sweat to air out without a ton of buildup.
We’ve washed this shirt many times and found that it holds up well time after time. Once it’s dry, it still feels brand new, which we agree is hard to find in a workout top.
We sized up in this tank so we could layer it over tank tops and sports bras easily, but if you want it to be a bit more compressive, we recommend staying true-to-size or sizing down if you want it to be super snug. Our one miss with this shirt is that it’s a bit see-through, so if you don’t want your bra sneaking through, opt for its darker colors.
Material
Nylon
Sizes
XXS—3XL
Colors
16
Built-in Bra?
No
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Best Zip-Up
Spanx Full Zip Jacket
Pros
Super soft and stretchy
Feels like you’re wearing nothing
Can turn it into a full set
Cons
Neck area feels constricting
We tested lots of great workout zip-ups that kept us warm, but were super thick. But, Spanx’s new zip-up does a great job of keeping us toasty without overheating, and has a second-skin like fabric that moves easily during all sorts of exercises. It slightly contours the waist and arms so it makes you look super snatched. The fabric is also soft and smooth—hi, nylon and elastane—so it’s super stretchy and comfortable to wear to the gym but also around the town when you want a lightweight zip up to keep you warm and protected.
I love that this jacket is breathable and sweat-wicking, so even though it’s long-sleeved it doesn’t feel like you’re wearing anything. Whether you’re on a run or lifting heavy weights, it’s the perfect outfit topper if you want to feel covered without too much compression.
This jacket also has thumbholes to keep the sleeves in place, zippered pockets in case you need to easily store your card or key, and it also comes with a ton of matching pieces—think leggings, tank tops, and long-sleeve shirts—if you want to make it into a full set.
Our one qualm? This top is a bit tight and constricting around the neck area, which can be a bit annoying at the gym when you want to feel free and airy.
Materials
Nylon, elastane
Sizes
XS—3XL
Colors
4
Built-In Bra?
No
Best Bra Top
Alo Yoga Wild Thing Bra
We’ve all been in those super stuffy gyms—when I start overheating during a workout, all I want is to be in a sports bra. But I’m not always comfortable showing my stomach. That’s where the Wild Thing Bra comes in. With its long-line fit, which ends just above my belly button for extra coverage, while still feeling cool and comfortable at the gym.
And, of course, it’s super cute, thanks to the ruching in the center of the bra. I find this detail really flattering—it gives my stomach a snatched look when I wear it. While it doesn’t offer a ton of support since it’s on the lighter side, it provides decent compression for my higher intensity workouts. Its lightweight design and stylish details make it perfect for pairing with leggings at the gym, but I’ve also seen it styled with trousers or jeans for a sporty yet upscale vibe.
If you’re worried about the lighter colors looking sheer? Don’t be! All styles come with removable cups to cover your girls, which is also helpful because you can take them out when you wash the bra. Speaking of washing, we find that this bra holds up well after multiple washes and never pills or changes in elasticity and shape.
One thing to keep in mind is that the straps aren’t adjustable, which can be a bit frustrating since it means you can’t customize the fit. I also wish it came in more colors.
Materials
Nylon, elastane
Sizes
XS—XL
Colors
3
Built-In Bra?
Yes
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Best Budget
Meslong Women’s Cropped Racerback Tank Top
Now 17% Off
Credit: Meslong
Pros
Super soft and stretchy
Snug but not tight
Great for layering
Cons
Pills easily
Sweat-wicking, lightweight, and wide straps for maximum comfort? Check, check, and check. This racerback top allows for wide range of motion and is perfect for layering. The four-way stretch also acts like a second skin and the cropped length pairs well with high-rise bottoms, which is a major plus. Out of all the tanks I’ve tested, this was the best for full-body exercises because of its flexibility.
I love how stretchy and comfortable this top is—even when I’m not at the gym, I find myself lounging in it at home. It also provides just the right amount of compression for low-impact workouts. I sized up and couldn’t be happier with the fit—it’s still snug but doesn’t feel tight at all. My one note is that after a few washes, the light color started to pill. I’d recommend washing and hanging to dry to avoid the deterioration of the fabric
Material
Nylon, spandex
Sizes
4—12
Colors
14
Built-in Bra?
No
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Lily Wohlner is the associate style & commerce editor at Women’s Health. A sneakerhead, shopping enthusiast, and beauty expert, she’s mastered the art of testing, reviewing, and recommending standout products across every style category. Lily started her career as a freelance makeup artist before diving into the editorial and copywriting world, creating content for brands like Oribe, NewBeauty, and Dermstore. When she’s not training for her next half marathon, you’ll find her in the Lower East Side whipping up high-protein recipes with her roommate or thrifting for the ultimate pair of low-rise jeans.
Kristen Saladino is the Executive Fashion Director for the Hearst Fashion Group. She styles covers + fashion stories for various Hearst brands.