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

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