Best long-sleeved running tops for the colder months

The best long-sleeved running tops are just what you need when it’s too chilly to run in just a t-shirt but not cold enough for a jacket.

Humble it may be, but a good long-sleeved run tee is essential in any outdoor athlete’s kit drawer. Come the chillier months, you’ll be looking towards one of these for warmth and comfort, as well as visibility if not wearing a jacket.

Although we used two testers here – one male and one female – most of these tops come in men’s and women’s versions and colourways.

Best long-sleeved running tops for men

Montane Dragon Pull-On Fleece

• £60 / $64

This is a versatile piece of running kit as it can be used as a mid or base layer. The fit is true to size and the garment sits close to the body. There’s plenty of length both in the body and the arms, too.

The brushed inner feels soft and comfortable against the skin, while flatlock seams ensure zero irritation. Reflective detailing lights well at night, the high collar is cosy and keeps the wind out well, while the zip neck proves effective when you need to dump heat.

There’s even thumb loops and ‘emergency windproof mitts’ built in. The only thing missing is a small zip pocket.

It’s ideal as a base layer when the temperature drops below 10°C, but it’s also an ideal mid layer in colder conditions.

The fabric also does a decent job of wicking moisture away, while an anti-odour treatment stops it ponging.

Soar WoolTech Top

• Buy now from Soar

• £215 / $280

The Soar WoolTech Top is not cheap, but this thermal top carries a lot of tech. For a start, it’s constructed out of a blend of synthetic and natural fibres, which combine anti-bacterial properties, good moisture management and fantastic warmth to weight.

For a relatively lightweight garment it packs some heat, well suited to temps under 10°C. The deep 1/4-length zip allows you to ventilate.

The fit is close, while elastic hems on the wrists and waist help keep the cold out, though we did find the latter would rise up a little mid-run.

Comfort is great, with a soft inner and bonded seams working well. The only blot on its record is that the rear zip pocket which, while useful, sometimes feels like a minor irritation.

Meanwhile, reflective detailing helps boost visibility.

Asics Core LS Top

• £32

The Core LS Top might not boast a long feature list but it’s a functional, well-crafted and stylish top that largely ticks the performance boxes. 

Coming in at a lean 113g, it sits smoothly on the skin, aided by its flatlock seam construction and a 100% polyester build that’s floaty and unrestrictive. Ventilation from the slightly meshed material is decent enough, although for me, the lighter if pricier Montane Dart Lite seemed to edge the breathability contest.

The 100% recycled materials help with the Core’s eco credentials, although it’s lacking the odour control, wash-every-other-run quality. At £32, however, the Core is neatly-priced and the construction feels durable enough for multi-running season use.

Sizing comes in at XS-2XL and our medium felt true to size. The reflective Asics logo on the chest offers a touch of visibility but more visible colours are also available for both men and women.

CEP Cold Weather Shirt

• £69.95

Let’s start with the positives. CEP’s Cold Weather Shirt offers decent visibility and it fits well. It’s true to size, sits close to the body and is long in the sleeves.

It’s warm, too, and for most would stand up to temperatures teetering around freezing without the need for extra layers.

When it’s a little milder, the garment deals with sweat well, wicking it away effectively without feeling particularly damp.

Having said that, if the temperature goes above 10°C you may start to overheat a little. There’s a fiddly zip on the side of the neck, but its small size means it’s not that effective. In fact, alongside the noticeable seams, it negatively impacted comfort.

A rear zip pocket is a faff, too, with the same small zip, and while the latter is useful for stashing items, anything heavy will bounce around.

Proviz Reflect360 Long Sleeve

• £39.99

Proviz has long impressed our review team with their reflective but often affordable cycling garments, so how does this running top do?

The performance of the Reflect360 is adequate enough, with the 100% polyester construction lacking venting and breathability. Due to the lack of elastane, the fit isn’t figure-hugging. Sweat wicking isn’t brilliant either.

The price is relatively low. But where the top outdoes the competition is with its reflective trim and logos, which genuinely illuminate when faced with car headlights on night runs.

Although we’ve probably forever numbed its brightness by wearing this at the 10-miler Sodbury Slog mud run (much recommended).

Alpkit Laika

• £49.99 / $64.99

The Laika from Alpkit is billed as a ‘performance mid-layer’. I’ve loved it for hiking on cooler days but, given this is a long-sleeve running tops test for a triathlon magazine, the thickness and lack of ventilation make it less than ideal for higher intensity activities.

The Laika is lighter than it looks at 191g and it stashes down. The 1/2 length zip does offer some temperature regulation benefits, but there are no ventilation channels or mesh areas of note, making this more winter wear than spring or autumn. Further weather-battling features include its knit finish for added cosiness and wind protection, a high collar and a full-length zipper guard for further wind deflection. I’m a sucker for thumb loops and these do the job in keeping your palms warm and stopping wind up the sleeves. 

The Laika feels ideal as a lightweight fleece for hiking on chilly days. Points are scored for the 100% recycled polyester construction, however, and the Polygiene treatment is currently holding firm against sporty smells.

Best long-sleeved running tops for women

Inov-8 Merino L/S

• £60 / $70

Oooh, merino wool… The Inov-8 Merino L/S is one of those tops that you love from the moment you pull it on, thanks to that fabric. Northern trail gurus Inov-8 have constructed this from ethically- produced mulesing-free Merino wool certified by the Responsible Wool Standard.

It comes in sizes 6-14 for women (again, larger sizes would be good to see here) and S-XL for men and two colours. It’s breathable and naturally resists odours, something that I can confirm through testing! Sizing is snug but the top has plenty of stretch.

Designed for hiking it might be a bit warm for hard sessions, but for my morning jogs on frosty autumn mornings I didn’t overheat. This one comes in at 144g for my UK14.

Alpkit Koulin

• £29.99 / $34.99

The lightweight Alpkit Koulin comes in at 145g for my women’s UK14. This is constructed from wicking and fast-drying recycled polyester fabric featuring Polygiene anti-odour technology. 

The fit was great on me and the mesh under the arms provided reasonable ventilation. I also managed to get away with a few runs before I felt like this top needed a wash so the fabric definitely works!

There’s a nifty key pouch with loop and sizing is good at 6-20 with two colours available.

Men can choose from three colours and XS-XXL.

Dhb Aeron Micro Grid Long Sleeve Crew Top

• £65

The recycled Polartec Power Grid fleece material used here is soft to the touch and felt really comfortable against the skin. It also proved really breathable and lightweight in testing. Plus it’s fitted, so it wicked sweat really well, helping keep us warm but dry.

There are good thumb holes and long sleeves to help keep your hands warm on the colder runs and, while the top is all black, there is some reflective detailing on the back and front.

There’s also a handy security zip pocket on the side for small essentials like keys, cards or maybe a small snack or gel. The sizing is good and the fit is snug, but our only minor grievance is that the fit around the collar was slightly baggy which allowed cold air to sneak in.

While we tested it on its own in October, it could easily be layered for colder winter weather.

2XU Ignition Quarter Zip

• £65 / $89.99

The 2XU Ignition 1/4 zip is a warm top with its double-knit three-dimensional waffle material. It’s soft on the skin and is well-suited for colder winter runs.

The soft wicking material is thicker than the others on test but still feels lightweight, while it’s fitted close to the skin to retain warmth. It fits true to size with a small perfect for this UK8 tester, while its long sleeves offer great coverage.

Thumb holes help keep your hands warm but there are also cuffs that can be flipped to create mittens if the chill gets to you.

Elsewhere, a tall collar offers extra warmth around the neck, there’s reflective detailing for extra visibility and a little zip pocket for card/keys. It also comes in white for extra visibility.

Finally, £65 is a great price for an essential item of clothing that will keep you running through the winter.

How we tested

We tested these long-sleeved running tops over a winter period that included mild weather and a cold snap, where temperatures dropped to around freezing.

During that time, we embarked on multiple runs over our usual gear testing routes and judged the tops on a range of criteria. This included:

Fit

Was it true to size?

Thermal properties

How much warmth was on offer?

Breathability and moisture wicking

How well did it deal with sweat? Did the tops wick sweat away effectively – and did the fabric still smell fresh after one or multiple runs? If you can get away with a couple of runs without washing, not only is it easier for you but also kinder on the environment.

Was it easy to regulate our body temperature via zips, vents or by pulling up sleeves?

Mentioning the environment, we also like to see recycled or sustainable fabrics.

Comfort

How did the material feel against the skin and were there any irritations from seams or labels? You also want your top to be light enough for performance, but snuggly enough that you feel warm when the mercury drops.

Features and price

Were there any useful extra features like thumb loops, a high neck, reflective detailing or a pocket?

Finally we considered value for money.