Performance T-Shirts
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Performance T-Shirts for Hiking, Running, Cycling and SUP
A performance T-shirt is a lightweight sports tee made from technical fabric that wicks sweat away from your skin, dries quickly and doesn't chafe on the move. You'll also see it called a technical, active or quick-dry shirt. Wear it on its own on warm days or as a base layer under a midlayer and jacket when it cools down.
Our range includes men's and women's short and long sleeve performance tees with UPF 50+ sun protection. Some have a hidden zipped pocket, flatlock seams and odour-reducing fabric; others are made from recycled fibres and can be worn in the water too. They're made for hiking, running, cycling, SUP and everyday wear. For water sports where you spend most of your time in the water, see our rash guards and UV shirts.
When Should I Wear a Performance T-Shirt?
A performance tee is at its best when you sweat and switch between moving and stopping.
| Activity | What to wear |
|---|---|
| Warm-weather hike (climbs and stops) | performance tee + light midlayer in your pack |
| Summer running and cycling | close-fitting performance tee + cap |
| SUP and boating (mostly above the water) | performance tee with UV protection; neoprene in water below roughly 18 °C |
| Cooler day in the mountains | performance tee + technical midlayer + waterproof jacket |
| Travel and everyday | performance tee that dries overnight after washing |
What Makes a Performance T-Shirt Different from a Cotton Tee?
Cotton soaks up sweat and stays wet, so you cool down fast when you stop or the wind picks up. Performance fabric moves moisture to the surface, where it evaporates quickly.
- Moisture-wicking – polyester fibres don't absorb water, so the shirt dries several times faster than cotton.
- Stretch – elastane moves with your shoulders and arms, even under a backpack.
- Flatlock seams – won't rub under backpack straps or your arms.
- Less odour – some fabrics slow down the bacteria that cause smells.
- UV protection – fabric rated UPF 50+ blocks around 98% of UV rays.
What Fabric Should a Performance T-Shirt Be Made Of?
| Fabric | Properties |
|---|---|
| Polyester (+ elastane) | fastest drying + durable |
| Polyester-cotton blend | quick drying + softer feel on the skin |
| Merino wool | warm even when damp + naturally low odour, dries more slowly |
| Cotton | comfortable for everyday, less suited to sport as it stays wet |
Our performance tees are made either from a blend of polyester, cotton and elastane or from recycled polyester with a cotton-like feel. Both dry fast and feel softer on the skin than standard sports polyester.
Performance T-Shirts for Hiking
On a hike you keep switching between climbs, stops and wind. Choose a shirt that dries quickly, has no bulky seams under your backpack straps and protects you from the sun on an exposed ridge. When it cools down, pull on a technical midlayer, and in rain and wind a waterproof sports jacket.
Performance T-Shirts for Running and Cycling
Running and cycling make you sweat faster, so choose a shirt that sits close to the body to keep wicking moisture and doesn't flap in the wind. On some styles, a hidden zipped pocket holds your key or cash without bouncing around. Shade your head and eyes from the summer sun with a cap.
Performance T-Shirts for SUP
On a SUP you're in the sun the whole time and light reflects off the water, so you burn faster than on land. A performance tee with UV protection dries quickly after a fall and doesn't get heavy, so you can keep paddling without changing. When the water is cold and you're likely to fall in, choose a neoprene top instead.
Performance T-Shirt or Rash Guard – What's the Difference?
A performance tee with UV protection is made for moving on land and above the water: it has an athletic or relaxed fit, dries fast and wicks sweat. A rash guard is fitted and made for time in the water, where it won't balloon or ride up. For hiking, cycling and SUP, choose a performance tee; for swimming, surfing and snorkelling, a rash guard.
Women's and Men's Performance T-Shirts
Women's performance tees are narrower at the waist and shorter in the body, while men's are broader in the shoulders and longer. They come in an athletic fit that sits close to the body without being tight, or in a looser, airier fit. Choose your usual size and check the width and length in the size chart on each product. You're welcome to try them on in our shop in Ljubljana.
Who Else Are Performance T-Shirts For?
- hikers and mountaineers in the warmer months,
- runners and cyclists,
- paddlers, kayakers and sailors,
- travellers who want a shirt they can wash in the evening and wear dry the next morning,
- anyone looking for one shirt for sport and everyday wear.
How to Care for a Performance T-Shirt
Wash it at 30 °C with similar colours, without fabric softener or bleach, which clog the fibres and reduce wicking. Air dry it and don't iron it.
Related categories
Rash guards & UV shirts · Technical midlayers · Waterproof sports jackets · Caps & sun hats · Neoprene tops & jackets · Performance underwear