Trail running T-shirts: the Top 6 for trail runners in 2025

Trail running, a discipline that combines endurance and adventure in the great outdoors, has enjoyed remarkable growth in recent years. With this growing popularity, the market has expanded a wide variety of equipment, making the choice of each element more complex, particularly for trail t-shirts

Whether for training or competitionA good trail shirt is crucial. It must offer comfort, adaptability to the weather conditions and performance. A well-chosen T-shirt can make a significant difference in terms of moisture management, body temperature control and performance. general comfortThese are essential aspects in improving the rider's experience and performance. 

With the abundance of choice available, it's important to be able to identify key features that meet your specific trail running needs. In this comparison, we offer you our top 6 best t-shirts for trail running.

Odlo Performance Light: A short-sleeved t-shirt for performance

odlo performance trail t-shirt

Product presentation

The Swiss firm is renowned for the quality of its equipment. With the Odlo Performance Light t-shirt, the brand is not offering a product designed for performance.

The T-shirt is designed to optimise your comfort during your running sessions. Lightweight and snug-fitting, it's the ideal base layer for any sporting activity. Thanks to its Light technology, this T-shirt ensures constant comfort, whatever the season or weather conditions. So you can use it as a summer running shirt, or even as an under-layer for your winter running sessions.

In terms of comfort, the stretch fabric offers exceptional mobility, while the absence of seams in key areas prevents chafing and irritation, allowing you to stay focused on your performance. This makes it ideal for long-distance running. 

Like all good technical T-shirts, this one also wicks away perspiration. So you can stay dry and regulate your temperature.

T-shirt features

Features Odlo Performance Light
CutAdjusted
Sleeve lengthShort
CollarRound
SewingSeamless

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits

✅ Thermal comfort
✅ Gestural comfort
✅ Seamless

Disadvantages

❌ Price

The Compagnie du Trail's opinion

For Compagnie du Trail, this is undoubtedly one of the best t-shirts for trail running and running in general. It can be worn in all seasons. Its comfort and technical features make it a favourite with the trail running community.

Salomon Cross Run: A lightweight, technical fabric for your trail running outings

tee shirt trail salomon cross run avis

Product presentation

This T-shirt offers good value for money. It's perfect for running or trail running. Here are some of the features of this shirt.

Firstly, the comfort and lightness of the fabric make it a relatively comfortable jersey to wear. It's also stretchy, giving runners excellent freedom of movement.

Like all technical T-shirts, it also features breathable technology to keep runners dry during exercise.

T-shirt features

Features Product
CutRight
Sleeve lengthShort
CollarRound
SewingWith seams

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits

✅ Comfortable
✅ Sweat evacuation
✅ Equipment robustness
✅ Value for money

Disadvantages

❌ Presence of seams (beware of chafing).

The Compagnie du Trail's opinion

The Salomon Cross Run is a comfortable T-shirt to wear. It is suitable for both road running and trail running. It has good thermal properties, providing runners with good thermal comfort.

On the other hand, it has seams, which can be a hindrance for some people, particularly on long distances or for races or training sessions requiring a bag.

All the same, the T-shirt is affordable and allows all types of runner to have a quality T-shirt.

Salomon S-Lab Ultra: the ideal ultra trail t-shirt

t shirt trail salomon s lab ultra opinion

Product presentation

The Salomon S-Lab Ultra short-sleeved T-shirt is designed to combine efficiency and robustness, making it ideal for trail running, whether in training or competition. 

Its breathable 3D fabric and AdvancedSkin ActiveDry technology ensure that sweat evaporates quickly, keeping you fresh. 37.5 technology regulates your body temperature and neutralises odours during your activity. So you can maintain a certain level of thermal comfort during exercise.

This T-shirt is made from a lightweight, supple fabric that offers total freedom of movement, and its anti-chafing design reduces the risk of chafing. The extra strength at the shoulders is specially designed for carrying hydration packs.

This garment combines innovative and comfortable materials, adapted to the challenges of long distances.

T-shirt features

Features Product
CutRight
Sleeve lengthShort
CollarRound
SewingWithout

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits

✅ Light
✅ Comfortable
✅ Highly breathable and moisture-wicking

Disadvantages

❌ Price

The Compagnie du Trail's opinion

This t-shirt offers trailers an interesting solution for long distances. It's specifically designed for relatively long distances, avoiding chafing and providing excellent thermal comfort, particularly in hot weather.

It's a T-shirt that offers comfort, lightness and breathability.

Asics Core Run: unbeatable value for money in the trail running market

t shirt trail asics core run avis

Product presentation

Lightweight, breathable and comfortable, that's how you could sum up this T-shirt. Designed by Japanese manufacturer Asics, the Core Run is an interesting t-shirt for running and trail running. 

The T-shirt is highly breathable and keeps runners dry during exercise. In addition to its breathable and thermal properties, this T-shirt is perfectly suited to training sessions and short and medium-distance races. 

Its strong point is inevitably its price. This is relatively attractive, as it is below average. So it offers extremely good value for money.

There are still some seams, however, compromising its use over long distances.

T-shirt features

Features Product
CutRight
Sleeve lengthShort
CollarRound
SewingWith

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits

✅ Light
✅ Breathable
✅ Value for money

Disadvantages

❌ Use in cold weather 
❌ Sewing

The Compagnie du Trail's opinion

This lightweight T-shirt is ideal for use in hot weather. Thanks to its value for money, it's worth buying several T-shirts. Whether you're training or racing. Be careful over long distances, though, because of the seams.

Salomon Sense Aero: a lightweight T-shirt that's easy to wear and carry

opinion t shirt salomon sens aero trail

Product presentation

Lightweight and breathable, this t-shirt is ideal for training and racing. It's a straight-cut T-shirt with a fabric that's relatively comfortable to wear. Runners who prefer a loose fit will have more freedom of movement. 

As far as its thermal properties are concerned, it effectively wicks away moisture, helping runners avoid overheating in summer and chills in winter. In this way, it makes an excellent t-shirt for your summer or winter outings. 

The final interesting point about this T-shirt is that it is designed with Merrow seams, limiting rubbing and therefore chafing.

T-shirt features

Features Product
CutRight
Sleeve lengthShort
CollarRound
SewingMerrow sewing

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits

✅ Light
✅ good value for money
✅ ideal for long runs
✅ no irritation

Disadvantages

❌ beware of white fabric (may become transparent).

The Compagnie du Trail's opinion

This t-shirt is great for training and racing. It's relatively light and efficiently wicks away perspiration. It will protect you from overheating and cold in winter. It's also worth noting that the stitching prevents chafing. A good t-shirt for long runs.

Its price remains affordable.

Compressport Performance SS: a close-fitting running shirt

compressport maillot trail avis

Product presentation

Do you enjoy your running session in a close-fitting T-shirt? Then the Compressport Performance SS range is likely to appeal to you. 

This T-shirt is so comfortable and soft it's almost imperceptible when you're wearing it. Its microfibre construction and seamless design prevent chafing, irritation and unpleasant odours. It also has strategically placed air vents for better air circulation, ensuring effective ventilation.

The fabric's ability to rapidly wick away sweat and moisture keeps you dry, even during the most demanding workouts. 

Its regular cut guarantees total freedom of movement. 

Made with dyed fibres for extra durability. Suitable for both a casual outing and a competitive race, the Performance SS T-shirt is a versatile choice for a variety of sporting activities.

T-shirt features

Features Product
CutClose to the body
Sleeve lengthShort
CollarRound
SewingWithout

Advantages and disadvantages

Benefits

✅ Freedom of movement
✅ Thermal properties
✅ Design
✅ Durability
✅ Value for money

Disadvantages

❌ Close fit (may not appeal to all trailers).

The Compagnie du Trail's opinion

This T-shirt is a quality product at a reasonable price. It's one of those t-shirts designed for competition. If you're a fan of close-fitting t-shirts, this is undoubtedly one of the best. Sweat-wicking and chafe-free, it's definitely a top-of-the-range T-shirt at a more than reasonable price.

Frequently asked questions 

How do I choose a t-shirt for trail running?

To choose the right trail shirt, opt for a breathable material that wicks away perspiration to keep you dry. Choose a lightweight, comfortable fabric with a cut that's adapted to your body shape. Make sure the T-shirt is designed to minimise chafing and irritation. Finally, depending on your preferences, choose additional features such as reflective elements for visibility or a zip fastening.

How important is the trail T-shirt in your outfit?

In trail running and running in general, the T-shirt is a central element in your comfort during races and training sessions. A good t-shirt will help you avoid a number of thermal problems (too hot or too cold) as well as irritation. This can be very detrimental to your running, especially over longer distances.

What's the difference between a trail T-shirt and a running shirt?

Yes, there are differences. Trail running t-shirts are often tougher to cope with harsh outdoor conditions, such as scrub, and may have specific features such as pockets for trail gear. Running t-shirts are generally lighter and designed for optimum performance on smooth surfaces and in urban environments.

Beyond these differences, T-shirts often have the same thermal properties and are very similar in terms of comfort.

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