The Complete Buyer's Guides To Performance Shirts

Performance shirts are growing rapidly in popularity in the US. With their athletic, activewear design, wearers are finding them more comfortable and functional as well as stylish.

In this guide, we’ve brought together all of our expertise and understanding of performance shirts to give you everything you need to know when it comes to buying them. We take a look at the benefits of wearing these shirts, the different types and styles, and the best products you can buy right now. 

First, let’s take a closer look at performance shirts and what they are. 

What Are Performance Shirts?

A performance shirt is a top that’s been designed to aid and improve your athletic performance, rather than other t-shirts which may not be breathable and cling to your skin when you sweat. 

Performance shirts are often made of quick-drying and breathable fabrics which help regulate your body temperature. They are ideal to wear for work if you’re in an active job, as well as recreationally when exercising or playing sports. 

What Are Performance Shirts Made Of?

So, what are performance shirts made of? Various materials are used and they’re all designed to aid comfort, function and durability. 

One of the most common materials is polyester. It’s favored for being lightweight and moisture-wicking, which means that it draws sweat from the body. It also dries quickly which is ideal for intense activities. 

Nylon is another commonly used material. It’s strong, smooth and moisture-wicking. It also has a nice, silky feel which can be great to avoid chafing. 

A more natural material that’s used is Merino Wool. This is an odor-resistant and temperature-regulating material which also offers some protection from the cold. It’s ideal for hiking and running, especially in winter. 

You may find that some performance shirts are made from a blend of fabrics and materials too, such as polyester and spandex, the latter material providing compression and muscle support.

What Are The Benefits Of Wearing A Performance Shirt?

More and more people are turning toward performance shirts, and there are numerous reasons for them doing so. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key benefits of wearing a performance shirt:

• Moisture-Wicking Fabric - this phrase simply means that the material draws sweat away from your body so it doesn’t cling to your skin. It helps to keep you dry and comfortable. 
• Stretchability - materials like polyester offer a good range of movement which is ideal when exercising
• Breathable - many materials used in performance shirts allow for good airflow, which can help keep your body cool
• Odor Resistant - some materials like Merino Wool can tackle and reduce odors caused by sweat. 
• Protects From UV Rays - you may find certain products that offer protection from the sun, which can be vital if you’re outside for long periods fishing, hiking or playing sports like golf. 

The Different Types Of Performance Shirts

Performance shirts come in all different shapes, sizes, styles and designs. You can get short sleeve shirts and long sleeve shirts and ones made from specific materials. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common types:

• Short sleeve shirts - perfect for warm weather and high-intensity activities like running, gym workouts and sports. The short sleeve can allow for greater freedom of movement
• Long sleeve shirts - longer-sleeved shirts can be ideal for cooler weather or to use as an underlayer. 
• Sleeveless or tank tops - ideal for maximum ventilation activities like weight lifting and high-intensity interval training
• Polo shirts - these shirts combine performance with style, offering a more formal and professional look. They’re ideal for golf, tennis and business casual settings.
• Button down and button up shirts - these shirts offer a more polished, stylish look and are ideal for travel and casual business environments. 
• Performance dress shirts - this type of shirt opts more for style than function but maintains that same high level of comfort and flexibility. 
• Compression shirts - these products are designed to be more of a tighter fit, the idea being to provide muscle support and boost circulation. Their ideal for contact sports, running and weightlifting. They tend to be made of spandex or elastane blends. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but offers an insight into the most common types of performance shirts available right now. 

What Are The Best Performance Shirts Right Now?

We’ve looked in-depth at what performance shirts are, their features and potential benefits. Now let’s take a look at some of the best products you can buy right now. 

The Best Performance Polo Shirts

Performance polo shirts offer a great balance between style, comfort and flexibility, giving you what you need to perform to the best of your ability while looking sharp. 

One of the best performance polo shirts is the 5.11 Tactical Men's Short Sleeve Performance Polo Shirt. Available in a range of colors, including black, red, green and tan, it also comes in all sizes up to 3XL. Made from polyester, it offers moisture-wicking and quick-drying functions. It also comes with SmartWeave fabric, which makes it resistant to snags, rips and wrinkles. It makes it one of the best performance polo shirts for hiking, running and sports like golf. 

Another popular polo shirt is the Propper I.C.E. S/S Performance Polo. Available in a wide range of colors and with sizes up to 8XL, it’s another great option. Made of 94% polyester and 6% spandex, you can expect a smart, stylish fit. Wearers compliment this shirt for its breathability, excellent fit and classy look. 

The Best Performance Shirt For Style And Comfort

The best performance shirt for style, comfort and your wallet is, in our opinion, the Condor Maxfort Performance Top. Lightweight and attractive, it comes in a range of smart colors to help you achieve that cool, smart-casual look. It’ll also keep you feeling cool with its breathable polyester fabric and anti-odor and anti-microbial materials. 

The shirt also comes with light compression to provide some muscle support. And with its moisture-wicking properties, it’ll keep you feeling dry too. It’s ideal for wearing at the gym, going on hikes or long runs or cycles. 

The Best Performance Shirt For Compression And Breathability

If you’re looking for a shirt that provides muscle compression while maintaining breathability then the Vertx Short Sleeve Full Guard Performance Shirt could be for you. 

Available in three muted colors, this shirt is designed to provide the best in breathability and temperature control. The shirt comes with a raglan-style sleeve and a long-line hem to help ensure maximum mobility and coverage. 

It serves as a very attractive option as a base layer for your high-performance outfit. 

The Best Shirts For Women

There are also a number of high-performance shirts specifically designed for women. One of the very best is the 5.11 Tactical Women's Performance Short Sleeve Polo Shirt. Not only is it stylish and professional, but it's smart in its functionality, offering breathability, moisture wicking and bartacking at major stress points for extra robustness. 

The Propper Women's I.C.E. Short Sleeve Performance Polo Shirt is another popular choice. Made from a blend of polyester and spandex, this shirt is more suited for women in the field with its handy pockets and pouches. It has a mic clip slot at the shoulder, a sunglasses loop and a pen pocket on one of the sleeves too. It’s also available in a range of different sizes—up to XL—and colors, including black, blue, white and tan. 

The Best Performance Shirts For Fishing

Fishing is a terrific pastime and one of the most popular sports in the US. In 2022, it was estimated that around 54.5 million people in the US went fishing.

However, it’s a sport that leaves you very much exposed to the elements. From sweltering heat to lashing rain, fishermen and anglers have to put up with it all. As a result, it can aid your experience if you buy yourself a performance shirt that’s UV-resistant, moisture-wicking and breathable.

One of the best performance shirts for fishing is the Columbia Performance Fishing Gear Long-Sleeve Shirt. It’s designed specifically for anglers and offers protection against the sun, with the long sleeves providing maximum coverage. 

Another popular performance shirt for fishing is the AFTCO Samurai Long-Sleeve Sun Protection Shirt. Not only does it offer excellent protection from the sun, but it’s anti-microbial which can prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria, which is ideal for keeping those fishy smells away. 

Buy Performance Shirts Today

Now that you’ve learned all about performance shirts, you may wish to buy one, or several! If so, you’re in the right place.

Here at LA Police Gear, we specialize in performance shirts and stock a terrific range. You can find short sleeve shirts, long sleeve ones and an array of stylish polo shirts. 

We offer fast and reliable shipping and an excellent returns policy so if your shirt doesn’t quite fit, you can send it back and get another size without any hassle. 

And if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us here.