I have some old Craft pieces that are the best summer tops I have ever run in by far. One is a Cool Concept SS. I also have a few sugerlight base layer tops. They are all starting to get a bit ratty. I haven’t found anything close to these for dealing with summer runs. I know some like the “cooling” tops, but I don’t feel like they work very well in 80%+ humidity. Any recommendations?
No shirt, like a runner.
Cooling top screams gullible tri geek
Well I haven’t done a tri in over 18 months now. I guess I could still be a tri geek though.
I run with a hydration pack 3-4 times a week, so a shirt is necessary. Plus, I’m not really the body type for no shirt. You are welcome.
Lube.
Shoes.
Shorts… maybe
I use the Under Armour heat gear compression short sleeve shirts. They work well for me in the heat and humidity. They also protect well from the sun. No chaffing issues either. I run with an Orange Mud hydraquiver and still no chaffing issues.
I really like the DeSoto long sleeve skin cooler shirt. The sleeves help protect against sunburn and the shirt fits pretty snugly so doesn’t chafe no matter how hot and wet it is. Because it is white/slightly reflective, I feel like it’s actually cooler/more comfortable than shirtless.
Like I said, it does fit snugly, so not for the modest, but I stopped caring about that right around when I realized that spandex shorts or tights, depending on the weather, without anything over them was the most comfortable way to run.
I just use a tri top when it’s a longer run and hot and humid since I don’t have chafing issues with it. I had been using Nike dri fit shirts but started having chafing issues
I’ve been using the north face better-than-naked t shirt this summer. It’s really light and airy.
Another vote for the DeSoto long sleeve skin cooler shirt. Keeps you cool and protects you from sunburn.
Well I haven’t done a tri in over 18 months now. I guess I could still be a tri geek though.
I run with a hydration pack 3-4 times a week, so a shirt is necessary. Plus, I’m not really the body type for no shirt. You are welcome.
Are you running 10 miles or more 3-4 times/wk??? I never worry about fluids unless I’m going 10 mi or more, and even then you can get by if you have 1 or 2 water fountains on your route. Or you could run a 2-3 mi loop X times to get how ever many miles you want; this is what i do, and just line up 3 to 6 water bottles on the trunk of my car to grab at end of each loop. I’ve run up to 24 miles using this system. I think a hydration pack is just more weight to carry around.
July-Oct I do. I’m not much of a tri guy anymore. I do a 100M run in mid-November. The idea of running loops like that sounds dreadful. My legs are dead half of the time so that would make dropping in distance too easy. I like to go out and be gone until I’m done. I really don’t mind the pack. It is my preferred way to carry fluid (and phone, sunglasses, GU, key…). The good ones kind of disappear once you have it on. Plus, I “race” with it so - train the way you are going to race.
July-Oct I do. I’m not much of a tri guy anymore. I do a 100M run in mid-November. The idea of running loops like that sounds dreadful. My legs are dead half of the time so that would make dropping in distance too easy. I like to go out and be gone until I’m done. I really don’t mind the pack. It is my preferred way to carry fluid (and phone, sunglasses, GU, key…). The good ones kind of disappear once you have it on. Plus, I “race” with it so - train the way you are going to race.
Hmmm, well, you’re running a lot more than most people and I guess if you’re planning to run 100 miles using that hydration pack, then ya, you should definitely get used to using it. Good luck with the 100-miler; have you done it before???
Well I haven’t done a tri in over 18 months now. I guess I could still be a tri geek though.
I run with a hydration pack 3-4 times a week, so a shirt is necessary. Plus, I’m not really the body type for no shirt. You are welcome.
Are you running 10 miles or more 3-4 times/wk??? I never worry about fluids unless I’m going 10 mi or more, and even then you can get by if you have 1 or 2 water fountains on your route. Or you could run a 2-3 mi loop X times to get how ever many miles you want; this is what i do, and just line up 3 to 6 water bottles on the trunk of my car to grab at end of each loop. I’ve run up to 24 miles using this system. I think a hydration pack is just more weight to carry around.
I love this kind of reply. Not a word about clothing options the OP might find useful. Instead just “HAVE YOU CONSIDERED YOU ARE DOING ALL YOUR RUNNING WRONG”.
Good grief.
I also wear a pack/vest for most runs. Even on days without fluids, it’s so dang convenient for a mega sized phone, a light or two clipped on and I can keep my dog’s stuff in there for the days we run together.
I had good luck with some of the (discontinued) Pearl Izumi running tops. The ‘Escape’ series fabric sucks for breathability but had a great fit. Their still available Pursuit Singlet is pretty good fit and excellent breathability. I can’t say it has any special cooling abilities, but it won’t become a sponge and didn’t feel bad with a pack. The shoulders aren’t very wide so roughly half of the pack’s shoulder straps are still contacting skin, but I haven’t really noticed it. There’s a few bright colors at clearance pricing in L, XL, or XXL if you are “not really the body type for no shirt” like I am.
There’s probably a lot of good options out there, but I’m pretty happy with a couple Pursuit Singles for breathability and not feeling like a soaked carpet underneath a pack.