As Extremely Fussy Health Editors, Trust Us—These 11 Workout Tops for Women Are the Best Money Can Buy

If you know me, you'll know that I'm quite passionate about workout gear. Sure, a niche interest, but I know how good properly fitting workout kit can make you feel. Enter stage right, my edit of the best workout tops for women you can currently buy.

If you've recently started working out, you could probably do with adding to your gym kit, and for that, you're in the right place. Team MCUK has already rounded up the best sports bras, matching gym sets, and even the best gym hoodies to take you from A to B.

As Marie Claire's Senior Health Editor, I've tried my fair share of not-so-great kit in my time. Ten years ago, when I'd just moved to London, I can vividly recall my first gym workout. Sweating in a basement studio (the cheapest membership I could find), I was wearing head-to-toe high street kit, bar my top, which was a London Marathon finishers' top from 1998, courtesy of my Dad.

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with budget gym kit or recycling old t-shirts to workout in if that's all you can afford, I remember feeling frustrated. The leggings rolled down every time I moved, the top chafed my armpits when I did any intense cardio moves, and just a month after purchasing, most of the items were bobbling, saggy, and smelling a bit like old PE kit.

Research has actually proven that what you wear can have a huge impact on how you perform in your workout sessions, with one Journal of Experimental Social Psychology study even finding that what you wear can influence how you act. I'm passionate about bringing you the top, sweat-tested picks, as I know that supportive kit will enhance your workouts, boost your confidence in the gym, and improve your general wellbeing, too.

I've roped in the help of run coach and Championship qualifying athlete Lillie Bleasdale and Sophie Boucher, Teacher Training Manager and Yoga teacher at MoreYoga, along with MC UK's Junior Shopping Editors Valeza Bakolli, Amelia Yeomans, and Fashion Writer Sofia Piza for their top recommendations.

I'm a ten-time marathoner, four-time Boston Qualifying runner and avid strength trainer. MC UK Fashion Writer Sofia is an avid runner and all-around fitness enthusiast who has also sweat-tested some designs for me in yoga classes, Pilates sessions, and on runs, and Valeza and Amelia love a low-impact Pilates class just as much as a more intense HIIT session. Our other experts shared their top picks for long runs, strength training, and yoga, too.

There's a whole load of price points in this edit and a range of coverage options, too - while I'm now comfortable working out in a tank top, I wasn't for years, so I've included some of the best oversized gym t-shirts, too.

Best workout tops: Quick shopping links

• Most stylish workout top: £85 at Monday Body
• Most supportive workout top: £48 at TALA
• Best workout t-shirt: £33 at adidas
• Best long sleeved workout top: £68 at lululemon
• Softest workout top: £85 at Vuori
• Best running workout top: £10.50 at Gymshark (70%)

Testing process for the best workout tops for women

Every item in this round-up has been personally tested by the MC UK team over the course of at least three workouts (most are now mainstays in our workout wardrobes and have been for a good while).

Rest assured that I'd never include a brand in a round-up that we haven't tried and rated ourselves - while many options are tried and tested, only the best make the final cut.

For more information on how we test our kit pre-inclusion, click here. When testing, we considered the following:

• Did the top sweat-wick well and was it breathable?
• Was the top supportive?
• Was the top flattering and did it make us feel confident?
• Did the top chafe or sag?
• Did the top stand the test of time and wash well?

Best workout tops for women

Most stylish workout top

What we thought when testing: "I look for any excuse to wear this top," says Yeomans. "It's the perfect layer for Pilates when you want to cover up without wearing a bulky jumper or a long sleeved top that's tricky to take off mid-workout. This can just be thrown on over a vest or sports bra and it adds some warmth but also offers breathability. I love the thumb holes and buttery soft fabric that moves with your body as you workout."

Best workout top with pockets

What we thought when testing: Easily one of the best running tops on the market if you're looking for storage space. The tops and shorts from independent brand Weasie are my current favourites - they have 5+ pockets on both, fit your belongings seamlessly, and are unbelievably handy for racing or training runs.

With five - yes, five! - pockets to choose from, you can easily fit your phone, gels, keys, card, and basically anything else you may need in this top. The design is also surprisingly ergonomical - nothing bounces around, and it truly feels like a second skin. Want my two cents? Support a female-founded, independent business and treat yourself to one of the best running tops on the market RN.

Most supportive workout top

What we thought when testing: "I am a huge fan of workout tops with bras built in, so I knew I'd be a fan of this before I even put it on," says Yeomans. "This top gives me brilliant hold and doesn't dig in at all on my shoulders or under the bust. The layered design is so chic and elevated, making it a perfect pick if you're fed up with plain workout gear but still want to invest in a top with versatility. It's the ideal length for wearing with high-rise leggings, and the adjustable straps mean you can get the fit you need. It also has removable pads, which I like to keep in, but you can take them out if you prefer."

Best workout t-shirt

What we thought when testing: Yeomans is a fan of this loose-fit top as it helps her feel confident and ready to focus on her sweat session. "If I'm going to the gym or a cardio workout class, I prefer to be in something looser fitting on top as I'll often wear shorts on the bottom. I have had this adidas t-shirt for years and I have zero complaints - it's breathable, sweat-wicking, comfortable, fits true to size, and can be worn with pretty much anything."

Best long-sleeved workout top

What we thought when testing: This Swiftly top is one of lululemon's best-selling designs for a reason - it's a great all-rounder as you can wear it in all seasons, washes well, and offers a flattering fit.

It's one of Bleasdale's go-to's for keeping warm in chillier weather - that said, I've worn it for cloudy summer runs and can confirm it's not so thick you'll overheat and regret wearing it.

Bleasdale agrees, adding: "Even if working at the highest of intensities, the breathable fabric will make sure you don't feel like you're in a sauna. Plus, the shorter "race" length is perfect for tucking into your shorts without having lots of fabric in the way, and the thumb holes are great for keeping the hands warm during the cooler months." (Trust me, they're a real game-changer when you forget your gloves for outdoor colder workouts).

Best cropped workout vest

What we thought when testing: As a Health Editor, I've tested a lot of kit in my time and can confirm that LNDR is up there with the best. All of the kit I've tried from the brand has performed well and looked good, but a particular favourite of mine is this muscle tank.

With an in-built bra, it's designed for high intensity and you can tell. I've worn mine for strength training sessions, short runs, long runs, hikes, and Pilates, and it passed the sweat test every time, offering a supportive and long-lasting performance option. What I like the most, however, is how supportive it is without feeling restrictive - I have some sports bras and workout tops that I can't spend the day in, whereas you could wear this to brunch, workout, or even travel in (yep, it's that comfortable).

Keep an eye out for the small LNDR logo stamped on the back of the tank which, fun fact, is made from recycled corn cobs and changes colour as your body temperature rises.

Best multi-use top

What we thought when testing: Breathable, functional, and extremely stylish, this multi-use top has carried Junior Fashion Editor Sofia Piza through bike rides, long runs, and everyday walks alike. It features a handy silicone gripper that ensures the top stays in place during any activity, so you don’t have to worry about it riding up.

Additionally, it has three spacious pockets to keep all your items safely secured. Our pro tip is to size up, as it has a slightly slimmer fit if you prefer a looser feel.

Best breathable workout T-shirt

What we thought when testing: Part of Red Run's core collection, the Technical Sports top pretty much does what it says on the tin. Valeza is a huge fan of the fit and functionality of this T-shirt, stating "It's high-performance, sweat-wicking, not too tight around the arms and has a super breathable mesh panel at the lower back. It's almost like the designers know that's exactly where I get the most sweaty."

"The mesh panel allows your sports bra to peek through for a fun design element that still provides a decent amount of coverage - I'm a fan."

Best lululemon workout top

What we thought when testing: I've worn this lululemon design for races, gym sessions, yoga and more - when I say I have worn this top a lot, I mean I have worn it more times than I care to admit.

It's the best workout top you can buy, IMO - whether you're chucking it on for gym sessions or even tackling marathons in it (yep, I've worn it for a full 26.2), it's butter-soft, unbelievably good at sweat-wicking, and feels barely there, which is exactly what I look for from a workout top.

I've had mine for around a year or so now and it always washes well, never smells, and has never caused chafing, either. An investment, but a good one, IMO. Scroll our edit of all the best lululemon products, here.

Softest workout top

What we thought when testing: For everyday wear and low impact workouts, Yeomans swears by Vuori tops. "I don't know how I ever lived without Vuori workout tops. The fabric of this tank is unbelievably soft - more so than any other brand I've tried - making it comfortable enough to wear when lounging around.

"It's my top pick for low impact workouts like Pilates as it can be worn without a bra if you have a smaller chest or your exercise session isn't too intense. Plus, it's beautifully sweat-wicking and has four way stretch for optimum movement and comfort. The racerback style and colour make it extra stylish, so much so you could definitely wear it out and about as a regular top during the summer as well."

Best long-sleeved running top

What we thought when testing: Yeomans is a huge fan of this versatile long-sleeved top, which she wears for running. "I'm not a regular runner anymore, but whenever I do decide to go for a jog, this is the only top I wear - and it saw me through all of my running workouts when I was at university. It has a compression fit so doesn't chafe or get in the way when running, and I love the thumb holes that keep my hands warm when outside. The main pro is how well it wicks sweat during longer cardio sessions, as well as the protection against the elements it provides.

"At just £10 right now, it's one of the most affordable tops I own, but you'd never know that. I have washed it countless times in the five plus years I've had it and it still looks - and feels - good as new."