In my drawer full of mediocre quality freebie race t-shirts, the Arc’teryx Motus shirts from their Endorphin line of clothing really stand out.  They are far superior in terms of quality, fabric, fit, and comfort.

Arc’teryx Motus Sleeveless Shirt

Arc’teryx Motus Short Sleeve T-Shirt

I tested out both the Motus Crew short sleeve and sleeveless versions a few times and I was impressed. The fabric is great – it is nice and soft, as well as lightweight and breathable.  I’ve worn both shirts by themselves, under a jacket, and under a pack – they always performed great.  I was impressed with how fast the short sleeved shirt dried out after removing my pack one day after a run, and how the shirts didn’t get heavy and start to hang when wet.  There is definitely a difference between this material and the standard breathable fabric used on a lot of running shirts.

Motus fabric and reflective patch

The quality and attention to detail that I have found in all Arc’teryx gear is found on these shirts as well.  From well finished edges on openings and perfectly manufactured flat seams to the nice rubbery tag that I didn’t have to cut off before first wearing!

Arm opening on sleeveless shirt

Non-scratchy rubber tag!

The shirts are cut to fit comfortably without any excess fabric.  I found that even under a pack, the shirts didn’t bunch or get in the way at all.  When running in them, they had a great balance of being close fitting enough to not be blowing in the wind, but certainly were not at all constrictive.

Nice flat seams all over

For runners who are often buried in free shirts from all the races they enter, it can be hard to justify paying for a running shirt, but I would say these are worth it.  They are definitely a leap above in terms of quality and much nicer to run (or do any other aerobic activity) in.

The gear test self portrait – I should look happier in such a great shirt!

Disclaimer – Arc’teryx was kind enough to provide these shirts as samples for me to try. There were no conditions or expectations in terms of what I would say about them and no financial compensation provided. The opinions expressed here are definitely and entirely my own, based on my use.