The lightweight Falke Core Speed Running tee is designed for running but is ready for anything.
The Falke Core Speed Running Tee might be built to keep you comfortable and focused on the miles ahead but the technical design, fit and sweat-wicking performance make it a versatile option for your cardio and gym sessions too. So does it deserve a place in your training kit, as well as on our best running tops list? I hit the road and the gym floor to find out.
Men’s Fitness verdict
Performance-wise it’s hard to fault the lightweight, quick-wicking, chafe-free Core Speed. However the fit might not suit some runners or gym goers and there are cheaper tees.- Soft and light
- High-cut sleeves boost movement
- Shifts moisture well
- Slightly high cut and loose hem
- A bit pricey
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At Men’s Fitness we pride ourselves on delivering information that serves a singular purpose: to improve some aspect of your health, fitness or wellbeing. For over 16 years, we’ve been publishing authoritative health and fitness content – written by our expert editors and contributors. We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. This Falke running top was tested and reviewed by expert gear tester Kieran Alger.
Falke Core Speed Running T-Shirt design
Made from fewer than a handful of panels, the Falke Core Speed Running T-Shirt (buy now) is designed to be virtually seamless to minimise chafe risk and maximise comfort. There’s good attention to detail here with a barely-there thin, flat collar and some taping at the back of the neck to add structure and keep it in place.
The 58% polyamide and 42% polyester fabric strikes a good balance. It’s thicker and more textured than some technical training tees but still remains light, airy and comfortable against the skin.
The one-piece main body of the tee is also seamless to boost comfort while different textured panels ‘knitted’ into the tee help to increase breathability in the areas you need it most. That includes a tiny honeycomb perforated section running down the centre of the spine, under the arms and across the chest and some ribbing down the sides and across the shoulders on the sleeves.
Speaking of the sleeves, they’re cut high which leaves plenty of freedom to move. The cuffs are lightly elasticated with some – but not a huge amount – of flex.
The Falke Core Speed only comes in three sizes – XS/S, M/L and XL/XXL. It’s available in black, white, grey and red.
Falke Core Speed Running T-Shirt performance
I put the Falke Core Speed tee through some serious tests, including a 2-hour half marathon in the summer sun, a bunch of mixed weights and HIIT sessions in the gym and some time on the rowing machine.
The disappearing comfort was top notch. The fabric blend is lovely and soft with enough stretch and flex to move with your body whether you’re running or doing chin-ups. It’s not silky like some tees, there’s more of a knitted texture that’s potentially better suited to cooler temperatures. But it’s still wonderfully light. It disappears and lets you go about your business.
The fit is quite snug on the shoulders and across the chest but still pretty flexible and the higher cut arm sleeves are great for free movement and reaching gym drills.
Falke Core Speed Running T-Shirt fit
Things get looser down towards the hem which makes for an airy feel on the run. However, I found my test tee hung a little oddly. If you like your tees to drop below the waist, this isn’t the one. It stops quite high and baggy, almost a bit too wide so it sort of floats a bit. That can leave a bit of belly on show when you’re doing hangs or high lifts. There was also some bunching of the sleeves around the back of the armpits. That didn’t affect how it felt on the run or training, but does change the aesthetics.
On that 2-hour half marathon sweat-fest, the wicking was pretty good. And crucially the thin fabric dried fast once I was done. I feared this knit might get wet and heavy but it stayed light throughout.
On durability, so far it’s survived half a dozen wash cycles without losing shape – or the bright red colour – and it’s coped with being buffeted by a 2kg running pack over two hours. So that looks solid.
Should you buy the Falke Core Speed Running T-Shirt?
The Falke Core Speed is a well made, versatile training t-shirt that’s as suited to clocking outdoor running miles as it is smashing out chest presses in the gym. It’s light, comfortable and flexible, not to mention pretty decent at moving moisture and drying fast quickly when it does get wet. The fit might be a little loose and high for some and the price tag is also a bit steep for a regular session tee. When it comes to running, it’s definitely a top I’d prefer to train in, rather than race. It’s also not something I’d necessarily wear outside of workouts. So it lacks a bit of that casual-gym crossover but it’s still a good, solid all-rounder.
Falke Core Speed Running T-Shirt technical specs
| Materials | 58% polyamide, 42% polyester |
| Features | Sweat-wicking; Honeycomb perforations; Reflective details |
| Colors | Black, white, red, grey |
| Sizes | XS/S – XL/XXL |
How we test running shirts
MF tester Kieran Alger put the Falke tee through a range of workouts, including a half-marathon run, gym-based strength session and a HIIT workout. He assessed the top for comfort, fit and sweat-wicking capabilities. He also put the durability and general wear to the test with multiple wash cycles.
