Pro run tester Kieran Alger put the Castore Light tee through its paces and was impressed by its performance on the road and in the gym…
Castore’s new Light Collection features a selection of versatile kit to help you keep training through the dark winter days and nights. The Light Short Sleeve Shirt workout top can be used for everything from running to HIIT sessions.
Men’s Fitness verdict
Though there are definitely lighter shirts out there, Castore’s Light tee is a versatile option for running and gym work alike. Soft, silky fabric means it’ll withstand longer sessions too.- Good run-gym training versatility
- Soft, silky and chafe-free
- Reflective detailing is a bit subtle
- Might be hot and heavy outside of winter
How we test running tops
Kieran Alger is a running fanatic and professional run-tester. He tested this running top, as well as those featured in our buyer’s guide, over a wide range of distances, terrains and even countries. One test took him to an Italian ultramarathon; while others were conducted on the towpaths of West London, where he lives.
Castore Light T-Shirt design
It’s cut from a blend of polyester and stretch elastane that’s slightly heavier than your regular technical running tee. That’s good for added warmth on cooler runs. Some minimal runners (we’re looking at you, singlet crew) may find it a bit heavy for all-out speed sessions. But in my tests I found it didn’t weigh me down too much.
The tee features different strategic cooling zones with heavier fabric on the front and thinner, lighter and more breathable panels on the back. I found it worked well shifting sweat from the leakiest zones and that back panel is particularly effective.
Overall, I felt the comfort was pretty solid; the material felt relatively soft and silky against my skin. It’s smooth enough to make nipple chafe less of a risk, unless you’re running for several hours. In which case lube up.
Fit and fabric
The fabric on the Light T-Shirt has plenty of stretch so it never felt restrictive. While the Raglan sleeves also make sure there’s a good range of motion. That’s great if you bounce from the treadmill to the weights floor or chin up rack.
The relaxed fit is big enough to accommodate a thin base layer underneath, if you want to guarantee good warmth. Though that can impair the tee’s own sweat-wicking abilities.
There are some reflective details on the back to boost night-run safety. However, the rest of the tee is completely black (there is a mushroom grey version too) and it’s not the most impactful high-viz detailing I’ve seen. It could easily be more prominent.
The Castore Light Short Sleeve T-Shirt comes in six sizes from XS to XXL and can be washed up to 30 degrees. But it doesn’t play nice with the tumble dryer.
