RD wants to know what you want in a race t-shirt

First, thanks for asking!

My favorite is probably my short sleeve, female cut tech from last years Bolder Boulder.  It's white and comfortable and has a cool design.

My least favorite is probably my odd fitting sleeveless tech from last years Denver Tri for the Cure (sorry Amy).  It's a wierd cut and an awful color (was supposed to be pink but is more like salmon).

I wear the cotton ones too for around town so I'm pretty easy to please.  For an upcoming race I've ordered a long sleeve tech.  I'm looking forward to that one and hope it fits correctly.

My favorite race shirts are:

• long sleeve 100% cotton (nice heavy tee)
• long sleeve tech tees (not cheap material)
• short sleeve cotton (nice heavy tee)
• short sleeve tech tees  (not cheap material)

In that order

Never ever white, ever!

Tell me about your favorite race t-shirt? Do you have one that you really like? 

The shirts that I really like are the tech t-s I have enough cotton to last a lifetime, my favorite is a Brooks shirt from my 1st race.  Out of 4 races I have gotten 2 techs and 2 cotton, honestly the cotton gets put into tshirt drawer and occasionally pulled out the techs get better use, training and non training

Do you wear them or do they end up in a drawer or the donation pile? 

I do wear all but the techs and one with some thought get more wear

Do you want a tech tee/performance tee for training or do you prefer a cotton t-shirt you can wear out on the town? 

performance tee and I wear them out regardless, but I live in a warmer climate so its nice to have them on at least 9 months out of the year

What do you like in terms of color, design or style? 

Something original or at the very least unique to the area or race.  I have one shirt from my first Olympic that is just a grey longsleeve cotton T that says Kiawah Triathlon with a starfish which is nice but not unique, I've never seen a starfish in the area but my half mary shirt has a rendition of the Rainbow Row in downtown charleston which is very unique to the area

After a few years of running I've got a drawer full of shirts now, so my first suggestion is consider giving away something other than a t-shirt.  (how about a running cap or visor?)

but- if it must be a t-shirt, sure, I like the tech shirts.  Unlike those above, I prefer white.  I live in a hot sunny climate- and there's nothing like white.

I pretty much just wear my race shirts, the tech ones anyway, for exercise.  running, or going to the gym.  Long sleeved ones are neat too.  I've got a couple of those.

First choice:  option not to get one for a lower entry fee

Second choice:  tech material

I appriciate you asking, so here goes:

To be blunt, don't do crap stuff, I'd rather not get a shirt and pay $5 less than get some joe shmo shirt that WILL end up in the donation pile.  If you're going to do it, do it right. 

That said, I'd rather have a tech shirt.  I don't really wear traditional "tee shirts" other than to the gym or the beach.  So a cotton shirt wouldn't get used all that much for me.  The vast majority of my running tops are race shirts and I kinda like that.  But again, for as many as I have I've donated twice or thrice as many the day after the race because it was some ill fitting or poorly made "Fred's Brand" shirt.

My personal favorites are the 3 L/S shirts that I got from Yeuling Shamrock Marathons, they are Brooks tops, and the two S/S I have from Chichago marathons and one S/S from Pittsburgh, all of which are Nike.

High quality tech fabric, if possible. Not that cheap scratchy polyester stuff. If not possible, then lightweight cotton. Gender-specific sizes/designs rather than "unisex"--the latter looks awful on smaller/skinnier women. Women who want the looser fit can order men's sizes if they wish. Most of my races are in SE Asia and until this year they have all been unisex--the S or XS just hangs on me and the average local woman could wear it as a tent dress! Please make clear on the entry form is sizes are unisex or gender-specific--it makes a big difference.

Colors--I prefer NOT black, but that's because I train in tropical heat--OK otherwise. Not white either. I love bright, even flourescent colors--many people train before dawn or after dark and they're useful for visibility, if nothing else. Finally, something distinctive or funny on the logo. My local favorite is the Singapore Biathlon shirts--they have a frog logo and the back says, "I'm a CERTIFIED Amphibian" with the "certfied" stamped in "red ink"--very cute. I wear it to coach swimming.

My favorite race shirts are the one's that actually fit me!  Please have women's sizes.  I use them for running, so a nice quality tech - I do like white as I'm in Florida - is preferred.  I get more use out of a short sleeve, but long sleeve is ok too.

just find it amusing, but reading through the thread pretty much the entire spectrum was covered, white, not black or anything but white.. tech but not cotton.. cotton please!

I'd say quality tech shirt, nice color.. i like the idea of the minimalist logo. i'd say to all be prepared to pay a little more if you want gender specfific since it's going to add to the cost... just a guess though.

i'm good with a hat or nice running socks or something (chattanooga waterfront does this).

So glad a RD is asking!

First of all, I am one of those wierdo's that will probably never donate my race shirts, I love them too much!  I am about to have a quilt made out of them...even the ugly ones!  They all represent anaccomplishment!

That being said, the ones I wear the most are the ones that fit well.  Please have women's sizing.  Nothing cheapy or too stiff.  I like the tech shirts, but I always end up buying a cotton one at the expo that I can wear around town though too.  I don't really care on color...I have a long sleeve highlighter yellow tech one that I wear all the time for runs, I love how visible it makes me to clueless drivers.

So basically, my only must haves are high quality ones that actually fit. 

The ugliest ones ever are the ones for the Salt Lake Marathon every year.  They are notorious for awful shirts.  Their version of a small you could fit two of my husband in, and he is 250 pounds....

Tech tee

Small logo on the front, but NICE CREATIVE DESIGN on the back (don't just plop the race name and dates back there).  I like to wear the nice ones.

Any color but that awful drab gray that doesn't look good on anyone.

Not too tight in the neck - V-neck is nice for ladies if you are going M/F

Make sure you have enough smalls!