An ode to cotton – And guidelines on how to wear it
October 16, 2025
Runner-in-Chief of Runner’s World Jeff Dengate is a cotton t-shirt advocate. Just check out his Instagram. In the world of matching sets and fancy singlets, his take is unconventional. For the most part, though, I agree that cotton gets a worse rap than it deserves.
Of course you’ll never catch me in a cotton t-shirt on a hot long run. I don’t want to deal with the weight or chafe of a sweat-soaked shirt that I got at a race over a decade ago. (The real ones remember getting shirts from the Cubbie Hole at track meets.)
But cooler weather? Sign me up. Personally, I find that all of the properties that make cotton bad for hot days make it great for cooler ones. Cotton traps in heat, weighs a bit more than performance fabrics, and is overall quite cozy. If you’re dressed correctly for the weather, cotton can keep you comfy the whole run.
But alas, I see many runners who could dress more appropriately for the day’s weather. Using my years’ of experience running in the variable Midwest weather, here’s some guidelines on how to bring cotton back into your running outfit rotation.
60-55 degrees F
Wear shorts and a short sleeve cotton shirt. Cool enough to stay dry, but warm enough for a chilly breeze.
55-35 degrees F
Switch out for a long sleeve cotton shirt. A little more warmth for a runner’s spaghetti arms, but still not too much weight. And yes, you should still be wearing shorts.
35-20 degrees F
Add a wicking long sleeve base layer under the long sleeve cotton. If you don’t want to wear layers, a thick cotton hoodie or sweatshirt should do the trick. I won’t shame you for wearing long pants at this point, too.
20-10 degrees F
Keeping the wicking long sleeve, but replace the cotton long sleeve with a cotton sweatshirt.
10 degrees F and below
When it’s this cold, combine it all: wicking long sleeve base layer, long sleeve cotton shirt, and cotton sweatshirt.
Generally, I like wearing the wicking layer closer to my skin when the temps drop. The wind can get through cotton pretty easily. However, if there’s rain or snow, flip it, or at least put a water resistant shell on.
If you head out and realize it’s hotter than you planned, embrace the sweat — you’ll survive. Or take the cotton off and get that tan, queen.
Beyond the fact that cotton can be cozy, it can keep easy runs feeling easy. There’s something about putting on a big cotton t-shirt and old running shorts that keeps a run low-stakes. I mean, you’re basically running in your pajamas.
Lastly, running in cotton is simply iconic. During and before the first major running boom in the 1970’s, cotton was the only option for running attire. People were running fast, and there wasn’t a piece of polyester in sight. Even Pre wore cotton. While running in cotton may be hot, you can’t deny it looks cool.