Most gym vests are an afterthought. A freebie from a race pack, a leftover from a brand collaboration, something that ended up in the kit bag without anyone actually choosing it. We’ve all trained in something that bunches under the arms, sags in the wrong places, or goes that particular shade of grey after three washes. It matters more than people admit.

The vest is the piece you spend the most time actually moving in. It needs to manage heat properly, sit right when you’re pressing or pulling, and hold its shape across a season of regular use. Fabric construction and armhole placement do more work here than most people realise.

What we’ve pulled together are the vests that were clearly designed by people who train, not just people who sell sportswear. Clean lines, proper fit across different builds, and materials that perform rather than just photograph well. These are worth buying on purpose.