I’ve written a few times about my growing love for short sleeve running shirts. I’ve also written about my growing love of merino technical gear. Tracksmith’s short sleeve harrier tee brings this all together in what is basically the perfect summer running tee. A big bonus is that it looks like a regular tee, so if you’re a wardrobe minimalist, you can pretty much just stock up on these and have all your bases covered.
Here’s the scoop on the harrier tee.
P.S. I’ve previously reviewed the harrier tank and harrier long sleeve, which I also love.
Fabric and Durability
The harrier tee is simply designed with decorative features but not much else. The selling point of this tee is the merino material. Merino is one of my favorite materials for days in the mountains. When weather is variable, it’s critical that my tops stay warm when wet from rain or sweat. I find merino sweaters incredibly itchy, but technical knits like this one don’t bother my skin.
Merino tops do tend to show sweat more than synthetic ones, so keep that in mind if sweat marks are an issue for you.
When worn with my lightweight running vest (Osprey Dyna), the shirt has not pilled at all. With my hiking day pack, I tend to get some light pilling in my Tracksmith merino tops. I’ve yet to wear this exact shirt with any pack other than my running vest, and haven’t had any issues with pilling from washing and normal wear.
One issue you might note with washing these merino tops is twisting. I’ve had many of mine, including this one, twist slightly so that the side seams don’t lay perfectly straight. For me, this isn’t noticeable when worn.
Sizing and Fit
This shirt runs small and short, even compared to other Tracksmith tops. I sized up to a size S, even though my usual size is XS in tops.
I have this tee in both XS and S, but the XS was a bit more snug and short than I like for running. In contrast, the session tee I’m wearing in this post is an XS and fits about the same as the harrier in S. If you want a relaxed fit like I’m wearing here, I recommend sizing up. If you want an even breezier fit, you may even want to size up twice.
Tall gals and those with long torsos, be aware that this shirt is not very long. I am only 5’3″ and wearing high rise shorts here, and I don’t have a ton of length to spare. This shirt hits at high hip for me.
Is the harrier tee worth the money?
Out of Tracksmith’s current lineup of warm weather run tops, this one is my favorite. The fit is flattering, and the fabric works well for me. At $78, it’s not the cheapest top, but is pretty comparable to technical tops from other high-end brands. I have three of these tees and they’re one of the first things I reach for. Overall, I highly recommend this as a warm weather staple.
Outfit details
Tracksmith harrier tee – sea pine
Lululemon speed up high-rise 2.5″ shorts – sonic pink
Hoka One One all day hat
Garmin Fenix 6S
New Balance Fresh Foam Vongo v5
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