Recently I put my hands on some of the most popular summer long sleeve work shirts for hot weather to compare compare them on many things like toughness, breathability, and comfort. My conclusion is this: the Dickies cooling long sleeve work shirt provides the best combination of comfort and lightweight cooling effect and also wicks away sweat. It is my favorite lightweight long sleeve work shirt for summer.
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These are our choices for the best long sleeve work shirts for summer:
- Dickies Temp-iq Performance Cooling Long Sleeve T-Shirt (click here to view)
- Arctic Cool Instant Cooling Long Sleeve Work Shirt (click here to view)
- Fieldsheer Mobile Cooling® Men’s Long Sleeve Shirt (click here to view)
- Carhartt Force Cotton FastDry Long-Sleeve T-Shirt (click here to view)
- Duluth Trading Co. Armachillo Cooling Long Sleeve T-Shirt (click here to view)
- Wrangler ATG Long Sleeve Button Work Shirt (click here to view)
- Gildan DryBlend Long Sleeve T-Shirt, 2-Pack (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Hanes Cool Dri Performance Long Sleeve T-Shirt (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Fieldsheer Mobile Cooling® Women’s Long Sleeve (click here to view)
- *Women’s* Baleaf Women’s Lightweight Long Sleeve Shirt (click here to view)
Because long sleeve work shirt naturally cover up more of your body than short-sleeve t shirts, it is even more critical to find a shirt that is lightweight and breathable.
I personally like to use a summer long sleeve work shirt that wicks away sweat and helps control body temperature. These types of shirts wick sweat to the outside of the shirt, and during the evaporation process, body heat is naturally pulled away from the skin.
No, long sleeve cooling shirts won’t feel like you’re wearing an ice pack. The results are relatively minor, but in my experience, it does help.
In this article, let’s take a closer look at the shirts on this list so you can decide which summer long sleeve work shirt is best for you. At the end let’s discuss a few things to consider when buying these shirts.
10 Best Long Sleeve Work Shirts for Hot Weather
To find the best summer long sleeve work shirt, you need something that is lightweight, and breathable – and it also helps if the fabric provides some UV protection.
- Please note: Not all the shirts on this list are rated for sun protection. If that is something that is important to you, I’d suggest this Hanes long-sleeve Cool Dri t-shirt that has 50+ UPF rating for quality UV protection. Always consult a doctor for skin protection advice.
In this list we will discuss long sleeve work t-shirts for summer and long-sleeve button-down work shirts for summer. If you are interested in short sleeve, visit our article about the best summer work t-shirts.
Dickies Temp-iq Performance Cooling Long Sleeve Shirt
The Dickies Cooling Long Sleeve Tee is my choice for best long sleeve work shirt for hot weather. Dickies is a well-known name in workwear, and this shirt makes for a great long sleeve summer work shirt because it’s made to trap cool air next to your skin, while wicking away sweat.
This is the current price of this Dickies Cooling Long Sleeve Shirt available at Amazon (paid affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my opinion these shirts have a very reasonable price point for their quality.
Here are some of the details for this Dickies Cooling Tee:
- Breathable – The poly/cotton fabric is breathable and doesn’t wear like a heavyweight cotton t-shirt that would trap heat in.
- Moisture Wicking – This shirt wicks away your sweat to help keep you dry throughout the day. This is a must for a summer work t-shirt.
- Cooling Effect – This shirt has a cooling effect that is triggered by your persperation to help control your body temperature in the extreme heat.
- Front Chest Pocket – This shirt comes with a front chest pocket that has a pencil stall to store a carpenter’s pencil.
Why is this my favorite long sleeve summer work tee? For me it comes down to fabric – I personally like my shirts to have a cotton feel to them. Even though this shirt uses a cotton/poly blend, it still feels like cotton to the touch:
Yes, the material has a lightweight feel to it, but I wouldn’t describe it as too flimsy. In my experience, it holds up on the job about as well as you could possibly expect for a lightweight summer work shirt.
If you prefer more of a stretch fabric for your cooling work t-shirt, then I’d suggest the Arctic Cool shirt we discuss later because it uses a spandex blend.
Another thing I like about this Dickies shirt is it has a pencil slot on the pocket. That might not impact your decision, but worth considering.
I weighed one of my size mediums and it weighs 0.53 pounds:
This is where you can buy this Dickies Cooling Long Sleeve Shirt at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Expect this shirt to have a standard, true-to-size fit. Multiple colors available.
Arctic Cool Instant Cooling Long Sleeve Work Shirt
Arctic Cool is a company that specializes in making summer friendly clothing. The fabric in this t-shirt is designed in a way that helps keep you cool and comfortable on the job.
Here’s what this Arctic Cool summer work t-shirt looks like:
Here’s what you need to know about this shirt:
- Fabric – This breathable long sleeve work shirt uses Arctic Cool’s unique HydroFreeze X Fabric, a type of fabric designed with channels which allows perspiration to efficiently evaporate.
- Cooling Effect – Yes, this shirt has a cooling effect that is triggered by the evaporation process which helps control your body temperature in the extreme heat.
- Sun Protection – This cooling long sleeve shirt is rated for UPF 50+ Sun Protection.
- What Makes This Shirt Different – The biggest difference between this shirt and the Dickies cooling shirt we discussed first, is this shirt uses a poly/spandex stretch blend. The Dickies shirt has more of a traditional cotton feel to it, this Arctic Cool shirt definitely has a lot of stretch.
Here’s a close-up look at the material used for this Arctic Cool cooling long sleeve work shirt:
Again, think stretch. This will not feel like cotton. If you rely on freedom of movement on the job, this might be a nice option.
I weighed one of my size mediums and it weighs 0.54 pounds:
This shirt is machine washable. Arctic Cool also offers cooling polo shirts for summer.
Carhartt Force Cotton FastDry Long-Sleeve T-Shirt
If you like wearing Carhartt workwear, they do have several options for summer long sleeve shirts. The best, in my opinion, is the Carhartt Force Cotton FastDry Tee, which is made with a sweat-fighting fabric. Here’s what it looks like:
This is the current price of this Carhartt T-Shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This shirt is made with a poly/cotton blend.
Here are some of the details for this Carhartt Force T-Shirt:
- Moisture Wicking – This shirt wicks away your sweat to help keep you dry throughout the day.
- Relaxed Fit – This shirt has a relaxed fit that won’t hug tight against your skin, and gives you room to breathe.
- Stain Fighter – This shirt has stain-fighting technology to help keep you looking clean. a cooling effect that is triggered by your persperation to help control your body temperature in the extreme heat.
- Front Chest Pocket – This shirt comes with a front chest pocket for storage.
This shirt has a cotton feel to it. Here’s a close-up look at the fabric:
As I mentioned throughout, I personally prefer a cotton feel for my work shirts. But I use the Dickies shirt we discussed first more often because it uses a fabric that weighs a bit less (5.5-oz to this 5.75-oz).
Wrangler ATG Long Sleeve Button Work Shirt
This button down shirt is part of Wrangler’s All Terrain Gear line of clothing. It is a great option for a button-down long sleeve work shirt for hot weather. It has several unique design features that make it stand out, for example, a vented back to help keep you cool. Here’s what it looks like:
This is the current price of this Wrangler ATG Long Sleeve Button Work Shirt available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This shirt has a flex blend fabric for ease of movement.
Here are some of the unique details for this Wrangler ATG Button Down shirt:
- Breathable Comfort – The fabric in this shirt will wick away sweat and moisture.
- Vented Back – This shirt has uniquq back venting to increase air flow and help control your body temperature.
- Glasses Cleaner – This shirt has fabric on the inside hem of the shirt that you can use to clean off your sunglasses while working. Pretty cool idea.
- Pockets – This shirt has two chest flap pockets. It also has a chest zip pocket which gives you a place to store essentials.
- Sun Protection – This shirt has a UPF 30 sun protection rating to help protect you from UV rays.
- Paneling – There are under-arm panels on this shirt to increase your ease-of-movement. This shirt also has a stretch material blend that adds flexibility.
- Sleeve Converter – One cool thing about this shirt is it has a loop that will help keep your sleeves pulled up if you choose to wear them up near your elbow. I personally have never seen this before in a work shirt.
This is where you can buy this Wrangler Button-Down Summer Work Shirt at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Expect this shirt to have a true-to-size fit. Multiple colors available.
Gildan DryBlend Long Sleeve T-Shirt, 2-Pack
Gildan is a well-known name in t-shirts. If you are looking for something simple and affordable, this 2-pack bundle might be a good option for you. These Gildan shirts are built to wick away sweat. These shirts have a clean, simple design:
This is the current price of this 2-pack bundle from Gildan (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). These long-sleeve shirts are made with a poly/cotton blend.
Here are some of the details for these Gildan shirts:
- Moisture Wicking – These shirts wicks away your sweat to help keep you dry throughout the day.
- Simple Design – These shirts have a clean, simple design with no front pocket. Many of the other shirts on this list have chest pockets. If you don’t like chest pockets, this might be a nice option.
- Affordability – If you are looking for value, this 2-pack bundle is more affordable than other options on this list. Might be a way to save some money.
This is where you can buy these Gildan Long Sleeve T-Shirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). Expect this shirt to have a true-to-size fit. Multiple colors available.
Carhartt Lightweight Button-Down Long Sleeve Summer Work Shirt
If you prefer a button-down long-sleeve work shirt for summer, Carhartt does have a nice option for you. This Carhartt Lightweight Chambray Button Work Shirt is made with a lightweight 4.5-ounce cotton. Here’s what it looks like:
This shirt is made with 100% cotton. Here are some of the details for this Carhartt Button Down Work Shirt:
- Lightweight Build – This shirt uses a lightweight 4.5-ounce cotton fabric so that you don’t sweat out during the summer heat.
- Pleated Back – This shirt has a pleated back for ease of movement when using your arms.
- Front Chest Pocket – This shirt has two button-flap chest pockets for storage. It also has a button-down collar
Expect this shirt to have a true-to-size fit. Multiple colors available.
Columbia Men’s Thistletown Park Henley
This is the first long-sleeve henley shirt on this list. Some people prefer a henley because the opening at the top of the chest allows for extra air movement. Columbia specializes in outdoor gear, and this Columbia Henley provides a moisture-wicking fabric to help keep you dry. Here’s what it looks like:
This shirt is made with a poly/cotton blend. Here are some of the details for this Carhartt Button Down Work Shirt:
- Moisture Wicking – Thise shirt wicks away your sweat to help keep you dry throughout the day.
- Sun Protection – This shirt is rated as UPF 15 sun protection.
- Henley Design – Thise shirt has the opening at the top of the chest with button closure. This can help air movement during the summer months.
Carhartt High Visibility Force Long Sleeve Tee
If you need a hi-vis long sleeve work shirt for hot weather, this Carhartt High Visibility Force Long Sleeve Tee should do the trick. It uses a lightweight 4.25-ounce polyester fabric.
This shirt wicks away sweat and moisture to help keep you cool and dry, and also has stain-fighting technology. This shirt has a crewneck collar and a front chest pocket for storage.
This shirt fits true to size, with a relaxed fit that won’t hug tight against your skin.
Vapor Apparel UPF 50+ Performance Long Sleeve Tee
This Vapor Apparel is a simple, but effective, long sleeve work shirt for summer. It has UPF 50+ sun protection to help keep you safe while out in the sun all day.
One thing that sticks out about this shirt is the amount of color options it has in comparison to other shirts on this list. This shirt is made with a moisture-wicking and stain-fighting fabric. This is a lightweight, breathable shirt. This shirt fits true to size and isn’t too tight or too baggy. It is somewhat fitted near the wrist.
Bulwark Flame-Resistant Breathable Long Sleeve Tee
Do you need a flame-resistant long sleeve summer work shirt? Bulwark specializes in making FR clothing. This Bulwark shirt is made with a breathable, moisture-wicking fabric to help keep you dry.
Again, this is a flame-resistant shirt, but you will want to make sure it meets the safety requirements for your job. The sleeves are gusseted for ease-of-movement, and the shirt has a chest pocket with a stall for a carpenter’s pencil. This shirt fits a little loose. If you are between sizes, you may want to size down.
Moisture Wicking vs Cooling Long Sleeve Shirt
You will see both moisture wicking long sleeve work shirts and cooling long sleeve work shirts advertised. The truth is, these types are shirts are very similar, and often are one in the same.
Moisture wicking shirts are designed to pull sweat away from the body and disperse it across the fabric in a way that allows it to dry quickly. The evaporation process naturally pulls body heat away from the skin, and helps regulate your temperature.
But to be clear, the fabric design can differ, and can have an impact on how efficient these shirts are at wicking sweat, and regulating temperature. Some fabrics will have a channeled design to help increase evaporation.
There are also ways that these companies can design fabric to help trap cooled air near the skin. Unfortunately, most of the science behind this is vaguely described by companies, and is often hard to understand.
In general, even though most all moisture-wicking shirts can provide some relief, I tend to lean towards the products that specifically mention a cooling effect, and are designed with fabric intended to produce that cooling effect.
4 Things to Consider When Buying a Summer Long Sleeve Work Shirt
Material
How important is material to you? Some long sleeve work shirts for hot weather use a poly/cotton blend, while others use more of a stretch fabric.
I personally prefer a cotton blend, but I know several workers who prefer a stretch material. This likely comes down to personal preference.
Odor and Stain-Fighting
How important is odor-fighting technology to you? Some work shirts will have an odor fighting fabric that may keep things a little more “fresh”.
Some fabrics will also be designed to resist stains. This may be particularly important for dirty jobs. The Carhartt Force Shirt we discussed earlier in the article has stain-fighting qualities.
Sun Protection
Shirts that keep you cool in the heat are important for regulating body temperature, but not all will provide the same amount of sun protection. Some long sleeve work shirts for hot weather will also be made to protect you from UV rays.
UPF is the rating system used to detail the amount of protection a garment provides while in the sun. If you need a sun protective cooling work t-shirt, the Vapor Apparel Shirt on our list is rated as UPF 50+ for the sun.
Many outdoor long-sleeve guide shirts are built for summer and have moisture-wicking designs and built-in sun protection.
Multi-Pack
If you are looking for a very budget-friendly summer long sleeve work shirt option, as I mentioned earlier, the Gildan DryBlend Tees come in a 2-pack.
***To read more about summer workwear, visit our article about the Best Work Pants for Hot Weather. For tank tops, visit our article about the Best Sleeveless Work Shirts.