Athletic Gear: Tops

Anything you wear on the top portion of your body is casually called a top.

T-shirts are a popular choice for engaging in a sport because of the comfort they provide. Most athletic wear worn over the torso are t-shaped, some having variations.

Tennis shirts, also called polo shirts or golf shirts, were invented by grand-slam champion Rene Lacoste, who sought more comfortable attire instead of the long-sleeved dress shirt worn during tennis games at the turn of the 20th century. In golf, shirts of similar make may be long sleeved or short sleeved, and may have a vest worn over them. In croquet, players may only wear white shirts (as well bottoms, the pair being called "croquet whites"). Typical characteristics tennis/polo/golf shirts include: collar, 2-3 buttons below the collar, optional pocket, small slits at the bottom of both sides, made from knitted cloth, usually a longer tail at the back than at the front (referred to as a "tennis tail").

Rugby Football shirts can also be called jerseys, typically characterized by smaller, stiffer collars (compared to tennis shirts), polyester fabrics (traditionally cotton prior to manufacturing of synthetic fabrics, but less preferred since they are easily grabbed and torn), large v-necks, and 5/6 horizontal stripes (called hoops) on the shirt that alternate in color. Related football sports use the same characteristics for their jerseys. American football jerseys are noticeably wider at the shoulder area to accommodate large shoulder pads. Hockey shirts are of similar dimensions to American football uniforms but have long sleeves to help beat the cold.

Baseball shirts usually have collars, too, but have buttons (or laces, and at one point, zippers) in front of them and at times left-breast pockets. Long sleeves were common, and eventually undersweaters as well, which were worn in a contrasting color beneath the shirts—sometimes in stripes. Baseball shirts were first made in flannel, but double-knit fabrics are now dominant. Softball uses shirts of similar characteristics since the sport is likewise akin to baseball.

In karate, loose, jacket-like tops called "kimono" and "uwagi" open at the front just like other shirts, but are closed a belt (called "obi") tied at the waist; the belt color denotes the rank of the player. Almost always, athletic gear in karate and similar sports like aikido and judo, and taekwondo are in white.

Tank tops are the general term for sleeveless t-shirts. In basketball, standard athletic wear for the upper part of the body is a sleeveless tank top, usually with neck and arm holes that are larger than ordinary tanks. On other occasions, sleeved shirts may be worn under these tank tops.

Athletic garments that go over shirts or other tops serve different purposes in each sport they are also used. Vests and jackets must be thick, retain warmth, control moisture, and repel wind, ice and water are especially crucial in winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and high-pressure environments such as skydiving, parachuting, hang gliding. At the same time, they must be flexible enough to permit as much movement as possible. Garments that go beneath these gear include sweatshirts or sweaters, which are similar to jackets in that they offer extra protection on other kinds of tops, but differ in that (1) they are pullovers and don't open at the front (like jackets or vests do), and (2) may also be worn on their own.