Reviews You Can Rely On

Adidas Supernova Tee - Women's Review

gearlab tested logo
adidas supernova tee for women running shirt review
Credit: Adidas
Price:  $40 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Adidas
By Amber King ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 19, 2015
78
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Comfort - 30% 8.0
  • Breathability - 20% 8.0
  • Drying Speed - 15% 8.0
  • Versatility - 15% 8.0
  • Features - 15% 7.0
  • Style - 5% 7.0

Our Verdict

The Adidas Supernova Tee is a versatile and comfortable running top that's not just cute, but also affordable. So affordable, in fact, that it took home our 2015 Best Buy Award! We took this bad boy on a variety of running trips in both desert and mountain landscapes and enjoyed its great Climacool breathability, soft fabrics, and simple design. We found that it didn't breathe as well as our Editors' Choice award, The North Face Better Than Naked Short Sleeve so we wouldn't recommend it for temperatures that exceed 95 degrees F. However, it was perfect for everything else! Layer it over or under additional layers or wear it on its own. At only $40, you get a lot of bang for your buck and you won't be disappointed.
REASONS TO BUY
Versatile
Cozy and stretchy fabrics
High value
Simple design
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the most breathable
Few features
Few color choices

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Adidas Supernova Tee won our Best Buy award for its great performance and low sticker price of just $40!

Performance Comparison


adidas supernova tee for women running shirt review - of all the shirts tested, the adidas supernova had the softest...
Of all the shirts tested, the Adidas Supernova had the softest fabrics and probably the simplest design. It also had one of the most inexpensive price tags, making it our Best Buy award winner.
Credit: Jared Vilhauer

Comfort & Fit


Cozy and comfortable! When we first pulled this out the box we were unsure whether the fabric was going to be soft or scratchy, but after putting it on, we quickly realized this stretchy fabric was actually cozier than other shirts like the Salomon Fast Wing Tee - Women's. The Supernova is cut with a simple crew neck and a long, athletic fit through the torso. Its flat seam stitching also helps prevent chafing after long days on the trail.

Breathability


We tested this shirt's breathability on a hot and humid day in the San Juan mountains. We hiked from lower elevations with temps of 90 degrees to higher elevations where the temperature dropped to 70. Thanks to its Climacool technology and mesh paneling, this shirt provided ample airflow and performed better than the Fast Wing Tee, but not as well as The North Face Better Than Naked shirt.

adidas supernova tee for women running shirt review - the mesh paneling and the soft comfortable fabric provides great...
The mesh paneling and the soft comfortable fabric provides great all-around breathability.
Credit: Jared Vilhauer

Drying Speed


This was the third fastest shirt to dry in our air tests. When experiencing rain on the trail we noticed that it did a fairly good job at repelling water, and when saturated it dried quickly with movement.

Versatility


With a cute and simple design, great breathability, and decent features we found this top to be more versatile than the Patagonia Capilene 1 T-Shirt - Women's. Weighing only 3.95 oz, the Supernova is easy to pack down and carry with you on any backcountry adventure. It's also great to wear under or over a long sleeve on cooler days.

Features


Though this shirt doesn't feature any fancy pockets, zip-up compartments or UPF fabric, it does sport reflective strips for night running.

adidas supernova tee for women running shirt review - even though it lacks a few features, we did like the reflective...
Even though it lacks a few features, we did like the reflective strips along the side, making it good for night running.
Credit: Jared Vilhauer

Style


Even though the color choices are limited, we thought this simple shirt was stylish and fine to wear on both running adventures and in town. The sleeves come down just past the shoulder and the fabric is stretchy to form and fit your figure. Cute, simple, and versatile!

Best Applications


Given the highly versatile nature of this shirt, we would say that you could wear it anywhere in the summer time. Though if the mercury rises above 95 degrees F, we would recommend trying a more breathable option like The North Face Better than Naked. Running, hiking, biking, or walking around town are all perfect functions for this shirt.

adidas supernova tee for women running shirt review - run, hike, walk, play! this top is perfect for any aerobic sport...
Run, hike, walk, play! This top is perfect for any aerobic sport. The look isn't super "techy" so you can wear it around town too!
Credit: Jared Vilhauer

Value


For only $40, the Adidas Supernova Tee has a variety of qualities that makes it a perfect running companion. This is why we awarded this top with our Best Buy award. You get the whole package here - high quality and a decent price. If you're looking for something even less expensive, take a look at the Patagonia Capilene 1 Tee.

Conclusion


The Supernova is cute, simple, and breathable. This top is highly versatile and extremely affordable, winning our Best Buy Award. A perfect companion on both the roads and the trails!

adidas supernova tee for women running shirt review - the soft fabric coupled with fantastic versatility and comfort is...
The soft fabric coupled with fantastic versatility and comfort is means for jumping with joy! Did we mention that the Supernova is only $40?!?!?! Value at its finest.
Credit: Jared Vilhauer

Other Versions


Supernova Tee
adidas supernova tee for women running shirt review - adidas performance men's supernova short-sleeve tee
Adidas Performance Men's Supernova Short-Sleeve Tee
Credit: amazon.com
  • Men's version
  • Similar features/specs
  • $40

Supernova Long Sleeve
adidas supernova tee for women running shirt review - adidas performance women's supernova long-sleeve tee
Adidas Performance Women's Supernova Long-Sleeve Tee
Credit: amazon.com
  • Long sleeved version
  • Built in Thumb Holes
  • $45

Amber King