Arizona Outdoor Workout Essentials: What to Wear When It's 110°F Outside
Train in the Heat
Built for 110.
For outdoor workouts in Arizona heat, wear moisture-wicking fabric in light colors, a fitted cut, a hat with a brim, and SPF 50. Cotton holds sweat and fights your body's cooling. Performance fabric moves sweat to the surface, where dry desert air takes it away fast.
The Heat Kit
For Him
In stock in every core size. Free shipping over $75.
Drew Short 5"
Light Grey
A 5 inch four-way stretch short in a light color that reflects heat.
$55
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The Heat Kit
For Her
40% off select women's styles, applied automatically at checkout.
Luna Bra
Black
Light support for yoga, the studio, and easy runs.
$48$28.80 at checkout
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Luna Legging
Mint
High-rise and buttery soft, in a light color for the heat.
$75$45 at checkout
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Mariah Short Bodysuit
Black
One piece with a built-in bra. Nothing shifts mid workout.
$92$55.20 at checkout
View detailsFabric first: performance fabric isn't optional here
Cotton absorbs sweat and holds it. At 110 degrees, a soaked cotton shirt adds weight, causes chafing, and shuts down the evaporative cooling your body is counting on. A moisture-wicking polyester and spandex blend moves sweat to the surface, where Arizona's low humidity evaporates it quickly.
That makes performance fabric a requirement for outdoor training here, not a preference. The Tim Tee is 88% polyester and 12% spandex, moisture-wicking and quick drying, which is exactly what this climate asks for.
Light colors reflect heat, so wear them
Dark fabric absorbs sunlight. Light fabric reflects it. Under direct Arizona sun, a black shirt runs noticeably hotter than a white one, and that is a real load on your body during a 45 minute session.
White, light grey, and soft pastels are the practical call from May through September. Save black and navy for indoor sessions and winter runs.
The outdoor kit, spec by spec
- Top: moisture-wicking polyester and spandex, fitted, light colored.
- Bottom: stretch shorts with a 5 inch inseam for training, or a high-rise legging for studio work.
- Hat: a brim, every time. The Ryder Hat is water resistant stretch fabric.
- Skin: SPF 50 before you head out, reapplied after 90 minutes.
- Timing: before 8 AM or after 6 PM from June through August.
Fit: closer than you think
Loose isn't automatically cooler. Very loose fabric can trap heat and slow the airflow that helps wicking fabric work. A fitted tee sitting close to the skin wicks better than the same fabric bunched away from it.
For men: the Tim Tee with the Drew Short 5 inch is the baseline outdoor kit. For cool early mornings in winter, add a layer that comes off as the sun climbs.
For women: the Mariah Short Bodysuit stays put through any movement, and the Luna Legging with the Luna Bra is the set for yoga and studio days.
Sun protection is part of the kit
A hat with a brim is non-negotiable. Direct sun in your face raises how hard the work feels, strains your eyes, and burns the skin you forget about. Put SPF 50 on all exposed skin before you go out, and reapply if you're out longer than 90 minutes.
Timing matters most
The single biggest choice for Arizona outdoor training isn't gear, it's the clock. Train before 8 AM or after 6 PM from June through August. A 6 AM run and a noon run in Scottsdale can be more than 20 degrees apart, before you count the heat coming off pavement.
Hydrate more than you plan to. Sweat rates in Arizona summer run high, and no fabric changes that. Carry water with you, not in the car.
Women's Blog Special
40% off, automatically applied at checkout on select women's styles.
Shop Women'sFrequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to work out outside in Arizona heat?
Moisture-wicking fabric in light colors, a fitted cut, a hat with a brim, SPF 50, and the right shoes for your surface. A tee like the Tim Tee in 88% polyester and 12% spandex is built for it. Skip cotton in summer.
Is it safe to work out outside in Scottsdale in summer?
Early morning before 8 AM or evening after 6 PM, yes. Midday outdoor training from June through August carries real heat risk no matter what you wear. Timing matters more than gear.
What are the best workout clothes for hot weather?
Lightweight, moisture-wicking polyester and spandex in light colors, fitted enough to wick well. PILLAR tees, stretch shorts, and leggings are built for exactly this.
Do light colors actually help in the heat?
Yes. Light fabric reflects sunlight and dark fabric absorbs it, so a white shirt stays cooler than a black one under direct sun.
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