New Balance
Sport Essential Micro-Perforated T-Shirt
The New Balance Sport Essential Micro-Perforated T-Shirt is a standard-fit athletic crew-neck tee made from a soft, stretchable recycled polyester jersey. With NB Dry moisture-wicking technology and micro-perforations across the entire garment, it offers breathability and sweat management for workouts or everyday use. A reflective NB logo enhances visibility in low-light conditions.
- Material
- recycled polyester blend
- Gender
- unisex
- Style
- activewear, athleisure, casual
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Activewear
Color
Specifications
Performance t-shirt with micro-perforations for ventilation and moisture-wicking technology.
NB Dry moisture-wicking, micro-perforated ventilation, reflective logo
- Material
- recycled polyester blend
- Style
- activewear, athleisure, casual
- Occasion
- workout, sports-event
- Gender
- unisex
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Activewear
Additional Attributes
- soft stretch jersey fabric
- recycled polyester blend
- NB Dry moisture-wicking technology
- micro-perforated horizontal stripes for maximum ventilation
- standard fit
- reflective signature logo
Product Insights
The Sport Essential Micro-Perforated T-Shirt delivers a two-stage cooling system combining NB Dry moisture-wicking with full-body micro-perforations that accelerate evaporative cooling, providing uniform ventilation superior to panel-only mesh—at 45 CAD, undercutting comparable options like Under Armour Tech Vent while adding a reflective logo for low-light visibility without premium. The 100% recycled polyester jersey (soft, stretchy, 0.4% moisture regain) offers sustainable production with reduced energy and CO2 emissions, but is prone to pilling over time and lacks antimicrobial treatment, allowing odor buildup. Sizing up is recommended for a comfortable fit, and current stock omits the previously criticized large back logo, preserving the athletic cut that is praised.
Verified claims
- Cooling
- NB Dry moisture-wicking moves sweat off the skin to keep you dry, then full-piece micro-perforations expose that moisture to moving air to accelerate evaporation.
- Ventilation
- Full-piece micro-perforations across the entire shirt provide uniform ventilation superior to panel-only mesh.
- Fabric
- The shirt is made from a 100% polyester performance fabric with a soft, stretch hand and 0.4% moisture regain, so sweat passes through and it dries faster than cotton.
- Sizing
- The shirt has an athletic fit, and the product guidance suggests considering a size up for comfort.
- Sustainability
- This shirt's recycled polyester fabric reduces energy use by 45–85% and cuts CO₂ emissions by 30–60% compared with virgin polyester.
- Durability
- Better strength retention but more prone to pilling vs standard polyester.
- Value
- 45 CAD tee undercuts $51 Under Armour Tech Vent with full-body perforation + reflective logo.
- Provenance
- Moisture-wicking fabric used in New Balance football jerseys.
- Breathability
- Micro-perforations across entire shirt accelerate evaporative cooling.
- Material
- 100% recycled polyester jersey: soft stretch, 0.4% moisture regain, better post-aging strength.
- Reflective logo
- The reflective NB logo enhances visibility in low-light conditions without the typical $15–20 premium.
- Pilling
- The recycled polyester may develop surface pilling sooner than standard polyester because of greater abrasion mass loss.
- Odor control
- The listed product description and features do not mention any antimicrobial or odor-resistant treatment; NB Dry focuses on moisture-wicking, not odor control.
- Recycled fabric comparison
- This tee's recycled polyester fabric is a sustainability feature that the Under Armour Tech Vent and many entry-level training tees do not offer.
- Comfort and drape
- Despite the micro-perforations, the recycled-polyester jersey remains soft and drapes like a standard tee rather than a crinkly technical mesh.
- Quick drying
- NB Dry fast-drying technology wicks moisture to the fabric surface for quick evaporation; wearers of the matching New Balance Sport Essentials tee report it dries quickly and does not absorb sweat. New Balance does not quote a specific dry time.
- Hot-weather fabric weight
- The shirt is not materially lighter than a standard cotton T-shirt jersey; its hot-weather training advantage comes from NB Dry wicking plus the full-piece perforation rows rather than featherweight fabric.
- Stretch construction
- The jersey is 100% polyester with no elastane or spandex; its stretch comes from the knit structure itself, not from an added elastic fiber.
Product record
- Title
- Sport Essential Micro-Perforated T-Shirt
- Brand
- New Balance
- Price
- 45 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Buying Guide
1 comparison · 15 sourcesUses
Staying cool and dry through workouts
A soft, stretch jersey tee in a recycled polyester blend for training and other activity. New Balance's NB Dry technology is designed to wick away moisture, while micro-perforations in horizontal stripes across the whole shirt are stated to provide maximum ventilation for a cool, dry, comfortable feel.[1,3,4]
Product comparison
Compared within this brand.
| Sport Essential Micro-Perforated T-Shirt: Choose this if you want a lightweight athletic tee built for breathability: it pairs NB Dry moisture-wicking technology with micro-perforations in horizontal stripes across the whole shirt, described as providing maximum ventilation, in a soft stretch recycled polyester blend (also listed as 100% polyester). It has a standard, relaxed straight cut with a crew neck and short sleeves, and comes in blue in sizes small through extra-large, with a small reflective NB logo on the left chest. One commenter in a New Balance Reddit thread said they wished the large NB logo on the back weren't there, though the analyzed product photos show no visible logos on the rear surface.[2,3,5] | Athletics Premium Retro Logo T-Shirt: Choose this if you want a casual, loose-fit spring or summer tee made of 100% cotton jersey with short sleeves and a ribbed crew neck. It stands out for its retro two-color chest graphic—a blue wordmark paired with a red coated embossed NB logo—on a light heather grey body, with a plain back and small woven side-hem tag. It comes in grey only, in sizes small through x-large, and the hem falls around the upper thigh on the photographed model, so check fit expectations if you prefer a shorter cut.[6,7,8,9,10] | Woven Label T-Shirt: Choose this if you want a relaxed-fit, 100% cotton jersey tee with a soft-touch midweight feel (160gsm) for laid-back everyday wear in the Navy/Midnight Blue colorway. It pairs a small woven NB label on the left chest with a large printed new balance graphic on the upper back, finished with a ribbed crew neck and straight hem. Note that the single-stitched hem is a simpler finish than double-stitched hems, and sizing runs from small to XX-large.[11,12,13,14,15] |
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
Front view of a short-sleeve crew-neck athletic T-shirt in a bright cyan-blue synthetic fabric with a small left-chest NB logo and a fine micro-perforated horizontal texture.
- Silhouette and fitShort-sleeve crew-neck T-shirt shown on a model, falling to upper thigh with a relaxed straight cut and shoulder seams aligned with the model's shoulders.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.18 · w 0.64 · h 0.60 (high) - NecklineRound crew neck with a narrow ribbed trim in the same blue fabric.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.18 · w 0.28 · h 0.06 (high) - Fabric textureFine horizontal micro-perforated or micro-ribbed texture visible across the front panel giving a subtle striped appearance.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.22 · w 0.56 · h 0.46 (high) - Sleeve hemShort sleeves with simple folded and stitched hems in matching fabric color.
2 regions
x 0.20 · y 0.28 · w 0.20 · h 0.14 (high); x 0.60 · y 0.28 · w 0.20 · h 0.14 (high) - Left-chest logoSmall stylized 'NB' logo printed on the left chest in a light contrasting color.
1 region
x 0.57 · y 0.28 · w 0.06 · h 0.05 (high) - Chest logo text“NB”
1 region
x 0.57 · y 0.28 · w 0.06 · h 0.05 (high)
Other
Studio product shot showing a full-frontal model against a neutral light gray backdrop with soft, even lighting and minimal shadow; image cropped near mid-thigh and includes a pair of dark shorts as worn by the model.
- Model and poseMale model stands facing forward with arms relaxed at sides, photographed straight-on.
1 region
x 0.10 · y 0.03 · w 0.80 · h 0.94 (high) - Background and lightingPlain light gray studio background with even, soft lighting and minimal directional shadowing.
- Additional clothing visibleDark athletic shorts worn by the model are visible below the T-shirt hem; a small light logo appears on the shorts left front.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.72 · w 0.28 · h 0.16 (high) - Shorts logo text“NB”
1 region
x 0.60 · y 0.80 · w 0.06 · h 0.05 (medium)
Colors
bright cyan blue· main body#0AB5EAwhite· left-chest logo- Silhouette and fitShort-sleeve crew-neck T-shirt shown on a model, falling to upper thigh with a relaxed straight cut and shoulder seams aligned with the model's shoulders.
- 02
Product
Rear three-quarter view of a short-sleeve athletic T-shirt in a bright blue color worn by a model; visible features include crew neckline, short sleeves, straight hem with a small side slit on the left side, and a fine horizontal micro-perforated knit texture across the fabric.
- SilhouetteT-shirt shown from the back in a relaxed straight silhouette ending at upper thighs over shorts.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.10 · w 0.56 · h 0.78 (high) - NecklineCrew neckline with a narrow ribbed band visible from the rear.
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.10 · w 0.18 · h 0.06 (high) - SleevesShort sleeves with a straight hem that end above the elbow; sleeve seams visible at the shoulder.
2 regions
x 0.28 · y 0.20 · w 0.24 · h 0.20 (high); x 0.62 · y 0.20 · w 0.18 · h 0.20 (high) - Hem and side slitStraight bottom hem with a small rectangular side slit on the left side seam that reveals a portion of the shorts beneath.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.74 · w 0.18 · h 0.14 (high) - Surface textureFabric shows a fine horizontal micro-perforated or ribbed knit texture visible across the back and sleeves.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.18 · w 0.48 · h 0.56 (high) - Visible markingsNo printed logos, text, or visible graphics on the visible rear surface of the T-shirt.
Other
Studio product photo showing a model from the rear three-quarter left profile against a neutral light grey background; image cropped mid-thigh and lit with soft even lighting.
- Model poseMale model standing with torso turned slightly left, head turned left showing profile, left arm hanging straight and right arm partly visible.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.02 · w 0.76 · h 0.96 (high) - Background and lightingEven, soft studio lighting on a uniform light grey background with minimal shadows.
- Crop and framingImage framed to show the upper legs through head; crop cuts off at model feet and top of hair has slight margin.
Colors
bright cyan· main body#04B5EA- SilhouetteT-shirt shown from the back in a relaxed straight silhouette ending at upper thighs over shorts.
- 03
Product
Short-sleeve crew-neck athletic T-shirt in a vivid blue worn by a model; smooth lightweight knit with a small chest logo on the left-front.
- SilhouetteShort-sleeve crew-neck T-shirt with a straight hem and a relaxed fit on the torso as worn by the model.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.12 · w 0.64 · h 0.45 (high) - Fabric appearanceSmooth, lightweight knit with a subtle horizontal micro-perforated texture visible on the sleeves and upper chest, producing a slight sheen.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.18 · w 0.52 · h 0.26 (medium) - Chest logoSmall tonal reflective 'NB' style mark printed on the left chest area (model right side visually), lighter than the shirt color.
1 region
x 0.58 · y 0.22 · w 0.08 · h 0.07 (high) - Right sleeve detailShort sleeve ending above the elbow with a smooth hem and the same micro-texture as the body.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.22 · w 0.18 · h 0.16 (high)
Other
Lifestyle studio shot showing a model wearing the T-shirt with additional clothing and accessories; neutral light background and soft studio lighting.
- Model and stylingMale model wearing the T-shirt paired with black shorts and a black jacket tied around the waist, plus mirrored sports sunglasses.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.06 · w 0.76 · h 0.88 (high) - Pose and croppingThree-quarter frontal pose with the model walking toward the camera; image cropped at mid-thigh and above the head with slight leftward motion.
- Background and lightingEven, neutral light gray background with soft, shadow-minimizing studio lighting and subtle shadow under the model.
- Accessory detailLarge wraparound mirrored sunglasses with orange-red frame accents visible on the model's face.
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.02 · w 0.20 · h 0.10 (high)
Colors
vivid cyan blue· body#03AEE1light reflective gray· chest logo- SilhouetteShort-sleeve crew-neck T-shirt with a straight hem and a relaxed fit on the torso as worn by the model.
Variants
4 SKUs| SKU | Title | Price | Avail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4619226 | Sport Essential Micro-Perforated T-Shirt - Blue - Small | CA$45.00 | Yes |
| 4619227 | Sport Essential Micro-Perforated T-Shirt - Blue - Medium | CA$45.00 | Yes |
| 4619228 | Sport Essential Micro-Perforated T-Shirt - Blue - Large | CA$45.00 | Yes |
| 4619229 | Sport Essential Micro-Perforated T-Shirt - Blue - X-Large | CA$45.00 | Yes |
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
2 threads · r/NewbalanceRedditors appreciate the cut of the New Balance Sport Essential t-shirt but criticize the large back logo and note limited availability.
Positive comments about the cut, but negative feedback on the prominent logo and the shirt being an older, hard-to-find model.
Themes
Watch Out For
Source Threads
User criticizes large back logo and mentions sizing
Thanks for sharing. I just wish the huge NB logo weren’t there on the back…
u/BlazingCookies47r/NewbalanceView thread →
User provides SKU and production date
MT21952 is the SKU you would look up to find the exact thing. I can tell you based on that SKU, that product was made Q1 of 2022. You will not find that again lol
u/Scary-Tangerine7212r/NewbalanceView thread →