The ASICS Core T-Shirt Set is the fastest seller in the whole ASICS range at Tempo, and it is easy to see why. One colour, one decision, a tee and a pair of woven shorts that actually match, £74.99. You put it on and you are done thinking about it.
This post is the full breakdown. What lands in the bag, how the tee and the shorts sit, every colourway you can currently get, and an honest answer on whether the set is really better value than buying the two pieces on their own. If you want the wider picture across tracksuits, vests and windrunners too, the complete ASICS sets buying guide for UK shoppers covers the whole range in one place.
What's in the ASICS Core T-Shirt Set
Two pieces: a Core short-sleeve tee and a pair of Core woven shorts, sold together in one colour. There is no third piece, no jacket, no socks. If you want three pieces you are looking at a tri-set, which is a different product entirely.
The point of a set is that the two halves are built to go together. Same colour, same finish, same branding position. Buy a tee in one drop and shorts in another and you can end up with two slightly different shades of the same colour name, which shows up in daylight far more than it does on a screen. You can see every coordinated two-piece we stock in the full sets collection, but the ASICS ones move fastest.
The tee
It is a plain short-sleeve crew in the Core line, with ASICS branding kept small and clean rather than plastered across the chest. That restraint is most of the reason it works off the pitch as well as on it.
On fit, be sensible. It is a sportswear tee, not a boxy skate tee and not a compression top, so it sits somewhere in the middle. If you like a bit of room through the body and a sleeve that finishes mid-bicep, take your usual size. If you want it looser over the shoulder for a baggier look, size up one. If you are coming to ASICS from Nike or Under Armour and you are not sure how the two compare, read the ASICS sizing guide against Nike and Under Armour before you order, and cross-check the measurements on the Tempo size guide page.
Fabric composition and weight are listed on each product page, and I am not going to guess at a GSM figure for you. Check the listing for the colour you want.
The same tee is sold on its own, so if you already own shorts you like, the ASICS Black Core T-Shirt as a single is £34.99. More single tops sit in the activewear collection.
The shorts
The bottom half is a woven short rather than a jersey one. Woven means a smoother, more structured fabric with a bit of body to it, so the shorts hang instead of clinging. That is what makes the set read as an outfit rather than gym kit.
ASICS sells Core woven shorts in two lengths as singles. The Black Core Woven 5" Shorts sit higher on the thigh. The 'Maroon' Core 7" Woven Shorts give you more coverage, which most people prefer for all-day wear rather than training. Both are £39.99. For the length that ships with a specific set, check that set's product page rather than assuming, because it varies by colourway.
Every colourway available
Six colours in the Core T-Shirt Set right now. Five at £74.99 and one at £69.99 (price correct at time of writing).
- ASICS Black Core T-Shirt Set, £74.99. The one you buy first. Goes with everything, hides everything, never looks try-hard.
- ASICS 'Cream' Core T-Shirt Set, £74.99. The best-looking of the lot in summer and the least forgiving if you spill something.
- ASICS 'Maroon' Core T-Shirt Set, £74.99. Deep and grown-up. The pick if you want colour without being loud about it.
- ASICS 'Vital Green' Core T-Shirt Set, £74.99. Proper green, not a muted sage. Strong with white or grey trainers.
- ASICS 'Lazer Orange' Core T-Shirt Set, £74.99. The loudest option. Brilliant in July, harder work in February.
- ASICS 'Smoke Grey' Core T-Shirt Set, £69.99. The cheapest set in the line and the easiest to pair with Gel trainers.
If you want these ordered by how much wear you will genuinely get out of them rather than how good they look on a product shot, we have ranked every ASICS Core set colourway for everyday wear. And if you are buying for hot weather specifically, the lightest ASICS sets for summer is the more useful list.
Set vs separates: the honest maths
You will see set purchases sold as a saving. On this range, that is not really true, and it would be daft to pretend otherwise.
| What you buy | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core T-Shirt Set (tee + shorts) | £74.99 | Matched colour, one order |
| Core T-Shirt on its own | £34.99 | Sold separately |
| Core woven shorts on their own | £39.99 | Sold separately |
| Tee and shorts bought separately | £74.98 | One penny cheaper than the set |
| 'Smoke Grey' set | £69.99 | Genuinely cheaper than either route |
So the £74.99 set costs a penny more than buying the same two pieces individually. There is no discount hiding in there. Two things are worth knowing on top of that.
First, free UK delivery starts at £100, so neither the set nor the separates clear the threshold on their own. Add a tee, a vest or a pair of shorts and you are over. Better to know before you check out than after.
Second, the real argument for the set is the colour match, not the money. Buying separates means trusting that the tee shade and the shorts shade line up, and across different drops they do not always. The set is guaranteed. If matching is not a priority and you would rather mix a black top with grey shorts, buy separates. Our guide to building full fits around an ASICS set has eight combinations worth copying.
Who it's for
Buy it if you want a summer outfit you do not have to assemble. It works for the gym, the walk there and the coffee after, which is most of what people actually use sportswear for. It is a strong first buy if you are starting an ASICS rotation from scratch, and an easy holiday buy, since two matched pieces take up almost no room in a case.
Skip it if you already own plenty of shorts and only need tops, or if you want something for a British winter, in which case a tracksuit or a windrunner set is the better spend. Have a look through the full ASICS collection before you commit.
Care and washing
Nothing complicated, but a few habits keep it looking new.
- Wash cool, and wash the tee and shorts together so both halves fade at the same rate. That matters more on a matched set than on separates.
- Turn the tee inside out to protect the branding.
- Skip fabric softener. It coats technical fabrics and dulls them.
- Air dry rather than tumble dry. Heat is what shrinks and warps sportswear.
- Wash cream and lazer orange separately for the first couple of cycles.
Always follow the care label in the garment itself. That is the manufacturer's instruction and it beats any general advice.
Quick answers
Is the ASICS Core T-Shirt Set cheaper than buying the pieces separately?
No. The set is £74.99 and the tee plus shorts individually come to £74.98, so separates are a penny cheaper. You buy the set for the guaranteed colour match, not for a discount. The 'Smoke Grey' set at £69.99 is the exception.
How many colourways does the Core T-Shirt Set come in?
Six: black, cream, maroon, vital green, lazer orange and smoke grey. Availability moves, so check the collection page for what is in stock in your size.
Should I size up in an ASICS set?
Take your normal size for a regular fit and go up one if you want it looser through the shoulder and body. Check the measurements on the size guide page first, especially if you are switching from another brand.
Are the shorts 5" or 7"?
It depends on the colourway, so check the individual product page for the set you want. Sold as singles, ASICS Core woven shorts come in both lengths at £39.99 each.
Ready to buy?
If you only take one thing from this: pick the colour you will actually reach for on a Tuesday, not the one that photographs best. For most people that is black or smoke grey, and for summer it is cream.
Browse every colour of the coordinated two-piece sets we stock, or go straight to the ASICS range to see the tracksuits and windrunners alongside them. Orders over £100 ship free in the UK and everything goes out same day.
Keep reading
- ASICS Sets: The Complete UK Buying Guide, the full overview of every set we stock.
- How to Style an ASICS Set: 8 Full Fits That Actually Work, outfits with trainers included.
- ASICS Sizing Guide: How ASICS Fits vs Nike and Under Armour, what to order if you are switching brands.
- Every ASICS Core Set Colourway, Ranked for Everyday Wear, which colours earn their place.
- Best ASICS Sets for Summer: Vests, Shorts and Lightweight Fits, the hot weather picks.