I'll be the first to admit that I am a beginner at best in the world of running, but when it comes to perspiration--I am a consummate professional. It really doesn't take much for me to sweat buckets. After an intense workout, my clothes make me look like I just fell off the Titanic instead of a treadmill.

In a short time I have learned that your average cotton T-shirt and long-ass basketball shorts (If they go past the knees--they aren't shorts--they're frigging Capri pants!) are not meant for exercise if you sweat a lot. I wore a cotton T-shirt during my first 5K and it was the last time I ever wore a piece of apparel that wasn't specifically designed for running.

Since I've always worn cotton shirts and basketball shorts for any type of physical activity, I didn't realize the extreme difference until my next 5K when I wore shorts and a shirt made for running. I didn't want to invest too much in my new apparel because I had my doubts, so I went with Champion.

Forget the apples and oranges--comparing running clothes to cotton ones is like comparing an 8-track tape to an MP3 file--there is no comparison. Finding new moisture-wicking apparel was my new obsession. I tried Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Under Armour, Russell, Champion, Layer 8 and New Balance. They all did a much better job than what I used to wear, but one brand stood out among the rest.

New Balance NBx Running Apparel

New Balance sent me two pairs of NBx shorts and two NBx sleeveless shirts to test out along with a pair of sneakers (review to come). I never used any type of New Balance product because I always remember my dad wearing their sneakers. Back in the day I didn't know much, but I knew it wasn't cool to wear the same kicks as your old man. Just goes to show you how much I really knew as a teenager--nothing!

NBx Cocona Sleeveless Shirt (MSRP: $38)

The NBx shirt is made from COCONA fabrics, which is actually fiber from coconut shells. I know this sounds coco-nuts, but the fibers help with evaporative cooling, odor resistance and even provide UV protection.

I put this shirt to the test during the late months of summer and early fall--both inside and out. It was used in 80 degree weather, inside a gym with no fan, during a 5K and more recently in optimal outdoor running conditions.

The first thing I noticed was that the shirt was extremely light and smooth like silk. Just to put it in perspective--while I was testing out the New Balance apparel, I was also trying out some hair removal products. My chest was shaved and I had my back waxed--which didn't really bother me at all until I worked out. Everything I wore felt like it was made of barbed wire when I sweated--until I put on the NBx shirt.

The NBx shirt is about the closest you'll feel to being shirtless. In fact, I think it is even better than being shirtless because it does such a phenomenal job of eliminating the sweat from sticking to your body. Don't get me wrong--I still was sweating, but it felt nothing like a normal workout. I distinctly remember running outside in the heat and it felt like only my head was sweating. My arms and legs were sweaty too, but like I said, nothing like a normal workout. If they ever come out with an NBx hat or facemask--I'll be all set.

Some of the other brands I tried felt good for most of my workout and did a decent job of getting rid of the sweat, but I must have been too much man (that's what she said) for these other shirts because they didn't last the entire workout like the NBx shirt.

The shirt also features front and back reflectivity for safety and is semi-fitted for comfort. I'm a pretty big guy and the XXL did a great job of masking my belly. Semi-fitted is a tad looser than fitted, so if your torso is like mine and hasn't been exposed to sunlight for close to two decades--go with the semi-fitted--you'll be doing yourself and those around you a favor.

The only flaw, which is probably more of a fluke, was that both XXL shirts I received were not identical in size. One shirt was noticeably smaller than the other one even though they were both marked XXL, so make sure you try it on before you buy.

NBx 7" 2-in-1 Short (MSRP: $45)

I have noticed that when I run longer distances, my thighs seem to hold up better if I wear some type of compression short underneath my shorts. They also serve another purpose if you are a guy--us men have a few "moving parts" when we run and the compression short helps keep everything in place. If you do a lot of running, using compression shorts can become a costly expenditure--until now.

New Balance has taken a 6" compression short and added it to a pair of 7" running shorts to create the NBx 2-in-1 short--which costs around the same price of a good pair of compression shorts. These shorts are comprised of New Balance's LIGTNING DRY® fabric which does an awesome job of wicking away moisture and they are super thin. Seriously--I'm talking like tissue-paper thin. Make sure you look down before you leave the house because if it wasn't for the inner compression part, you wouldn't even know if you were wearing shorts.

Another great thing about these shorts is that they rarely bunch up while running and when they do, it is minimal at best. I have worn other shorts that make my crotch feel like a vacuum cleaner trying suck up an area rug. It seems like I have to break stride every quarter mile or so just to put things back in their rightful place. Luckily for me and my future run times, I will not have to waste precious seconds taking care of business as long as I have on NBx shorts.

The End Result

After trying out a slew of running clothes, I think the New Balance NBx are the ones for me. They did a great job of keeping me dry when the other brands came up all wet and were without a doubt the most comfortable of the bunch. The New Balance clothes are competitively priced and the 2-in-1 shorts are actually a bargain. If you are going through all the effort of exercising and staying in shape--treat your body to some New Balance NBx apparel. You might not like the exercise, but your body will love the way it feels.

You can check out the New Balance NBx line of sneakers and apparel at: http://www.newbalance.com/nbx/?coll=1