When I first started out as a runner my gear was simple. A t-shirt, a pair of shorts, socks and shoes. Occasionally, I 
would wear a headband or baseball cap. But as I got more into the running scene, I noticed that almost no one wore cotton t-shirts and shorts. I was an anomaly for more than just the joggling.
Technical t-shirts
Eventually, I got curious and bought one of these special fabric shirts like Coolmax or polypro. They are supposed to wick the sweat away so your shirt doesn’t stick to your skin. These days you merely have to run a race to get one of these shirts because every race gives them away.
The loose-fitting, special fabric shirts do work as claimed. While they get wet when you sweat, they certainly don’t stick to your skin like cotton shirts. They also don’t feel as heavy. Running in a sweaty cotton shirt can feel like running with a sack of potatoes on your back.
Overall, these “technical” shirts are superior to cotton.
The feel of cotton
But you know, sometimes when the temperature edges past 90F, the sun is beaming brightly, and there isn’t a breeze strong enough to move a feather, I slip on a cotton shirt and go. As I joggle down the street with sweaty Gballz glistening in the sun, I feel my cotton shirt getting heavier and heavier. It sticks to my skin like Post-It note and feels like a wet towel.
It’s uncomfortable. It’s hot. It’s heavy. But it makes you feel like you’re working, like you’ve accomplished something.
Yes, cotton is “inferior” running equipment. But sometimes inferior is good.
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I’ve started a nice collection of affordable running shirts from Old Navy. I get them at 5 dollars or less, when they’re on sale. I really prefer these shirts when joggling, juggling, and when mowing the lawn. I might have to break out a cotton one just for the experience.
@Joe – the one thing I don’t like about running shirts is they start to smell and no matter how much you wash them it doesn’t seem to go away. Cotton does not have this problem.
My simple solution is to just not wear a shirt, at least when the temperature is anywhere above about 12°C (54°F). And I run enough races (and get enough new shirts) that my shirts (which, Canada being what it is, I do have to wear much of the year) can always be tossed when they start to smell bad.