Two years ago I bought a synthetic Champion shirt at Target (don't know if it was a C-9) and a Patagonia Capilene shirt at about the same time. Can't remember exactly what I paid but the Champion was considerably less than even the sale price of the "Patagucci". Both were short sleeve "T" shirts. Both went with me for 10 sweaty days in the Sierra that summer.

Functionally I saw little difference between the two. Both did their job well and wicked away the sweat. The Champion was not quite as durable and it developed a few loose threads but that was no biggie. The Capilene had a higher stink factor.

Both shirts are still going strong and I run in them all the time.

Some of my best workout clothes come from Target or Walmart.