Wearing an undershirt might feel like your first steps toward dad style—and not the cool kind. But the best undershirts for men don’t call to mind Homer Simpson or Ed Bundy. Like other uber-practical investments—think ball powder, nose hair trimmers, and calf-high dress socks—the best men’s undershirts just make sense. Whether you opt for an 100% cotton version or a moisture-wicking synthetic number, a Sopranos-style ribbed tank top or a classic crew (we’re still out on deep V-neck tees), you need a base layer that guards against excess sweat and nipple visibility.
The Best Undershirts Shopping Guide
Come the swampiest stretch of summer or the chilliest days of winter, the undershirts below are specially engineered to keep you dry, comfortable, and completely stench-free. And, since their main purpose is to sacrifice themselves to save your favorite button-downs and dress shirts, most of our top picks cost less than a fancy cocktail—so you can wear and wash them to death, and then replace ‘em semi-regularly without a care in the world. Oh yeah, and all of ’em are tagless, because no one needs to spend all day trying to ignore a tiny rectangular piece of fabric. Without further ado: the 17 best undershirts for men to tuck in pronto.
The Best Bulk-Buy Undershirt
Uniqlo stays doing what Uniqlo does best: delivering tech-driven, well-designed, perfectly-fitting basics at no-brainer prices. The brand’s Airism tees are crafted from a smooth and breathable polyester blend that’s anti-microbial and deodorizing, all the better to keep your underarms feeling cooler than the Fonz in the face of turgid, muggy July days (or equally freezing January nights). At just $15 a pop, you can afford to buy enough for every day of the workweek, plus a few extra for the gym, those early-morning jogs, and whatever else the season throws your way.
The Best Kitten-Soft Undershirt
It’s no surprise that CDLP’s silky-smooth T-shirt is a lot like its underwear: softer than you’re prepared for and cut so precisely that you’ll feel like the style god of your choice every time you throw it on. It’s made with a healthy serving of lyocell—a fast-absorbing, moisture-wicking fabric that lends it an extremely slinky hand—the same material is uses to craft its top-notch undies. And because it’s a midweight tee, imbued with the heft of a standalone layer, you won’t feel like an underdressed schmuck wearing it solo with dark denim and sleek black boots.
The Best Classic Undershirt
In the event that you really just want to keep things old-school, well, Calvin Klein still makes the very best 100% cotton undershirts in the business. They’re lightweight, fit well, and are polished enough to wear around casually as a regular tee. If you’re lucky enough to land on the drier, less-malodorous end of the scale, and just need an easy, classic, regular cotton base layer to get you through the week, this is the 3-pack for you.
The Best “The Laundromat Was Closed This Weekend” Undershirt
Proof’s 72-Hour merino tee delighted us. Why? Well, it turns out that Merino wool, a fabric typically relegated to plush sweaters and swanky suits, also makes for an incredible undershirt. That’s because its naturally imbued with temperature-managing, moisture-wicking, and antimicrobial properties. Trust us—we wore it for three days straight and came out the other side miraculously not smelly. The fabric is airy, wildly soft, and boasts an incredible drape, a criminally overlooked aspect in the world of T-shirts. We’re sucker for tees with a slightly slouchier fit, but the tailored silhouette here is better suited for a supporting role.
The Best Silky, Slimming Undershirt
Tommy John’s aptly-named undershirt doesn’t just fit like a second skin—after a few wears, it molds to your body, hugging its every contour with more gusto than your most affectionate aunt. Its soft, silky finish won’t pill no matter how many times you put it through the wringer (or the washing machine, for that matter), and in a micromodal blend—with a touch of spandex for good measure—it’s a solid Spanx alternative for anyone trying to hide a growing gut.
The Best Gains-Enhancing Undershirt
Far be it from us to unilaterally declare anything objectively sexy, but if we had to pick a tank that fits the descriptor, 2(X)IST’s might just be the one. The brand’s distinct square-cut style will make your upper body look exponentially more defined, no matter how long it’s been since you last saw the inside of a squat rack.
The Best Bulk-Buy Winter Undershirt
Uniqlo’s GQ-favorite Heattech garments are expressly designed to keep your body cozy—but not, y’know, shvitzy—when you’re freezing your ass off halfway through winter. This particular version clocks in on the warmer end of the spectrum and comes in a silky-smooth fabric that’s been brushed on the inside for maximum softness—exactly what you should look for in an undershirt you’ll throw on beneath every layer you’re wearing in February.
The Best “My Yacht Has Its Own Yacht” Undershirt
We’ll level with you: no matter how many zeros are in your bank account, you’re going to have a tough time explaining away the purchase of a white T-shirt that costs over two grand. That’s a level of opulence pure logic can’t make the case for. But shopping—even for something as seemingly mundane as an undershirt—shouldn’t always be constrained by pure logic. And if your bank account isn’t limited by that kind of reasoning either, Loro Piana’s ridiculously luxurious tee (made from Merino wool harvested in New Zealand exclusively for the brand) will help you live out your high-flying fantasies in style.
