17 Best T-Shirts for Men of 2022 | Most Comfortable Tees

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We’d be willing to bet good money that the majority of folks reading this article are wearing a t-shirt right now. But here’s something you might not be wearing: the best men’s t-shirts in the world. Most guys have a collection of t-shirts they’ve acquired over the years in search of that elusive perfect t-shirt. Just like you, we’ve been searching for the best t-shirts in the world, but unlike you, we have the ability to buy dozens of shirts from the best t-shirt brands and subject them to extensive testing.

The SPY team has spent years searching for the best t-shirts for men, and we’ve tested over 60 t-shirts in an exhaustive search. We’re pleased to report that in our hunt for the perfect tee, we actually found it. In SPY’s guide to the best t-shirts of 2022, you’ll find stylish options from brands you know and some you don’t. We’re talking about true goldilocks shirts, which fit you just right. In addition to searching for the most comfortable t-shirts, we also looked for tees that stood the test of time, meaning they had to pass the laundry test.

Nowadays, the best men’s t-shirts aren’t just for lounging around the house. Stylish graphic t-shirts can be a great way to show off your personality, plain tees serve as a workout staple, and a crisp white t-shirt is a versatile outfit essential. There are also some simple styling techniques that can instantly elevate a t-shirt, such as rolling the sleeves or tucking in the front of the shirt (aka the French tuck).

For this guide, we tested t-shirts from 30 different brands in total, from long-length cuts and muscle tees to classic fit and everything in between. We discovered some awesome new t-shirts brands along the way, and we decided not to include some popular but lower-quality men’s t-shirts from brands like Hanes, ASOS and H&M. Before including a t-shirt in this list, we wore it over a period of four weeks and washed it at least three times. For our top picks, we wore these tees for a minimum of six months before rendering a final verdict. In the end, we selected only the 17 best t-shirts for men.

So if you’re looking for the best, most comfortable t-shirts in the world, then you’ll find them here.

A SPY product tester wearing the True Classics Crew Neck T-Shirt
Tyler Schoeber | SPY

The Best T-Shirts for Men at a Glance

So what are the must-have t-shirts for guys in 2022? Our top tee comes from an under-the-radar brand called Fresh Clean Threads (formerly Fresh Clean Tees), which has the perfect balance of comfort, price, style and durability. You can read our full t-shirt reviews below, but here is an abbreviated list of the best t-shirts.

1. Best Overall: Fresh Clean Threads Crew-Neck T-Shirt — $19.00 at Fresh Clean Threads

2. Runner Up: True Classics Crew Neck T-Shirt — $24.99 at True Classics

3. Longest Lasting: Cuts Clothing Crew Curve-Hem — $54.00 at Cuts Clothing

4. Loose Fit: Uniqlo U Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt — $19.90 at Uniqlo

5. Budget Buy: Goodthreads Perfect Crew Neck T-Shirt — $14.62 on Amazon

6. Best for Exercise: Vuori Strato Tech Tee — $44.00 at Vuori

7. Best Faded Tee: Madewell Garment Dyed Allday Crewneck T-Shirt — Starting at $24.50 at Madewell

8. Best Colors: J.Crew Broken-In Tee — Starting at $9.50 at J.Crew

9. Best Pocket Tee: Katin Base Tee — $33.00 at Katin

10. Best 365-Day Guarantee: Everlane Organic Crew — $30.00 at Everlane

1. Fresh Clean Threads Crew-Neck T-Shirt

BEST OVERALL

Best For: Anyone who’s been searching for the perfect t-shirt. Guys that believe a high-quality t-shirt shouldn’t cost more than $30.

Why We Chose It: After surviving wash after wash, Fresh Clean Threads’ t-shirts hold their shape, color and softness.

• Material: StratuSoft, a soft cotton-poly fabric
• Comfort Level: The perfect tee
• Longevity: Years and years

Courtesy of Fresh Clean Threads

Compared to the other brands on this list, Fresh Clean Threads is relatively unknown, but this under-the-radar t-shirt brand should be your new go-to when shopping for t-shirts. We’ve been obsessed with the Fresh Clean Threads Crew Neck T-shirt after testing it, and we also love their henley and long-sleeve t-shirts. Why? Because this exceptionally soft tee is designed with a fit that looks great on all body types. In our review, we noted that this is the Goldilocks of t-shirts — not too heavy yet not too thin — and it fits just right. 

Even after a dozen washes, we’ve found that these tees hold their shape, color and comfort with very little fading after six months to a year of wear. Customers can choose just about any color under the sun, making this an exceptional choice for rocking your own unique look. Best of all, these t-shirts are affordable. While premium t-shirts can cost $50 or more, Fresh Clean Threads’ Crew Necks are just $19 and 5-packs start at just $75, which is bananas for a shirt of this quality.

We should also mention that Fresh Clean Threads recently released the brand-new Fresh Clean Threads Eco Fresh Crew Neck, a tee that isn’t just soft, stylish, fitting and affordable, but totally eco-friendly. (And, it’s only $3 more.) Seriously, you won’t regret giving this brand a try.

Note: Fresh Clean Threads was formerly known as Fresh Clean Tees but have since rebranded. You can also read our full Fresh Clean Threads review.

Pros:

• Incredibly comfortable
• True to size
• Many colors
• Survives many washes
• Affordable

Cons:

• We truly have seen zero cons so far

2. True Classics Crew Neck T-Shirt

RUNNER UP

Best For: Those interested in Fresh Clean Threads but are looking for something on the thicker side.

Why We Chose It: True Classics has recently become a favorite of ours and might be giving Fresh Clean Threads a run for its money.

• Material: 60% combed ringspun cotton, 40% polyester jersey
• Comfort Level: Incredibly comfortable
• Longevity: Years and years

Courtesy of True Classics

There’s been a lot of talk about True Classics in the t-shirt world, with lots of folks claiming they’re essentially Fresh Clean Threads’ twin. After testing both, we definitely disagree, but we do see the comparison. Both Fresh Clean Threads and True Classics make excellent men’s t-shirts, and it’s hard to choose between them.However, we have to give the edge to Fresh Clean Threads over True Classics, as the former slightly wins out on price and longevity. However, our product testers are loving their True Classics t-shirts, and they win high marks for comfort, color options, price and durability.

True Classics has the same softness that Fresh Clean Tees does. It has just the right amount of stretch (which is honestly a little less stretchy than Fresh Clean Threads). In comparison, True Classics’ design is also slightly thicker. The shirts drape over the body slightly differently, and True Classics t-shirts feel more like a shirt that prioritizes structure. When it comes to washing and drying, we’ve seen no issues thus far with True Classics and will continue to test in hopes the quality stays the same.

Pros:

• Incredibly comfortable
• True to size
• Many colors
• Survives many washes

Cons:

3. Cuts Clothing Crew Curve-Hem

LONGEST LASTING

Best For: Folks who don’t mind spending a little extra cash for a solid and dependable t-shirt. Cuts Clothing makes stylish, long-lasting basics and are ideal if you prefer slim-fit tees.

Why We Chose It: It’s beyond cozy and made to be exceptionally long-lasting.

• Material: PYCA Pro® fabric, a tri-blend including cotton, spandex and polyester
• Comfort Level: Incredibly comfortable
• Longevity: Years and years

Courtesy of Cuts Clothing

You can find plenty of great t-shirts in the $50-$100 range, but we know that the average guy isn’t going to break that $50 barrier for a plain t-shirt. Cuts Clothing tees come in at $54, but after reviewing the Cuts Clothing’s Crew Curve-Hem, we can tell you that it’s worth the extra cash.

These shirts are available in both a Pima Cotton fabric and the brand’s own super soft, super stretchy PYCA tri-blended fabric. We’ve tried them both, and this is one of the rare circumstances where we don’t recommend the Pima Cotton option. The PYCA fabric is anti-pilling, pre-shrunk, wrinkle-free and extremely comfortable. We’ve washed and worn these shirts dozens of times, and they hold up better than any other t-shirt we’ve tested, full stop. Even after a full year, there’s no noticeable pilling and only very minor fading, and the fabric is still as buttery soft as the day we ripped open the package. We also love the stylish color options Cuts Clothing offers.

We should note that these men’s t-shirts run on the slimmer side, so if you’re in doubt, we recommend ordering a size up.

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Soft
• Anti-pilling
• Many colors

Cons:

• Expensive
• Trim fit, which some might not like
• Curve hem, which some might not like

Full Review: Cuts Clothing T-Shirts Are Practically Perfect

4. Uniqlo U Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt

BEST LOOSE FIT

Best For: Anyone that wants a high-quality, loose-fit tee you can pair with anything. Guys that aren’t afraid of fast fashion.

Why We Chose It: Uniqlo makes a consistent tee that feels well-made, is affordable and comes in a number of colors.

• Material: 100% cotton
• Comfort Level: Very comfortable
• Longevity: About 2 to 3 years

Courtesy of Uniqlo

Looking for something heavyweight that won’t hug every inch of your body? Find your new favorite tee in Uniqlo’s U Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt. This loose-fit t-shirt is crafted from thick cotton for optimal comfort no matter the season.

Upon testing, there are a few features that set this tee aside from a lot of today’s best t-shirts for men. First and foremost, there is almost no stretch in this shirt at all. When washing, it doesn’t shrink at all, which is something to keep in mind when choosing a size. (You might actually be better off with a smaller size.) The lack of stretch most certainly helps the tee retain its size in the wash, but it also makes this shirt a little less soft than what you might be used to. All in all, it’s a heavyweight shirt that’s most certainly designed to wear solo.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Many colors
• Heavyweight material
• Casual fit
• Many sizes

Cons:

5. Goodthreads Perfect Crew Neck T-Shirt

BUDGET BUY

Best For: Avid Amazon shoppers and anyone looking for a quality yet inexpensive t-shirt.

Why We Chose It: It’s an easy-to-purchase option with excellent weight and a casual look. Despite the low price, it holds up extremely well in the wash.

• Material: 100% cotton
• Comfort Level: Very comfortable
• Longevity: About 2 to 3 years

Courtesy of Amazon

Because we’re skeptical of fast fashion, we were all primed to hate Goodthreads, an Amazon clothing brand. But after putting this t-shirt through our testing process, we were convinced of its quality. Goodthreads is an Amazon-run brand that makes affordable clothing for men and women, and Goodthreads t-shirts for men do not disappoint, despite the low price tag.

Goodthreads is aptly named in our opinion. This shirt is sturdy. Wash after wash after wash, it’s held the same consistency we saw on day one. No pilling, no holes, no color changes. The softness did dissipate ever so slightly in time, but nothing too noticeable. In addition, the neck kind of wore out after a bit.

Although the shirt is relatively thin, it uses thicker cotton for a medium weight and will fit well on a variety of body types. Best of all? Goodthreads t-shirts start at just under $5 depending on your size and color. Yeah, you’re reading that right. You win this round yet again, Jeff Bezos.

Pros:

• Many color options
• Great fit
• Comfortable material
• Very affordable
• Fast shipping

Cons:

• People might not have interested in purchasing from Amazon brands
• Can come off as “too good to be true”

6. Vuori Strato Tech Tee

BEST FOR EXERCISE

Best For: Anyone that’s sick and tired of wearing old tees at the gym.

Why We Chose It: Vurori is one of our favorite athleisure brands, and the brand’s Strato Tech Tees are the best workout t-shirts we’ve tested yet.

• Material: 96% polyester, 4% elastane
• Comfort Level: Very comfortable
• Longevity: About a year to 2 years

Courtesy of Vuori

There are lots of guys out there that head to the gym in any old tee. You know, the kind that isn’t necessarily made for working out. Ditch that raggedy, sweat-stained piece of garbage for this breathable slim-fit crewneck from Vuori, which will change the way you work out. It’s made with a moisture-wicking fabric blend, and after wearing it to the gym, we can attest that this shirt really is an athlete’s best friend.

Vuori’s Strato Tech Tee is made for putting in work just as much as it is for laying on the couch. After extensive testing, we can tell you that this is easily one of the softest, stretchiest shirts in our closets. It’s the type of shirt you can do just about anything in without fear of ripping. Something else we noticed? It is a bit thin and isn’t the best looking on folks with full-framed figures. It’s definitely a slim-fit shirt that’s going to hug you when you put it on, and we found that it did shrink in the wash.

Here’s something that makes up for some minor shrinkage: this is the best moisture-wicking tee of all moisture-wicking tees. The tee in particular that we’ve tested is grey in color and it simply does not get sweat stains. Our sweatiest of editors wears this to the gym religiously and it doesn’t darken when wet whatsoever. It’s truly magical. For dudes that don’t mind showing off their body even when their shirts are on, this one is made for you. Dudes with dad bods should opt for Fresh Clean Threads or Katin instead.

Pros:

• Wicks moisture
• Incredibly soft
• Incredibly stretchy

Cons:

• Definitely prioritizes men with toned bodies
• Very much hugging

7. Madewell Garment Dyed Allday Crewneck T-Shirt

BEST FADED TEE

Best For: Vintage lovers looking for the perfect tee to wear on a night out.

Why We Chose It: It’s softer than soft and even gets softer as you continuously wash it.

• Material: 100% cotton jersey
• Comfort Level: Very comfortable
• Longevity: About a year and a half to 2 years

Courtesy of Madewell

What’s a garment-dyed t-shirt? This dyeing technique results in a slightly textured and faded look, which results in a tee that appears well-loved (in a good way). Madewell’s garment-dyed men’s tees are super soft and comfortable, and you can choose from a range of attractive colors.

But how does this shirt fare amongst its opponents? The answer is incredibly well. Upon testing, we noticed that this handsome tee has a great fit that only gets better after the first wash. In the beginning, it might feel a tad boxy, but something about that first wash really softened up the shirt. Although it’s definitely on the thinner side, this is an excellent shirt to wear solo or if you’re looking for comfortable tees to wear under your favorite flannel or zip-up jacket in transitional weather. Plus, the wide range of pre-faded colors gives this tee that vintage, thrifted look. 

Pros:

• Soft
• Many colors
• Casual look
• Great fit
• Pre broken-in

Cons:

• On the thinner side
• Vintage look might not be for all

Read More: Best Vintage T-Shirts

8. J.Crew Broken-In Tee

BEST COLORS

Best For: Guys looking for a crisp plain tee that’s soft to the touch. Guys who like to sleep in their t-shirts.

Why We Chose It: It’s got a classic broken-in feel to it that’s comfortable upon first wear.

• Material: 100% cotton
• Comfort Level: Very comfortable
• Longevity: About a year

Courtesy of J.Crew

Fashion is for showing off your own specific style, right? Right. That’s what had us initially so infatuated with J.Crew’s Broken-In Tee. This tee is available in a wide array of colors. And as the name suggests, it’s incredibly soft to the touch and won’t shrink over time. That means it holds up well with repeated washes, right? While this shirt won’t shrink in the wash, it does start to lose its shape over time.

Visually speaking, the Broken-In Tee is a genuine must-have. If you’re looking for the best plain white tees, then we definitely recommend ordering one of these for every day of the week. Plus, if you like to sleep in t-shirts and boxers, this is one of the most comfortable t-shirts to wear at night.

Pros:

• Many colors
• Comfortable fit
• Super soft

Cons:

• Starts to show its age relatively quickly
• Baggier fit

9. Katin Base Tee

BEST REGULAR FIT

Best For: Folks who can’t go without a comfy pocket tee. Guys looking for regular-fit t-shirts that aren’t too slim.

Why We Chose It: Because pocket tees deserve some loving, too.

• Material: 100% organic cotton
• Comfort Level: Very comfortable
• Longevity: Six months to a year

Courtesy of Katin

Katin is a surf brand making surprisingly stellar pocket t-shirts. These t-shirts are one of our latest finds, and we’ve been obsessed since the first wear. Not only are these t-shirts ultra soft and durable, but they’re also built with a looser fit, which makes them perfect for guys tired of slim-fit everything. Despite the looser fit, they aren’t too bagg; they have just the right amount of room for dudes of any shape and size. For anyone who loves a relaxed feel when repping a pocket tee, this is the shirt to wear. Plus, it’s made with organic fabrics.

If there’s one drawback, it’s that we found that these t-shirts start to lose their shape — especially around the collar — after six or seven washes. That’s not bad compared to most of the affordable t-shirts for men we’ve tested, and we still highly recommend this for anyone looking for comfortable, regular-fit tees in stylish neutral colors.

Pros:

• Many color options
• Chest pocket
• Made with organic cotton

Cons:

Also Consider: J.Crew Slub Jersey Striped Tee

10. Everlane Organic Crew

BEST GUARANTEE

Best For: Anyone that loves Everylane’s stylish basics and is nervous about trying new men’s t-shirt brands.

Why We Chose It: Because we can’t hate on a 365-day guarantee.

• Material: 100% organic cotton
• Comfort Level: Very comfortable
• Longevity: About a year

Courtesy of Everlane

Everlane’s organic crew is part of the brand’s “Uniform” line of clothing, meaning it’s backed by a 365-day guarantee. That was the first aspect that caught our eyes, but eventually, we found much more to fall in love with upon testing this $30 tee for ourselves.

First of all, Everlane’s line of t-shirts holds up incredibly well. We’ve washed this shirt more than five times at this point with no shrinking, pilling or durability-related issues. Sure, the color might have faded ever so slightly, but it’s nothing you wouldn’t expect in any other tee. If anything, it makes the shirt look even better. The tee is available in a variety of colors and it looks great on a multitude of body types, so no matter your size you’ll most likely feel comfortable walking around in Everlane’s Organic Crew.

Pros:

• 365-day guarantee
• Many colors
• Casual look

Cons:

• Starts to lose its shape relatively quickly
• Have found holes before 365 days have finished

11. Amazon Essentials Regular-Fit Short-Sleeve Crewneck T-Shirt

GREAT FIT

Best For: Amazon shoppers who love a deal.

Why We Chose It: A two-pack with a great fit? We can’t complain about it.

• Material: Some 100% cotton, others 60% cotton and 40% polyester
• Comfort Level: Very comfortable
• Longevity: About a year

Courtesy of Amazon

These incredibly affordable shirts come in a two-pack at typically just $13.90, making them $6.95 each. That said, before testing, we really weren’t expecting anything too special. Fortunately, we were pleasantly surprised, and we say this with confidence: Amazon Essentials’ Regular-Fit Short-Sleeve Crewneck T-Shirt are some of the best t-shirts for the money in 2022. After washing and wearing these shirts a number of times, we noticed just how well they fared against the washing machine. No loss of color, the size stayed the same and the fit looked just as good as it did on day one. Sure, the sleeves might be a little big for some, but if you’re rocking that rolled-sleeve look, this is a serious must-have.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Comes in a two-pack
• Solid quality
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Shrinks easily, so make sure to wash cold

12. Banana Republic Supima Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt

BEST CLASSIC CUT

Best For: Those of you that prefer a classic look and feel and love soft cotton tees.

Why We Chose It: It’s the kind of t-shirt you grew up with. It’s simply a classic.

• Material: 100% supima cotton
• Comfort Level: Comfortable
• Longevity: About a year

Courtesy of Banana Republic

Supima cotton makes for some of the most comfortable t-shirts, which is why it’s our preferred fabric for underwear). And we can attest that this uber-soft Supima cotton tee from Banana Republic is like wrapping your skin in a cloud. 

This is one of those shirts that runs ever so slightly large in anticipation of that very first wash. Without washing, the wear was slightly baggy, but after the fact, it fits like a glove. Like a really soft glove. This is the kind of shirt where body type doesn’t matter, because no matter your shape or size, it will most likely look exceptionally well on you. One thing that veers this shirt off course is its weight and construction. Although we’ve washed it multiple times and have noticed only minimal (and actually much-needed) shrinkage, this shirt has a consistency that feels a little cheaper to the touch.

Pros:

• Classic
• Comfortable
• Casual look

Cons:

• Not many colors
• Kinda of short
• A little thin

13. Buck Mason Slub Curved Hem Tee

BEST MODERN FIT

Best For: Shorter dudes who are looking to try out a new style.

Why We Chose It: It’s a more modern take on your classic t-shirt.

• Material: 145 GSM cotton jersey with a light slub texture
• Comfort Level: Comfortable
• Longevity: About a year

Courtesy of Buck Mason

We’re big fans of Buck Mason here at SPY, and the LA-based men’s clothing brand makes some of the most comfortable men’s t-shirts in the world. For real, after testing, we were shocked at just how soft these puppies are. At $38, they’re definitely a little more expensive than your average tee, but they’re made from a loose-knit and light slub cotton that feels great against your skin. We also noticed just how stretchy the material was. It’s most certainly one that gives guys a lot of freedom to move around.

Like the Cuts Clothing t-shirt featured above, the modern curved hem pairs great with shorts and denim. The biggest complaint we have with the Buck Mason Slub Curved Hem Tee is the length. If you are on the taller side or have a longer torso than average, this might be too short for you. However, if you’re under 5’10”, you should be good to go. In addition to stretch and soft materials, these relaxed shirts are also available in almost fifteen neutral colors.

Pros:

• Super soft
• Many colors
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Pretty short
• Although comfortable, it might not be the best material for you

14. Robert Barakett Georgia Crewneck T-Shirt

BEST SPLURGE

Best For: Guys who are willing to pay more for higher quality. Guys that want a slim-fit t-shirt with some weight and stretch to it.

Why We Chose It: Because this is as bougie as a t-shirt can get.

• Material: 100% Pima cotton
• Comfort Level: Very comfortable
• Longevity: About a year to 2 years

Courtesy of Robert Barakett

When it comes to picking the basics — t-shirts, socks, boxer briefs, shorts — you don’t want to have to put a lot of thought into your shopping. And that’s exactly why Robert Barakett’s Georgia Crewneck tee is one of the best t-shirts for men available right now. This crew neck cotton tee features a timeless and comfortable design that we’ve washed repeatedly without any issues. It has a stretch that’s unmatched by its competitors because it doesn’t shrink or shrivel in any capacity. No pilling, no color changes, nothing.

Upon wearing, anyone with a sense of touch will notice how soft it is on the skin. In fact, it’s so soft that it’s almost too soft. It has that consistency some men might be familiar with in a swim shirt for surfing, and it stretches way more than you will ever need a shirt to stretch. Like Vuori, it also looks a bit awkward on men with bigger frames. In addition, this shirt is more substantial than your average t-shirt, and it will last long enough to justify its $70 price point.

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Great shape
• Massive stretch

Cons:

• Almost too stretchy
• Not made for men with larger body frames

Read More: Best Designer T-Shirts for Men

15. Easy Mondays Crew Neck T-Shirt

BEST NEW BRAND

Best For: Those looking to give a brand they likely haven’t heard of a try.

Why We Chose It: Easy Mondays makes reliable tees we’re pretty impressed by

• Material: 95% cotton, 5% lyrca
• Comfort Level: Comfortable
• Longevity: About a year

Courtesy of Easy Mondays

We’re unsure just about how long the brand Easy Mondays has been on this planet, but what we will say is that the brand is exceptionally new to us. And, so far, so good. These tees are comfortable options to rock solo or under a flannel. It’s the type of tee you should feel comfortable seen in rather than hiding under a sweatshirt.

Shirts shrink ever so slightly after the first wash and we have noticed a slight difference in the material, but this shirt still stretches and retains its shape effortlessly wash after wash. When it comes to color, there aren’t so many to choose from but there are options for many casual tee picks. If this shirt was $20, you’d see it in a much higher position. But, it’s $65 for a shirt that doesn’t have a name like Robert Barakett that people keep coming back to despite the price. We’re very impressed with Easy Mondays and do believe the shirt is worth buying, we only wish it was a little (a lot) cheaper.

Pros:

• Newer brand
• Comfortable
• Great stretch

Cons:

• Not too many colors
• Very pricy

16. Jockey Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt

MOST SURPRISING

Best For: Folks familiar with Jockey underwear that are looking for a bit of a surprising pick.

Why We Chose It: This is the undershirt you can wear as an overshirt.

• Material: 100% cotton
• Comfort Level: Comfortable
• Longevity: About 8 months

Courtesy of Amazon

Here’s something that kind of shocked us: Jockey makes a pretty great t-shirt. We love Jockey underwear, don’t get us wrong, but Jockey is something we’ve consistently only assimilated with undergarments. Therefore, this two-pack felt as if they were going to be undershirts only. That is not the case at all.

Sure, you can use these as undershirts and that’s likely their main perogotive, but in our experience, these make for some killer tees to wear solo. Pit stains will happen the longer you own (especially if the shirt is white), but quality of the material and size stay relatively the same. Expect the neckline to stretch and the shirt to lose its consistency after about 8 months, but for the price, these tees aren’t too bad.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Two-pack
• Comfortable
• Surprising

Cons:

17. Gildan Crew T-Shirts

BEST UNDERSHIRT

Best For: People who love to save money and appreciate a good deal. Right now, you can buy Gildan crew-neck t-shirts on Amazon for practically nothing.

Why We Chose It: Because you need a solid undershirt in your collection.

• Material: 100% cotton
• Comfort Level: Comfortable
• Longevity: Around 6 months

Courtesy of Amazon

Last but not least, we have to talk about Gildan, that old reliable brand you may have worn in your youth. In our testing, we discovered the obvious. This is not the best t-shirt in the entire world, but it is a solid tee to rock for a short period of time. It’s more or less of a shirt with two lives — once before you wash it, and once after. Still, if you’re searching for cheap t-shirts that can be worn as an undershirt or at the gym, then Gildan has some extremely affordable multi-packs that will get the job done.

Multipacks are a great way to save, especially when it comes to solid-colored tees. At Amazon, you can get a variety pack of Gildan t-shirts in packs of four, five, six, ten and twelve in a number of different solid colors. One important note: although Gildan refers to these shirts as moisture-wicking, we can tell you they really aren’t. After wearing one at the gym, we didn’t find any discernible wicking abilities here. All in all, this isn’t the best shirt in the world, but it’s a solid budget buy.

Pros: 

• They come in a 5-pack
• Affordable

Cons:

• Not incredibly durable
• Not much exciting about them

How We Chose the Best T-Shirts for Men

We’ve tested a lot of t-shirts for men over the years, and as a result, we’ve become extremely picky. Some tees simply deserve a place in the trash bin. In addition, a lot of t-shirts for men have a ridiculous price point but still end up losing their shape after one or two washes. We’ve also found that some of the world’s most affordable tees hold up better than shirts that cost three or four times as much.

We’ve tested so many t-shirts that we have it down to a science, and we consider ourselves the world’s leading authorities on the best t-shirt brands for men.

To help guys find the best t-shirts in the world, we reviewed the top options from a variety of menswear brands. We didn’t include any graphic t-shirts (although you can find our favorite graphic t-shirts here), which are in a category all their own. In addition, we know that most guys have zero interest in spending more than $50 on a t-shirt (and in our opinion, $50 is pushing it), and so price was a major factor in our selection.

A SPY product tester wearing the Amazon Essentials Regular-Fit Short-Sleeve Crewneck T-Shirt
Tyler Schoeber | SPY

Each and every t-shirt you’ll see in this article has been tested by the SPY team sometime between July 2020 and October 2022. In total, our editors tested 60+ popular t-shirts from 25 different brands. We’ve put each of them through multiple wears and at least three washes in order to see if the tees can pass the laundry test.

Regardless of how you style your tee, we’ve found that the most comfortable men’s t-shirts are typically made from one of the following materials:

• Supima/Pima cotton (premium cotton)
• Traditional 100% cotton
• Polyester/cotton blends
• Spandex/cotton blends
• Viscose or Rayon

SPY’s Site Director wearing the Cuts Clothing Curved Hem Crew Neck T-Shirt.
Tyler Schoeber | SPY.com

During our studies, not only did we consider wash and wear when testing, but also additional factors including color options, quality, price, and overall fit. It’s important that your go-to t-shirt marks numerous boxes. Sure, you can own flimsier, cheaper options for undershirt purposes, but when talking about the best t-shirts, you need something that can stand on its own. And we were determined to find it through the following criteria:

• Color Options: Is the shirt available in numerous colorways or just one?
• Special Qualities: Is this a simple run-of-the-mill t-shirt or does it have modern features such as moisture-wicking properties, a pre-shrunk construction or organic cotton?
• Longevity: Will it last you a significant amount of time or begin to show its age after only a few washes?
• Softness/Feel: Is it soft to the touch? Is it soft enough to sleep in and wear all day long?
• Fit: How does it look and feel on the body? Too big? Too tight? Just right?
• Substantialness: What’s the material like? Does it stretch too much? Is it too thin?
• Price: This was an important part of our selection process, because no one wants to overpay for a t-shirt.

The best men’s t-shirts aren’t just comfortable, versatile and easy to style, but also affordable. When it comes to shelling out big bucks for your wardrobe, your basic solid tee shouldn’t be setting you back as much as a spring jacket. While it’s possible to spend $200 on a designer t-shirt, there’s really no good reason to. For our purposes, we tried to stick to a $50 price limit, and most of our picks cost under $30.

Some of the brands featured in this article provided t-shirts to SPY for testing, and others we purchased ourselves for this article. We’re always looking for new t-shirts for men, so get in touch with us via Twitter, Instagram or email if you think your t-shirts deserve a spot on our list. At this time, we’re only looking for men’s t-shirts that cost $50 or less.

Click here to read more about SPY’s product testing and review process.

SPY’s Site Director modeling Fresh Clean a crew-neck t-shirt from Fresh Clean Threads.
Tyler Schoeber | SPY

Over the past few years, SPY editors, writers and product testers have written in-depth reviews of hundreds of products, and we’ve tested thousands more to produce shopping guides like this. But of all the product categories we’ve reviewed, few have received as much attention as men’s t-shirts. We take our t-shirts very seriously indeed, and we have a rigorous testing process for evaluating our favorite tees. We never accept money in exchange for positive reviews, and you can trust us when we say that every product on this list has proven it lives up to our very high standards.

Because we spend so much time wearing t-shirts, we take great care to only recommend the very best options to our readers. As we mentioned earlier, we tested 60 different t-shirts before selecting the top options. Our editors are always hunting for the perfect t-shirt, and we will regularly update this guide as we find new t-shirt brands worth wearing and as new products become available.

A selection of the t-shirts tested for this article.
Tyler Schoeber | SPY.com

About the Author: Tyler Schoeber

Tyler Schoeber is the E-Commerce & Special Projects Editor at SPY.com. In addition to shooting a number of photo projects for SPY (including all of the photos in this article), Tyler has written about everything from the best backpacks to the best male rompers. When he’s not testing t-shirts for SPY, Tyler has also covered the best men’s joggers, bathrobes, and gift ideas for impossible-to-shop-for men.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Tyler’s a proud Jersey native who loves good food, good wine and good times. He split his college education between Pratt Institute and Montclair State University where he obtained his degree in fine arts in 2018.

Updates: This article was last updated October 28, 2022. We have added some new photos featuring shirts we’ve been testing out in public. In addition, we added four new t-shirts to our list, True Classic which we’ve placed as our runner up in #2, Katin at #9, Easy Mondays at #15 and Jockey at #16. We’ve taken the Carhartt Force Relaxed Fit Midweight Short-Sleeve Pocket T-Shirt off because we no longer feel like it belongs on this list and J.Crew’s Garment-Dyed Slub Cotton Crew Neck T-shirt because the shirt is no longer being made. After further testing the Amazon brand Goodthreads, we’ve decided to move the shirt from our #2 spot to our #5 spot. Additionally in regards to further testing, we’ve raised Vuori from #11 to #6.

Before this, the article was last updated June 20, 2022, to fit our more standardized review roundup format. No products have changed location in the list, but we did add some extra information. Here, we added our “Why We Chose It” section in addition to the three bulleted sections underneath. In addition, we have tested more t-shirts such as brands like Easy Mondays and Public Rec, amongst others. At this time, we have kept the list the same without changing order, adding or taking away any options.

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