The Best Undershirts for Battling Pit Stains All Year Long

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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. 

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 itself 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 Buy-in-Bulk Undershirt

Uniqlo Airism crew neck short-sleeve T-shirt

Uniqlo stays doing what Uniqlo does best: delivering tech-driven, well-designed, perfect-fitting basics at no-brainer prices. Their Airism tees are crafted from a smooth and breathable polyester blend that’s anti-microbial, deodorizing, and will keep your underarms feeling cooler than the Fonz in the face of turgid, muggy July days. At just $10 a pop, you can afford to buy enough for every day of the workweek—plus a few extra for the gym and hikes and whatever else the summer brings your way.a

The Best Soft-as-a-Kitten Undershirt

Tani SilkCut crew shirt

If you’ve ever bought underwear using a podcast discount code, then you’re already familiar with modal fabrics. Fashioned from beech trees, the fabric is purportedly [extremely Marc Maron voice] twice as soft as cotton, naturally antibacterial, and fully biodegradable. These tees from Tani take those claims another step further still: they’re crafted from Micro Modal Air, the finest form of the stuff around, which the brand says is thinner, stronger and softer than silk. We have no way of proving the science behind those assertions, but we can at least say anecdotally that these shirts are so soft and light they nearly feel like wearing nothing at all, and they seem to do a bang-up job of keeping summer-induced stink at bay. Now, back to the pod.

The Best Classic Cotton Undershirt

Calvin Klein cotton classic fit crew neck T-shirt (3 pack)

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 a easy, classic, regular cotton base layer to get you through the week, this is the three-pack for you.

The Best Silky, Slimming Undershirt

Tommy John Second Skin tank 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 ringer (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

2(X)IST essential cotton square cut tank (2 pack)

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.

Twelve More Undershirts We Love

Hanes ComfortSoft short sleeve T-shirt (6 pack)

No scratchy tag and no twisted collar—no matter how many times you wash it. At around $3 a shirt, you can afford to buy an extra multipack to stash in your desk drawer for emergencies.

Tom Ford cotton jersey crew neck T-Shirt

Do you need to spend over a hundred bucks on an undershirt? No. But if you’re going to drop some serious coin on the swankiest version money can buy, should it be from Tom Ford? Absolutely.

Calvin Klein ultrasoft stretch modal solid tank

Don’t let anything come between you and your Calvins, least of all a preference for buttery-soft tanks.

FOG Essentials white jersey t-shirts (3 pack)

Large, in charge, and ready-made for layering underneath appropriately big fits.

Everlane organic cotton crew

Sturdy enough to throw on every day beneath your best oxford shirts, smart enough to wear on its own as a standalone tee.

Bombas Pima cotton crew neck T-Shirt (3 pack)

Surpirse, surprise: The brand behind some of the most lovingly designed socks in the business also makes a bang-up, high-quality undershirt. Sleep on ’em at your own peril.

Spanx cotton compression crew neck

Yes, Spanx makes stuff for dudes. Yes, it’ll keep things tight on those days you need to look really sharp and put together.

Sunspel cellular cotton T-shirt

Sunspel found a way to make a loose, airy knit still look crisp and refined.

Fruit of the Loom Stay Tucked crew T-shirt (6 pack)

For guys who want their shirt to stay put all day long, these minimal undershirts are where it’s at. The longer body construction means it tucks in easy and won’t untuck every time you lean over to stretch or pick up a penny.

Mack Weldon silver crew neck T-shirt

Infused with antimicrobial silver to keep your armpits smelling fresher for longer.
$42

Mack Weldon

Hugo Boss regular fit short sleeve T-shirts (3 pack)

The smooth cotton, roomier body, and slightly scoop-ier neckline will have you feeling like a, um, boss.

Polo Ralph Lauren slim fit crew neck undershirts (3 pack)

It’s Ralph, tho.

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