The Best Undershirts for Battling Pit Stains All Year Long

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

$15
Uniqlo

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 $15 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.

The Best Buy-in-Bulk Winter Undershirt

Uniqlo Heattech ultra warm crew neck long-sleeve T-shirt

$30
Uniqlo

Uniqlo's famed Heattech garments are designed to keep your body nice and toasty all winter long. This particular tee clocks in on the warmer end of the range and is cut from a silky smooth fabric that's been brushed on the inside for maximum softness. 

The Best Soft-as-a-Kitten Undershirt

Tani SilkCut crew shirt

$55
Amazon

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)

$37$23
Amazon

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 Undershirt for Serious Cold Weather

Smartwool 250 baselayer crew slim fit shirt

$100
Amazon

Super warm, unexpectedly soft, and engineered with strategic paneling and stitching for superior comfort, this merino wool base layer is dense enough to get you through the toughest winters. Don't worry, though: it won't feel like you're wearing a wool sweater beneath your button-up—it's slim enough to keep a low profile and ensure you don't overheat indoors. 

The Best Silky, Slimming Undershirt

Tommy John Second Skin tank undershirt

$38
Nordstrom

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)

$36
Amazon

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.

16 More Undershirts We Love

Nike Everyday cotton stretch slim fit crew-neck undershirt (2-pack)

The Swoosh's sweat-wicking Dri-FIT tech makes this sleek undershirt perfect for workouts and long summer days.
$35
Nike

Indera cotton waffle knit heavyweight thermal top

There's a reason these shirts are a staple on jobsites everywhere: they're cheap, comfortable, and get the job done.
$10
Amazon

Icebreaker Merino 175 Everyday long sleeve crew

Merino wool is nature's tech fabric: it's moisture-wicking, anti-microbial, and temperature regulating, which means this lightweight layer will keep you warm in the winter and surprisingly cool and dry come summer.
$70
Amazon

J.Crew cotton-cashmere T-shirt

Your other just-cotton tees will be extremely, extremely jealous.
$70$55
J.Crew

Patagonia Men's Long-Sleeved Capilene® Cool Merino Shirt

Super soft material, eye-popping colors, 100% recycled material. Wins all around.
$69
Patagonia

Lululemon Drysense Training short sleeve shirt

Meet your new favorite gym partner.
$68
Lululemon

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.
$23$21
Amazon

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.
$130
Nordstrom

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.
$32
Nordstrom

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.
$24
Everlane

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.
$58
Amazon

Sunspel cellular cotton T-shirt

Sunspel found a way to make a loose, airy knit still look crisp and refined.
$70
Sunspel

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.
$15
Amazon

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.
$39
Amazon

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

It's Ralph, tho.
$46
Amazon

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