There’s nothing like an old, faded, incredibly comfortable T-shirt. It carries years of stories in its washed-out threads. While it takes years to get there, the process is well worth it.
The best T-shirts are uncomplicated, but because of their simplicity, the smallest details have substantial effects. The material, the knit, the seams, the silhouette, the hem, the neckline — all these parts (and more) come together to create a garment that transcends social and economic divisions. So if you invest in a quality tee now — our favorites are below — you’re sure to be rewarded in coming years, as the garment will just keep getting better.
Hanes Beefy T
Courtesy Amazon
Hanes has been serving up the beef for decades and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better tee for the price. It's super soft from the get go and has just the right weight to wear as a year-rounder.
Pro Club Heavyweight Cotton Short Sleeve Crewneck T-Shirt
As far as multi-pack t-shirts go, Pro Club’s sit in a class where few others do. The all-cotton fabric is substantial, yet comfy and the price is tough to beat.
Uniqlo’s U sublabel is a style hack for fashion fiends. And among the lot of Christoph Lemaire-designed basics, the t-shirt stands out thanks to its thick cotton jersey, bound collar and impeccable fit.
With the backing of military-grade fabric and construction behind it, KC Jacks’ Foundation Short Sleeve Shirt is ready for heavy duty. The collar stays close to the neck, it’s long enough to tuck in, it comes in a range of colors and it’s made right here in The States.
Made in Los Angeles, this shirt has a 6.5-ounce American-cotton fabric that is garment-dyed with natural enzymes — that means it’ll feel broken-in from the first wear. It features a generous fit and high neck line.
This shirt features a 6.2-ounce cotton knit that is pigment-dyed and garment-washed so it looks gently loved. Made in Vietnam, it has a slim fit and single chest pocket.
Made in the USA, Forty Five's entry into the tee market uses premium Supima cotton to knit its luscious jersey. It features a classic, vintage-style silhouette and a range of garment-dyed colorways.
Known as one of the best vintage stores in New York City, Front General Store also makes a great in-house basic t-shirt. Like many of the greats, it’s dense and thick, giving it a great drape. They’re comfortable thanks to the seamless body and tagless neck, and the made in Japan pedigree is a bonus.
Buck Mason's made a killing with its line of quality tees. Though the curved hem tee is a huge boon for the brand, we prefer the straight-hemmed Slub Classic Pocket Tee. It has a great hand and tons of slubby texture to distance itself from the undershirt fare. It's made in LA and comes in the requisite black and white options, but be sure to look out for its seasonal colorways, too.
Made from organic cotton, this shirt is loosely knit for an airy feel which goes well with its relaxed silhouette. The garment-dye process also gives the tee more character.
Made in Canada, this shirt features 9-ounce cotton jersey that’s sewn with vintage flat-lock machines. The shirt has a trim fit and includes a subtle C patch logo on the left sleeve.
Beefier than the self-proclaimed (but still very good) Hanes Beefy-T, Freenote Cloth's heavier-than-thou tee has a soft and dry vintage hand feel. It's cut into a Goldilocks fit and the custom-knit fabric and signature pocket details show that it's not just a plug and play tee.
Made in America with traditional vintage construction, this t-shirt has a classic silhouette and ribbed neck. The style runs small, so order up one size when purchasing.
This shirt is cut and sewn in San Francisco and features a triple-needle coverstitched collar. According to the brand, the shirt will shrink 1 inch in the chest and 2 inches in the length after the first wash — size accordingly.
When you think of Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire, his t-shirt looks something like this. The fabric is a great all-around midweight, and the cut is something out of the 1950s with its trim fit and shorter sleeves.
This shirt has a unique fabric: the outside feels tightly woven and the inside feels soft and brushed. It is made from Greek organic cotton that is knit on vintage loopwheeling machines — the classic silhouette has no side seams. (The tee will shrink a half size on the first wash.)
Cut, sewn and knit in Los Angeles, this pre-shrunk shirt has tubular construction (so there are no side seams). It is made with American cotton and features a double-needle binded collar.
Japanese-based Warehouse & Co. makes a slew of legendary goods. Its t-shirt ranks among the finest available thanks to its tubular construction, dense cotton jersey and reinforced bound collars.
Right now, Backcountry is offering an extra 20 percent off some awesome light jackets that are chock full of technical materials and features. You won't be sorry you added one to your wardrobe.
Originally a tennis shoe in the 80s, the Killshot 2 has become one of Nike's most coveted kicks. After years of only being available through J.Crew, they are now available in multiple colorways directly from Nike. They sell out almost every time they go on sale, so act fast to get yourself a pair.
Filson has been making some of the best gear to come out of the Pacific Northwest, and probably the whole country, for years. This tote is tough-as-hell and water-resistant — perfect for weekend trips to the farmers' market.
Huckberry and Timex threw it back to the 70s and 80s with this collaboration. Starting with a blank slate, the brands led with the iconic cola colorway, added a military-inspired dial and finished it off with a woven stainless steel bracelet and aluminum timing bezel.
As we head into spring, you may not need the heavier layers you've been donning all winter, but you still need something. This light jacket from Nike is perfect for breezy days and will even help if you encounter a drizzly April shower.
When looking back on life and thinking hard about every travel mug and thermos you've seen, odds are high that most of them are made by Stanley. This classic brand has made some of the best insulated mugs for years, so picking one up is a no-brainer.
The Eco-Drive from Citizen is powered by light, so you never need a battery. This diver is highlighted by a date display at 4 o'clock, a luminous dial, and a dual-tone bezel.
A wireless charger looks great on your desk and keeps excess cords out of the way. This one is wrapped in Horween leather for a rugged look and can charge any wireless-compatible iPhones plus AirPods and AirPods Pro.
Staub's enameled cast iron is versatile, distributes heat evenly, and works with any heat source, including induction. This is one of our favorite pieces of cookware.
This is undoubtedly the perfect layer (and color) for spring. It looks great over a t-shirt, is soft enough to wear every day at home and looks nice enough for dates and Zoom meetings.
Now that many of us are working exclusively from home, Wi-Fi connectivity has never been more precious. Make sure your entire home is covered with this Wi-Fi extender, which can boost coverage up to 1,200 feet and connect to 20 devices.
Being at home more often is a blessing to many of us, but only if our home is prepared for our presence. If the air is getting a little stale and dry, pick up a humidifier to bring your space back to life and give you some fresh breathing room just in time for allergy season.
Using half bison fiber and half wool, the Bison Ultralight weighs less than a pound and offers extremely well insulation. It also sports a recycled ripstop shell with a PFC-free DWR coating and compactly folds into its own pocket.
Solo Stove took the 360 Airflow Design that made its fire pit so exceptional and turned it into a charcoal grill that is perfect for backyard hangs. This bundle comes with the grill, a grill stand, a cover, a carry case, plus briquettes and starters to get you going.
Hydro Flask really needs no introduction at this point, so when you can get a 32-ounce wide mouth with its Temp-Shield insulation at 31 percent off, you do it.
Making more coffee from home now? So are we. Ditch the Mr. Coffee and unlock all the flavor your freshly roasted beans have to offer with a french press. It is super simple to use and really does make exceptional coffee.
Stasher bags are one of our favorite alternatives to single-use plastic wrap and bags. They keep your food fresh, contain no BPA and are dishwasher and microwave safe. Plus, you can also use them for marinades or sous vide thanks to their Pinch-Loc seal.
Four-way stretch, seamless construction, and extreme breathability make this our pick for the best premium workout shirt. It is simple, and simply good.
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