The Best Undershirts for Men Take the Sweat Off Your Back

Best Undershirt for Athletic Guys: Skims Stretch T-Shirt

Thanks to a heaping helping (84%!) of modal and a generous slice of elastane (16%), the Skims Stretch T-shirt was one of the silkiest and most comfortable options we tested out. That ultralight fabric resulted in a feathery drape that felt incredible on the skin. Out of all the brands we tested, Skims had the widest size range by a good margin, which we really liked.

As a self-proclaimed “husky boy”, GQ contributor Evan Malachosky was always a little skeptical of Skims, but the brand’s tees won him over. “Skims’s proprietary fabrics are silky on the skin and are neither too thin (and therefore exposing), nor too thick (and therefore too hot),” he noted. “They’re sleek, polished, comfortable, and plenty appropriate,” Malachosky says, “even if they’re a closer relative of the Fear of God family, than, say, capital-M Menswear brand Merz b. Schwanen.”

Fair warning: This tee is so popular that is does come in and out of stock often. That said, Skims does make a performance-focused tee that could be a potential replacement, though we have yet to try it for ourselves. We have, however, tried and enjoyed the brand’s lightweight T-shirts.

More Undershirts We Love

What to Look for in an Undershirt

Materials, construction, and fit—these are the main components that determine how good an undershirt (and, well, every garment) actually is. Undershirts are meant to be that intermediate layer between your outermost layers and your body, a protective guard that keeps your star garments fresh and free of sweat. Undershirts should be breathable, soft, comfortable, and, ideally, sweat-wicking. We love undershirts and tanks that are made from high-quality 100% cotton but feel like there’s a time and place for synthetics which are often used for their ability to wick away moisture and dry easily. Stretchy materials like Spandex are helpful for comfort, but their elasticity will eventually degrade over time.

Undershirts should generally fit closer to the body. This is because they’ll be layered underneath another shirt and can bunch in odd ways if it’s too baggy. They don’t need to be skin-tight, but they should be slim enough to layer comfortably and long enough to tuck into your shirt.

When it comes to tanks, Peter Middleton, founder of Wythe, says that they should actually stretch out a little bit. “They should fit slim to start. Since they are cotton and are knit…they will stretch to your body where they need to. If they are loose to start with, they are only going to become looser and saggier which is not really the point. Generally these shirts are tucked into your pants so length isn’t a huge deal one way or another.”

How We Test and Review Products

Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.

Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.

How We Make These Picks

We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.