We Did It: We Found the Best T-Shirts in the World After an Exhaustive Search

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. To help guys find the best, most comfortable t-shirts, we bought dozens of tees from the best t-shirt brands and subjected them to extensive testing.

In our years of searching for the best t-shirts for men, SPY editors tested over 60 t-shirts. And we’re happy 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, we’ve got stylish options from brands you know and some you don’t. We’re talking about true goldilocks shirts, which fit you just right.

For this guide, we tested the most comfortable 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.

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The Best T-Shirts of 2022

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 in time, but nothing too noticeable. In addition, we found that the collar 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. You win this round yet again, Jeff Bezos.

We don’t use the word “perfect” lightly here at SPY, but Fresh Clean Threads was the first brand to earn our “Perfect 10” rating after we introduced new product testing guidelines in 2022. We truly believe Fresh Clean Threads should be your new go-to when shopping for the best t-shirts. We’re obsessed with the Fresh Clean Threads Crew Neck T-shirt, and we also love their henley and long-sleeve t-shirts. This exceptionally soft, super high-quality cotton t-shirt 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.

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, 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. True Classics t-shirts also passed the laundry test, and they’re just as good as Fresh Clean Threads, although they lose out on price.

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. Cuts Clothing also has regular sales, and during shopping events like Black Friday, these shirts are more affordable.

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 of the most comfortable t-shirts 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 opened the package.

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.

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. This shirt is most similar to Everlane’s popular heavyweight shirt but at a lower price.

Upon testing, there are a few features that set this tee aside from a lot of today’s best t-shirts for men. First, 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.

The Vuori Strato Tech Tee is made with a high-quality, moisture-wicking fabric blend, and after wearing it to the gym, we can attest that this shirt really is an athlete’s best friend. This 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. We should note that 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 t-shirt of all moisture-wicking t-shirts. 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.

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.

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. 

Read More: Best Vintage T-Shirts

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. 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, and it can stain easily. Last but not least, these also make for some super soft white t-shirts in our opinion — the type you want to wear solo or drape right under a flannel. That beign said, J.Crew has tons of color options.

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. 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.

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 of the best t-shirts. 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.

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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

Our 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.

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.

Typically, we don’t recommend t-shirts that cost more than $50. Here’s the thing though: this shirt is soft. 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 or Cuts Clothing, 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.

Read More: Best Designer T-Shirts for Men

Easy Mondays is another recent SPY find, and so far we’ve been loving this brand. 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.

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) more affordable.

Here’s something that kind of shocked us: Jockey makes a pretty great t-shirt, one that holds its own among the best t-shirts for men. 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 prerogative, but in our experience, these make for some killer tees to wear solo. Pit stains will happen the longer you own it (especially if the shirt is white), but the quality of the material and size stay relatively the same. Expect the neckline to stretch and the shirt to lose its consistency after about 6-8 months, but for the price, these tees aren’t too bad.

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.

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.

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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. We’ve found that 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.

Each and every t-shirt you’ll see in this article has been tested by the SPY team sometime between July 2020 and November 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:

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. Here is the following criteria we abided by:

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. A crisp $200 white t-shirt might be a great for Carmy on The Bear, but the average guy isn’t going to spend that much on a t-shirt.

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

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Why Trust Spy When Shopping for the Best T-Shirts?

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.

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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 Chicago, 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.

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