The best men’s undershirts to soak up sweat and protect your clothing

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. Tommy John/Hanes/InsiderIt really doesn’t matter if your wardrobe is sporty, casual, formal, or a mash-up of all kinds of clothing, good undershirts are an important part of getting dressed.

The primary purpose of an undershirt is to absorb your body’s sweat as the first layer of clothing — and this is beneficial for a few key reasons. It’s good for the long-term care of your garments. The right undershirt will save your clothing from sweat, deodorant, and other stains from being in direct contact with your skin.

An undershirt is also important for your style and comfort. A sweat-soaked T-shirt or a dress shirt with wet armpits has never been a flattering, or comfortable, look. We’ve done the research and smoked out the best undershirts for men that you can buy today.

Undershirts are fairly straightforward pieces of clothing, but we’ve made sure that our top picks cover a range of different styles, fabrics, and price points so you can find the right one for your tastes and budget. Not sure how an undershirt should fit? We have a handy section on that. Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches products.

Here are the best men’s undershirts of 2022Best men’s undershirt overall: Tommy John Second Skin Modern Fit Crew Neck Undershirt, from $103 for 3Tommy John has a collar that stays flat, fits closely to your body, and never comes untucked.   Best deep V-neck undershirt: All Citizen AirWeight Undershirt Deep V, $22The All Citizen AirWeight Undershirt Deep V pairs perfectly with casual button-up shirts. Best undershirt to avoid sweat stains: Thompson Tee V-neck, $38.

99The Thompson Tee V-neck is made from breathable fabric, has an underarm sweat guard, and is, undoubtedly, the last undershirt you’ll ever need to buy. Best undershirt multi-pack: David Archy Soft Micro Modal V-Neck, $48. 99 for 3David Archy provides soft and lightweight undershirts at a great value.

 Best undershirt on a budget: Hanes Ultimate Comfort Crewneck, $24 for 4As a brand we all know and have probably worn, Hanes delivers variety and a great bang for your buck. Best tank top undershirt: Hanes Men’s Tank Top Undershirt Pack, $19 for 6If you prefer tank tops over T-shirts, Hanes CoolComfort Tanks are cheap and dependable. Best high-end tanktop undershirts: Tommy John Second Skin Tank Stay-Tucked Undershirt, $38While there are cheaper tank tops available, Tommy John’s Second Skin Tanks are so comfortable, that you’ll forget you’re wearing them.

Best casual undershirt: J. Crew Broken-in Short-sleeve V-neck T-shirt, $36. 50The heather gray V-neck T-shirt from J.

Crew is an undershirt that doubles as a casual tee.  Best men’s undershirt overallTommy JohnTommy John has a collar that stays flat, fits closely to your body, and never comes untucked.   Sizing options: S-4XLTo be honest, I gave up on T-shirt-style undershirts a long time ago because they’re almost always ill-fitting at the collar, the sleeves become loose, and they rarely stay tucked in.

But Tommy John’s undershirts are the complete opposite.  Close-fitting but not tight, they’re long enough to stay comfortably tucked into your pants, and they almost disappear underneath your top layer of clothes. While browsing, you’ll find that Tommy John undershirts are available in two materials — Second Skin and Cool Cotton.

I’ve tested and reviewed both and I can’t say one is better than the other; it really depends on what you look for most in an undershirt, whether that’s softness or breathability. I especially like Tommy John’s undershirts instead of basic tank tops when wearing dress shirts. They’re more comfortable (which is important when you’re already wearing not-so-comfortable dress clothes), they help prevent sweat stains on the armpits, and they’re a lot less visible if you’re wearing a white or light-colored shirt.

  — Amir IsmaelBest deep V-neck undershirtAll CitizensThe All Citizen AirWeight Undershirt Deep V pairs perfectly with casual button-up shirts. Sizing options: S-XLBelieve it or not, V-neck undershirts serve a purpose other than style: When sporting a button-up shirt, you can leave the top button undone while still hiding the shirt underneath. And if you’re going for a super casual look with two or three buttons undone, you’re going to need an even deeper V-neck.

All Citizens’ AirWeight Undershirt is a solid choice because it offers the option of a standard V-neck or a deep V-neck. The shirt also features mesh zones on the sides for breathability, a stay-tucked length, and a soft microfiber feel on the skin. Best undershirt to avoid sweat stainsThompsonThe Thompson Tee V-neck is made from breathable fabric, has an underarm sweat guard, and is, undoubtedly, the last undershirt you’ll ever need to buy.

Sizing options: XS-3XLManaging sweat while being dressed up is an ever-present challenge (especially in a suit). However, the Thompson Tee is uniquely designed with a second layer — the “sweat pad” — to put some more material and distance between your skin and a nice shirt. The trim cut is form-fitting and long enough to tuck, too, while the V-neck is suitably deep so it won’t be peeking out from under your shirt collar.

It’s also woven from soft-combed cotton and the “sweat pads” are made from a bamboo-derived cotton and spandex blend for stretch and flexibility. Best undershirt multi-packAmazonDavid Archy provides soft and lightweight undershirts at a great value.  Sizing options: S-XLAlthough synthetic fabrics have a bad rap in the menswear scene, they do confer some advantages for certain pieces of clothing.

Synthetics are durable, they dry quickly, and they’re useful for garments where you want some stretch such as socks or athletic wear. David Archy undershirts are made of a soft micro-modal fabric with a touch of spandex. It’s thin and light without being transparent, although it’s best to tumble dry these and then hang them up damp to air-dry rather than drying them with heat.

The V-neck is suitably deep and the David Archy shirts are slimmer than most other multi-pack undershirts from popular brands like Hanes, the cuts of which tend to be a bit boxier than most, but these undershirts don’t have much of a taper in the body. You may want to consider sizing down if you’re between sizes. The sleeves are also nice and slim-fitting so the material doesn’t bunch up around your arms under your dress shirt.

Best undershirt on a budgetHanesAs a brand we all know and have probably worn, Hanes delivers variety and a great bang for your buck. Sizing options: S-2XLWhat would a list of undershirts be without Hanes? In short, incomplete. As one of the most popular underwear brands, if not the most popular, Hanes has a huge assortment of all types of undergarments, including undershirts.

If you’re going for a classic T-shirt style rather than a tank top, the Ultimate Comfort Crewneck is what you’ll want to buy, especially if you’re on a budget. Each pack comes with four undershirts, making it the best bang for your buck. Made from 95% cotton and 5% spandex, these Hanes undershirts are tagless, have lay-flat collars, and is available in sizes up to 2XL.

Much like any budget-friendly pack of undershirts, they won’t last forever, as they can potentially lose shape after a handful of wear and wash cycles. But at $24 for four, you can’t really beat the price. If you’re looking for a basic white T-shirt, this is one you can actually pull off because it’s not too form-fitting or too long, like some of the other undershirts on this list.

— Amir IsmaelBest tank top undershirtHanesIf you prefer tank tops over T-shirts, Hanes CoolComfort Tanks are cheap and dependable. Sizing options: M-XLWhile T-shirt undershirts are best for preventing armpit stains under button-ups and dress shirts, tank top undershirts get the job done if you’re only concerned with having a sweaty back and chest. The Hanes CoolComfort White Tank is a no-frills undershirt, but with no tags, soft preshrunk cotton, and moisture-wicking technology, it has everything you need.

In line with all of Hanes’ other products, the CoolComfort tank tops are reasonably priced within everyone’s budget.  Although I regularly recommend skipping on low-cost underwear for pairs that have a better value (but are considerably more expensive), I haven’t found any issues with Hanes tank tops that should deter you from buying them. I usually wear more casual styles and don’t need to worry about armpit stains on dress shirts, so tank tops are my personal preference when it comes to undershirts.

I wear Hanes’ on a daily basis and they hold up very well. — Amir IsmaelBest high-end tanktop undershirtTommy JohnWhile there are cheaper tank tops available, Tommy John’s Second Skin Tanks are so comfortable, that you’ll forget you’re wearing them. Sizing options: S-4XLThere’s nothing wrong with wearing affordable multi-pack tank tops, but when it comes to the overall lifespan of the garment, you get what you pay for.

If cheaper options leave more to be desired, Tommy John’s Second Skin Tanks are well worth splurging on.  The Second Skin Material is made from a blend of 90% non-pilling micro modal and 10% spandex, which gives it a silky-smooth feeling against the skin and helps keep the material looking new after repeated wears and washes. In addition to using Tommy John’s amazing materials, these undershirts are designed to lay flat, stay tucked into your pants, and never lose shape.

You’ll be able to avoid having your undershirts bunched up and bulging through your clothes. At $38 each, they’re expensive, but they’ll outlast cheaper options.   Best casual undershirtJ.

CrewThe heather gray V-neck T-shirt from J. Crew is an undershirt that doubles as a casual tee.  Sizing options: XS-XXLUndershirts are typically designed to be worn under collared shirts, but they’re still essentially just T-shirts.

This means that, so long as they’re styled right, there’s no reason you can’t pop on an “undershirt” with a pair of jeans for a simple, basic outfit. As one of the premier brands of casual men’s style, it should come as no surprise that J. Crew made it into our list.

This heather gray V-neck tee lives up to the brand’s simple-yet-stylish design ethos. It features a tailored cut that’s not baggy or restricting. It’s slim enough to be an undershirt and made of soft combed cotton, too.

The V-neck is also deep enough that you can safely undo a button on your collared shirt, but it’s not so low as to be unsuitable for casual wear. It’s a no-nonsense, well-made, nicely-styled staple tee that’ll get a lot of play in your rotation whether you’re wearing it under a dress shirt or just pairing it with jeans or chinos. How to choose an undershirtHanesHere are some quick guidelines to follow when selecting an undershirt that’s right for you:Keep it fitted.

Your dress shirts should be trim, not baggy and blousy, and so it stands to reason that you don’t want big, billowy undershirts, either. Many brands today are offering slimmer modern cuts for their clothing, and undershirts are no exception. Go with something more tailored or even opt for snug-fitting stretch undershirts which hug your torso like a glove.

Choose a darker color when wearing thin, light-colored shirts. White is the most common color for undershirts and for most outfits they work perfectly. It’s worth noting that if you like wearing thin, lightly-colored shirts such as linen button-ups or lightweight cotton dress shirts, you’ll also want to add some darker undershirts to your wardrobe.

Lower contrast colors like gray or black help avoid those highly visible undershirt outlines seen when wearing a white undershirt. Go with a V-neck. People have a lot of opinions about men sporting V-necks for casual wear, but for undershirts, it’s pretty much a requirement – especially if you’re going sans necktie, which you’ll probably do fairly often.

Having the top of your undershirt peeking out behind your dress shirt collar screams “my mom made me wear a button-up shirt today,” but a V-neck cut keeps it nicely out of view below the neckline. If you already have a bunch of crew-neck undershirts, relegate them to casual wear or toss them. Choose premium versions.

If your budget allows you to spend more than usual, it’s usually a good idea to do so. Although we have recommended several affordable options, the higher-end choices always last longer. You’ll save time and money on repeatedly replacing your stretched-out, shrunken, or torn undershirts.

Check out our other menswear buying guidesTommy JohnThe best men’s underwearThe best T-shirts in men’s sizingThe best shorts in men’s sizingThe best swim trunks in men’s sizingThe best sweatpants in men’s sizingThe best suits in men’s sizingRead the original article on Insider.