The 8 Best Performance Undershirts for Men
There’s a litany of marketing messages about men’s undershirts. They’re performance wear and moisture-wicking. Breathable and sweat proof. They control odor, keep you cool and have SPF.
With so many options, how do you find the best moisture wicking undershirt?
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through all the different features available in men’s performance undershirts. Read on to find the one that will work best for you (and which one is just a bunch of hot air).
How to Find the Best Performance Undershirt
When Should You Wear a Moisture-Wicking Undershirt?
Undershirts have three main purposes. First, they serve as an extra layer to keep you warm under a dress shirt or polo.
Second, wearing an undershirt protects your dress shirts from deodorant and sweat stains.
Dress shirts are expensive. You want to protect your investment and make sure it lasts for a long time. An undershirt prevents and blocks sweat stains, saving you money on dry cleaning bills.
Finally, undershirts add a layer under light-colored and see-through shirts.
What Should You Look for in a Performance Undershirt?
Looking for the best performance undershirt isn’t the same as shopping for a basic undershirt to wear under your dress clothes.
You’ll want a moisture wicking undershirt that will keep you cool and repel sweat. You might also be interested in UV-protection and odor control.
Let’s take a look at the different features of performance undershirts to help you decide what you’re looking for.
Should you get a quick-drying undershirt?
Traveling a lot or simply always on the go? In that case, quick-drying might be an important feature to look for in your undershirt.
You can give your quick-dry undershirt a wash and it will fully dry in a couple of hours. It’s also a great option for a sweaty workout to dry off quickly.
What fabrics will work best for you?
When it comes to undershirt fabrics, you have plenty of options to choose from. Many undershirt manufacturers opt for modern technical fabrics due to their moisture-wicking and sweat proof properties.
Cotton is classic. It’s trustworthy, durable, and soft. It absorbs sweat from your body allowing it to evaporate.
Merino wool is another base layer option. The best thing about it is that it doesn’t pick up odor easily. Pick Merino wool in a lighter weight for warm weather.
Stretch modal blends are also a great choice. It’s a combination of synthetic fibers and cotton that stretches well and retains its shape.
Micro-modal is a semi-synthetic fabric that’s breathable, soft and light to the skin. It also wicks moisture well.
Are you looking for SPF/UV protection?
When it’s hot out, you might want to make sure your clothing protects you from the harmful effects of UV-rays.
Undershirts with SPF-protection keep you safe from the sun while helping you stay cool.
What fit do you prefer?
Ideally, your undershirt should be slightly stretchy and slim-fitting.
First things first, make sure your undershirt retains its shape after periodic washing. If it’s prone to shrinkage, it’s a good idea to buy it in a bigger size.
When it comes to the fabric, it can be a one-way, two-way or four-way stretch.
One-way stretch means the fabric doesn’t recover after stretching side to side. Make sure your one-way stretch fabric is a slim fit.
Two-way stretch fabrics recover after stretching side to side.
Finally, four-way stretch fabrics stretch and recover both length and widthwise. It’s a perfect choice if you’re looking for freedom of movement.
Are you looking for a moisture-wicking or sweat proof undershirt?
That’s right, we used “or” instead of “and”. Moisture-wicking and sweat proof are two different things.
As you browse product descriptions when shopping for an undershirt, you’ll see many terms. Moisture-management. Moisture-wicking. Dynamic moisture-control technology.
It all sounds great but can get confusing.
Let’s put it this way. Your best performance undershirt should be moisture-wicking and repel sweat pushing it outward. It will keep you cool while you’re at the gym or working out outdoors.
On the other hand, even the best moisture-wicking undershirt is not a great choice in social or professional settings. It will push sweat towards your shirt and increase sweat stains. Not to mention, if the undershirt is made of synthetic materials, it will retain body odor.
That’s why Nike Dri-FIT and other moisture-management t-shirts belong in your gym locker. If you want something to wear under your dress shirt, look for moisture-absorbing fabrics.
Do you want your undershirt to provide odor control?
If odor is a concern for you, an anti-odor undershirt can be a great option.
Body odor appears when sweat reacts with bacteria on your skin. Anti-odor technology blocks or kills the bacteria before it interacts with sweat.
There’s more than one technology to prevent odor – read our blog on anti-odor fabrics to learn more.
The 8 Best Performance Undershirts
Now that you know what to look for in a performance undershirt, we’ll share our favorite moisture-wicking and sweat proof undershirts.
Columbia Meeker Short Sleeve Crew T-Shirt
If you’re headed outdoors, this quick-drying polyester t-shirt with SPF 15 will be a great choice.
Features: UV protection, quick-drying
Emporio Armani – Pure Cotton Crewneck T-Shirts
It’s soft, it’s breathable and it’s Armani.
Features: Breathable cotton
Under Armour Tech Sweat Short Sleeve T-Shirt
It wicks sweat well, dries fast and uses anti-odor technology. Everything you need for a workout!
Features: Anti-odor, moisture wicking
Hanes X-Temp Performance T-Shirt
X-Temp is a moisture-control technology that adapts to environment, temperature and activity.
Features: Moisture wicking, UV protection
Uniqlo Men’s HEATTECH Crewneck Undershirt
The HEATTECH undershirt uses a moisture-wicking and anti-odor technology to keep you dry. It also includes a bio-warming feature to help keep your body temperature regulated on colder days.
Features: Moisture wicking, anti-odor
Rhone Element Crew Neck T-Shirt
This men’s undershirt is made with antimicrobial XT2® fibers, pima cotton and spandex to retain its shape and fight off odor.
Features: Anti-odor, anti-pilling, shape retention
Mack Weldon 18-Hour Jersey Crew Neck Undershirt
Mack Weldon’s proprietary blend of cotton, modal and Lycra sits for 18 hours before it’s cut, allowing the fabrit to expand naturally and resulting in an ultra-soft, comfortable fit.
Features: Premium fabric, slim fit, extra length
The Thompson Tee Sweat Proof Undershirt
The Thompson Tee has got the best of all worlds. You can wear it both to the gym and to the office without worrying about odor or sweat stains. Its soft-combed cotton and hydro-shield underarm pads will keep you feeling fresh and confident.
Whether you’re on a morning jog or in a conference room, our sweat proof shirts will let you forget about the problem of sweat stains and odor. Try a Thompson Tee today risk-free!
