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Whether you're barely into clothes or the best dressed man in your office, there's one essential item you should never skimp on — undershirts.
Undershirts provide a necessary layer between you and your outer clothes to prevent unsightly sweat marks and subsequent stains.
You might be thinking, "nobody is going to see my undershirt anyway. Why shouldn't I buy the cheapest option available?"
Well, what makes an undershirt great isn't necessarily about how it looks. It's about how it feels, how it fits, and how it functions.
Traditional undershirts are ill-fitting at the collar, sleeves, torso, and rarely stay tucked in. After a few wears they're barely suitable to sleep in. If you're familiar with the headache that comes along with inferior undershirts, there is a solution — Tommy John.
Founded in 2008 by Tom Patterson with the help of his now-wife Erin Fujimoto-Patterson, Tommy John started with the goal of bringing men's undergarments into the 21st century.
After being impressed by the Tommy John Go Anywhere Collection, I thought it was necessary to experience what the startup is best known for. Unlike other brands, Tommy John's undershirts have a streamlined fit, so you won't have the feeling of a bunched up T-shirt under your clothes.
While other shirts are a struggle to stay neatly tucked, Tommy John uses a patented design that's a bit longer to guarantee a clean tuck all day long.
Tommy John sent over three different versions — Cool Cotton, Second Skin, and Air — for me to try out. While I was impressed with all three, each serve a specific purpose to suit you best.
If you're interested in v-necks, deep v-necks or tank tops, they're available, too.
Shop all undershirts at Tommy John now.
Check out my thoughts on each variety of undershirts available, below:
Tommy John Cool Cotton Crew Neck Undershirt
The Tommy John Cool Cotton undershirt is a great choice if you tend to run hot or sweat easily. Made out of Pima Cotton and Spandex, the blend of materials is designed to wick moisture away from your body and keep you up to three times cooler than normal cotton.
As someone who's worn normal cotton undershirts for a long time, the difference is definitely noticeable. One of the most uncomfortable feelings is sweating right through your undershirt and onto your actual shirt. That wasn't a problem with Tommy John's option.
Whether you like crewnecks, v-necks or tank tops, this material is a solid choice. You'll also get to choose between white, black, and tan.
Tommy John Cool Cotton Crew Neck Undershirt, $40
Tommy John Second Skin Crew Neck Undershirt
The Tommy John Second Skin lives up to its name. While other undershirts are uncomfortable because they're too loose and ill-fitting or too tight, the Second Skin fits well and is super soft. It's made out of 90% Non-Pilling Micro Modal and 10% Spandex. I wore this shirt all day with button up dress shirt and it almost felt like I wasn't wearing an undershirt at all (while still having the all the benefits of having one on.)
Whether you like crewnecks, v-necks or tank tops, this material is a solid choice. You'll also get to choose between white, black, and tan.
Tommy John Second Skin Crew Neck Undershirt, $43
Tommy John Air Crew Neck Undershirt
The Tommy John Air undershirt is definitely my favorite out of all the ones I've tested. It's super light weight and is made out of breathable materials, which is something that I can appreciate, especially on really hot days.
It's made out of 77% Nylon Mesh and 23% Spandex, and when you put it on, you'll notice that it's so light that it's slightly transparent. Despite it being fall, it's nearly 80 degrees in New York City, so I naturally got a little sweaty walking to work. But after only a few minutes I was dry and comfortable.
This quick drying material is also great for travelers; pack one Tommy John Air undershirt, wash it out at the end of the day in your hotel sink and it'll be ready to wear again in a few hours.
The Air undershirts come in crewneck, v-neck, and tank tops, but are only available in white.
Tommy John Air Crew Neck Undershirt, $62
Tommy John Crew Neck Fabric Sampler 3 Pack
Tommy John Crew Neck Fabric Sampler 3 Pack, $135
Amir Ismael Editor, Insider Reviews Amir Ismael is an editor for Insider Reviews, Insider's e-commerce branch of the service journalism team. As a collector of sneakers and fashion, Amir is passionate about all things related to style. He's covered everything including the industry's shift to producing more sustainable clothing, the most comfortable loungewear, all of the best places to shop for affordable business casual attire, and more. He's used his expertise in footwear and the footwear industry to review all kinds of shoes from sportswear giants, well-known casual brands, and startups. Amir's coverage also includes eyewear, watches, and grooming products like electric razors and men's skincare. Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Amir has led Insider Reviews' face masks coverage with thoughtful recommendations based on CDC guidelines, expert opinions, and his own testing. During his time at Insider, Amir previously handled deals of the day coverage, and worked as a generalist writing hundreds of reviews ranging from phone cases and headphones to bed sheets and blenders, and has also covered major shopping holidays including Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Before joining the Insider Reviews team in 2017, worked as a freelance writer for Complex Sneakers and Sole Collector where he contributed to daily sneaker news and release dates, feature-length articles, and interviews with artists, designers, and athletes. Amir graduated from William Paterson University in 2015 with a degree in journalism and public relations. Say hello to Amir at aismael@businessinsider.com or on Instagram @amirjismael. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Learn more about how we test style and beauty products. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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