Sure, the best tank tops for men are default layers when the weather turns muggy, sticky, and unbearably hot. But it would be a disservice to you and your triceps to discount the humble tank's year-around utility.
It doesn't matter what you call them—A-shirts, singlets, muscle tees, wife pleasers—one of 'em deserves a spot in your rotation. Tuck a simple ribbed version beneath a button-up and it becomes the most essential base layer in your office arsenal; wear a next-gen performance version to the gym and it’ll level up your sweat sessions. Or push the small top, big pants agenda by wearing a mesh version all on its own—ideally with a pair of voluminous, Bieberesque jeans.
In short: Tank tops provide countless opportunities to flex your style chops. So to help you do just that, GQ wear-tested dozens of them to find the best sultry, sizzling, and otherwise show-stopping sleeveless joints on the market.
The Best Men's Tank Tops, According to GQ
Best Tank Top Overall: Hanes Tagless Cotton Tank
Regardless of where you're shopping, a pack of Hanes tanks should never run you more than a few bucks per unit. They’re lightweight, fairly inconspicuous as an undershirt, and require zero special treatment. Do they hold up as well as others? It depends on the use-case, although as a rule, probably not. But again, and this is crucial: you get six of them. When it comes to value, it's a hard proposition to beat—and it doesn't hurt that they're easy to find and almost always available.
“I was gifted a pack of these tanks from a friend who was cleaning out his closet,” says GQ style commerce writer Gerald Ortiz. “I couldn’t figure out why he wanted to get rid of such a solid tank.” In Ortiz’s mind, the Hanes Tagless Cotton Tank sets the standard. It fits snug like a classic tank should, and the all-cotton ribbed fabric is breathable and lightweight. Is it the softest version out there? No. Is it the best value out there? Absolutely.
| Fabric | 100% cotton |
| Colors | White, Black, Gray |
| Sizes | S - 3XL |
Best Upgrade Tank Top: CDLP Rib Tank Top
If you're looking for a classic tank that can do it all, and look noticeably elevated while doing it, look no further than CDLP's Rib Tank Top. The secret lies in a blend of Tencel and pima cotton, which gives the garment a considerable heft that feels more luxurious than your average tank. The cut and fabric results in an excellent drape, meaning it looks great under a shirt but also mighty fine on its own. The Rib Tank Top fits true to size, but if you're really looking to show off your gains, you'd do well to consider sizing down.
| Fabric | 64% Tencel lyocell, 32% pima cotton, 4% elastane |
| Colors | White, Off-Black, Sage, Olive Green |
| Sizes | XS - XXXL |
Most Comfortable Tank Top: Mack Weldon 18-Hour Rib Tank
If you want soft, Mack Weldon can give you soft. Cut from the brand's signature “18 hour” fabric, a blend of cotton, modal, and bit of spandex, the 18-Hour Rib Tank is easily the softest and perhaps most comfortable tank we tested. The rib tank is cut a little longer to make sure it stays tucked in; a little slimmer to make sure it stays snug to the body when worn under a fitted shirt, and has a bit of stretch in them to make sure you can move around however you’re wearing it.
Mack Weldon’s fiber wizardry consistently puts them top of mind when it comes to any basic garment that demands, well, a lot more than basic. “Any softer and these would practically melt off your body,” Ortiz says. He also enjoys the fact that they’re long enough to tuck in and that the necks are low enough to be invisible under a button-up. That said, if you’re not the tucking type of guy, this might be an issue.
| Fabric | 47.5% cotton, 47.5% modal, 5% spandex |
| Colors | White, Gray, Black |
| Sizes | S - XXL |
Best Tank Top for Solo Wear: Wythe Tubular Ribknit Tank Top
Wythe's Tubular Ribknit Tank Top is so much shirt for $38. We’re well aware that a tank top, by definition, has no sleeves—normally amounting to “not a lot of shirt”—but this one makes up for that paucity with rock-solid tube-knit construction and a soft cotton jersey that has enough heft to play a solo show when you feel like forgoing the extra layer. Oh, and about that construction: The tank is knit in a circle, creating a seamless tube that sits flat on the body with zero chafing potential and added durability. And to be clear, it's an absolutely incredible undershirt—it just happens to be the rare undershirt that can make the jump to shirt-shirt with zero fuss.
“It’s not remotely surprising that I loved Wythe’s tank—they consistently put out versions of things I already have that I want more than what I already have—but I was a little surprised by how much of a difference that tubular knit made,” says GQ contributor Reed Nelson. “I’m not saying that it ruined the ones with side seams, but I do have a clear preference.”
| Fabric | 100% cotton |
| Colors | Green, Blue, Black |
| Sizes | S - XL |
Best Gym Tank Top: Reigning Champ Lightweight Cordura Tank Top
When it comes to performance fabrics, few boast a more sterling reputation than Cordura. And when it comes to bomber workout gear that both feels and performs as good as it looks, few do it better than Reigning Champ. It’s a fortunate development for everyone that Reigning Champ is making a beautifully-articulated tank out of futuristic, fast-drying, nails-tough lightweight Cordura fabric, which is soft, light, and absurdly strong. We’re not saying this is the last workout tank you’ll ever need—we like buying things, we assume you do, too—but we are saying that it might be able to handle the workload.
“When I first saw ‘Cordura’ in the name, I had some questions," Nelson says. “I normally see that word in backpack descriptions.” Those were quickly answered after feeling the particular strain of Cordura used. "It doesn’t really feel like cotton, but it’s super soft so I’m not concerned," Nelson notes. "I’m also pretty sure that it’s going to last for an actual eternity.”
| Fabric | 72% cordura nylon, 23% nylon, 5% spandex |
| Colors | Black, Brown, Gray, Navy, Blue |
| Sizes | XS - XXL |
Best Running Tank Top: Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Singlet
For those unfamiliar with their work, the team at Tracksmith cooks up some of the hardest-working, most classic-looking running apparel anywhere, and the Van Cortlandt Singlet is no exception. Made from their 2:09 Mesh, a poly-spandex blend with a helpful anti-microbial finish, the Van Cordtlandt is a high-performance 21st century running tank that looks more like the iconic ones worn decades ago. In other words, if the stuff that Bill Bowerman’s team wore was breathable, had some give and wicked moisture, it would look like this.
GQ associate commerce editor Tyler Chin gives Tracksmith's singlet major props for its ability to stay cool, even during the hottest, most humid days of the summer. Plus, as someone who actually cares about what his running fit looks like, he thinks it makes him look like an '80s-era collegiate Olympian—gold medal not guaranteed.
| Fabric | 82% polyester, 18% spandex |
| Colors | 6 colorways |
| Sizes | XS - XXL |
More Tank Tops We Love
Calvin Klein
Cotton Classics Tank (3-Pack)
Great news: the Jeremy Allen White specials also happen to look great on us regular folk, regardless of casting-status in wrestler biopics. Made from 100% cotton, they’re inconspicuous enough for everyday undershirt duties but also look great with an open button-up over the top or on their own, if that’s your thing. GQ’s associate commerce editor Tyler Chin advises to size down because the tank has a tendency to stretch the longer you wear it, but it usually shrinks back down after a run through the dryer.
Abercrombie & Fitch
Ribbed Tanks (3-Pack)
It should come as no surprise that Abercrombie’s ribbed tank made this list, but a lack of drama shouldn’t disqualify worthy contenders and this is as worthy as they come. It’s made from a long-lasting 100% cotton fabric that’s as soft as just about any other, has slightly larger armholes that lend to a flattering, vintage-adjacent silhouette and it clocks in under $20, which is hard to beat.
Skims
Rib Tank (3-Pack)
Skims burst onto the scene like a supernova with the help of its eye-catching marketing materials, but its unmitigated success is due, in no small, to the product itself. We’re particularly partial to the Rib Tank, which is crazy comfortable, super light, and manages to hold its shape all day long, even if your shape is in a little bit of flux—which means that it’s not so much form-fitting as it is form-boosting.
Sunspel
Cellular Cotton Underwear Vest
If you’re looking for a tank that’s a little bit looser than your standard 3-pack fare, and just a touch more breathable than the classic rib-knits normally found inside them, let us introduce you to the open-knit Sunspel Cellular tank. One of the most luxurious plain white tanks out there, its cellular knit ensures that airflow stays continuous and its loose(r) cut offers the space for that air to move around and cool your torso down.
Bather
Ink Wide Rib Tank Top
Bather’s swim trunks are a must-have as we get into beach season, but the brand’s slick tank top should also be in your warm weather wardrobe. The wide ribbing gives it an almost ‘60s energy that looks incredible with a breezy camp shirt or tucked into a pair of high-waisted pleated trousers. The only bummer? They don’t come in more colors.
Russell Athletic
Cotton Performance Sleeveless Muscle T-Shirt
There are some killer higher-end options on the workout tank market—we’ve recommended a couple above—but that doesn’t mean you can’t get bonkers performance at an even more bonkers price. How bonkers? In this case of this moisture-wicking, odor-fighting, UV-ray blocking tank from Russell Athletic, $10. (We’ve checked, this is very hard to beat.)
J.Crew
Broken-in Tank Top
Not every tank top needs to be techincal, or super sharp. J.Crew's provides a direct shortcut for those looking for well-worn comfort and a more casual feeling from day dot. If you're familiar with the incredibly soft texture of the brand's Broken-in tees, know this tank is quite literally cut from the same cloth.
Buck Mason
Slingshot Cotton Tank
Buck Mason's tank is a military rework—you'll find retro-leaning ribbing, and large armholes for easy movement. It also comes in olive and black, and all three colors are pre-washed so that, like J.Crew's to the left, the tank will feel like it was always a part of your wardrobe.
What to Look for in a Great Tank Top
Tank tops are straightforward when it comes to design consideration, and we’re not pretending otherwise, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a ton of variance between them. In fact, when there’s only a couple of panels and zero sleeves, every choice—from fabric to fit to seam construction to knit-pattern to intended use—becomes exponentially more important. Here’s what you should be looking out for:
- Intended use. Might be obvious, but if you're looking for a tank top to do a specific thing, you should buy one that excels at that thing. An undershirt that won’t be visible under a button-down, for instance, should have a lower scoop neckline. If you’re looking for one to wear in a more outward-facing capacity—on its own or under an open shirt—then you’d want a tank that offers more heft or a touch of drape.
- Quality of construction and materials. There are only two panels on a standard tank—one, if it’s tube-knit—which means that what it’s made out of becomes important. Details like fiber quality, fabric content, construction details, and knit-pattern are all things to consider. For example, is the fabric a blend or is it all cotton? If it is a blend, is that blend serving a purpose, like providing elasticity, or is it a cost-cutting measure? The rubric might not look exactly the same for every tank—some require different strengths—but the standards are.
- Fit. We care (deeply) about the way any shirt fits, so tank tops are no exception. Because they tend to be both more revealing and form-fitting, fit is as important as any other factor. For tanks that promise to lay flat and stay snug, pay close attention to just how flat and how snug. For those that promise versatility, we made sure they actually delivered on multiple fronts. And while we don’t have a hard and fast silhouette requirement—we don’t think you should either—we did want to make sure everything was as advertised. Peter Middleton, founder of Wythe, says that all-cotton tanks should fit slim at the beginning. “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.”
- Seasonality. Some tanks are built for specific seasons, be it a thermal-focused tank for winter or a linen tank for summer. Beyond that, you might want to consider seasonal colors, or rather, avoiding them. These are basics, after all. Middleton says to avoid the limited-edition colors, unless it’s something the brand will continue to make. “If you end up loving the fit and fabric, you are gonna be really bummed if you have to check Grailed and eBay for more after they are gone. No one wants to buy used undershirts.”
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.
To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.
We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Photographs by Bowen Fernie
Grooming by Melissa DeZarate for A-Frame Agency
Special thanks to Trinity Boxing Club, New York