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The T-shirt is one of the most beloved style items for modern men around the world. It’s lightweight, breathable, and a hell of a lot less cumbersome than its button-laden counterparts. And it’s a multi-seasonal item. Even in the dead of winter, you’ll find people sporting their favorite T-shirts beneath that thick parka. Because, at some point, you’re going to be inside someplace too warm for that coat and you’re going to want to look and feel good – that is, so long as you don’t call an ice-fishing shack home. The following round-up includes the best men’s pocket t-shirts available right now.
Best Pocket T-Shirts Round-Up
Why you should go with a pocket T-Shirt
T-shirts are versatile wardrobe staples that began as undershirts but quickly took over as one of the most popular casual garments. Pocket T-Shirts, in particular, became popular in America during the middle of the 20th century, as society was starting to (relatively) loosen up about formal wear. This shift to a more casual style meant that some utility was lost, so adding pockets to T-shirts provided easy access to small stuff like pens, notes, and cigarettes. Like regular T-shirts, the main fabric for most pocket T-shirts is cotton, with synthetic and wool materials featured in some more focused variants.
Styling your pocket T-Shirt
T-shirts are universally loved for their simplicity and comfort. So how does one improve upon something so nearly perfect? Well, one way is to inject it with some style. But you don’t have to rock an outrageous bedazzled eye-sore with a massive logo to add a little flair to your outfit. You can show off some individuality with something much more subtle: a pocket. And while a pocket tee doesn’t have to be anything more than a fashion choice, it can also offer up a bit of functional utility – as it does, after all, have a pocket. It pairs well with so many pieces and is still a great undershirt option, but a pair of jeans will always look good with them.
Forty Five Slub Pocket Tee
Pros
- Made in Peru
- Garment-dyed
Cons
- May need to size up
The Best Budget Pick: Forty Five is an apparel company inspired by the classics, like those old Motown 45s. This appreciation for lasting quality is invariably found in the label’s output like the Slub Pocket Tee, for example. An old-school pocket T-shirt with durable cotton slub fabric that’ll work solo or as a comfy layer.
Material: 100% slub jersey cotton
Buck Mason White Slub Vintage Pocket Tee
Pros
- Subtle vintage style
- American-made
Cons
- Sleeves may be short for some
The Best Overall Pocket T-Shirt: No wardrobe is complete without a solid white T-shirt, and Buck Mason’s offering fits the bill perfectly. Each of these 100% slub cotton crew neck pocket tees – which promise both ridiculous comfort and breathability – is made in the USA and sewn in Los Angeles, California. They’re great on their own but work well as undershirts, too
Material: 100% slub cotton
Taylor Stitch The Heavy Bag Tee
Pros
- Garment-dyed
- Soft yet sturdy
Cons
- The pre-shrunk and tailored fit may call for a size up
The Heftiest Pocket T-Shirt: If you’re looking for something heavy-duty that’ll also feel great, then The Heavy Bag Tee from Taylor Stitch is worth a look. The label designed this shirt to stand up to rough conditions for as long as you can, with 8 ounces of upcycled and recycled material. So you can confidently wear this as much as you want knowing Talor Stitch has your back.
Materials: 53% upcycled cotton and 47% recycled polyester
Jungmaven Jung Pocket Tee
Pros
- Great layer
- Comfortable during all seasons
Cons
- Need to take extra steps to care for hemp fabric
The Softest Pocket T-Shirt: Made from a heavyweight organic blend of cotton and hemp – a very durable fiber made from the cannabis plant that has ties to the founding of the USA and the men and women who helped build it – this super-soft and durable tee is made in the USA from globally sourced materials and will last you for between five to ten years of normal wear. By the way, hemp is one of the most environmentally friendly fabric materials, if that’s important to you
Materials: 55% hemp and 45% jersey cotton
Carhartt WIP Scotty Stripe Pocket T-Shirt
Pros
- Yarn-dyed
Cons
- Carhartt WIP products tend to come and go
The Most Stylish Pocket T-Shirt: The Carhartt WIP sublabel is the perfect blend of the brand’s original workwear durability and modern style. The Scotty Stripe Pocket T-Shirt is the perfect example of this, a striped jersey cotton tee with the unspoken promise of quality we’ve come to expect from the label.
Material: 100% jersey cotton
Outerknown Sojourn Pocket Tee
Pros
- Pigment-dyed
- Breathable
Cons
- Collar can get a bit loose
The Sustainable Pick: The Sojourn Pocket Tee from Outerknown is not only incredibly soft, light, and breathable, but it’s made sustainably with Peruvian Pima cotton. This fabric is highly sought after among garment manufacturers, and to make it better, Outerknown works with a local supplier and local farmers to make this shirt.
Material: 100% organic Peruvian Pima cotton
Todd Snyder Made in L.A. Homespun Slub Pocket T-Shirt
Pros
- Great daily driver
- Garment-dyed
Cons
- Prone to stretching
The Best American-Made Pocket T-Shirt: The Made in L.A. Homespun Slub Pocket T-Shirt from Toddy Snyder is a classic garment from the Los Angeles-based label. It’ll feel great year-round whether you choose to wear it as an undershirt or a main piece, and its lightweight durability means it’ll feel good for a long time.
Material: 100% slub jersey cotton
Proof 72-Hour Merino Pocket T-Shirt
Pros
- Great for traveling
- Merino wool is naturally odor-resistant
Cons
- Frequent use of detergent is recommended
- No bleach or softener
The Best Merino Pocket T-Shirt: Sometimes you want a T-shirt that can go anywhere and do anything; in comes Proof Apparel’s 72-Hour Merino Pocket T-Shirt, and warm Merino wool that’s promised to pass the smell test after 72 hours of continual wear. It’s also the perfect travel companion because it’s light and can easily be packed.
Materials: 87% 16.5 micron merino wool and 13% nylon
The Best Leather Jackets for a Timeless Outfit
The leather jacket is another timeless American staple that pairs well with many garments. So if you’re looking to complement your new pocket T-shirt, then check out our best men’s leather jackets guide.