Tested: The Best Men’s Heavyweight T-Shirts for a Sturdier Feel

When it comes to staying warm, the first thing that comes to mind is tossing on one top after another — but what’s the use when the base layer has no substance? This is one of the reasons why heavyweight t-shirts have become an essential element of a long-lasting wardrobe. But, with that comes a few questions whose answers certainly differ based on your preferred texture and weight, all of which we tackle in our trusty guide to the market’s best options. Join us as we test our favorite heavyweight t-shirts below.

How We Tested

Although heavyweight t-shirts aren’t as common or popular as the thinner varieties, there are still a ton on the market today. To find our own favorites, we started out by looking at the boutique brands that offer premium construction methods, focusing on materials, fit type, length, stitching, and overall design aesthetic before we made a shortlist for testing.

From there, we sourced the heavyweight shirts and spent a considerable amount of time with each one as we paid close attention to fit, feel, and how it looked on our bodies as objectively as possible. For instance, we observed if each shirt was true to size, how long (or short) the hems were cut, and how the seams fell on our shoulders, etc. Other attributes we looked at were sleeve length, fabric softness, thickness, and overall feel. We also made a note to see how well or poorly a given tee was flattering on our bodies.

Measurements: Standing at 6’0″ I’m of a broader, wider stature and naturally prefer a more relaxed fit. However, for classic or tailored fits, I prefer something that doesn’t cling as much in the stomach area. Likewise, I prefer sleeves that fall either halfway down my upper arm or all the way to my elbow. I’m typically a size XL, as are most of the shirts below. For anything different, I’ll let you know.

What to Look For

Material: Since most heavyweight t-shirts are worn for everyday casual occasions, they will largely be made from some sort of cotton or cotton blend. While cotton isn’t the most durable material, it’s plussed up quite a bit with the extra thickness that helps it achieve its heavyweight status.

Fit: While a good fit can make a shirt, a bad fit can certainly break it. However, it’s up to you to decide those parameters. If you like a baggier fit, you’ll look at oversized tees, while other people may have a strong aversion to these types. That said, heavyweight t-shirts are largely worn a bit baggier by nature. Most shirts have varying seams, hems, collars, and pre-washes, so you may need to experiment a few times before you find the right fit if you’re not sure (or visit a tailor). A shirt’s fit also intersects with style, so being confident about yours certainly helps narrow things down.

Weight: While most heavyweight shirts will fall somewhere between 6oz and 13oz, there is a big difference between the low and high end. While the 6oz options will simply feel like sturdier t-shirts, the 13oz tees will certainly weigh you down and add some extra warmth to your body, if that’s what you’re looking for.

American Giant Heavyweight Pocket Tee

Best Pocket Tee: Let’s be honest: Most clothing brands have moved their manufacturing overseas to bring down production costs. However, San Francisco-based clothier American Giant is one of the few to keep operations stateside, benefitting local communities in the process. Not only that but they’ve managed to offer their premium goods at reasonable prices regardless, such as this Heavyweight Pocket Tee, which is one of the more affordable high-quality heavyweight shirts on the market. Built with 6.2-ounce cotton, the beefy tee features a front pocket and elastic neck for some unique touches.

The Good

Incredibly soft as we’ve come to expect from American Giant, the Heavyweight Pocket Tee is as comfortable as they come. The torso falls nicely on my body and the slightly longer length is a perfect match for the level of bagginess it’s been instilled with. That said, this is not an oversized shirt but an option perfect for those looking for some extra room. Overall, the shirt had a really flattering look, especially in the chest area.

I also loved the sleeves here. While they’re a little bit longer than halfway down my upper arm, they don’t get in the way or bunch. They also have a bit of room in the arm area, but never appear baggy. In fact, the extra roominess seems to adjust or move around depending on what you’re doing. When I was sitting down, the sleeves appeared more neutral, wrapping my arm evenly. When standing, they hung off the sides a bit in a natural way.

The Not So Good

I did notice that the breast pocket caused the fabric to bunch from left to right, showing vertical lines on the left side. Likewise, I would have preferred a non-pocket option.

While the seam construction here is pretty sturdy, the top seam is strangely mispositioned. It falls slightly below my shoulder line and then doesn’t quite match up with the neck seam. This creates a sorta unbalanced look but it’s surprisingly not a dealbreaker.

Verdict: At the lower end of this list, American Giant offers a superb Heavyweight Pocket Tee option with optimal sleeve construction and a hem length that matches up to the roominess of the shirt. The chest pocket weighed down the fabric to create some wrinkles and the top seam was a bit off, but this is a t-shirt you won’t want to pass by.

Everlane The Premium-Weight Relaxed Crew

Best Organic Tee: In around a decade and a half, San Francisco-based Everlane has become one of our favorite athleisure brands around. While not nearly as well known as some of its competitors, the boutique clothier specializes in premium quality goods imbued with activewear utility and a minimalistic, contemporary edge. Such is this Premium-Weight Relaxed Crew from the brand’s Uniform Collection. Equipped with the brand’s 365-Day Guarantee which replaces any item that shrinks, fades, or gets damaged within a year, the shirt is constructed with dense 6.2-ounce cotton.

The Good

You’ll find that not every oversized t-shirt is baggy, much like this Premium-Weight Relaxed Crew from Everlane, which manages to flatter your assets without looking sloppy in the process. Like most oversized tees, this one accentuates the chest but not the stomach area, but remains structured thanks to its dropped shoulder design and sleeves that don’t bunch up at all. As a frequent visitor to the oversized t-shirt arena myself, I’m a big fan of longer sleeves, and these are pretty perfect, falling right to the inner elbows without ever getting in the way. Keep in mind that I tested an XXL instead of a proper XL, so this might run a tad small. However, the relaxed fit inherently allows for some wiggle room here.

Even though the short hem isn’t my preference, which I’ll cover below, it never got in the way or bunched up when I was sitting. I’ve also found that 6.2oz is my preferred cotton weight. It’s perfect here, with a level of thickness that aids the shirt’s visual appeal on the body without detracting from its ability to retain softness or pliability, forming to your body without looking awkward.

The Not So Good

As I mentioned, I’m somewhat of an expert in oversized t-shirts since they conform to my body type much better than other types. Admittedly, Everlane’s Premium-Weight Crew is among my favorites in terms of construction and torso appearance. However, it’s just not long enough at the hem. The brand does mention this as a design choice on the product page but it’s still a curious one. Wearing this shirt out, I kept feeling self-conscious about the waist. Not only that but my wife even asked why its length didn’t match the rest of the shirt, like its baggy sleeves. Mind you, this was even an XXL, not my usual XL. Some wearers may be perfectly fine with the length, and even prefer it, but this wasn’t for me. It also begs the question of why there isn’t a “tall” option available.

Verdict: Soft yet sturdy, this Premium-Weight Relaxed Crew from Everlane benefits from its 6.2-ounce cotton construction, perfect sleeves, and optimal proportions to help accentuate your body for a flattering look. We didn’t love the more modern hem length, simply because an oversized shirt feels inherently more Y2K than it does modern anyway. We would’ve at least liked to see a “tall” option from the company. Nevertheless, the build quality is obvious here and well worth the price.

Taylor Stitch The Heavy Bag Tee

Best Vintage-Inspired Tee: With its upcycled cotton and recycled polyester construction, Taylor Stitch’s fully-eco-friendly option garners this admirable title by a landslide. Further, the brand touts its unique material as “the first truly waterless fabric,” which is beyond impressive, to say the least. Available in five colors currently, the burly shirt is as sturdy as its name suggests, boasting an 8-ounce makeup and fully-taped shoulder seam to ensure it’s built to take on your day-to-day routine for years to come.

The Good

Unusually fitted for a heavyweight t-shirt, Taylor Stitch’s The Heavy Bag Tee is noticeably heavier than most others here. At only 2oz higher than the 6oz options, this felt really sturdy to the touch and on my body, implying a level of durability that most others don’t have. The tee is also very slimming despite feeling a bit small on me. This could be due to the thicker fabric. I should also mention that the fabric wasn’t terribly soft; it had a coarse, rugged feel against my skin. However, that dose of polyester adds to its durability.

I also like the pocket design. A lot of pocket tees seem like they’re just stitching an extra piece of fabric into the shirt but Taylor Stitch actually integrates the pocket design into the design of the shirt.

The Not So Good

While the shirt was slimming, it inherently didn’t accentuate any one body part, which wasn’t a dealbreaker. However, at an XL, the shirt feels a smidge small. Admittedly, this is a slim-fit t-shirt but feels more like a large than an XL. Likewise, I didn’t love the sleeve design. While the length wasn’t terrible, falling about two-thirds down my upper arm, the sleeves always seemed to get in the way, perhaps because of the material’s thickness. I would’ve preferred more of a cling here. As it stood, the sleeves looked more sloppy and amorphous as they hung off my arm.

Verdict: A bit heavier than most others on this list, The Heavy Bag Tee from Taylor Stitch was slimming and had a fantastic pocket design that integrated into the shirt design itself. We didn’t love the rougher fabric or the uncomfortable sleeve construction but if you want a heavier-than-average t-shirt with some serious durability, this will be the one to look at.

Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee

Best Overall Tee: While Buck Mason’s Pima Cotton tee is often heralded as the shirt worn around the world, it couldn’t hold a candle to this bad boy, at least not weight-wise. The L.A.-bred clothier’s Field-Spec material is ridiculously sturdy, much in part to its 310 GSM cotton construction — for reference, the famous Pima material is composed of 140GSM fabric. With a prototypical 8-ounce makeup and 10 colors to choose from, this tee has more than enough weight go around.

The Good

Your enjoyment of the Buck Mason Field-Spec Cotton Heavy Tee will be based on how much you’re into the specific brand of ribbed cotton used by the brand. I personally loved how it felt, which reminded me of a corduroy material. Like the Taylor Stitch Heavy Bag Tee above, this Buck Mason shirt uses 8oz of cotton, but it doesn’t feel as such by any means. The weight and thickness translate more to warmth than it does weight. Moreover, the t-shirt fits more like a long-sleeve light sweatshirt than it does a tee, from the way it falls over the torso to the softness and comfort of the fabric, thanks to the 310 GS cotton jersey material. It’s slimming and warm for a t-shirt.

I noticed that the shirt did not wrinkle easily at all, which makes it a good option for changing, perhaps after a gym session (i.e., it can be stored in a bag without getting too crumpled). It’s also important to note that there are currently ten wide-ranging color options for this t-shirt, which is a lot more than most others in this guide.

The Not So Good

I didn’t have a lot of complaints about the Field-Spec Heavy Tee. While it was arguably the most comfortable out of the shirts I tested, it was also one of the least flattering. As I mentioned, this shirt fits more like a lightweight sweatshirt, which isn’t known for accentuating your form.

Also, if you’re looking for a chest pocket, there isn’t one here, but that’s a personal preference.

Verdict: Very soft and warm, especially for a t-shirt, the Field-Spec Heavy Tee from Buck Mason was arguably the most comfortable we tested. Available in an array of colorways, the tee is slimming, fits akin to a sweatshirt, and doesn’t wrinkle easily. The unique cotton jersey fabric won’t be for everyone, but if you’re looking for softness and comfort, this one’s perfect.

Freenote Cloth 13 Ounce Pocket T-Shirt

Best Ultra-Heavy Tee: If you want something that might even start to weigh you down, look to Freenote Cloth. The trusty boutique hones its distinctive brand of vintage appeal and formidable feel to construct the 13 Oz Pocket T-Shirt — that’s right, this thing is 3 ounces short of a pound. Using a USA-made, custom-knit cotton fabric, the humble boutique sews this crew neck in its SoCal-based factory and then pigment dyes it for that unique, thrift store-adjacent look. Keep in mind that the brand suggests you hang dry this piece when pulling it out of the washer to avoid shrinkage. There are currently nine different colorways but Freenote also makes a few 9-ounce shirt options as well.

The Good

If you love that thrift store look, or at least something that looks a bit broken in already, the 13 Ounce Pocket T-Shirt from Freenote Cloth is pretty great. In terms of fit, I loved how slimming this shirt was. It’s easy to pin a shirt as flattering or unflattering, but this one was unusually slimming. The heavier weight might feel like it would work against your favor, but that’s not the case here. Likewise, the sleeve length is perfect, falling halfway down my upper arm.

While other pocket tees typically feature a pocket that’s more garnish than practical, the breast pocket here actually feels useful, and with sturdy stitching to boot. The stitching at the corners also helps make it feel less like an afterthought and more like a definitive design choice. Even if it doesn’t press flush against the shirt, it doesn’t lazily fall open either.

The Not So Good

The first thing I noticed when testing the Freenote shirt was its fit. Sized all wrong, the tee I tested was an XL (i.e., my typical size), yet felt very tight on me. However, I was still able to take it on and off, which says something about its stretchiness. After double-checking the size to make sure it was correct (I thought it was a large), I put it back on for the day. While it’s not a dealbreaker, I couldn’t help but notice how rugged it felt. It’s not uncomfortable, per se, but it’s also not the softest. I was also stunned by the $80 price tag, which is presumably due to the local manufacturing. However, compared to other options like American Giant and Everlane, it’s difficult to justify the purchase as easily.

Verdict: Made in the USA and given a worn-in look right out the box, the 13-Ounce T-Shirt from Freenote is a sturdy, rugged shirt with a pocket that intends to be there, not ever feeling thrown together in terms of design. While it might run small and not be the softest option around, this is a slimming, albeit expensive, heavyweight t-shirt.

Lady White Co. Rugby T-Shirt

Best Rugby Tee: As self-admitted fans of Lady White Co.’s plain shirts, it’s shocking to admit the minimalist brand offers an even sturdier option. Meet the Rugby T-Shirt, a pre-shrunk, boxy-fitting tee that weighs in at a hefty 10 ounces. Meanwhile, its famous ‘Our T-Shirt’ weighs a formidable 6 ounces, deeming this tightly-knit upgrade ideal for long-term wearing. Best of all, it’s cut, sewn, and knit using domestic cotton just a few miles away from its L.A. flagship, so it’s practically built for Hollywood.

The Good

If you’re trepidatious about a “boxy” fit, just know that not everyone will be a fan. However, I was really loving how the Lady White Rugby T-Shirt fit. I’m a bigger guy and this shirt was a bit roomy in the chest and shoulders, allowing for somewhat of a pseudo-taper towards the lower part of my torso. The stiff fabric alleviates the tightness on the stomach, despite the shirt being a bit tighter. This is certainly a boxy fit, but that boxiness never extends out the sides; you’ll have it more towards the front instead.

The shirt says it’s a size 42, which technically falls somewhere in between large and XL. And that’s totally accurate. It’s a bit on the smaller side but also spacious enough where it counts. I should also point out that the thickness of the fabric precludes any wrinkling. I loved that I didn’t have to worry about the tee crumpling when packing it away or folding it into a drawer.

The Not So Good

Again, the boxy fit will turn some away and can make certain body types look expectedly boxy as well. However, my least favorite part of the Lady White shirt was the sleeves. Not only did they fall into the “not long enough, not short enough” zone, but they also got in the way when it came to mobility. This extended to my underarms as well. Likewise, the rear side of the armpit seemed to bunch a lot. Other options might stretch throughout the day, but this shirt didn’t really do that.

While the thickness allowed the fabric to warm in cooler weather, it was also not very breathable when it heated up, so keep that in mind.

Verdict: Running somewhere between sizes, the Lady White Rugby T-Shirt was our favorite boxy pick. While this fit won’t be for everyone, it does yield a nice look in the shoulders and chest area, with a slimming look in the stomach, despite sleeves that seemed to get in the way. We loved how the shirt doesn’t wrinkle and can keep you warm in cooler weather, although the reverse effect can happen when it heats back up.

The Flat Head Loopwheeled Heavyweight Plain T-Shirt

Best Japanese Tee: While it’s only been around since 1996, The Flat Head has a focus much further back. Founded by Mayashi Kobayashi, the brand is Japanese at its core but wholly inspired by 1950s Americana, from its music to its automobiles to its architecture, and of course, its fashion. The Flat Head has become a crowd favorite for its high-end wallets and flannels, but we’ve zeroed in on the brand’s Loopwheeled Heavyweight Plain T-Shirt. Made from 100% U.S. cotton, the tee has a 9.3-ounce weight, a slim fit, a triple-stitched collar, and double-needle construction on the hems and sleeves.

The Good

Despite being significantly small on me, the Loopwheeled Heavyweight T-Shirt from The Flat Head yielded a comfortable wearing experience. The fabric, while fairly rugged, was still pretty soft considering. This told me that it was a high enough quality to remain durable without sacrificing skin feel in the process. Although it was tight, I did kinda love how it looked on me. It was a bit form-fitting in the chest area, while the length matched the width of everything else. The shirt also ditches side seams for a unique fit altogether. There are also lots of color options to choose from, which is awesome.

I’m usually not a fan of longer sleeves, but the way the sleeves fell on my arm with this shirt was impressive. They fell nearly all the way down my upper arm but were structured enough that they accentuated that area in the process. Also, they were tight enough that I could push them up without much of an issue. Despite being 9.3oz in weight, the material was pretty breathable.

The Not So Good

The size here is all wrong. This tee says it’s a size 44, which typically refers to the chest size, and is perfectly in line with many size XLs. For comparison, the Lady White above had this number at 42 and was plenty roomy in the chest area. However, for the Loopwheeled Heavyweight T-Shirt from The Flat Head, it’s quite tight here. While this is admittedly a slim-fit t-shirt, it’s very tight. For the record, I’ve worn slim-fitting XLs in the past with no issue. Not to mention, the seam work doesn’t match the fit either. The shoulder seams fall below the shoulder line and the top seam nearly disappears behind my back.

Verdict: Running a bit small, even for a slim-fitting shirt, The Flat Head’s Loopwheeled Heavyweight T-Shirt had a surprisingly flattering fit in both the arms and the chest. The fabric balanced durability and softness surprisingly well, while impressing us with its sturdiness. We felt like the seams could’ve been a bit more fine-tuned but the removal of the side seams allowed for a unique fit – just go a size higher.

Heavyweight T-Shirts Comparison Chart

How Heavy Is Heavy?

With the standard for mid-weight t-shirts being around 6 ounces, it’s clear that the basis we’ve set for these casual pieces is pretty low, and rightfully so — after all, they’re just t-shirts. Nevertheless, the trusty methods that go into crafting a heavyweight shirt are a testament to longevity and serve as a worthy attempt at keeping you warm when temperatures are low, with some of our favorite options ranging anywhere between 6.5 and 13 ounces — that’s right, a 13-ounce shirt, not a sweatshirt.

Remember that, when accounting for any garment (including the good ol’ t-shirt), by no means does being heavy equate to being better, but you can usually bank on anything with some weight to it holding up longer. And while it may feel stiff right out the gate in this case, a couple of runs in the laundry are sure to give any heavyweight tee the hand-soft feel you look for in a new shirt, all the while retaining its sturdy construction.

Honorable Mentions

If you’re looking for a super cheap yet still pretty solid heavyweight tee, check out this four-pack of Hanes’ Beefy T-Shirt.

Even though Carhartt’s been around for over 120 years, its famous pocket tee only came about in the early ‘90s. Nevertheless, it became a sure-fire favorite amongst blue-collar workers and anyone who can appreciate the affordable basics. This is the heavyweight version of its Relaxed Fit Short Sleeve.

Front General Store is a Brooklyn-bred vintage shop that sells everything from old-school single-stitch tees to well-aged Burberry trench coats. Crafted in Japan and weighing somewhere along the lines of 7 ounces, their flagship heavyweight tee is a trusty option, albeit FGS chose to keep hush-hush about the overall weight.

Like most items from 3Sixteen, it’s impossible to overlook the meticulousness that goes into making these heavyweight pocket t-shirts –– which come in a two-pack! Sure, their premium denim is far more tantalizing, but these buttery soft tops are a wardrobe staple you won’t regret snagging.

Tested: The Best White T-Shirts for Men

If you’re in the market to stock up on staples, check out our guide to the best white tees money can buy.