The Best Basic Long-Sleeve T-Shirts to Buy Now

Don’t consider this a wholehearted repudiation of the trusty T-shirt. I own a ton of them, and short sleeve ones are perfect paired with jeans, worn with something like a shirt jacket, or used as a base layer beneath a hoodie or a sweatshirt. T-shirts are the titular king of the closet.

But what about the short-sleeve T-shirt’s sibling, the long-sleeve? It’s everything the T-shirt is except longer. Does that make it better? Well, you can be the judge of that, but the benefits of a T-shirt with elongated sleeves abound.

What to Consider

Materials

Natural

Natural materials breathe better than synthetic ones, which means shirts made from cotton or wool will help regulate your temperature in a more efficient way. (Less sweat, more comfortability.) If you want a shirt you can comfortably layer that’ll also get softer over time, try one made from only (or mostly) cotton.

Synthetic

Synthetic tees are great for working out, staying dry or mobile during the workday or running errands on the weekend. Synthetic materials often wick moisture, meaning you won’t stay wet for long (after a workout, for example), but they also give, which is the reason why many men turn to athletic styles over, say, heritage workwear ones when emphasizing comfort.

Fit

Top Layer

Any good long-sleeve T-shirt can be worn on its own, too — just like a short-sleeve one. How you wear yours truly does depend on the fit, though. If you want it to go on top, you can buy a bigger, boxier tee. But you can go the opposite direction if you want — tight — just not tootight. A regular-fitting long-sleeve tee looks just as put-together, even if it makes less of a statement, and it’ll offer the same protection from the sun.

Layering

If you want your long-sleeve tee to line scratchy jackets and sweaters, your long-sleeve T-shirt should be a little tighter. When it’s tighter, it won’t be as visible beneath a fitted top layer, and with less fabric, it’s less likely to bunch up or twist, too.

How We Selected

The best long-sleeve T-shirts were picked by our staff based on brand reputation, user reviews and in-house experience with fabrics, clothing construction and quality. We chose long-sleeve T-shirts to fit a variety of needs and styles, from relaxed fits to slim, fitting the sartorial-minded as much as the streetwear-forward.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

Outerknown

Best Overall Long-Sleeve T-shirt: Outerknown Groovy L/S Pocket Tee

• $68.00 at Outerknown

• Country of Manufacture: U.S.A.
• Fit: Relaxed
• Colors: Blue, green, orange, charcoal
• Sizes: S to XX

This is Outerknown’s best-selling Groovy Pocket T-shirt, but long-sleeve. It’s cut from 100-percent organic cotton, comes in a few colors and fits perfectly — a bit of slack in the chest, a slight crop in length so it’s not too long.

Buck Mason

best upgrade long-sleeve t-shirt

Best Upgrade Long-Sleeve T-Shirt: Buck Mason Field-Spec Rugby Crew

• $88.00 at Buck Mason

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Relaxed
• Colors: Black, faded black, navy, green, gray, oat, concrete
• Sizes: XS to XL

If you’re in the market for a comfortable yet heavyweight long-sleeve tee, start here. Buck Mason’s Field-Spec Rugby Crew is a hybrid shirt-sweatshirt with split hems and reinforced elbows. It’s slightly snug in the chest, but it’s got enough heft and a vintage lived-in feel to it that it’ll feel more than worth its price — if you can swing it.

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Best Affordable Long-Sleeve T-shirt: True Classic Crew Neck Long Sleeve

• $30.00 at trueclassictees.com

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Athletic
• Colors: 10+
• Sizes: S to XXX

True Classic’s ads are everywhere. But do its products live up to the (manufactured) There are better options — hence why they’re in the list but not topping it. If you’re looking for an incredibly affordable shirt available in over a dozen colors, this is your go-to. But if you want something with a little slack in the chest, this may be too fitted.

Everlane

Best Everyday Long-Sleeve T-Shirt: The Essential Organic Long-Sleeve Tee

• $45.00 at Everlane

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Fit: Slim
• Colors: Green, vintage black, heathered charcoal, white, navy, oat
• Sizes: XS to XXL

Trust Everlane to make the kind of T-shirt you couldn’t be paid to take off. It’s made from organic cotton, fits perfectly both through the body and the arms, and is protected by the brand’s year-long warranty. Rips, holes, shrinkage, color fading –– any of it, it’s all covered. It ships free, too.

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Best Hemp Long-Sleeve T-Shirt: Jung Long Sleeve Tee

• $62.00 at jungmaven.com

• Country of Manufacture: U.S.A.
• Fit: Slim
• Colors: 10+
• Sizes: XS to XXL

Made from 55% hemp and 45% cotton, Jungmaven’s long-sleeve tee is better for the environment and softer to the touch. It’s a slim fit and sizing runs quite snug –– these are unisex, after all –– but if you like your tees close to the body, these are the perfect pick.

Kotn

Best Midweight Long-Sleeve T-Shirt: Kotn Essential Longsleeve

• $38.00 at Kotn

• Country of Manufacture: Egypt
• Fit: Straight
• Colors: Black, white
• Sizes: XXS to XXXL

  Kotn’s Essential Longsleeve is just that, a simple essential with few, if any, frills. Truly, aside from a tiny tag on the inside, this top is just super soft, brushed midweight jersey. It only comes in black and white –– as essential as it gets –– and users say it’s incredibly breathable. Users also say sizing runs large, so toss it into the dryer if you need to shrink-to-size.

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Los Angeles Apparel Long Sleeve Garment Dye Pocket T-Shirt

• $32.00 at losangelesapparel.net

Garment-dyed for a vintage look and feel, Los Angeles Apparel’s pleasantly basic pocket tee comes in nearly a dozen colors and a wide array of sizes. But that isn’t the best part about this option: It’s a basic you can buy time and time again, both because it doesn’t change and because it’s only $32 (and the shirts were made in the US by fair wages certified factory)

J Crew

J.Crew Long-Sleeve Pocket Tee

• $60.00 at J Crew

Boasting a “premium weight,” J.Crew’s enhanced new Long-Sleeve Pocket Tee fits a little big, but feels amazing. It’s heavier and more durable than your average shirt, but just as soft, especially after you’ve washed it.

L.L.Bean

L.L. Bean Carefree Pocket Long-Sleeve Tee

• $20.00 at L.L.Bean
  $46.00 (57% off)

L.L. Bean says its Carefree Long-Sleeve Tee is unshrinkable, but also resistant to wrinkles, stains, fading and pilling. Sounds like the perfect tee, right? It comes in a number of colors, two fits and numerous sizes, meaning you’re guaranteed to find one that fits you and stays that way.

Richer Poorer

Best Slim Fit: Long-Sleeve T-Shirt: Weighted Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Tee

• $54.00 at Richer Poorer

• Country of Manufacture: U.S.A.
• Fit: Slim
• Colors: Olive, blue, black, bone
• Sizes: S to XXLv

Richer Poorer’s Weighted Tee isn’t a droopy, drop-shouldered disaster. Instead, it’s merely roomy enough for you to, hence the name, relax in. Finished with novelty stitching on the collar and set in sleeves, this option offers just enough weight to look put together.

Alex Mill

Alex Mill Standard Long Sleeve T-Shirt

• $78.00 at Alex Mill

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: Black, green, white, navy
• Sizes: XS to XXL

This classic tee is made with soft, breathable slub cotton, a knit that has subtle variation in texture. It comes in navy, white and black and fits true to size. However, sizing skews small so double-check size charts for your perfect fit. Users say it’s sharp enough to wear with a blazer yet lowkey enough for denim.

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Adsum LS Pocket Tee

• $49.00 at adsumnyc.com
  $85.00 (42% off)

Adsum’s long-sleeve pocket tee is made from 100 percent American cotton and comes in five colors. It’s preshrunk, finished with an inch-long collar and tough, durable stitching at the shoulders.

Prana

Prana Long-Sleeve T-shirt

• $35.00 at Prana

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Fit: Standard
• Colors: Mineral green, charcoal, sky blue, denim blue
• Sizes: XS to XXL

With just $35 dollars, you can’t do much better. Prana’s simple long-sleeve is made from a mix of organic cotton and recycled polyester for increased durability and moisture-wicking properties. Plus, it’s fair trade-certified. Users say the sleeves run long and sizing skews on the larger side.

Adapture

Best Relaxed Fit Long-Sleeve T-Shirt: Adapture Relaxed Fit Long Sleeve

• $75.00 at Adapture

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Relaxed
• Colors: Green, white, yellow, navy, black
• Sizes: XS to XX

Adapture makes three different colored T-shirts in three different fits. Simple, right? This is the Relaxed Fit Long Sleeve — which is made from a preshrunk 60-percent cotton, 40-percent polyester blend — a wider-fitting top with moisture-wicking properties. These are as roomy as a workwear shirt from Carhartt or Ben Davis, but not as heavyweight.

Battenwear

Best US-Made Lng-Sleeve T-Shirt: Battenwear L/S Basic Pocket Tee

• $70.00 at

• Country of Manufacture: U.S.A.
• Fit: Relaxed
• Colors: Yellow, olive, white, black, lavender
• Sizes: XS to XXL

Battenwear says its burly Basic Pocket Tee is inspired by “the long-sleeve comfy shirt we always see surfers wearing after an epic set.” But, they claim, this one’s even better. It’s made from 5.5 oz ringspun cotton, promising quality and comfort. Battenwear makes its pieces in America and is known for its durable fabrics, and one is no exception.

Sunspel

Softest Long-Sleeve T-Shirt: Sunspel Lounge Long Sleeve Tee

• $99.00 at Sunspel

• Country of Manufacture: Portugal
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: Black, navy, blue, charcoal
• Sizes: XS to XXL

English luxury brand Sunspel makes their Lounge Long Sleeve Tee from 50-percent cotton and 50-percent Modal, making it not only temperature regulating but incredibly soft to the touch. It’s plenty tough though not available in many colors.

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