The Very Best Men’s Long-Sleeved T-shirts (2024)

From $16 for 2

Sizes: S–5XL | Neckline and style: Crewneck with cuffs | Material: 100% cotton (a few colors are cotton-polyester blend)

Gildan’s basic long-sleeved tees are versatile, available in a wide range of sizes and colors, and affordable, which is why it earns our top spot. It’s a seasonless wardrobe staple for Strategist columnist Chris Black because it looks good with almost anything: his navy pants, Levi’s 501s, or even Patagonia five-inch Baggies in the summer. When I tested a tee for myself, I liked how substantial the 100 percent cotton felt without being too thick for layering. I was easily able to wear it under jean jackets and cardigans without adding too much bulk. While I haven’t had mine for very long, pop-music critic Jon Caramanica, former “Critical Shopper” columnist for the New York Times, told us the tees are not only durable with an “unflappable” crewneck but that their “personality begins to emerge” after a couple washes.

$32

Sizes: XS-2XL | Neckline and style: Crewneck with cuffs and a pocket | Material: 100 percent open-end cotton

Jared Johnson, co-founder of Season Three, favors Los Angeles Apparel’s pocket shirt because the heavyweight cotton doesn’t stretch out after several wears, making it worth the price. It has a relaxed fit throughout the chest and arms, according to Johnson, who typically styles his with sneakers and a pair of vintage Levi’s. He owns multiples — some of which date back to 2017 (and are still in wearable shape) — in black, navy, and a custom forest-green dye for his brand’s shirts. When asked why Season Three chose Los Angeles Apparel as their wholesale supplier, Johnson replied, “We felt like we couldn’t make shoes in Italy and print our tees on Gildan quality.” And the pocket was “especially necessary to fit with our utilitarian aesthetic.”

$9

Sizes: S–3XL | Neckline and style: Crewneck with cuffs and a pocket | Material: 100% cotton (a few colors are cotton-polyester blend)

At a fraction of the price, this Hanes option also has a handy front pocket and comes recommended by Mark Miguez, a co-owner of the Friend of a Barber barbershop. The fit is “boxy but sits on the body,” according to Miguez, adding that it gets better with every wash. It’s available in 14 colors; Miguez owns it in black and gray and says he wears both “all the time: at work with jeans and sneakers, on the beach with shorts, and dressed up with a leather jacket.”

$35

Sizes: S–3XL in regular length; sizes M–3XL in tall length| Neckline and style: Crewneck with cuffs | Material: 100% ring-spun cotton with cotton-elastane–blend cuffs

L.L.Bean has long been a Strategist-favorite brand, and Andrew Favorito, who works in marketing for Tatcha, says this long-sleeved pocket tee deserves just as much attention as the Maine-based outfitter’s tote bags, slippers, and fleeces. “It’s exactly what you’d expect from L.L.Bean in regard to quality, cost, and styling,” he says. “No frills, no fluff, no ridiculous markup — just a good shirt.” It has a relaxed fit in the arms, shoulders, and chest; comes in 13 colors; and has ribbed cuffs. It’s made of 6.1-ounce double ring-spun cotton, which is heavyweight and meant to resist shrinkage in the wash. Selecting one of the “tall” sizes adds two inches to the shirt’s body length and one inch to the shirt’s sleeves.

$75

Sizes: XS–2XL | Neckline and style: Crewneck with cuffs | Material: 100% cotton

Keith Nowak, the founder of athletic brand Ten Thousand, says this Reigning Champ long-sleeved shirt is “part of my daily uniform and literally the only thing I wear that isn’t my own brand.” Reigning Champ, he adds, is known for doing classics with a tech angle. This mid-weight jersey tee is thicker than the brand’s basic long-sleeved shirt and has a relaxed fit throughout the arms and body. It also has flatlock seams, which means the fabric doesn’t overlap, to minimize chances of chafing or irritating the skin. Reigning Champ added raglan sleeves with a drop shoulder to reveal an even more relaxed look.

$70

Sizes: XS–2XL in regular fit or slim fit | Neckline and style: Crewneck with cuffs | Material: 100% cotton

Favorito also recommends this Polo Ralph Lauren long-sleeved shirt, which comes in both classic and custom slim cuts. He says it’s supersoft (so soft, in fact, he sometimes sleeps in them), with a fit that’s forgiving but still tailored enough to layer under an “unforgivingly itchy sweater without being bulky.” Plus, a Ralph Lauren tee like this one “truly never goes out of style,” he says, which is why he owns several “in a smattering of classic neutrals, that are in constant rotation.” It has cuffed sleeves, the trademark Ralph Lauren pony logo, and no pocket for a more streamlined look.

$125

Sizes: S–2XL | Neckline and style: Crewneck | Material: 100% slub cotton

This tee is made with a unique Peruvian slub cotton that allows Donnell Baldwin, a former style director for men’s fashion online retailer Mr. Porter, to dress it up or down for “whatever needs I have at the moment.” While it is pricey, Baldwin promises that it can be worn year-round, and the worn-in fabric makes it supremely soft from the first wear. Plus, “it gets better with every wash,” he says. It comes in 17 colors with no cuffs at the sleeves and no chest pocket. It also features some distressing at the hem and a bit of sheerness as well as a looser neckline and a soft, free-flowing drape.

$78

Sizes: XS–2XL | Neckline and style: Crewneck | Material: 100% slub cotton

For about half the price, consider this slub-cotton option from Alex Mill. It’s been a favorite of Christopher Echevarria, the founder of loafer brand Blackstock & Weber, since 2017, when he bought his in L.A. The shirt stands out for its slub-cotton material, which Echevarria says “gives it the added elements of texture and softness.” It comes in four colors with no chest pocket and no cuffs on the sleeves, for a looser fit at the wrists than you’ll find on the shirts listed above.

$68

Sizes: XS–XL | Neckline and style: Crewneck | Material: 94% polyester, 6% spandex

Outdoor Voices is known for elevated athleisure, and its extensive inventory is full of hits. Multiple Strategist staffers and contributors swear by Outdoor Voices sweats, and MichaelAnn Cohlmia, a co-founder of CBD brand WeedSport, feels the same way about the brand’s long-sleeved tee. “I always grab it no matter what I am doing: traveling, hiking, or playing tennis on a winter day in L.A.” Cohlmia says she — yes, she (the savviest shoppers are not restricted by gender norms) — has washed it many times, and it always comes out perfect. “No shrinking or warping, and it’s forever soft,” she says. While she notes that the lightweight fabric is a touch clingy, she says its looser cut ensures it’s still comfortable and looks good. The best feature, she adds, are the thumbholes, which are “like hammocks for your thumbs” and keep the sleeves from rolling up or flapping around. It comes in five heathered colors, and the CloudKnit fabric’s blend of polyester and spandex is stretchy and quick drying.

$45

Sizes: S to XXL | Neckline and style: Crewneck | Fabric: 100% polyester ZERO interlock

In Black’s monthly column, he recommended Columbia’s long-sleeved shirt as a stylish hiking essential. He likes that it has a looser fit, “so it hangs in a way that allows for some airflow,” and UPF 30, “so it will not only cover your arms from the sun, but shield its harmful rays, too,” he says. What’s more is that it’s made with the brand’s proprietary Omni-Freeze fabric. Contributor Steven John, who is also a fan of Columbia gear made with this fabric, explains that it’s “basically a matrix of dark dots that, once dampened by your sweat, help enhance your body’s natural evaporative-cooling process, releasing excess heat and helping you stay cooler even as the shirt helps you stay drier.”

$62

Sizes: XS–2XL | Neckline and style: Crewneck | Material: 55% hemp, 45% organic cotton

This Jungmaven Jung shirt is made with hemp, a sustainable natural fiber that’s more durable than cotton, even as it gets softer over time. When former Strategist writer Jordan Bowman first saw this tee, he assumed it would look like he was wearing a slub-cotton shirt. But he says it felt more heavyweight and “draped the body in a more appealing way than slub-cotton shirts I’ve worn.” Brand-new, it has a broken-in look “that calls to mind a well-loved vintage tee,” says Bowman, and feels “supersoft and incredible.” Plus, the classic crewneck is available in 16 different colors.