“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.”
Best Tank Top for Gym Rats: Reigning Champ Lightweight Cordura Tank Top
Reigning Champ
Lightweight Cordura Tank Top
Pros
Crazy durable
Super lightweight
Looks great in a gym
Cons
Not much undershirt potential
Very workout-coded
Donovan is 6”2 and wears a size medium.
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.”
Best Tank Top for Runners: Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Singlet
Tracksmith
Van Cortlandt Singlet
Pros
Lots of tech packed into a classic ride
Anti-microbial
Solid bit of stretch
Cons
That stretch can break down
A little loud to moonlight as an undershirt
Donovan is 6”2 and wears a size medium.
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.
Best Slimming Tank Top: Skims Rib Tank
Skims
Rib Tank (3-Pack)
Pros
Very soft
Very forgiving
Very flattering
Cons
Elastane can only do so much
Most definitely an undershirt
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. And that includes the men’s stuff. 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. It manages to do the last part without feeling constrictive or limiting in any way, or sticking out underneath a thin shirt, making it an easy year-round go-to.
More Tank Tops We Love
Calvin Klein Cotton Classics Tank (3-Pack)
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. “The SoHo billboards got me, and I ended up buying a three-pack because who wouldn’t want to look like Marky Mark in his heyday?” GQ’s associate commerce editor Tyler Chin says. He thinks you should 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.
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.)
Abercrombie & Fitch
Ribbed Tank Top
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.
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. Oh, and if you were wondering about the cotton, the super soft kind is what Sunspel is (deservedly) known for.
Todd Snyder
Luxe Mesh Tank
Sometimes tank tops are too good to be hidden away as an under layer. Todd Snyder’s tanks feature a cotton-nylon mesh fabric that’s big on texture and air flow. It’s luxurious, sexy, and the kind of tank that deserves to have its own shine.
Merz b. Schwanen
Classic Ribbed Tank
Merz B. Schwanen got its big break on The Bear and promptly elicited hordes of dudes scrambling to get a piece of the Emmy-nominated T-shirt. TV fame aside, the German label’s expertise in basics is worth your attention and its classic rib tank is almost just as worthy of its own 15 minutes. Made in Portugal using an organic cotton heavyweight ribbed jersey, it’s got a vintage appeal in both design and quality.
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.
Buck Mason
Slingshot Cotton Tank
Vintage will always be cool. But we could do without scouring through dusty stores for sweat-stained tanks. Instead we’d opt for Buck Mason’s Slingshot tank which takes its cues from midcentury military surplus designs including an airy but structured ribbed cotton, coverstitched binding, and an ever-so-slightly roomy fit.
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.
