The Silentist

Review: UnderFit T-shirts

This will be my last review at The Silentist, and it feels a bit weird to have it be about an undershirt. But if you’re the kind of guy who wears undershirts everyday, then you’ve probably been searching for the one that fits better than the one you already own.

I’ve not really talked at great length about undershirts (and only reviewed one other) just because it seems like a very personal preference, but as a guy who wears one I think you run into a lot of tradeoffs. If you buy cheap, then you get more — but they’re not as likely to fit as well. T-shirts are too short, or shrink oddly, or they don’t fit well along the torso.

And then there are T-shirts like those from UnderFit: more expensive, but fit quite well and stay tucked.

UnderFit shirts are simple. The collar is a deep V-neck that stays out of sight when you have your top button undone on a dress shirt. Their color is white. The shirt is designed to taper and hug your torso to avoid excess fabric along your waistline when you tuck it in.

The fabric is impressively soft after several washes. It’s a 57-38-5 modal, tencel and Lycra blend that’s designed to breathe better and resist bad odors, according to UnderFit. I tried wearing the shirt two days on the road while driving to test this. I didn’t think it smelled any worse on the end of the second day, but that’s just my anecdotal take.

This is the second form-fitting T-shirt I’ve tried now and the concept is growing on me a lot more than I thought. Despite being a creature of habit, it didn’t take long before feeling the shirt felt “weird” to not noticing it at all.

The only downside is the cost. At $24 per shirt, having a week’s worth in rotation will take a serious investment for some people. But like any item that fits well and performs better, you will have to decide if it’s a priority for you.

Personally, I don’t think it would hurt to have a few. If you tend to wear your shirts tighter or simply want one for those days when you’ll be out longer and potentially in a more sweaty situation, then an UnderFit shirt could be a solution for you.

I’m starting to view undershirts much like I do my socks: an item I initially balked at spending more on, but later saw the benefits of those which are made with more care in mind. If you’re on the fence, buy one and try it for yourself. If your experience is similar to mine, you’ll probably like it and open up to the idea of buying more as your older undershirts wear out.