The Top Men's Undershirts for Winter 2013

It's getting to be that time of year again where we have to start layering to stay warm. An essential part of the layering process is your foundation layer. Now I'm not much of an undershirt guy, but when it gets to be cold out like it is now they are essential. Here are my top 3 picks for men's undershirts to keep you warm this winter.

RibbedTee

1. RibbedTee

I've mentioned this fantastic brand before.  RibbedTee is by far my favorite undershirt out there that I've tried. In fact, this is the undershirt that convinced me I should wear undershirts again. I'll even wear these shirts in the summer when I'm dressing up. What does it for me is the fabric, the ribbed fabric hugs your body perfectly without being restricting. And the length is perfect for tucking in and not pulling out. My favorite is the classic v-neck in grey. And the cost is unbeatable; get a 2-pack for $20. 

2. Mack Weldon

My second pick is a newcomer on the scene this year. Mack Weldon makes great basics for men, check out the Brief Boy's review of their briefs. Mack Weldon undershirts are super soft while being super thin and form-fitting, unlike a lot of undershirts that tend to be bulky and uncomfortable under clothing. They're a great length for tucking-in and a great overall fit. They are high-quality and durable. However, at $32 a pop they are a bit expensive for daily wear. I like the v-neck in white. 

UnderFit

3. UnderFit

This is another brand that has recently come to my attention. UnderFit undershirts come in both crew and v-neck designs. Currently they are only available in classic white. They are very lightweight and form fitting. I like the sleeve length on these as they are a little shorter than some of the other shirts I've tried (for example, Mack Weldon). At $25 a shirt they are a little more affordable; however, I feel that the fabric is not as high quality as that of Mack Weldon. That being said, they are a great basic choice and will last you well. My only complaint quality-wise is that the printed on tag wore off after washing. This is not really a functional problem, but just an indication of quality. 

So there you have it, these are my favorite undershirts for winter. What are your thoughts on wearing undershirts? What are your favorites?

Check-In at RibbedTee for Big Savings and a $300 Shopping Spree!

RibbedTee, maker of my personal favorite undershirts, is running a little promotion right now where you can win a $300 shopping spree.  All you have to do is go to their site a couple times a day and check-in with your email address.  Every time you check-in it will be tracked and the more times you check-in the more savings you get.  After 28 check-ins, you get a 30% off coupon, after 42 you get a 40% off coupon, and after 56 check-ins you get a generous 50% off coupon. You can check-in up to 2 times per day (in six hour increments).  I know it sounds like a lot, but if you just remember to do it you can have some big savings.  Just check-in once before you go to bed and then again when you wake up.  It's just like checking your email.  Also, pay attention.  With some of the check-ins they will give you little bits of trivia about their company.  Save these and remember them because you'll need them to enter the grand prize giveaway of $300.  And just FYI, that's a lot of undershirts, so you'll be set for life.  Further details will be given out later as to how to enter to win the grand prize, but in the mean time take advantage of the great savings they're offering just for checking in!  Check out this link for more details. 

I Love My RibbedTee - A Review

RibbedTee is a little different than what I normally talk about on here.  As the name suggests, RibbedTee makes men's undershirts.  Now you might say, "undershirts, big deal, they're all the same, right?"  Wrong, they're not all created equal.  RibbedTee undershirts are the first undershirts that I've seen that implement ribbed fabric into undershirt styles other than an A-shirt (also known as a muscle shirt, or tank).  I've always liked the feel of the ribbed fabric on A-shirts but found that they really had no purpose since they had no sleeves and that's where you want the most protection from sweat for your clothes.  Come into the picture, RibbedTee.  They sell crew-neck and v-neck undershirts in black, grey, and white made out of ribbed fabric.  For today's review I'm going to talk about their v-neck.  

Now I want to start out this review by saying I'm not an undershirt guy.  I really don't wear them that much, I only wear them on dressy occasions.  So having a great undershirt really wasn't a big deal for me since I don't have to wear them that often.  But these undershirts have truly changed the way I think about undershirts.  The fit of these things is awesome.  The ribbed fabric allows them to conform perfectly to your body.  It's fitted enough that you aren't going to get any uncomfortable and unsightly bunching, but it's loose enough that you don't feel squeezed.  They are made just long enough that you can tuck them in without worry of them pulling out, but if you don't want to tuck you don't have a ton of fabric hanging out either.  The v-neck has just the right amount of dip that it doesn't stick up above your shirt in an unsightly way (especially useful if you want to leave the top button undone, but don't want your undershirt to show).  But it's not too low that all your chest hair is hanging out.  The shoulders fit right on the money and the arms are just enough to cover your pits and collect sweat, but they are short enough that they won't stick out from under a t-shirt. 

These shirts are super comfy.  Made of 100% cotton they feel great against the skin.  The ribbing is not too thick so it doesn't add any extra bulk or weight to them.  They're just the right amount of ribbing.  The collar stays flat all day and doesn't roll.  It's also made of the same fabric as the rest of the shirt so it just blends in seamlessly.  Same goes for the armbands and waistband.  The style of these is pretty basic.  They come in three plain colors: black, grey, and white.  But really you don't need much more than that.  I think it would be great if they came in some brighter colors.  But then again, these are undershirts, you probably don't want to draw attention to them. They're basic, but they get the job done. 

These things are highly durable.  They stay the same shape and feel after many washes.  In fact, they're so great that I wear them on more than just dressy occasions now.  These undershirts from RibbedTee have truly changed the way I think about undershirts.  I used to be content with just wearing sub-par Hanes A-shirts whenever the occasion arose, but now I wear these well fitted shirts as often as possible.  In fact, I wish I had more!  These really are a worthwhile investment and a steal for only $18.50 for a two-pack.  Sure Hanes is gonna cost you less, but these will last you much longer and will feel much better.

MY RATING:
Overall, I give the RibbedTee V-Neck Undershirt a total score of 9.5 based on the following criteria:
FIT -- 9 (out of 10) - Ribbing provides a custom fit that is just right. 
COMFORT -- 9 (out of 10) - Super comfortable.  I want to wear them all the time!
STYLE -- 8 (out of 10) - Basic but does the job.  I wish they came in bright colors. 
QUALITY -- 9 (out of 10) - Holds up fantastically after repeated washes.  
VALUE -- 10 (out of 10) - Excellent value.  Worth the investment. 

**********9.5

New Trend: Men's Shapewear

For a long time women have had the option to modify their body shape using their underwear. Well it was only a matter of time until this trend made it's way to men as well. Now men who are self conscious about their tummy can use their underwear to achieve that slim, toned stomach that they desire.

The first option out there comes from 2(x)ist and is known as their Form collection. 2(x)ist Form is designed to "make abs out of lovehandles". This is accomplished by extending the elastic waistband six inches above the natural waist. While it may not look incredibly stylish, the 2(x)ist does its job and can cut off up to two inches from your tummy. It comes in both brief (shown) and trunk styles in black and white (but more colors are coming soon). It's hard to tell how effective these undies are because the only photos show them on models who already have perfectly toned bodies and don't need the help that the Form collection offers. 2(x)ist Form just came out this month so the availability is limited. But you can currently get it at Skiviez for $26 and $22 for the trunk and brief respectively. Men's Underwear Store also stocks it for a slightly cheaper rate at $18 and $24 for the brief and trunk respectively.

The next two options on the market are undershirts instead of bottoms. I think this option looks better because it could look a little strange to have shapewear showing above one's pants; an undershirt is less noticeable. However, I feel like the underwear is more likely to stay in place because it is anchored at the bottom whereas an undershirt could ride up. So the effectiveness of these options remains to be seen.

The first undershirt comes from a company called RIPT Fusion. RIPT (pronounced "ripped tee") is designed by Heather Thomson who designed and created Yummie Tummie - a women's shapewear line. She saw the need for men to have shapewear as well so she designed the RIPT. The RIPT is a body-sculpting undershirt designed to support your core. It works off the same principle as compression garments like those used in athletics, the only difference is that this is designed to be worn as everyday wear and not just for sports. The RIPT has a patent-pending design that appears to use a compression panel across the midsection to help achieve the desired look. The chest and the sweep of the shirt are made of lightweight cotton that makes this perfect for wearing under any outfit - or even alone! The RIPT only comes in classic white in either crewneck or v-neck. It retails for $58 and can be purchased at RIPT's site or at RibbedTee. Once again it's hard to say just how effective this shirt is, but from the pictures it does appear to tighten the core a lot better than standard undershirts. Stay tuned for a review.

The final product is actually undershirts and underwear. It is from a fairly new company called Equmen. Although it's not exactly designed to be shapewear - it's more of a performancewear brand - it does have similar capabilities. Equmen uses both Core Technology and Helix-Mapping to achieve a supportive, body-enhancing garment. The Core Technology of the garment is basically all about getting the core aligned properly and ergonomically so that everything in the body is positioned in a comfortable manner that puts the least amount of stress on the body. It is also about temperature control of the body. The Helix-Mapping system is a little more complicated. It was designed in conjunction with physiotherapists, ergonomic consultants, and athletic engineers. Basically it is a built in compression and ventilation system. But unlike other compressionwear it targets specific areas for optimal support that works with the bodies natural systems. I know the science is a little complicated but these things have been getting rave reviews. A lot of the reviews have been saying how much more confident it makes them feel. And so maybe that is the point of this shapewear even if it doesn't alter your shape as much as you would like. Shapewear can boost your confidence which in turn leads to better posture and makes you look better. Confidence is sexy. The Equmen undershirts come in three styles: long sleeve, v-neck, and singlet. The underwear is available for pre-order in briefs, trunks and long trunks. Everything is available in four colors: blue, grey, black and white. The shirts sell for about $100 a piece and the underwear goes for about $50 a piece (they will be shipping to the US at the end of the month). Stay tuned for a review of Equmen and a more thorough brand profile.

So there you have it. The new trend on the men's underwear scene seems to be shapewear. What are your thoughts on shapewear? Would you try it?