While we love technical polyester听layers for weekend adventures and high-output missions, sometimes the day calls for a simple cotton t-shirt. Here are our favorites for everyday use.
Buck Mason Slub Classic ($32)听
It鈥檚 a good idea to have more than a single plain white tee in your wardrobe, but if we had to pick just one, it鈥檇 be听. It鈥檚 made from slub cotton鈥攁 textured knit that鈥檚 slightly loose and feels plush.听Buck Mason pre-washes the Slub Classic,听which adds to the shirt鈥檚 longevity by preventing shrinking, but also gives it a vintage finish,听so it's like you鈥檙e inheriting your father鈥檚 best t-shirt. This tee could be my daily driver鈥攊t鈥檚 that comfortable鈥擨 just have to watch out for those stains.
Outerknown Sojourn ($48)听听
The organic Pima cotton in is so smooth that it鈥檚 almost creamy听to the touch, which gives it pajama-like comfort. I like the pigment-dyed, washed-out look (I听prefer shirts that look worn, not crisp.)听But be wary of the white鈥攖he shirt is so thin, it's almost see-through.听
Taylor Stitch Heavy Bag ($45)
This is not a lightweight, summer-minded shirt.听听is built from upcycled cotton and recycled polyester that鈥檚 shredded and re-sewn into a dense fabric, so it鈥檚 made to take abuse. But that doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 scratchy burlap;听it's听gentle on the skin. The shirt is thick, but it's got a听tailored fit you might not expect from such a dense piece.听If you鈥檙e on the mild West Coast, or in the Rockies, here's your new favorite everyday tee. Bonus: because it uses recycled fabric, Taylor Stitch requires no water to make this t-shirt.听
Free Fly Channel Pocket ($45)听
Free Fly uses bamboo in its t-shirts for moisture control and temperature regulation, but I find the bamboo-cotton blend too heavy to be a technical workhorse in the heat. That mixture also has a silky texture, so I often reach for when I need a casual layer for running around town. It has a loose fit without being baggy, and the thin stripes add a slightly retro-surf aesthetic.听
Arc鈥檛eryx Emblem SS ($35)听
Arc鈥檛eryx makes some of my favorite technical shirts and jackets, but is what you wear between your adventures. It鈥檚 a feather-weight tee, made from 4.7-ounce organic cotton and pre-washed for a lived-in softness. Like other Arc鈥檛eryx tops,听it has a very athletic fit, so size up if you don鈥檛 like a tight shirt.听
Carhartt Workwear Pocket ($20)听
There鈥檚 nothing particularly fancy about , which is exactly how Carhartt designed it. It鈥檚 100 percent cotton, but built a little heavier than your average t-shirt (6.7 ounces) so it can hold up to everyday abuse as you rake听the lawn, fix听the toilet, or sit听at the kitchen table writing an article (if that鈥檚 what you鈥檙e into). The Workwear Pocket runs a bit large, so size down for a more snug fit.听Carhartt makes a sleeveless version too, if you鈥檙e proud of your guns.听