Author Topic: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?  (Read 1037 times)

rugorak

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 392
Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« on: January 21, 2025, 07:49:07 AM »
I'm looking for some recommendations for long sleeve t shirts that will last. Preferably plain solid colors. I haven't bought new long sleeve shirts in ages and it is starting to show. Rips, holes, and fraying on the cuffs and collars. And the material is thin enough that there really is no repairing it. I know buying it for life is asking a bit for clothing, but I would like something to last longer than some of the crap fast fashion that is out there. And I know quality can vary hugely even for the same price point. I've got short sleeve t shirts from 20+ years ago in better shape than some other shirts that are about 6-7 years old and I wear them in the same general rotation. Thanks in advance for any recommendations!


GuitarStv

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 24726
  • Age: 43
  • Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2025, 08:12:14 AM »
No particular brands to recommend - it seems to be a bit of a crapshoot with brands being very inconsistent over time.  Generally look for shirts in heavier weights and made of ringspun cotton if you're going with cotton shirts, or about a 60-40 cotton-poly blend if you're going with a blended material.  Those seem to help a bunch with shirt longevity in my experience.

Not sure how you're using these exactly.  I usually wear long sleeve t-shirts as undershirts below a buttoned flannel shirt in the winter.  Over the years I've slowly moved away from t-shirt material to waffle shirts (they tend to feel much warmer when worn under another shirt, I guess the waffle pattern traps air or something?), and Henley collars (as I find that the collar of my regular shirts often stretches out because of jamming my gigantic head through the hole every time it goes on and off, and the Henley style allows me to unbutton to prevent this from happening).

Daley

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5307
  • Location: Cow country. Moo.
  • Where there's a will...
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2025, 09:01:57 AM »
Buy shirt blanks made by Gildan, intended for the resale market to silkscreeners, sublimation printers, etc.

Jiffy.com has some of the better bulk pricing that doesn't require you to jump through hoops and be a business.

If you want a heavy (warmer weight) 6oz. cotton or cotton/poly shirt, G240 or G241 if you want pockets.
For heavy (warmer weight) 6oz. ringspun cotton and cotton/poly blend shirts, H400.
For (medium weight) 5.4oz. cotton and cotton/poly blend shirts, G540.
For (medium weight) 5.5oz. 50/50 cotton/poly blend shirts, G840.
For (medium weight) 5oz. 100% polyester shirts, G424.
For (light weight cooler without being Shein gauzy) 4.5oz. cotton and cotton/poly blend shirts, G644.
For (light weight cooler) 4.5oz. ringspun 60/40 cotton/poly blend shirts, G674.

They may not be quite as durable as potentially buying a shirt of this type off of Duluth or LL Bean, but there's not a shirt in these styles that cost over $10, no matter the color and style, outside of H400, G241, G424, and G674. Before getting a Costco in our area, Jiffy.com and Gildan short sleeve tees were how I purchased undershirts. Pay attention to sizing and fit, however.

I'd personally stay away from the 100% poly, and veer toward ringspun cotton, but even their 100% preshrunk cotton, at least historically, was still pretty decent and they hadn't seemed to have succumbed to the short cotton fiber plague yet.

YMMV, however, here in our dystopian late-stage capitalist heckscape.
« Last Edit: January 21, 2025, 09:12:19 AM by Daley »

GuitarStv

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 24726
  • Age: 43
  • Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2025, 09:11:03 AM »
I've purchased many blank t-shirts from Gildan - the heavier ones are decent quality and will last OK, but the last few have been the roughest feeling cotton I've ever run into.  Doesn't bother me too much, but my wife can't stand them.

Daley

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5307
  • Location: Cow country. Moo.
  • Where there's a will...
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2025, 09:12:53 AM »
I've purchased many blank t-shirts from Gildan - the heavier ones are decent quality and will last OK, but the last few have been the roughest feeling cotton I've ever run into.  Doesn't bother me too much, but my wife can't stand them.

That's unfortunate.

Daley

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 5307
  • Location: Cow country. Moo.
  • Where there's a will...
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2025, 09:31:44 AM »
Did a little follow-up and research from some old sublimation outfits I used to work with given @GuitarStv and his recent experience. Looks like the better ones are finally starting to drift away from Gildan these days and going over to Next Level Apparel. Here's Jiffy's long sleeve catalog on that front, but it's all lightweight 4.5oz-ish stuff, even if it is combed ringspun.

Note, I can't attest to the quality myself, but I trust the eye of the buyer there at the first shop I just followed up with, and the fact that he and a few other outfits are drifting in this direction seems reasonably safe enough. Custom one-off sublimation and small run silkscreen houses need to be especially picky about their clothing blanks, otherwise they lose repeat business. This said, it is a wholly blind recommendation based on a tiny sample of a boutique and cottage industry.
« Last Edit: January 21, 2025, 09:35:37 AM by Daley »

rugorak

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 392
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2025, 12:34:56 PM »
Thanks for the quick suggestions. I've got some Gildan white t shirts for undershirts and have been happy with how they have held up. And for the price on Jiffy compared to what I have been seeing even if they don't last forever I at least don't feel like I am flushing a lot of money down the drain. My wife needs some shirts too so I think this will work well for us.

uniwelder

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2017
  • Age: 45
  • Location: Appalachian Virginia
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2025, 12:47:09 PM »
The Red Cross has been giving away long sleeve t-shirts lately, though it will cost you a pint of blood. They also have stuff printed on them, causing some people to take a 2nd look and then comment how awesome you are. The fabric quality is good. It has been many years since I’ve ever paid money for a t-shirt.

Turtle

  • CM*MW 2023 Attendees
  • Pencil Stache
  • *
  • Posts: 761
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2025, 10:48:25 AM »
Duluth Trading company, especially if you can catch them on sale.

Also possibly worth checking out the clearance rack at any local sporting goods store.  They’ll be wanting space for springtime things soon, so the long sleeved stuff should be making its way to the sales sections.

Cranky

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 3985
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2025, 03:20:38 PM »
Duluth Trading are our favorites, but we buy them at the thrift store. They are nice enough that I occasionally go mad and buy them even if they aren’t half price. And their tank tops are nice, too.

G-dog

  • Senior Mustachian
  • ********
  • Posts: 19930
Re: Long sleeve T-shirt recommendations?
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2025, 06:44:28 PM »
I'm looking for some recommendations for long sleeve t shirts that will last. Preferably plain solid colors. I haven't bought new long sleeve shirts in ages and it is starting to show. Rips, holes, and fraying on the cuffs and collars. And the material is thin enough that there really is no repairing it. I know buying it for life is asking a bit for clothing, but I would like something to last longer than some of the crap fast fashion that is out there. And I know quality can vary hugely even for the same price point. I've got short sleeve t shirts from 20+ years ago in better shape than some other shirts that are about 6-7 years old and I wear them in the same general rotation. Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Life is Good shirts have good lasting power.  They recently did a special on 3-packs of  plain shirts.  The crusher lite fabric is thinner, so probably stick with the classic.

I also have Old Navy long sleeve tees that have lasted a really long time.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!