This is a comparison of Hanes vs Fruit of the Loom undershirts for men. Both companies make several different types of undershirts. Quickly, here’s what you need to know:
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- Hanes X Temp – This is Hanes’ summer undershirt. It’s a material blend that is lighter in weight than standard undershirts, which helps keep body temp down. Also wicks away moisture. Because it isn’t 100% cotton, shrinking won’t be as big of a problem (but do expect some shrinking). Click here to view these Hanes X Temp undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Hanes’ ComfortSoft – This is Hanes’ standard 100% cotton undershirt. ComfortSoft blend which makes it a bit softer to the touch. Lay-flat collar and pre-shrunk, but still expect these shirts to shrink. Click here to view these Hanes ComfortSoft undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Hanes Stretch – If you hate undershirts that shrink, then these may be the best option for you. This is Hanes’ stretch undershirt made with a cotton/spandex blend (95/5), so shrinking is minimal. These shirts have Hanes FreshIQ, which helps eliminate odor. Click here to view these Hanes Stretch undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked – These are Fruit of the Loom’s most popular undershirts, and they have extra length to help them stay tucked in. These are 100% cotton with a tag-free collar. They wick away moisture. Expect some shrinking. Click here to view these Fruit of the Loom stay-tucked undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Fruit of the Loom Breathable Undershirt – This is Fruit of the Loom’s summer undershirt. It wicks away moisture and has a cooling cotton micro-mesh fabric blend. This also has the stay-tucked design. Click here to view these Fruit of the Loom breathable undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Fruit of the Loom Heavy – This is a good shirt to use as a winter undershirt. It uses a heavier weight cotton than the other shirts on this list (5 oz). Tagless collar. It is pre-shrunk, but do expect shrinking. Click here to view these Fruit of the Loom heavy shirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
In this article we are going to compare Hanes vs Fruit of the Loom by taking a closer look at two of their most popular types of undershirts. We will compare out-of-the-package fit, and then see exactly how much each shirt shrinks so that you can decide whether Hanes or Fruit of the Loom is best for you.
Hanes vs Fruit of the Loom
Hanes and Fruit of the Loom are both well-established names for undershirts. It’s hard to make broad generalizations about Hanes vs Fruit of the Loom because both companies produce a wide range of options, that vary in material, warmth, and fit.
But something we need to do in this article is take a specific look at some of the most popular options between Hanes vs Fruit of the Loom undershirts. Let’s start with Hanes.
Hanes Undershirts
Hanes ComfortSoft Shirts
These Hanes ComfortSoft Crewneck t-shirts are probably their most popular type of undershirt, and is the style I personally think of when I think of Hanes. This is what the Hanes ComfortSoft undershirts look like (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
This is Hanes’ standard 100% cotton undershirt. It has what Hanes calls a “Comfortsoft blend”, which makes it a bit softer to the touch. This shirt has a lay-flat collar and is pre-shrunk, but warning, these shirts will still shrink (my photos below).
Overall, these Hanes ComfortSoft 100% cotton shirts fit like a standard t-shirt. I personally think they feel thicker than Fruit of the Loom t-shirts.
I am 6’3″ 190, and here I am wearing a size medium Hanes ComfortSoft straight out of the package:
Again, pretty standard undershirt. Very soft to wear. Enough length to fall past my waist at 6’3″ tall. The sleeves are tight so that they fit under other shirts easily. The collar does lay flat. But what about shrinking?
Here is a look at the same Hanes ComfortSoft 100% cotton medium t-shirt after I machine washed it and then machine dried it on normal heat one time:
It definitely fits tighter against the chest and stomach after being washed, and did lose some length also. Here is a look at an un-washed Hanes ComfortSoft t-shirt sitting underneath one that has been machine washed and machine dried once:
As you can see, despite being pre-shrunk, these undershirts will still shrink. Mine had shrinking in the length, chest/stomach, and sleeves. Of course, this isn’t always a bad thing if you are trying to wear these as undershirts.
Now, in fairness, all cotton undershirts shrink, no matter the brand. I think we all know to expect at least some shrinking when we buy cotton shirts. Hopefully those pictures give you a better idea of just how much shrinking to expect.
These Hanes ComfortSoft undershirts are very popular mainly because they are very comfortable against the skin. I like to wear these as my go-to undershirt, unless I need to tuck it in.
Because I’m taller, I use Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked shirts as my undershirt when I need it to stay tucked in (more on those below). If you are just looking for a standard cotton undershirt that is comfortable, it is honestly hard to beat these Hanes ComfortSoft shirts. Just plan on shrinking.
Where to Buy Hanes ComfortSoft?
Click here to buy these Hanes ComfortSoft undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). You can also browse through available colors.
Fruit of the Loom Undershirts
Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked Shirts
Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked shirts might be their most popular type of undershirt. As I said earlier, because I am a tall guy, I rely on these Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked shirts as my go-to undershirt when I do need something that stays tucked in.
The first thing to know about these shirts in comparison to the Hanes ComfortSoft shirts we just discussed, is these Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked shirts do have more length. Here is my Hanes ComfortSoft sitting on top of my Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked (both straight out of package):
As you can see, the Fruit of the Loom undershirts have about an extra inch of length. Other than that, the rest of the shirt is built almost the same (I show more pictures later).
Now, in fairness, the length and build of Hanes vs Fruit of the Loom will vary depending on the specific types of undershirts you choose. Both brands have several different types of undershirts. This is just to give you a simple comparison of two of the most popular types of undershirts.
These Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked shirts are made with 100% cotton and have a lay-flat collar. The material is built to wick away moisture.
I am 6’3″ 190, and here I am wearing a size medium Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked shirt straight out of the package:
As you can see, this size medium has extra length even for me at 6’3″ tall. This is why I rely on these as my undershirt when I need something to stay tucked in. These shirts will shrink, but because there is so much length, they still stay tucked even after being washed.
Here is a look at this same Fruit of the Loom shirt after I machine washed it and machine dried it on normal heat once:
As you can see, it is definitely tighter through the chest after being washed and dried, but overall the length is still sufficient enough so that this shirt can be tucked in.
To give you an idea how much these Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked shirts shrink, here is a look at an unwashed shirt sitting underneath a shirt that has been washed and dried once:
Again, as I said earlier, you can expect significant shrinkage in all types of 100% cotton undershirts, and these Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked shirts are no different. There will be a significant shrinkage from the first wash.
Despite that, because these shirts have the extra length to start with, they still have plenty of length even after they shrink. Here is a look at the Hanes ComfortSoft shirt we discussed first sitting on top of the Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked shirt:
As you can see, the sleeve length on these two shirts is basically the same. The difference in design comes down mainly to length:
These Fruit of the Loom Stay Tucked shirts are about an inch longer than the Hanes ComfortSoft shirts. Choosing between these two popular styles likely comes down to whether or not you need the extra length in an undershirt.
Where to Buy Fruit of the Loom Stay Tucked Shirts?
Click here to buy these Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). You can also browse through available colors.
Which Undershirt is Best for You?
Like I have said throughout, there are several different types of undershirts to choose from. It’s tough to compare Hanes vs Fruit of the Loom with broad generalizations because both brands make several different designs, all of which vary a little in fit and material.
If you made me personally choose, these are the undershirts that I would choose for the specific situations listed below:
- Best Summer Undershirt – Hanes X Temp – Click here to view at Amazon
- Best Shirt for Tall Guys – Fruit of the Loom Stay-Tucked – Click here to view at Amazon
- Best Undershirt to wear as a T-shirt – Hanes ComfortSoft – Click here to view at Amazon
- Best Undershirt to avoid Shrinking – Hanes Stretch – Click here to view at Amazon.
- Best Winter Undershirt – Fruit of the Loom Heavy – Click here to view at Amazon.