This is a comparison of Hanes vs Gildan undershirts for men. Both companies make several different types of quality 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).
- Gildan Classic Crewneck – This is Gildan’s classic cotton undershirt. This shirt is moisture wicking, has taped seams for durability, and is tag free. You can expect this shirt to shrink just like all cotton undershirts. Click here to view these Gildan classic undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Gildan Heavy – If you are looking for a heavier undershirt to wear during the winter months, this Gildan heavy tee is a nice option. It also works well as a standalone t-shirt since it is a bit heavier than a normal undershirt. The material blend used to make these shirts will vary depending on what color you choose. They fit true to size. Click here to view these Gildan heavy undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Gildan DryBlend – This is a nice summer undershirt that can help you stay dry and comfortable. Moisture wicking fabric made of a cotton/poly material blend. These are pre-shrunk, but you can still expect a small bit of shrinking over time. Click here to view these Gildan DryBlend undershirts at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
In this article we are going to compare Hanes vs Gildan 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 Gildan is best for you.
Hanes vs Gildan
Hanes and Gildan are both well-established names for undershirts and t-shirts. It’s hard to make broad generalizations about Hanes vs Gildan because both companies produce a wide range of options, that vary in material, warmth, and fit.
Some people prefer to use Hanes for undershirts, and Gildan for t-shirt printing, or just to wear as a t-shirt. But both companies have a wide variety to choose from. Let’s take a specific look at some of the most popular options between Hanes vs Gildan 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 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’ve used Hanes off and on for several years as a go-to undershirt. I like the way their ComfortSoft shirts feel against the skin.
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.
Gildan Undershirts
Gildan Classic Crewneck Shirts
Gildan’s classic crewneck t-shirts might be their most popular type of undershirt. As I said earlier, some people prefer Gildan to any other type of t-shirt because they think they wear better as plain t-shirts. Gildan is also a very popular brand of t-shirts to print on.
The truth is both Gildan and Hanes have quality options. And we will discuss this a bit later in the article, but the Hanes ComfortSoft shirts and the Gildan Classic Crewneck shirts are almost identical in sizing and weight.
I am 6’3″ 190, and here I am wearing a size medium Gildan Classic Crewneck shirt straight out of the package:
As you can see, this size medium has a pretty standard fit. There is enough length there for me at 6’3″ tall.
The sleeves fall about halfway down to my elbow. The collar lays flat and is tag free. Like all cotton undershirts, you can expect these Gildan undershirts to shrink.
Here is a look at this same Gildan crewneck shirt after I machine washed it and machine dried it on normal heat once:
To give you an idea how much these Gildan cotton crewneck shirt 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 shrinkage in all types of cotton undershirts, and these Gildan shirts are no different. There will be a significant shrinkage from the first wash.
And this is just my personal guess based off my experience, I obviously didn’t test this scientifically, but I felt like these Gildan shirts had a slight bit less shrinkage than other cotton undershirts I’ve owned. But still, expect some shrinkage.
Overall, though, the main takeaway here should be how very similar the Hanes ComfortSoft and Gildan Class Crewneck shirts are. The one you choose might just come down to which company you’ve felt more comfortable with over the years.
Here is a look at my Gildan Classic Crew sitting on top of my Hanes ComfortSoft:
The sizing on these two undershirts is basically identical in length and fit. If you look closely, and I mean extremely closely, there might be just the smallest bit of extra length in the sleeves of the Hanes shirts. It’s so close it is hard to be sure.
Overall, again, the takeaway is that these two shirts are very similar. I even weighed them individually to compare, and they both weighed in at 0.34 pounds:
Hanes Gildan
Where to Buy Gildan Classic Crewneck Shirts?
Click here to buy these Gildan Classic Crewneck 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 Gildan 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:
- Classic undershirt – Hanes ComfortSoft or Gildan Classic Crewneck (see links above in article).
- Best Summer Undershirt – Hanes X Temp – Click here to view at Amazon
- Best Undershirt to wear as a T-shirt – Gildan Heavy – Click here to view at Amazon
- Best Undershirt to avoid Shrinking – Hanes Stretch – Click here to view at Amazon.
- Best Winter Undershirt – Gildan Heavy – Click here to view at Amazon