Clothing > Shirts
10 Best Men’s Tank Tops for the Gym & Beach
Some menswear essentials lean much more towards form than function, but the best ones tend to do a bit of both.
For instance, a chambray shirt delivers style points, as well as attitude and utility as a workshirt. But the humble men’s tank top? Sure, a way to dress for the beach or the boardwalk in laidback fashion, just as much as the best men’s tank tops are a reliable piece for functional matters, like workouts.
- As authentic as it gets: The tank top was once worn as an undershirt or training top by hard-nosed fighters and athletes. Today, it can be used in the same manner from classic menswear brands.
- Functional fabric: Some of the best tank tops are still made the old-fashioned way, from materials like cotton, while others incorporate moisture-wicking materials for training. Both are worthy of consideration.
- Formidable and fashionable: The tank top isn’t the most fashionable piece aside from the boardwalk or the beach, but it’s got some tropical cool when you choose the right one for layering.
A symbol of old-school toughness when worn by boxers and runners in days gone by, tank tops (sometimes called singlets) these days are largely unchanged from the past.
Sure, some are made from moisture-wicking fabric for working out, but others still use sturdy, soft cotton. In neutral colors, they can work as a gym-ready top or even for a dash of breezy tropical style when worn beneath an unbuttoned floral shirt.
Here are my favorite tanks for warm days.
For as much as it’s still designed the old-school way in terms of looks, the best tank tops have come a long way over the years in terms of innovation. And Vuori makes one that I personally can’t get enough of, from the soft, stretchy, lightweight performance fabric to the athletic fit.
Vuori Strato Stretch Tech Tank
If it’s dependability and performance you seek at the gym and on the track or the trail, Vuori very nearly has you covered.
Trade in your Vuori hoodie for this buttery soft yet durable stretch tank top, featuring what the brand calls its softest fabric yet.
The athletic fit accommodates guys with broad shoulders (like myself), and it’s fairly priced.
Russell Athletic Dri-Power Tank Top
Russell Athletic has been a trusted name in athletic performance for decades now, and its moisture-wicking technology is a big part of that appeal in terms of the best tank tops on the market.
The cotton blend fabric holds its shape while feeling soft and comfortable, and a range of sizes and colors ensures options for everyone.
Reigning Champ Copper Jersey Tank Top
When I want modern gear with an old-school feel, I tend to reach for heritage-inspired Canadian brand Reigning Champ.
I can count on their sturdy, strong hoodies for both performance and surprisingly soft fabric, and its tank tops fit much the same bill. I also appreciate the use of copper fibers for anti-microbial qualities.
Ciele Athletics FST Performance Singlet
Ciele Athletics takes a seriously innovative approach to one of the best tank tops on the market, using fabric so lightweight that, as the brand says, it’s designed to be forgotten.
They’ve used their own patented fabric for the ultimate in performance, and then added details like side vents for added comfort and cooling during intense training sessions.
Tracksmith Van Cortlandt Singlet
Tracksmith training gear seems like it’s run straight out of an old college athletics program and into your wardrobe, and that’s not a bad thing at all.
These heritage-inspired designs take cues like bold preppy stripes and old college crests, then use modern materials like lightweight mesh for performance every mile.
Lululemon License to Train Tank Top
A tank top is pretty simple on the surface – no sleeves, room to move, a flexible fit designed for training. Lululemon nails these basics and takes things up a notch with sweat-wicking fabric and color options to suit every style preference.
Plus, it features the brand’s anti-stink technology for good measure. You’ll want multiple to wear throughout the week.
Alo Yoga Triumph Muscle Tank
Some of the best tank tops boast that characteristic “U-shaped” design, while others take cues from T-shirts – hence, the muscle tank shown here.
Alo Yoga gets the design right with super-soft Jersey cotton in versatile color options, so you can focus on your workout instead of whether what you’re wearing will hold up.
Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirt
Patagonia makes some of the most reliable outerwear and hiking-ready layers on the market, among other categories, and that includes more minimal pieces like the tank top.
They’ve used recycled polyester for a sustainable touch, plus softness and stretch, while anti-odor control technology amps up the wearability of this tank top.
Rhone Swift Tank Top
Rhone takes performance seriously, be it the brand’s famously easy-to-wear dress shirts or pieces like this training-ready tank top.
Billed as being light as a feather, the slightly curved hem provides easy mobility, while a perforated design ensures maximum airflow from start to finish.
Hanes X-Temp Tank Top
Hanes makes some of the best basics on the planet, as simple as those might be – particularly when it comes to your base layers, comfort and performance count.
That holds true for one of the best men’s tank tops, and Hanes was one of the first brands I trusted to outfit my workouts on hot days accordingly – the process is much the same these days.
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