Tug Reader Compares Equmen, Sculptees, and Underworks Compression Tank Tops

Skip, a Tug reader and frequent comment contributor decided to venture out and purchase three different compression undershirt tank tops to figure out which one worked out the best the for him. Well, he was nice enough to email in his thoughts on each one of them:

Hi Tug,

Sorry this has taken me longer to get this information back to you.  Feel free to restructure this wording to match your other review styles.

I tried all three companies’ compression tanks.  My goal was to find something that I could wear on a daily basis (all day) and still be comfortable.

Sculptees Pex Tank
Pros
- Lightning fast shipping
- Good choice of colors, although I would just prefer white

Cons
- Difficulty getting tank on
- Not much support or control
- Tank did not come down far enough (not necessarily their problem…I am 6′5″)
- Tank would ride up during the course of a day
- Tank was impossible to get off by myself—-I had to ask my wife to help me

Bottom Line: Just not for me.  Might be good for guys with a average or smaller physique who just want a little shaping.  Definitely not for a big guy.

Equmen Tank
Pros
- Shipping OK
- Quality material—good construction
- Choice of colors, although I would go with white
- Decent fit
- Some slimming benefits…about 1″ shaved off my waistline
- Great for a work out or under a suit

Cons
- Largest size was XL—need sizes for bigger guys
- Difficulty getting tank on
- Very tight under arms
- Tank would ride up in course of the day
- Nearly impossible to get tank off….in this case my son had to help me get out of it. (he thought the Equmen tank was “cool”)

Bottom Line: Not bad product at all, but very tough to get on and off.  I don’t know if I could wear this on a daily basis…maybe just for special occasions.

Underworks Tanksuit
Pros
- Shipping lightning fast
- Quality materials
- Good construction….tank features a special “stomach panel” to help press waist flat
- Good fit in chest area—felt I could “breathe”
- Shaved about 1 1/2″ off my waistline
- Offered in larger sizes for bigger guys such as myself
- Did not ride up because it has a brief built-in (attached) with a snap crotch with grippers….I was leery of this at first, but surprising did not give me a “wedgie” while wearing all day.

Cons
Difficult to get on and off—just about ripped the material trying to get out of it—very tight
Since it does have shorts attached, there is no fly…this is issue for all day wear

Bottom Line: Not bad product at all, but once again, tough to get on and off.   Idea of attached shorts was a good one, but not very well thought out, because it has no fly.

Although it is not technically an undershirt, I tried the support shorts that Underworks offers.  I tested a pair with a 3″ waistband  It offered firm support, were reasonably comfortable, good coverage so that I did not fell like I was “in a bind”.  It also was a heck of a lot easier to get on than trying to struggle into a tank undershirt.  For a guy my size, the shorts worked out well.  I swear the next time I go to a reunion or have to don a tux, I am wearing the Underworks shorts.

I guess that I had better luck with the compression shorts rather than the tanks.  Again, this may be due to the fact that I have a tall, big physique.  It was just too difficult for me to get in and out of these tanks on a daily basis.  Another thing I took from this test…any man who elects to wear a compression tank:   Make sure your wife or girlfriend or relative is nearby so they can help get you out of this thing.

Thanks, Tug, enjoy your blog and appreciate your work.

Skip

He also wrote back in with the following suggestion:

Tug, one thing that I left out that might be worth mentioning….if the mfgrs of these undershirt tanks incorporated a zipper into their designs, I think that would go a long way into making the undershirt easier to get on, and more people would be willing to try it.  The tanks are a great (and needed) idea, but if it is too hard to get into the undershirt, fewer men will stick with it.

Thanks so much Skip! I really appreciate you taking the time to share the above information.  I’m certain the information will be helpful for other Tug readers too!

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