Ask Tug: Best Bang for the Buck Tank Top

Here’s a question from a reader who is looking for an affordable, every day tank top:

Good morning Tug,

I’ve been combing through your site trying to decide on what new tank tops to buy and was having a hard time figuring out what was the best one for me. I saw the RibbedTee tanks get great reviews, but $22.50 (sale price) is still more than I normally pay for outer shirts. I’d prefer getting one that offered more value for the dollar as an everyday tank top. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

On a somewhat different note, I was thinking about getting the 5.11 tactical tight crew for sports usage after reading the officer’s review of it under kevlar. Anything wrong with this idea?

My initial response:

hey g! i emailed my tank top expert, who is a regular reader and contributor to my site. if anybody knows what a good value tank top is, it’ll be him. as soon as i hear back from him, i’ll let you know.

regarding your other question about buying the tactical tight crew for sport usage. i think it’s an excellent idea. it’s made of 82% polyester which will give you the moisture wicking characteristic and it’s got 18% spandex which should give you a good amount of compression. to be honest, i wear two compression undershirts every time i go to the gym and i really like how they keep everything tight when i’m working out.

as soon as i hear back from my tank top guy, i’ll email you back. if you have any other questions, let me know.

I heard back from “C” in Cali, who is my official tank top expert, and this is what he had to say:

Hi Tug,

Always good to hear from you, and you remind me I really should do some writing. Never hesitate to forward your reader questions for a second opinion. I hope it’s warm and comfy in SoCal.

Your reader seems to be interested in value, quality-at-a-reasonable price and everyday use. I second that motion.

I recently tried two entrants that fit those requirements. After reading your site I discovered a lot of reader interest in J.C.Penney’s Stafford Line. So I tried it. I found the quality and durability after a few washes to be good, but the fit was a problem (at least for me). At 5’8 and 160 or so and not with the greatest profile, I found the medium tanks a bit droopy and roomy in the neck/chest area–seem to be cut larger than most mediums. I probably should have bought a size small. All in all, nothing to get real excited about, but if this dude has a fuller chest, it may work.

My other recent selection was unusual since I really dislike Wal-Mart but I needed cat litter, so…For the heck of it I looked at the undershirt offerings (not exactly appealing in terms of shelf space merchandising) and found a house brand no doubt, labeled “Puritan.” (Maybe that’s a New England thing? ha!) Budget friendly. Purchased in medium and it was comfortable in fit and, for a tank, reasonably proper hanging. If I were to quibble, it would be that the tank straps are fairly wide (not a problem for me), but the neck was a little higher. The reader may want to get a gray shirt if he is bothered by the heavy strap show-through. Definitely meets the criteria of quality, value pricing, and everyday use.

Then there are the box cuts, of course. To name three in descending order: Jockey always has quality, but again the shirts seem too roomy and plunging for my frame; Hanes is decent, practical and good value; Fruit of the Loom serves well, but the shelf life seems a bit short–the only tank top that seems to get grayer quicker despite the same washing/bleach application as others.

Over to you… Gotta find some higher neck athletic shirts (for everyday use and at value pricing) or maybe go down a size, any thoughts?

Now head down to Newport Beach on my behalf and get yourself a Balboa Bar!

C

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