Ask Tug: Excessive Sweating – What Undershirt would you recommend for the best sweat control?

After receiving this email from a reader recently, I realized I haven’t written an article specifically about this topic (undershirts for guys who sweat excessively). Yes, we’ve talked here about moisture wicking undershirts in the context of whether or not they are more effective for sweat control and we’ve even explored whether or not moisture wicking undershirts make the situation of sweating through to your outerwear worse.

For those who are not familiar, here are few links where you can find out more about excessive sweating:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hyperhidrosis/DS01082
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperhidrosis
http://www.hyperhidrosisweb.com/

In my humble opinion, if anything, the right fitting and performing moisture wicking undershirt may help you FEEL a little drier.  But so far, I have not found any evidence thus far that these kind of undershirts actually help minimize the sweat-through problem and I would argue that is a much bigger issue for guys than feeling drier. It is surely more embarrassing to have sweat stains on the underarms and back of your outer shirt than it would be actually feeling wet.

But is there really an undershirt out there that will help protect those guys who sweat excessively? If the undershirt is too thick, they’re too hot to wear and will likely make you sweat more. If too thin, then the sweat will soak straight through to your outerwear.

Note: I’ve removed the name brand of the undershirt we discussed in our email exchange below. The main reason I did that is because I didn’t want any readers here to get the impression that the undershirt being mentioned was bad or ineffective — because it’s not. What the reader experienced with that particular undershirt, they’d likely experience with any moisture wicking undershirt.

I was just wondering I saw your review on the [name removed] undershirt for sweating and found it useful.  I sweat more than usual and will sweat thru my sport coat on a cold day i was just wondering what shirt/shirts would you recommend for the best sweat control?  Thank you

Tug Note: I replied to ask in what part of the body he sweat the most and what kind of undershirts he usually wears.

Underarm is the only place really, I have usually just use a Hanes or similar product with v-neck.

My Response:

To be honest, I have never heard from any reader that has found an undershirt that is truly effective in protecting them from excessive sweating. I have been regularly exchanging emails with another reader who is also trying to find a solution and he did try the [name removed] undershirt. This is what he had to say:

The [name removed] is a nice undershirt overall, but it doesn’t really help with sweat-through problem I’m still searching for an undershirt that can help with this problem

I also received this information from another reader about [name removed]:

Since reading your blog, I’ve ventured out and purchased a handful of different shirts, including [name removed] undershirts.  These truly are amazingly dry and comfortable.  Unfortunately though they have an unanticipated side effect – terrible BO smell about halfway through the day.  This has never happened to me before with my old Jockey v necks.

I use Right Guard spray in the brown can, as it has always worked well for me and does not contain aluminum. I’m now searching for deodorants without aluminum that will work with polyester undershirts.  So far the Now deodorant cream seems to be working.

I’m curious, have you tried any products like Odaban, Drysol, Maxim Antiperspirant, Mitchum, Hydrosal Gel, Deodorite?

Back to undershirts — there are a few undershirts on the market that I know of off hand that have double protection in the underarm area (two of them have double protection in the back area). They are from Silverback Apparel,  AdvantageWear, and Kleinerts.

Have you tried any of these?

I have samples of all the undershirt styles form Silverback and they fit like any standard undershirt. I have a large in the X-Static version and a medium in their bamboo undershirt and they both fit comfortably. I can’t specifically say how they address the excessive sweat problem since I’m not a heavy sweater, but they do have double protection in the underarm and the back, plus they are made from fairly light-weight material, so they should keep you a little cooler than other heavier undershirts.

Please keep me posted if you decide to try anything above and let me know the results. I am 100% certain that your experiences will help my other readers who sweat excessively.

Tags: AdvantageWear, Axillary hyperhidrosis, deodorite, drysol, excessive sweating, excessive sweating undershirt, heavy sweater, hydrosal gel, Hyperhidrosis, hyperhydrosis tshirt, hyperhydrosis undershirt, Kleinert's, maxim antiperspirant, mitchum, odaban, sweat control, sweat excessively, undershirt for heavy sweating, undershirt for sweating

Category: Ask Tug, Sweat Management, Uncategorized