Why are t-shirts and longsleeves so flimsy lately? Where to find heavier quality?

[omega3]

I've ordered a couple of different longsleeve tees from Amazon and all are rather thin flimsy quality. I find wearing a sweater too constricting when doing certain work, but a longsleeve tee that's to flimsy won't keep me warm.

Anbody know where to find good quality, heavier 100% cotton longsleeve tees with a roundneck? They also need to be long enough as I'm 6'3" tall and normally where size Medium or Large.

I live in Belgium so preferably a shop that can also ship internationally. Amazon would be easiest.

Thanks in advance for all good suggestions.

 

[Muse]

Subscribed. I don't have an answer for you. I bought some white T-shirts online from Walmart and they are the thinnest flimsiest I have ever had. I bought some more. Why? Because it's been warm, the warmest summers on record is what we've been having and I wear these in the gym and heavier shirts make me feel warmer than I like. I have even cut off the bottom ~4" of a lot of these shirts (and sewn hems with my sewing machine) to make wearing them a cooler experience in the gym!

Cutting corners is a corporate strategy that has permeated the business world, however in most sectors there are still bastions of quality. Well, I'd think in clothes, yes. Certainly in cars. People really like to "put on the dog" with their cars.

I think you'll get some suggestions here for good quality T-shirts, I'm sure they are out there if you know what to get.

Since you like ordering through Amazon (I made an Amazon order yesterday!) you could search on T-shirts, have a look at the more expensive ones, read the reviews and ask questions concerning the quality, heaviness of the fabric. I often ask questions at Amazon while researching my purchases.

 

[UnklSnappy]

Maybe try a Carhartt t-shirt.
http://www.amazon.com/Carhartt-Workwear-T-Shirt-Midweight-Original/dp/B0002SSQAQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1447409651&sr=1-4&nodeID=1040658&keywords=t+shirt&refinements=p_89%3ACarhartt

 

[slackerinabox]

I've had the same problem and it seems that walmart/froot of the looms/hanes have all gone down hill. I don't mind target, but also see the value of going up market a bit from the multipacks (the gap has very hearty t-shirts, as an example).

 

[highland145]

What about land's end and the like? Haven't ordered from them in a while but their quality was tops.


http://www.landsend.com/shop/mens-knit-tops-tees-t-shirts/-/N-fzfZfkq?cm_re=nav-_-mens-_-main


Is their apostrophe in the wrong place?

 

[Viper GTS]

I'd try American Giant.

Viper GTS

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Menards and Fleet Farm typically have clothing, well at least men's clothing, constructed from heavier materials. You may end up with an uncomfortable amount of plaid, however.

 

[squirrel dog]

carhart ftw

 

[Vaux]

Yep, not sure if they make what you are looking for, but Carhartt T shirts are just about all I wear anymore. They are great.

 

[Artdeco]

So it's not just me, it's like everything is made of tissue paper lately, even sweaters...

 

[unokitty]

With long sleeve T's, I've had good luck with both 'First Forks' from Woolrich and 'Super T" from Land's End.

No idea if either ship internationally.

Best of luck.
Uno

 

[dave_the_nerd]

So it's not just me, it's like everything is made of tissue paper lately, even sweaters...

The cheap stuff, yeah.

Also, "layering" became hip.

 

[Bearmann]

Avoid ringspun cotton which is a finer weave that some people prefer.

 

[WilliamM2]

L.L. Bean has excellent long and short sleeve t-shirts. I have some that have been washed 100 times, and still look almost new, and haven't shrunk at all. Last batch I bought was about two years ago, hopefully they haven't changed. They are expensive, but I usually but them on closeout for $10-$12 each when they change colors.

The last T's I bought at Kohl's or Penney's shrunk so bad after a single wash, I could no longer wear them.

 

[slackerinabox]

So it's not just me, it's like everything is made of tissue paper lately, even sweaters...

I think there's a new manufacturing process that allows tissue paper thin material use.. More profits! I've just started seeing this within the past 2 years

 

[darkewaffle]

Personally I find heavy fabric to generally make for a much worse product, I avoid shirts made out of it like the plague. The only tees I really like are those that use fairly light material and don't have that somewhat stiff feel to it.

 

[FeuerFrei]

When I think heavy duty T-shirts I think Abercrombie & Fitch, 11 years ago. I have a couple I still wear from time to time. Been many years since I've seen one of their stores, so can't comment on current offerings.

I can tell you down in Texas you'd be gobbling up the thinner shirts, especially if polyester. You suffer less.
However, if your fat bulges, you might want to look at fabrics with some body. The lightweight shirts are more revealing of your physique.

 

[who?]

Maybe with the thinner material you'll agree with the women about it being too cold.

 

[blackdogdeek]

I've found Uniqlo to have the highest quality to price ratio in the bargain price range. Old Navy is even cheaper but the quality is slightly worse.

 

[Jeff7]

I think Hanes Beefy-T line is made of thicker material.
Fruit of the Loom also has a thicker style. I don't know the product line names though.

Both companies make paper-thin and decent-quality.

 

[*kjm]

For inexpensive heavy good shirts Dickies sold at Wal-Mart and Farm & Fleet are a great option. I always buy them or Carhartt when they are on sale.

 

[TonyG]

For inexpensive heavy good shirts Dickies sold at Wal-Mart and Farm & Fleet are a great option. I always buy them or Carhartt when they are on sale.

I am a big fan of Dickies work wear, I have several of there button up long sleeve shirts in black that I have had for 5+ years and countless washing's and they have not noticeably faded, nor gained any mysterious holes like I have seen here lately in other brands of clothes. Same goes for there pants and belts, my dickies leather belt has outlasted many other inexpensive leather belts, and it was only $20-$25.

 

[K7SN]

OP - much of the flimsy or thin are made in East Asian countries and cotton, not labor is the driving cost. The thick material is for working outdoors or in under heated places like a barn or a garage. I have two different sets of t-shirts; thin for summer when day time temperatures are between 40 and 45 degrees centigrade and the winter when daytime temperature may reach 15 degrees centigrade but our usually below 10.

The thick material from sources like Carhartt, Dickies, certain outdoor brands of Levi-Straus are for working outdoors like a cowboy, lineman or lumberjack or in under heated places like a barn or a garage. They are mostly either plaids or unspectacular single colors like a soldier or UPS man wears. The off-road racing group I am associated with gives a race t-shirt to everyone who enters and keeps me well stocked with "Race Official" shirts which are thin in the summer when we have 800 kilometers race from Las Vegas to Reno Nevada and thick when we put races in winter like Parker 425 (680 kilometer) and the Mint 400 race; I can't stand wearing those thick shirts till October and put them away in April here. You can get thick T-shirts; just add thick, heavy, heavy duty, or heavyweight to your search engine. Example which may or may not ship overseas to Europe: http://www.jiffyshirts.com/tshirts/?thickness=Heavy%20%28over%206oz%29&ref=AdW&kw=tee%20shirt%20heavy&sort=price&gclid=CM3TjJWMjskCFZNgfgodYL8MCQ

 

[Subyman]

You need work shirts, like others have suggested. Normal tees seemed to have gone with the soft, thin fabric starting about ten years ago. I remember it becoming popular at H&M, race to the bottom quality repackaged as high fashion.

 

[Bacstar]

Got a Dicks branded t-shirt for my birthday last month that seemed pretty good quality.

ooops meant Dickies.