Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 11 Best Thermal Shirts for Men in 2022

Image used with permission by copyright holder

We know just the layer you should reach for when it’s so cold, you can’t help but wish you were in front of a roaring fire: That would be one of the best thermal shirts, a perfectly rugged and dependable layer to add to your seasonal wardrobe. Consider the thermal shirt a durable basic to wear all on its own or else layered underneath one of the best men’s shirts for winter, to start.

And the right thermal shirt can serve as an insulating layer for your top half if you just so happen to be wearing a pair of the best thermal underwear in extreme cold. Heck, think of a thermal shirt like an upgrade for your basics wardrobe, in the same way that thermal underwear might replace a more straightforward pair of the best underwear this season. If all of that sounds well and good, but you don’t know where to start your search, well, the best online clothing stores for men have you covered. Heck, let’s take it a step further and mention that the brands you know and love, the best men’s clothing brands (period) are also crafting thermal shirts aplenty for winter, so let’s get shopping.

Recommended Videos

Vince Slim-Fit Stretch Cotton Thermal Long-Sleeve Shirt

Vince Stretch Cotton Thermal Shirt
Nordstrom

For wearing with your slim black jeans and trusty moto boots this winter, get this comfortable thermal shirt in a neutral and easy-to-match color, then layer it underneath a blue indigo denim shirt.

1901 Thermal Crewneck T-Shirt

1901 Thermal Crewneck T-Shirt
Nordstrom

Get a simple, subtly stylish and highly affordable thermal crewneck shirt in a colorway designed to shake up the winter blues. Wear this with tan chinos under a navy blazer for a casual Zoom-call style or an at-home happy hour.

Topo Designs Waffle Long-Sleeve Tee

Topo Designs Waffle Long-Sleeve Tee
Topo Designs

The team at Topo Designs knows plenty about designing gear made in equal measure for winter adventures and casual days at home, and this thermal (in a pleasing natural color) can readily handle anything and everything sent its way.

Buck Mason Vintage Thermal Surplus Tee

Buck Mason Vintage Thermal Surplus Tee
Buck Mason

From the curved hem to the classic design and the durable double-knit waffle weave, this rugged thermal shirt is a winner, one made to be paired with everything from a denim jacket to a cashmere cardigan.

Banana Republic Core Temp Waffle-Knit T-Shirt

Banana Republic Core Temp Waffle Knit T-Shirt
Banana Republic

Banana Republic’s take on the thermal shirt blends technology (in this case, proprietary temperature-regulating technology) with straightforward, subtle style, making this thermal shirt one you can wear as a base layer or all on its own for casual weekends at home or on the road.

RVCA Day Shift Thermal Long-Sleeve T-Shirt

RVCA Day Shift Thermal Long-Sleeve T-Shirt
Nordstrom

When you find a brand that makes at-home and on-the-road essentials, the rest of the brand’s lineup tends to be pretty, well, essential as well: Case in point, this thermal for post-surf hangs and Netflix sessions alike.

Mack Weldon WARMKNIT Waffle Long Sleeve Crew

Mack Weldon WARMKNIT Waffle Long Sleeve Crew 
Mack Weldon

Mack Weldon has a knack for giving its customers just what they need and want, and in the case of this long-sleeve thermal shirt, that means amping up the silhouette with Thermolite technology for maximum warmth.

Public Rec Go-To Long-Sleeve Tee

https://www.publicrec.com/products/go-to-long-sleeve/
Public Rec

Made with a moisture-wicking cotton blend and available in an array of seasonally friendly colors, the “Go-To” title is pretty fitting, given that you’ll find yourself wearing this tee a ton this winter.

L.L. Bean Katahdin Iron Works Waffle Fleece Henley

L.L. Bean Katahdin Iron Works Waffle Fleece Henley
L.L. Bean

A henley and a thermal shirt all rolled into one? That sounds like ingenuity we can get behind, and it helps that this warm and well-made waffle henley matches up quite nicely with your trusty L.L. Bean winter boots.

American Giant Waffle Crew

American Giant Waffle Crew
American Giant

If it’s no-nonsense, American-made design and construction that you require from your tough thermal shirt, then you’ve come to the right place: American Giant continually delivers exactly what you need when it comes to the best thermal shirts for men (and much more).

Uniqlo HEATTECH Extra Warm Long-Sleeve T-Shirt

Uniqlo HEATTECH Extra Warm Long-Sleeve T-Shirt
Uniqlo

Uniqlo’s HEATTECH is made to do exactly as it says: Keep you extra warm no matter what, and it helps that you can get this thermal tee for a great price, and in a range of versatile colors.

Beau Hayhoe
Beau Hayhoe is a freelance men's style writer, consultant and PR pro based in Brooklyn. Beau's menswear and gear writing has…
5 key tricks for mastering men’s winter fashion this season
Three ways to keep stylish during the winter vortex
Man walking outside with coat in nature

As the entire country seems to be dealing with the blustery cold weather sweeping the nation, we find ourselves needing to bundle up to save ourselves from the ever-dropping temperatures. The biggest problem with budling up if you're a man is you tend to lose all sense of style when you focus on warmth. While function is more important than fashion in numerous situations, it isn't fun to sacrifice style for warmth. That is why we at The Manual like to dispel the rumor that you have to choose one or the other. Men's winter fashion doesn't have to be unstylish. As a matter of fact, entire industries and brands exist to keep you warm while maintaining your element of style.

We put together of list of five key concepts that will make it easier for you to navigate the cold, all while looking great. Stick with these, and you will make it to spring in no time while still being the center of your group's sartorial envy.
Focus on the fabric

Read more
Woodies reinvents the performance shirt for an active 2025
In the office or out, this is the shirt for you
Woodies Performance Shirt

If you are a man who has ever worn a shirt (spoiler alert, we're talking to all of you), then you are quite familiar with the heartache, frustration, and even the complete and utter helplessness that comes with trying to get a shirt that fits you the way it is supposed to. Learning to measure a shirt is one of the keys to looking great and not pulling your hair out as a man. But Woodies Clothing was founded just over a decade ago and has spent that time perfecting the shirt. Now, they look to keep the love going with a brand new launch. The Woodies Next Generation Performance Shirt takes what was already perfected and expands to the man on the go.
Made for the office or escaping the office

There are three kinds of men: the office man, the outdoorsman, and the guy who is somewhere in between. Finding the right shirt to suit all three is a tricky prospect. But the Woodies Next Generation Performance Shirt looks excellent for the office and uses high-tech performance fabrics to make it work just as great when you step out into the world for some getaway time. Available in a dozen patterns and customizable to suit yourself, it fits every man.

Read more
Mad Men’s legacy: What ’60s men’s fashion can teach us today
From the conservative '50s to the colorful '70s, here is what we wore in the '60s
Mad Men in an office

Every decade is known for something. The 1920s were a time of industrial boom and women's rights. The 1930s was known for The Great Depression. The 1940s was known for World War II. The 1950s started the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. The 1960s saw the boom of counterculture and the Vietnam War. The 1970s began to see the emergence of more social movements like feminism and gay rights. The 1980s were the breaking out point of technology. And the 1990s gave us grunge music and the evolution of the movie industry.

Through all of those decades, fashion evolved along with us. And the '60s fashion men clung to holds a special place in the history of our evolving aesthetic. Gone were the days of the '50s conservative looks, and we weren't quite at the colorful, wild styles of the '70s yet. What we saw in the 1960s was a period of transition. And we may be there again in 2025.

Read more