You want a shirt that fits your style, but you’re beholden to the hot and humid weather that surrounds you.
Below are the best shirts (reviewed on quality, comfort, and style) that are your best bet to combat the heat and humidity.
The top 20 best shirts for hot and humid weather
Brand | Shirt model | Why we like it | When to wear it | Amazon Review Rating/ global rating |
COOFANDY |
| Business casual | ||
MUSE FATH |
| Business/ Casual/Casual | ||
MUJI |
| Casual | ||
Uniqlo |
| Business/ business casual | ||
Cubavera |
| Casual | ||
SSLR |
| Full on party mode | ||
Key Apparel |
| Casual | ||
Amazon Essentials |
| Casual | ||
Arket |
| Casual | ||
COS |
| Casual | ||
Amazon Essentials |
| Casual | ||
NEARKIN |
| Casual | ||
Perry Ellis |
| Casual | ||
Cubavera |
| Casual | ||
Goodthreads |
| Business/ Business casual |
Best men’s shirts for hot humid weather
1.) COOFANDY & why you’ll love it: Link to Amazon
This is a casual button-down chambray short sleeve shirt, with a linen-finished gingham cloth styled material. While it is majorly comprised of polyester (which we mention in our “colors and sweat” article), this is one instance where polyester fabrics will shine.
Stick with black, pale pink and mellow colors to mask majority of sweat stains.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Business casual
What the fans say:
“Very pretty shirt. Pretty soft and fits very well. Didn’t need to size up or down for it.”
Amazon customer
“This is a great shirt for big guys who want the slim fit look. If you’re used to a shirt parachuting after your chest, and want a tailored-like shirt at a good price, this shirt is for you.”
Amazon customer
2.) MUSE FATH & why you’ll love it: Link to Amazon
Pure grade cotton and highly breathable fabrics are what’ll be comprised in this shirt. Perfect for that casual party in hot & humid weather, but at the same time does nicely to raise the bar in terms of appearance. Slight curve bottom seam is offered, prompting for an even better “tucked in” look.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Business/ Business casual
What the fans say:
“I bought this dress for my husband, who usually wears size M. The size S I bought this time is just right. The quality is very good, the price is good, and the color is low-key! We have worn for a while to evaluate, really recommend the purchase! “
Amazon customer
“These oxford dress shirts are very well made, fit me well and look beautiful. All colors are eye-catching.”
Amazon customer
3.) MUJI and why you’ll love it: Link to Muji.com
As we previously mentioned in our article on the Top 32 best quality menswear brands, the Muji brand overall was one of our favourites. This beautiful garment piece is made with luxurious French Linen (which is one of the best fabrics for hot weather) and features a unique 3/4 sleeve design (reminiscent of colonialism-era clothing.)
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Casual
What the fans say: Nothing, as this is garment is only available on their website. However, feel free to look up reviews of the Muji brand (such as here on blueloafers.com) or here at racked.com.
4.) Uniqlo and why you’ll love it: Link to Uniqlo.com
Clothing from a respectable brand that isn’t interested in the trends of hyper fast fashion, but rather, whose sole interest in producing quality products. Also an extra billion points as this shirt uses Supima cotton, top of the line stuff where all things cotton are concerned.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Business/Business Casual
What the fans say?: Again, this shirt is only aviablble on the offical Uniqlo store, so unfortuantely I couldn’t find any fans raving specifcally about this shirt.
BUT here is a brand review on Uniqlo as a whole that you can check out over at Men’s Flair.com.
5.) Cubavera and why you’ll love it: Link to Cubavera on Amazon
Paint the town 80’s retro pink, as you channel you inner Miami swagger, and dress old-school. Pure 100% Linen fabrics to keep your style and look exquisite, along with both, front & back tuck panels to add some body and girth to your already masculine frame. Ton of pockets too…
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Really it’s best for attending an all out party at a coke den…and by coke, we mean “Coca-Cola”, obviously…
What the fans say:
“Great Cubavera shirt. The 100% linen material is excellent in hot weather environment. Air easily flows through.”
Amazon customer
Linen is the coolest material I’m aware of. So my 5 stars for warmth in this hot-weather shirt mean that it’s cool as intended. Linen unwrinkles as you sweat in it.
Amazon customer
6.) SSLR and why you’ll love it: Link to SSLR on Amazon
Artificial silk granted to us not by nature, but rather, through man-made ingenuity. This shirt is made of 100% Viscose, which is also a type or Rayon, which in itself is a type of low-cost fabric, with a myriad of qualities. This is also why you’ll find it in everything, from low-end cotton uses to luxurious velvet’s and taffeta’s ((a type of luxurious silk.)
Long story short, it’s highly breathable, drapes well with excellent color retention and strong robust qualities. Negatives? Can wrinkle easily, shrink when in the wash, and don’t go out in the sun too much with it. But it’s solid quality for an affordable price.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Any beach themed event (provided sunlight exposure is kept to a minimum for this shirt), and wild nights (and only wild nights) out with the gang.
What the fans say:
“Husband love the shirt it is perfect for our vacation and is light and airy…“
Amazon customer
“Thin and breezy. The sleeves are a longer style, they go down to my husband’s elbows. This is not a fitted/tailored look, it’s all about loose comfort. Colors are true to the photo. “
Amazon customer
7.) Key Apparel and why you’ll love it: Link to Key Apparel on Amazon
Workwear aesthetic with a touch of blue chambray elegance, to raise the overall look of this shirt without seeming too try-hard. The mitered chest pocket flaps along with the pencil slot clearly state regal dignity, and of men of a hardworking nature (at least that’s what you’ll look like with this shirt on.)
As always, we love the 100% use of lightweight cotton, and the overall feel of this shirt, leaving you room to move in it when on the go.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Casual events, blue collar functions.
What the fans say:
“This is a good, lightweight work shirt and worth every penny. The fabric is good quality/weave and the workmanship is good too.”
Amazon customer
“5 stars for the shirt itself. It’s like the chambray work shirts I used to get when I was a steelworker in the 1970s.”
Amazon customer
8.) Amazon Essentials and why you’ll love it: Link to Amazon Essentials on Amazon
Pretty much anything you buy here is made with the intent to provide you with everyday stables that find some compromise. Reliable clothing at attractive price points, and it’s the same with this shirt.
A shirt made with a laid-back simple design, comprised of 100% gorgeous Linen, being offered in sublime toned down colors. Slim fit to show off your figure along with (my favorite) tailor addition: Side pleats (which will align with, and compliment your back even more. Trust me, this makes a HUGE difference.)
If you have to buy one shirt on this list best suited for hot & humid weather, dare I say it could be this one.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Casual events.
What the fans say:
“You cannot find any such shirt in the mainline department stores for less money and for any difference in quality.”
Amazon customer
“Perfect fit! Follow the washing instructions!!!!! True to size, great color, great feeling!”
Amazon customer
9.) Arket and why you’ll love it: Link to Arket.com
Why do we love ehtical fashion megaladon Arket? Well, we just said why… They preach sustainble wardrobe components through minimalist design. And if you have to get a shirt, why one that’s designed with the intention to last awhile, with the benefits of look designer stylish.
This shirt choice is a plain weave pure linen cut, that comes in a variety of toned-down greens, browns, whites, and blacks. As we mentioned in our “Top 32 Menswear brands to buy from”, why not save the planet, and look good doing it – with Arket.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Casual events
What the fans say: Once again, this sartorial swagger is only available on the Arket home store. Though we got a brand review of Arket and a ton of other brands, right here (link take you to another Rogue Chivalry article.)
10.) COS and why you’ll love it: Link to COS.com
This shirt right here is your granddaddy’s shirt, but not really. 3/4 sleeves feature with a Grandad collar and hidden front buttons. A new-school old-school twist that manages to keep a low profile, whilst still being playful
Depending on how some would view, this shirt is comprised of 75% cotton with an polyamide and elastane touch, for a touch of added stretch (quite useful if you ask me.)
When to wear this shirt: Casual
What the fans say: Another brilliant piece, not yet ready to be paraded for the world to see, on Amazon at least. But until then, here are two brand reviews on COS, one here from Irishtimes.com, and another right here which will take you to an article we wrote on them.
11.) Amazon Essentials and why you’ll love it: Link to Amazon
Same brand, same sub-section of shirts as our last Amazon Essentials pick, we just liked these so much, we couldn’t choose just one. 100% imported linen with side pleats on the back, there’s a reason this shirt is one of the highest rated on Amazon…
When to wear this shirt: Casual
What the fans say:
“Loved the fit and color of the shirt with the linen pants. Looked and felt great for our beach wedding.”
Amazon customer
“The color of the shirt is pretty accurate to the pictures on Amazon. All the buttons appear to be stitched in good. All the other stitching is clean and fairly heavy, no weird loops or hanging strings. I’ll be getting a couple more of these in different colors soon.”
Amazon customer
12.) NEARKIN and why you’ll love it: Link to NEARKIN on Amazon
Pure cotton grade fabric with a multifaceted design. The best part for me about this one is it’s Mandarin collar design, making it perfect for formal events as a sort of sneaky way to stand out whilst still blending in. And of course thanks to their “2-way roll-up sleeve feature” – after the formal functions, you should have no problem bringing your style to the clubs/bars/anywhere else less with what you’re already wearing.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Business casual/casual (tho I’d say it’s best suited for casual, ultimatly.)
What the fans say:
“I was surprised how much I liked this shirt. So much so that I ordered two more. In hot humid weather it is great. And looks good, better than a cotton t-shirt, more casual than a collared button-up shirt.”
Amazon customer
I bought it for my husband to wear it in a beach wedding and it was perfect, very good quality and fits perfectly
Amazon customer
13.) Perry Ellis and why you’ll love it: Link to Perry Ellis on Amazon
Imported 100% Linen with a plain weave fabrication, a with woven crisscross pattern setup for long term durability (as if linen already wasn’t the strongest natural fiber in the world.)
Nothing too crazy about this shirt, with a regular fit and and narrow collar as it’s main features. But again, it’s a decently priced shirt made from the best quality of fabrics, which ultimately, will prove to be best suited for hot and humid weather…what more can you really ask for?
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Casual events/ beach
What the fans say:
“It is probably impossible for there to actually be a non-iron linen shirt. Make one of those and you get a 5-star rating. Overall, this is an excellent shirt — and I love the way that it feels.”
Amazon customer
Great quality for the price! Bought this linen shirt for a destination wedding in Mexico. It was the perfect weight and material for the weather and looked just dressy enough for a beach wedding while being extremely comfortable.
Amazon customer
14.) Cubvera and why you’ll love it: Link to Cubavera on Amazon
Okay cards on the table, we picked this one due to the gorgoues red shade color options. Sangria and Emberglow color shades in 100% pure grade linen = a hard yes in our opinion.
Good quality clothing from a reputable brand known for their timeless modern aesthetics in designing truly comfortable apparel.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Casual
What the fans say:
“Love this brand and LOVE this shirt. I get a lot of compliments when I wear this brand.”
Amazon customer
“I LOVE this shirt! The color is amazing the look is amazing!”
Amazon customer
15.) Goodthreads and why you’ll love it: Link to Goodthreads on Amazon
Designed for the classic man in need of a good, solid, and no frills attitude reliable wardrobe stable. Pure cotton and machine washable, along with a tapered waist for a more form flattering silhouette, this shirt is defo “no frills” indeed.
When to wear this shirt in hot weather: Business/ Business casual
What the fans say:
“I’ve had this shirt for two weeks now and have bought another in a different color. This shirt is SO soft, I might have to buy one for every day of the week.”
Amazon customer
“Really good item! Perfectly white, a have to say that this brand it’s always worth it.”
Amazon customer
How to pick your shirt for hot humid weather
I consistently bring up the fact that i grew up in Bangkok, Thailand for one reason: To tell people that I have experience in dealing with style beholden to the harsh climates of South East Asia. And in my experience, I’ve discovered a few things to consider when finding your perfect shirt (though this list could be applied to any clothing piece.)
How well does your fabric keep smells at bay
Believe it or not, there’s tech out there designed to keep your things fresher for longer. Certain fabrics ingrained into whatever cotton/linen/rayon material you pick, made to fight off the natural odors that come from wearing something, eventually.
And in a hot, humid climate, should you concern yourself with this aspect, or not?
Brand
Branding is another thing, some things will cost more due to a brand’s recognition and reputation, meanwhile you may find a piece that works just as well, if not better than the branded version, for a fraction of the price…simply because no one knows about it.
To trust the brand will mean paying more, but less effort on your part to go out and find what suits you best, or, if you dare, go out and try everything on for yourself.
I’ve found brands that I paid pennies for, which worked twice as well as the brands, but me landing in that fortunate position took months of research and effort. So it depends on your budget, and if you’re willing to put in the effort – or hedge your risks and stick with the already known brands instead.
Cost
This ties into the brand variable as well. For budget-friendly options suited for hot, humid weather, I would suggest anything from the Amazon Essentials store, like their linen slim fit shirt, or SLLR’s viscose Hawaiian shirt for the price they’re putting up.
Material
If you don’t regularly look at the flap on your clothing collar (indicating the material make-up of your shirts)- you should start. Like in my article on “Colors best suited for hiding sweat”, I go over what colors work best for what, in what temperatures.
Linen generally fairs best overall, but is more of a pain to handle. Cotton can be good, depending on if it’s mixed with something, and the shading color of the fabric.
Even patterns in the right positions on your shirt can mask sweat stains. Or if you get hot easily, some materials (like Rayon) may trap more heat than cotton, some may take longer to dry up etc…
So start looking into the materials first, over anything else for most optimal results.
“We’re in Africa, my dear boy, sweating is what we do.”
The League of Extrodinary Gentlemen (2003)
Like already aforementioned, you’re nature-bound to comply with the weather, and whilst you will sweat, eventually…you can still fine-tune and minimize the damage to come, by planning ahead.
Plan your prewarned demise, with some intellect, and style.
Stay Rogue.
