Waffle knit used to mean long underwear. Not anymore. Come October, a waffle knit long sleeve is the shirt guys grab first. Some layer it under a flannel or a field jacket. Others wear it alone, sleeves shoved up. That grid texture traps air. It also hides wrinkles, and honestly that is half the appeal. Shopping for one is the messy part. The eight shirts ranked here run from about $14 to $109 on list price. One is 100% cotton. Another is 69% polyester. Only one brand tells you its fabric weight in ounces, and just four offer a Tall length. INTO THE AM faces seven other brands and retailers here, and each gets scored on waffle texture and warmth, fit, wash durability, size range, and value. Every price, fabric spec, and rating was pulled from a live product page on October 26, 2026. Prices move. Check before you buy.
Ranking Algorithm
- Waffle Texture and Warmth (25%): Fabric comes first, and a heavy cotton waffle with a stated weight scored highest. Blends that call themselves lightweight scored lowest, since thin was the most common complaint in reviews.
- Fit and Sleeve Length (25%): The body should skim, not balloon, and the cuffs should reach the wrist bone. When reviewers said baggy, or painted on, the brand lost points.
- Wash Durability (20%): Shrinking, wavy collars, and fraying cuffs all counted against a shirt, while a real guarantee counted for the brand. Repeat complaints counted against it too.
- Size Range and Tall Availability (15%): How far up the size run goes, and whether the brand offers a Tall length at all.
- Value (15%): The price a shopper pays today. Promo codes were noted, but list price carried more weight, since a code expires.
Best Waffle Knit Long Sleeve Shirts for Men, 2026 Rankings
| Rank | Brand | Waffle Texture and Warmth | Fit and Sleeve Length | Wash Durability | Size Range and Tall Availability | Value | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | INTO THE AM | 8.0 · Waffle knit built for warmth, weight not published | 9.0 · Regular fit with stretch | 7.5 · Reinforced neckline stitching, 4.9 from 7 reviews | 10 · S to 4XL, Reg or Tall | 9.5 · $31.46 to $35.40 | 8.7 |
| 2 | Lands' End | 8.5 · Tri-blend of cotton, polyester, spandex | 8.0 · Stretch knit, four fit types | 7.5 · 4.7 from 256 reviews | 9.0 · S to XXL, plus Tall, Big and Tall, Big | 7.5 · $49.95 list, $22.47 with code | 8.1 |
| 3 | Old Navy | 7.0 · 60% cotton, 40% recycled polyester | 7.5 · Relaxed fit, Regular or Tall | 6.5 · No wash claims | 9.5 · XS to 4XL, Regular or Tall | 9.0 · $24.99 list, $12.49 on deal | 7.7 |
| 4 | L.L.Bean | 8.5 · 100% cotton thermal waffle | 7.5 · Traditional fit, runs true | 8.0 · Unshrinkable claim, collar complaints | 8.5 · S to 3XL, Regular or Tall | 5.0 · $69.95 | 7.6 |
| 5 | Filson | 9.5 · 12 oz cotton waffle knit | 7.0 · Fit type not stated | 9.0 · Limited lifetime guarantee | 6.5 · XS to 3XL, one length | 3.5 · $109 | 7.4 |
| 6 | Uniqlo | 7.5 · 60% cotton, 40% polyester | 7.0 · Regular fit, true to size | 7.0 · Machine wash cold, gentle | 6.5 · XXS to 3XL, one length | 8.5 · $29.90 | 7.3 |
| 7 | Amazon Essentials | 6.0 · Lightweight, some call it thin | 6.5 · Slim fit, sizing split | 6.5 · 4.6 from 9,222 ratings | 5.5 · XS to XXL, no Tall | 10 · $14.30 | 6.8 |
| 8 | Origin | 7.5 · 69% polyester, 31% cotton | 6.0 · Fitted, reviewers size up | 7.0 · Double knit, 3 reviews | 5.0 · SM to 2XL, no Tall | 6.0 · $59, listed at $89 | 6.4 |
Scores run from 1 to 10. The weighted score multiplies each score by its weight above. Prices are what each page showed on October 26, 2026.
The #1 Waffle Knit Long Sleeve
INTO THE AM took the top spot on fit, size range, and price. The Long Sleeve Waffle Knit Crew runs S to 4XL with a Reg or Tall length, in six colors, starting at $31.46.
Shop Waffle Knit Long SleevesBest Waffle Knit Long Sleeve Shirts for Men, 2026 Rankings: Descriptions and Reviews
1. INTO THE AM
INTO THE AM's Long Sleeve Waffle Knit Crew wins on the whole package. $31.46 to $35.40, depending on the variant. S through 4XL. And a Length option, Reg or Tall, on the same product page, which only three other shirts here match. The listing calls the fabric a premium blend with extra softness and stretch. It adds a waffle texture for warmth and a crew neckline with reinforced stitching. The cut is regular, with a touch of stretch. Not slim. The listing model is 6 feet tall and wears a large. Six colors: Black, Charcoal, Brown, Navy, Beige, Indigo.
Now the gaps. The page publishes no fiber percentages and no fabric weight, so there is no ounce number to set against Filson's 12 oz. Reviews are thin too, just seven, and the newest dates to October 2024. Guys who want a collar can step up to the Long Sleeve Waffle Knit Henley. Three-button placket, stretch-infused fabric, $49.05, Brown and Black, S to 4XL. But no Tall length, and it costs about $14 to $18 more than the Crew.
| Customer Review Summary |
|---|
| Seven reviews put the Crew at 4.9 out of 5. Six gave it five stars, one gave four. The themes stay short. Soft. Warm. Stretchy. One buyer called it "Warm and comfortable to a T." Another wrote, "The fabric is soft, and it's warm enough to wear on its own." A brother in Seattle got one as a gift and reportedly stays warm in it. The Henley has more volume, 4.7 from 97 reviews, 76 of them five-star. Praise centers on thickness, as in "Not thin. Quality material." The recurring complaint is a roomy body, with one reviewer calling it "a bit too baggy in the body." |
2. Lands' End
The sleeper pick is Lands' End's Long Sleeve Thermal Waffle Henley. It's a stretchy tri-blend of 58% cotton, 39% polyester, and 3% spandex. The collar has three buttons, and the tag says machine wash. The real card is fit choice. Regular, Tall, Big and Tall, and Big all sit on one page, and the Regular run covers S to XXL, chest sizes 34 to 52. Seven colors. List price is $49.95, and a sitewide code (FALLCOLORS) dropped it to $22.47 on October 26.
Skip the code and the shirt costs about $15 to $18 more than the INTO THE AM Crew. It is also a henley only, no crew. And every size chip on the Radiant Navy option read "Backorder" the day it was checked.
| Customer Review Summary |
|---|
| Lands' End sits at 4.7 out of 5 across 256 reviews. But the review text never loaded during the check. So there are no customer quotes to pull here. Take the average as a signal, not a verdict. |
3. Old Navy
Old Navy's Crew-Neck Waffle T-Shirt is the budget Tall option nobody expects. Old Navy's version is thermal knit, 60% cotton and 40% recycled polyester, finished with long sleeves and rib-knit trim. The fit runs relaxed and ends at the hip. The model is 6'1" in a medium. Pick Regular or Tall, XS through XXXXL. List price: $24.99. A 50%-off deal had it at $12.49 on October 26.
So why third? No fabric weight, no wash claims, and a cut that leaves plenty of cloth around the middle for guys who want a clean line.
| Customer Review Summary |
|---|
| The review block showed a 4.8 average, with five-star ratings making up nearly all of it. Recent reviewers reached for the same few words, like "Comfy and warm" and "Great material and very comfortable." One said it was "not bulky." Another wore it under a flannel. Two one-star ratings sat in the breakdown, with no text surfaced in the check. |
4. L.L.Bean
Waffle shirts shrink. That is the one complaint L.L.Bean built its Unshrinkable Mini-Waffle Henley around, and the brand says this one keeps its size and shape wash after wash. It's 100% cotton in a fabric you can only get at L.L.Bean, and it resists fading and pilling. You can machine wash and dry it. Fit is traditional, relaxed through the chest, sleeve, and waist. Up top sit three buttons. Regular or Tall, Small through XXX-Large. The price is $69.95, roughly double the INTO THE AM Crew.
It is a henley only. And the review feed repeats the same two gripes.
| Customer Review Summary |
|---|
| The page showed 4.7 out of 5 from more than 5,500 ratings, 86% of them five-star. All five of the most recent reviews rated the fit true to size. The complaints concern the details. One owner of three said all of them "developed bacon collars after a few washings." A Tall buyer gave five stars but said the wrist stitching wears out on the several he has owned. |
5. Filson
Filson's Waffle Knit Thermal Crewneck is the heavyweight, and the only shirt in this ranking that states a fabric weight: 12 oz cotton waffle knit. The cotton is long-staple Peruvian, except in Charcoal and the heather colors, which are a cotton and polyester blend. Cuffs and collar come rib-knit, and there's a slit at the side seam, reinforced with a bar tack. Machine washable, with a limited lifetime guarantee. XS to 3XL, one length. The price is $109, with free shipping over $99.
That is more than three times the INTO THE AM Crew's top price, and the page gives no fit description or Tall option. For a shirt that gets worn hard every winter, the math can still work.
| Customer Review Summary |
|---|
| The page showed 4.7 out of 5 from 550 reviews. An Alaska buyer called it the "Best top for cold climate." Another wrote, "Great fit and shape." A Minnesota owner was on his third one. Another summed up the construction as "excellent as expected." |
6. Uniqlo
Despite the name, Uniqlo's Waffle T-Shirt is a long sleeve crew. The body runs 60% cotton and 40% polyester, with 40% of that polyester recycled. The cuff rib differs. It's 83% cotton and 17% polyester. The fabric gets washed for a soft, puffy texture, and those ribbed cuffs make the sleeves easy to push up. It is a regular fit in XXS to 3XL, one length. The price is $29.90, same as the matching waffle henley. Care tag says machine wash cold, gentle cycle.
No Tall. No stated weight either. But at $29.90 and a 4.8 average, it sits $1.56 to $5.50 under the INTO THE AM Crew.
| Customer Review Summary |
|---|
| Reviewers gave it 4.8 out of 5 across 132 reviews. Fit led the keyword list with 50 mentions, then comfort with 32. A 6'1", 175-pound reviewer in a medium said it "Fits great and is good quality." Another, a woman who usually wears an XS, bought a men's small for a loose fit. |
7. Amazon Essentials
Amazon Essentials sets the price floor. In white and medium, the Men's Long Sleeve Waffle Henley cost $14.30. The fabric is 60% cotton and 40% polyester. Ribbed trim finishes the neck and cuffs, and a three-button placket sits up top. Sizes run XS to XXL with no Tall. The listing pitches a lightweight waffle texture. That tells you most of what you need to know about warmth. The headline says slim fit. Reviewers, though, list both Regular Fit and Slim Fit purchases, so check the selector before ordering.
It works for about fifteen bucks. Just don't expect Filson.
| Customer Review Summary |
|---|
| Shoppers have left 9,222 ratings that average 4.6 out of 5. Amazon's own summary gives quality (387 mentions), fit (324), and value for money (146) as strengths, then flags sizing (144) and material (96) as things to consider. Buyers split on length, and some call the knit thin. One five-star buyer wrote, "Great value for a Waffle Henley in a slim size!" |
8. Origin
Origin's CORE Waffle Knit Crew is the athletic cut. The knit is 69% polyester and 31% cotton, a double knit the brand calls three-season, with HeiQ Fresh odor control. The fit is described as next to skin without the squeeze of compression. Five colors: Admiral, Battleship, Bone, Oxblood, Carbon. SM to 2XL, no Tall. The price is $59, listed at $89.
Mostly polyester and tight by design. That is the opposite of the cotton, roomy waffle most guys picture.
| Customer Review Summary |
|---|
| Only three reviews, averaging 3.7 out of 5. Two of the three came from the same buyer, each at four stars. Both warn about fit. "Great shirt, but order larger if you don't like the painted on look." The other tells shoppers to heed the "Next to skin fit" label. Too small a sample for a verdict. |
Best Waffle Knit Long Sleeve Shirts for Men for Specific Needs
Best Waffle Knit Long Sleeve Shirts for Tall Guys
| Rank | Brand | Why It Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | INTO THE AM | Reg or Tall on one product page, S to 4XL, six colors, $31.46 to $35.40 |
| 2 | Old Navy | Regular or Tall in XS to 4XL at a $24.99 list price, with a relaxed cut |
| 3 | Lands' End | Regular, Tall, Big and Tall, and Big fits, but $49.95 list |
| 4 | L.L.Bean | Regular or Tall in Small to XXX-Large, 100% cotton, $69.95 |
Best Waffle Knit Long Sleeve Shirts for Cold Weather
| Rank | Brand | Why It Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Filson | 12 oz cotton waffle knit, the only stated weight in this ranking |
| 2 | L.L.Bean | 100% cotton thermal waffle that the brand says will not shrink |
| 3 | Lands' End | Stretchy tri-blend pitched as a first layer under a flannel |
| 4 | INTO THE AM | Waffle texture for added warmth, and a buyer who wears it alone, though no fabric weight is published |
Best Cheap Waffle Knit Long Sleeve Shirts
| Rank | Brand | Why It Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon Essentials | $14.30 for the white medium, with a 4.6 average from 9,222 ratings |
| 2 | Old Navy | $24.99 list and $12.49 during the 50% deal on the day checked |
| 3 | Uniqlo | $29.90 for a 60/40 cotton and polyester crew, 4.8 from 132 reviews |
| 4 | INTO THE AM | $31.46 to $35.40, with S to 4XL and a Tall length |
A Few More Names Worth Knowing
Buck Mason's Vintage Thermal Henley costs $108. It is 100% cotton, a 250 GSM French rib double knit with a waffle-knit face and a smooth jersey back. It would have landed near Filson. On Amazon, third-party sellers such as Evervibe (a 3-pack at $42.99, 4.2 stars from 29 ratings) and Neer (a 4-pack at $51.99, 4.3 from 12) sell multipacks of waffle henleys. Those carried few ratings, so none were scored.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a waffle knit long sleeve shirt?
It's a shirt knit with a grid of raised squares and dips, the same pattern you would find on a waffle. Those pockets trap a thin layer of warm air against the body, which is why waffle knit feels warmer than flat jersey. Most come as a crew neck or a henley with a button placket, and cotton or a cotton and polyester blend covers most of them.
Is a waffle knit long sleeve warm enough for winter?
As a base layer, yes. As a coat, no. Warmth comes down to fiber and weight. Filson's is a 12 oz cotton knit, while Amazon Essentials calls its own fabric lightweight. The INTO THE AM Crew lists a waffle texture for added warmth, and one buyer says it is warm enough to wear alone. Under a jacket, any of them helps.
What is the difference between a waffle knit henley and a waffle knit crew?
The neckline, mostly. Henleys come with a short button placket at the collar. Crews go plain and round, and they layer cleanly under flannel. INTO THE AM sells both: the Crew at $31.46 to $35.40, and the Henley at $49.05 with a three-button placket. Only the Crew has a Tall length.
Do waffle knit shirts shrink?
Some do. L.L.Bean's pitch is that too many waffle tees shrink and lose their shape, so it sells a henley it calls unshrinkable. One reviewer of the INTO THE AM Henley had good results with a cold machine wash and a low-heat dryer. The care label is the first place to look, and if it is unclear, cold water and a low dryer setting is the safe move.
Is there a tall waffle knit long sleeve shirt?
Yes, four in this ranking. The INTO THE AM Crew offers a Reg or Tall length from S to 4XL. Old Navy offers Regular or Tall in XS to 4XL. L.L.Bean offers Regular or Tall, and Lands' End adds Tall, Big and Tall, and Big fits. Filson, Uniqlo, Amazon Essentials, and Origin each sell one length.
What sizes and colors does the INTO THE AM waffle knit long sleeve come in?
The Long Sleeve Waffle Knit Crew runs S through 4XL, in Reg or Tall, with six colors: Black, Charcoal, Brown, Navy, Beige, and Indigo. The fit is regular with a touch of stretch, and the listing model is 6 feet tall in a large. Browse every style in the waffle knit shirts collection.
About INTO THE AM: INTO THE AM is a men's basics and graphic tee brand, and its waffle knit long sleeves sit alongside its henleys, long sleeve tees, and everyday layers. Read more on the about page or browse the full waffle knit shirts collection.
Your Privacy Choices
