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Get Outside | Best Men’s Brands for Summer
Summer is in full swing, and the warmer season is a great excuse to upgrade your wardrobe. From active gear for your next adventures to dapper lifestyle fashion, there are choices galore, so we’ve picked out a variety of the best brands for summer!
Active
These brands are best for when you’re getting your sweat on. The brands below have unique features like SPF protection, venting, or quick-drying properties.
Ten Thousand
Ten Thousand is an NYC-based brand that works with top-level athletes across many disciplines to research, develop and design gear that’s built to perform mile after mile and rep after rep. Their apparel goes through rigorous quality testing to ensure it’s able to withstand demanding use, while the classic and timeless styles avoid current trends in favor of gear that will look good and stand the test of time year after year.
Carryology Picks:
Versatile Shirt
The Versatile Shirt is a great all-rounder for gym sessions, outdoor runs, lifting weights and more. It offers a variety of useful features including breathability, sweat-wicking properties, durability, and a silver ion treatment for odor resistance, and its clean look allows it to be worn outside of the gym and locker room too.
The Cø8 5 Pocket Tactical Pant offers a quality blend of performance and understated style, making it a versatile piece for everyday wear, trail hikes, and beyond. It provides four-way stretch, abrasion resistance, water resistance, Odorblock™ permanent anti-odor technology, and five pockets to store small essentials close at hand.
Designed for any workout, the Interval Short was created with versatility in mind and offers four-way stretch for freedom of movement. You also benefit from quick-drying and sweat-wicking properties, pockets for EDC essentials, and an optional anti-odor compression lining.
Free Fly
Free Fly is a family-owned clothing company based in Charleston, South Carolina. The brand was founded through the desire to create outdoor-ready clothing that is simple, comfortable, and built to perform day in and day out. The brand uses sustainable fabrics and responsible manufacturing to create its gear and offers a variety of designs for both men and women, helping you to get out and enjoy the outdoors for longer.
Carryology Picks:
While many rain jackets come with unavoidable noise every time you move, the Cloudshield Rain Jacket is different. Created to be quiet while still offering 100% waterproof protection, it uses Cloudshield technology and is fully seam taped with a matte face fabric, breathable waterproof membrane, and a soft tricot backer for welcome next-to-skin comfort.
The Latitude Short is the brand’s most technical adventure short, featuring a quick-drying, lightweight yet durable build with a DWR finish. The UPF 50+ sun protection and four-way stretch add to the performance, while the casual style also allows the short to slip easily into your everyday wardrobe too.
Designed to perform both on and off the water, the Elevate Hoodie lends itself to angling, trail hikes, and much more. It packs in a host of performance features including sweat-wicking, UPF 30+ sun protection, quick-drying, and anti-odor properties, along with a hood and sun cuffs to protect your neck and hands against the rays.
Reigning Champ
Reigning Champ is based in Vancouver, and manufacture their top-quality apparel there, too. The brand is committed to using best-in-class materials and quality manufacturing to ensure products will perform year after year. A focus on comfort, functionality, and classic style makes Reigning Champ pieces great active wardrobe staples you’ll reach for again and again.
Carryology Picks:
Polartec Delta Polo
This polo uses an innovative fabric called Polartec® Delta that keeps you cool, wicks sweat, dries quickly, and reduces cling. The polo is also odor-resistant and offers a smart aesthetic that can transition from a range of activities to everyday wear too.
The Solotex Mesh Short keeps you comfy while you’re kicking it up a gear thanks to its moisture-wicking, breathable design with four-way stretch. You also benefit from flatlock seams, an elasticated waistband, and zippered pockets.
Deltapeak 90 LS Training Shirt
Made with a lightweight and quick-drying Deltapeak mesh material, the Delta 90 LS Training Shirt performs well across a variety of activities. Designed to keep its shape and resist snagging, the shirt is odor-resistant and features flatlocked seams, semi-raglan sleeves, and underarm gussets for comfort.
Tracksmith
Tracksmith is a New England running brand that offers a range of gear for training, racing, and downtime wear too. The brand offers pieces for both men and women, utilizing sustainable fabrics and responsible manufacturing to create gear that will put in the long miles and keep going strong.
Carryology Picks:
A quick dip is the perfect way to cool off either during or after a hot summer run. Luckily, the Run Cannonball Run Shorts are equally at home on land or in the water. Designed as swim-friendly running shorts, they feature four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying properties so you’re ready to dive into the action whatever the day’s activities have in store.
The Eliot Runner is a neutral running shoe designed to mimic the feel of soft surfaces. It features a Pebax® system with a softer, thicker insole directly under the foot while the firmer midsole offers protection and pop against the ground. The engineered mesh upper offers durability and comfort, while the shoe also includes synthetic suede on the collar and eyestays and comes in a choice of understated colorways.
The Session Tee is a go-to option for your daily training. It offers a lightweight, moisture-wicking, and antimicrobial stretch knit and a relaxed fit for comfort, with an understated heathered finish and a choice of colorways.
Mack Weldon
Mack Weldon is in the business of reinventing men’s basics, using premium materials, stylish designs, and consistent fits to help you get the most out of your wardrobe. The brand is based in NYC, with apparel manufactured in ethical WRAP-certified factories around the world. Innovative, comfortable fabrics, stylishly practical and versatile designs, and attention to detail make their gear easy to reach for during weekday and weekend use alike.
Carryology Picks:
Staying comfortable throughout the day starts with a solid foundation – just like the AIRKNITx Boxer Brief. A range of thoughtful features maximize comfort including moisture wicking, odor resistance, a supportive flyless pouch, stay-put legs, a no-roll waistband, and targeted cool zones.
Want the comfort of sweatshorts with a smart style upgrade? Meet the ACE Sweatshort, which offers a comfortable micro-brushed French terry with a drawcord waistband and a stylish tailored fit. Add in a choice of pockets and you can easily keep small essentials close at hand too.
The Silver Pique T-Shirt blends the comfort of luxurious Supima® cotton with anti-odor Ionic+ silver technology, keeping you fresh and feeling good whatever activity is at hand. The tee offers a classic fit with a side vent at the hem for added comfort.
Lifestyle/Fashion
Summer is all about relaxed drinks, alfresco dining, and leisurely sunset walks. These brands will keep you looking your best while using brilliantly comfortable/functional materials and timeless styles.
Buck Mason
Buck Mason is a Californian clothing brand that creates elevated classics for modern-day use, combining quality construction with refined styles and everyday comfort. Their clothing is made in both the USA and abroad, with a variety of styles available for both men and women. With pieces that can lend themselves to work, travel, and play, the brand has that easy classic style and premium quality.
Carryology Picks:
The Brushed Loopback Trouser delivers a modern take on the sweatpant, combining everyday comfort with a stylish slim fit. The trouser features a cotton French terry with a soft brushed face, a drawcord for an adjustable fit, and pockets for your small EDC.
This hybrid short works well on land and water alike, offering four-way stretch and a DWR finish. The garment wash offers a comfy lived-in feel, while the short also features a drawcord waist and a snap and zip closure.
This short sleeve henley offers a classic fit and a curved hem, with a soft and smooth jersey knit made from Supima cotton. It has a wrinkle-resistant four-button self-placket and is garment washed for comfort from the very first wear.
Taylor Stitch
Taylor Stitch creates clothing that is built to perform across diverse settings while offering minimal environmental impact. The Californian brand is committed to responsible manufacturing in its factory partners and sustainable fabrics, while designing pieces you’ll want to hold on to for many years to come.
Carryology Picks:
The Cotton Hemp Tee is a wardrobe staple, created with a tailored fit and a soft hand feel. Made with a lightweight but durable organic cotton/hemp blend, it comes in a variety of colorways and is a solid grab-and-go piece for daily wear.
Made with 100% hemp that’s odor-repellent and UV resistant, the Après Short offers comfy and relaxed summer style with a drawstring waistband. Four pockets provide storage for your small essentials and a range of colorways let you match it to your personal preferences.
The Easy Pant delivers tailored style with sweatpant comfort, offering a piece that’s easy to dress up or down. The textured crepe seersucker finish creates enticing visual interest, while an internal drawcord and an elastic back waistband enhance comfort for all-day wear.
Western Rise
Western Rise have established a reputation for highly versatile performance apparel that can transition from work to play with ease. From clothing that lends itself to one-bag travel to pieces that move easily from work days to weekend adventures, the Colorado-based brand blends innovative performance fabrics, timeless designs, and practical features to help you maximize your wardrobe’s potential.
Carryology Picks:
A do-it-all pant for work, travel, and play, the Evolution Pant 2.0 can take you from work meetings to outdoor trails or nights on the town. The pant is stain and water-resistant, lightweight, and packable, with four-way stretch and a slim-straight silhouette for flexible casual or formal styling.
The Boundless Short combines everyday and adventure wear in one. Ready for city streets or water-based adventures alike, the short is stain and water-repellent, moisture-wicking, breathable, quick-drying, and provides four-way stretch.
An everyday and travel staple, the StrongCore Merino Tee offers a blend of merino wool and nylon for odor resistance, temperature regulation, moisture wicking, and durability. Soft and comfy, the tee adapts to a range of environments and uses, whether you’re roaming at home or out and about further afield.
Faherty Brand
Faherty creates clothing that exudes an enticing blend of laid-back comfort and style, with a quality look and feel. The brand is committed to ethical business practices that benefit people and the planet alike through the likes of their Native Initiatives, using sustainable fabrics and packaging, and supporting organizations such as 1% for the Planet. The New-York based brand creates pieces for men, women, and children.
Carryology Picks:
Crafted for all-day comfort, these shorts are quick-drying, breathable, and come in a choice of inseam lengths. Made with an eco-friendly fabric featuring recycled plastic bottles and cotton for a soft feel, the shorts include an inner drawstring, pockets for your small EDC, and a zipper fly.
Short-Sleeve Stretch Playa Shirt
Faherty updated their best-selling Playa with a super-soft cotton fabric that offers comfortable stretch and lightweight breathability. The button-up shirt features a relaxed fit through the chest and a slight taper at the waist, along with a variety of colorways to bring a pop of summer pizzazz to your wardrobe.
The classic styling of jeans paired with sweatpant comfort? The Stretch Terry 5-Pocket Pant delivers both, with inbuilt stretch and a slim, straight fit. Five pockets provide storage for small items and a variety of colorways are available too.
Outlier
Outlier has spent over a decade honing its textile expertise, pairing innovative materials with high-performance staples and an interchanging library of radical experiments. Based in New York City, the brand offers some of the best-looking and most premium apparel pieces for those in the know.
Carryology Picks:
The Futuredarts pant combines lightweight breathability with durability, making use of long darts rather than side seams to create a free-moving, tapered silhouette. The quick-drying fabric has two-way stretch and a DWR finish, while the stylish design lends itself to casual and more formal settings alike.
Dreamweight Raw Cut Shortsleeve
Created for maximum comfort, this tee offers a lightweight and airy feel that’s great as a standalone piece for hot summer days or paired with an outer layer for when the wind picks up. The tee is made with a blend of 75% 16.5-micron merino wool and 25% nylon, offering the temperature-regulating and odor-resistant properties of merino with a durability boost so you can venture out without having to worry about your wardrobe.
The sleek silhouette of the New Way Shorts makes them right at home on the city streets, while their flexibility allows them to double up as swim shorts when it’s time to cool off in the pool. Made with a blend of nylon and elastane, the shorts are lightweight, quick-drying, and breathable, with two-way stretch for added comfort.
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