It’s surprisingly comfortable, especially after a few wears, and does a great job wicking sweat.

*When was the last time you bought a shirt that came in such a nice box?*

I live in SoCal, and while this isn’t Texas or Florida, the temps here can get hot here too. Now I wear T-shirts for just two reasons: as a workout shirt and as an undershirt for dressing up. For neither of these am I looking for extra bulk, so the idea of a shirt with padded underarms was not something I thought I would like. Well, I stand corrected.

I don’t usually do product reviews unless I really like something, and this is one of those items. It’s a stupidly simple idea, but as any small business owner knows, it’s in the implementation of an idea that success is built. Arax has got my attention, so here are my thoughts.

About that free shirt…

I ran into Arax at a local vendor fair completely by accident. I seldom stop for clothing at these fairs… and these guys were just selling plain white shirts, but I was intrigued. Now, apparently, sweat-proof shirts are trending right now, so I had to ask what was different about the Arax shirt. I explained that I was a blogger and that I wanted to know more.

They explained in great detail that it was of higher quality in every way – imported premium cotton, better stitching, great customer service, etc. I must not have shown that I was impressed, so seeing my disbelief, they asked me to just try it. Well, I wasn’t going to change in front of everyone, so I thought I was done. Then they said, “Here, take one, try it, and we’re so sure you will like it that you’ll buy more.”

My interest was piqued. Yeah, I know, for a blogger, reviews of freebies are always suspect, but I took their shirt home to try it. I work out (and sweat) every day, so I will have something to say about this shirt if it doesn’t perform.

About Arax

Arax is a brand-new importer with barely an online presence. Sweat-proof shirts are a crowded field, and I think they need a little help with their marketing. The website, noted prominently on their packaging, isn’t even up yet. They do have an Instagram page:

*A simple Insta page, mirroring the simplicity of the white shirt…*

But as you can see, it’s sparse. For the shopping cart, customers are redirected to an Amazon shop for their one product: The Sweat Proof Men's Undershirt Crew Neck White 2 Pack with Sweat Pads. Yeah, I know.

The Amazon shop doesn’t stand out much either. They have one negative review, but it’s for a black shirt, and they don’t sell those, so that reviewer must be confused. The other reviews are all 5 stars, and for good reason.

I’m also not too concerned that Arax is just an importer, either. Almost all small T-shirt vendors are. What I care about is that they make a good product, and they do. Their customer service is also excellent – if you’re not happy, just return it. Done. No questions.

Now the shirt does cost $45, so it’s not an inexpensive shirt. But is it good value? Well, I still think it is because I know a thing about quality. I burn through cheap shirts at rates most people don’t because I work out in them every day. I do chores around the house, I do my online store packing in them, and when they are used up, they become rags.

I also get promo shirts all the time from conferences and events. Most of them don’t last more than a couple of months. If they’re in any way uncomfortable, they go straight into the rag bin. Don’t even try to get me to wear that 50/50 poly-cotton crap. Anyhow, when it comes to T-shirts, you could say I have some experience.

The Arax shirt isn’t one of those cheap shirts. It lasts through stretching, the seams are strong, they go through wash after wash, and while my shirt isn’t exactly white anymore (my own doing), the shirt itself is still as solid and comfortable as the first day. Does it wick sweat? Yes, absolutely, and it does so with a minimum of underarm bulk. It’s a well-made shirt from an importer that cares to make a good product.

A Note about Arax Packaging

When you receive the shirt, it comes in a unique cardboard box. This isn’t Nordstrom austerity, but it’s a nice little box, with the shirt neatly folded inside:

This is a nice touch that shows that Arax cares about the product. All the info you need is right there, and it looks clean and professional. You seldom see this with other shirts.

The First Workout

I know that you should always wash a shirt before you wear it for the first time, but I was in a hurry that day, so I just put it on. First impressions were not so good. It was long enough, but I’m not exactly a rail around the waist – yeah, I’m working on that – but a tight-fitting shirt isn’t my preference.

*As Gimli said before going off to battle: it’s a little tight around the chest!*

I’m not used to having extra padding under the armpits, so that felt a bit off, too. I mean, I tried other shirts with underarm padding before, and I never liked the bulk. This shirt’s bulk is minimal, though. It’s also flexible, and once I started my workout, I completely forgot about it.

But comfort is why you want to wear this shirt. It’s about as soft as cotton gets. It has no tags, and I was never bothered by the seams. Another pet peeve of mine is if a shirt twists like so many lower-quality shirts tend to do. I’m happy to say that this shirt fits straight every time and does not twist, even after washing.

Speaking of washing, the shirt did shrink a bit in the wash, so when I buy my second one, I’ll buy a size larger. It’s not really an issue for me because it’s a workout and an undershirt. Anyhow, it stretched out again after wearing it; that’s what quality cotton is supposed to do.

Final thoughts on the Arax Shirt

Look, I know what you’re thinking. As soon as I mentioned the $45 price, you probably lost interest. I probably would too. But here’s the thing, it’s more of a luxury purchase. Most people who are going to wear this will do so under a pricey dress shirt with a pricey suit. The right undershirt makes all the difference.

Even now that winter is approaching, a sweat-proof undershirt is a good idea. How many times have you sat down for an interview where the heater was cranked up? Doing a presentation next month? Yes, you’re going to sweat too. Even if you go for happy hour after work, you’ll be sweating in that expensive dress shirt on the karaoke stage. So, yes, the right undershirt will make all the difference.

By the way, it makes a great holiday gift for that person you know really needs it. I’m definitely buying a second one, and you should too!

Not Just Another White Shirt: The Arax Sweatproof Shirt