Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

What is the real difference between a $5 t-shirt and a $25 one?

I can tell you that I can tell a difference.
The Walmart shirt stitching is generally poorer and does not last as long and on top of that the T-shirt does not feel as comfortable.

This is coming from someone who does not give a damn about brand. I just know which ones of my T-shirts have lasted the longest and feel the most comfortable on me. The fact that the ones I like I tend to wear more still out last the walmart ones speaks volumes.

Quicksilver I find feels pretty comfortable to wear and last a lot longer. 5 times longer no. But longer.
 
Can't say much for those - but for the shirts I often wear, a $200+ one generally has much better tailoring and strength than a $30 or $60 one.

I've had cheap ones last only a few months, if that, before the sleeves start to wear through near the elbows. The more expensive ones I've found last much longer. But these ones as you probably guessed aren't about a logo - they don't have visible logos.

I look around places like these:
http://www.henrybucks.com.au/index.php?page=stores&id=32000000

The prices will scare you - it's a different world, but they have good stuff.
 
Last edited:
It also depends on the quality of the cotton and the way it is woven. There are different levels of quality.

The same goes for whool. The finer straight long fibres are more expensive than the thick, short, curly ones.

The proces to get those fine, really comfortable fibres cost more than the ruff technique used for the main load of cotton/whool.
 
ComputersaysNo said:
It also depends on the quality of the cotton and the way it is woven. There are different levels of quality.

The same goes for whool. The finer straight long fibres are more expensive than the thick, short, curly ones.

The proces to get those fine, really comfortable fibres cost more than the ruff technique used for the main load of cotton/whool.
Click to expand...
That's the truth. There's nothing like an Egyptian cotton t-shirt on bare skin. It's like night and day. The same goes for sheets.
 
Rodimus Prime said:
I can tell you that I can tell a difference.
The Walmart shirt stitching is generally poorer and does not last as long and on top of that the T-shirt does not feel as comfortable.
Click to expand...

I agree with RP here. They simply last longer, most times because of the better stitching. Now if the question was $50 vs. $100, that's another case.
 
They seem to retain their fresh look longer. Even my Tommy Hilfiger shirts, they start to look bad after a while (a few months). Nothing really different in the short term, but in the long run ... yes. I can only say that about polos though. Those shirts I buy at the mall with my friends (band shirts, skateboarding branded shirts,etc) aren't any better than those walmart shirts beside branding/design.

It really depends which $5 shirt you are comparing to which $25 shirt.

$5 tee at walmart or $25 band tee at Hot Topic?
$8-9 polo shirt at walmart or $40 Ralph Lauren branded polo?
 
Last edited:
There's also the shape of the shirt, which I find varies not just with pricing but where you go (of course).

I'm 6'1 and wear 2XL shirts, sure I can fit in an XL but I want the extra length. However, most really cheap tshirts are only wider, and the same width whether they're medium or 4x! Yikes! That said, I dislike the "girly" tshirts that seem to be into style at the moment - tell me what you want, but most of the people I see wearing them have no sign of muscle in their upper arms :p They (along with tight jeans) just show off every oddity one has (and that's fine, if you want that).

LOL anyway, if you wear $300 shirts, congratulations on being rich! I try to keep in the $10-15 range!
 
The cut of the individual pieces of the t-shirt is also very important. i've purchased t-shirts that looked fine, but when i got them home they were cut on the bias which made the shirts twist around my torso. The side seam was almost in front! I won't buy cheap t-shirts again.

Cutting on the bias saves money for the manufacturer because there is less waste.
 
In the past, I'll check Wal-Mart, Target, Macy's, Dillards, JC Penny's, and so on. One thing I noticed between clothing is that the cheap stuff from Wal-Mart may look ok, does not feel as nice as the more expensive stuff. Also, as other posters have replied, doesn't last as long.

That doesn't mean you have to fork over an arm or a leg for nice clothing. Just do what I do these days and go to Marshalls! They usually have what I'm looking for for low prices. A pair of Docker's or Perry Ellis pants can be bought for $14.00 in their clearance isles. An iPhone car charger can be bought for $10.00. Shoes for less than $50.00. It's an awesome store, and I recommend it to everyone.
 
I've had 30$ brand shirt last 2 days and I've had cheap 10$ t-shirts last years. Price is rarely indicative of actual quality of stitching and material. Brand t-shirts will tend to be higher priced for lower/equal quality than unbranded t-shirts.

I now buy my stuff at a place called Urban Planet. 9$ gets you a nice t-shirt with some nice designs on them and the quality of the shirts rival that of 30-40$ ones easily.

In other words, stop comparing prices and compare the actual shirts.
 
americanapparel

I posted a link where you can get some good info on the different types of cotton, etc...
As others have mentioned, price is meaningless unless you know what your looking for. $20-$50 t-shirts can be just as bad in quality as a $10.
If you can afford to you really shouldnt buy your clothes at walmart unless you don't mind the inconsitencies in quality, fabric and fit. Stores like the Gap also have some quality control issues. From my experience some of their denim is very low quality and their t-shirts can also be pretty bad.
 
japasneezemonk said:
americanapparel

I posted a link where you can get some good info on the different types of cotton, etc...
As others have mentioned, price is meaningless unless you know what your looking for. $20-$50 t-shirts can be just as bad in quality as a $10.
If you can afford to you really shouldnt buy your clothes at walmart unless you don't mind the inconsitencies in quality, fabric and fit. Stores like the Gap also have some quality control issues. From my experience some of their denim is very low quality and their t-shirts can also be pretty bad.
Click to expand...

+1 for American apparel.
They have quality stuff.
 
Years ago I had a Fruit of the Loom T-shirt that lasted years. Eventually (like most of my shirts) I got something on it when doing DIY so I couldn't wear it anymore. As this is a regular thing for me, I tend to buy cheap T-shirts 90% of the time and just except they will only last a short while before losing their shape or developing other faults.
 
I have a couple of t-shirts from Walmart and Joes Fresh from Superstore (Canada) and they've all lasted me 2-3 years lol. I do agree that the stitching and the only thing I spend $50+ is only shoes. Gotta be comfy while walking :)

I simply do not give a flying eff for logo or brand. I will buy an expensive t-shirt given that I like it! I think my most expensive t-shirt I've bought was like 35-50$ range. And I think I might still have it lol. I've had t-shirts from 10 years ago that still fit me and have shown no sign for rips or tears.
 
I would say for "lifestyle" brands like Quicksilver and other skate or snowboarding brands, you are paying for the logo. The tee can be nicer than Gildan and the like, but not by much. For actually higher-quality shirts, look to brands like American Apparel or Alternative Apparel. Those tees are softer than 3-pack shirts, most definitely. If you live near a Uniqlo, I would recommend their shirts as they are usually only 5.90 and comes in nice bright colors. Most importantly, no LOGOS :apple:
 
For me it comes down to quality of material, fit, and design. I personally like Hurley and I like the designs they come up with. I wouldn't normally pay the full $25+ for a Hurley shirt though. I get almost all of my clothes from places like TJ Maxx (typically I can get a nice Hurley tee there for $10-$15).

Bargain bin shirts from Wal-Mart are typically lesser quality, materials are more stiff and itchy, and they don't have a great countour/fit to them.
 
I'm inclined to believe that the $25 shirt is more fire retardant and the $5 shirt will melt onto your skin. That's just my preconception, though. Price probably isn't perfectly correlated with how well the shirts will fare when exposed to extreme temperatures.

Also, the link to the $25 shirt isn't working.
 
altuixde said:
I'm inclined to believe that the $25 shirt is more fire retardant and the $5 shirt will melt onto your skin. That's just my preconception, though. Price probably isn't perfectly correlated with how well the shirts will fare when exposed to extreme temperatures.

Also, the link to the $25 shirt isn't working.
Click to expand...

Original post updated with working link.
 
One of my favorite t-shirts is a 5 dollar one I found at Target about 4 years ago. I hate buying clothes and most of my tshirts are in the 5-20 dollar range, only real difference is that some fit better than others, and this isn't necessarily dependent on price in my experience.



As a side note, if you spend 200 dollars on a t-shirt (not dress shirt) you are probably a toolbag.
 
altuixde said:
I'm inclined to believe that the $25 shirt is more fire retardant and the $5 shirt will melt onto your skin. That's just my preconception, though. Price probably isn't perfectly correlated with how well the shirts will fare when exposed to extreme temperatures.

Also, the link to the $25 shirt isn't working.
Click to expand...

Id be inclined to believe your going to get horribly burnt one day if you think any t shirt is fire retardant.
 
I just wait for the sales at places like the Bay. Couple times a year their $25 t-shirts are effectively closer to $5. And their nice t-shirts are very nice. I just stock up and I'm good for several years.

Mostly though I buy the $10 Hawaiian shirts at Value Village. These are authentic, made in Hawaii, Hawaiian shirts... not the fake Hawaiian style put out by the brand names. So what if they've been work before... after a couple of washes and time in the sun they all look the same in any case. I've got a couple dozen now.

altuixde said:
I'm inclined to believe that the $25 shirt is more fire retardant and the $5 shirt will melt onto your skin. That's just my preconception, though. Price probably isn't perfectly correlated with how well the shirts will fare when exposed to extreme temperatures.

...
Click to expand...

What the shirt is made of makes it more or less 'melty' not price. Cotton, cheap or expensive, doesn't melt. Polyester does.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back