A henley sits between a tee and a shirt, and the fabric decides which way it leans. These picks are for men who want one or two good henleys in natural fibers. You get eight across waffle, slub, heavyweight cotton and merino, each with price, fiber, weight, fit and returns.
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Lars owns henleys from Faherty and Vince and has worn them for about two years. He really loves them. His are blue, light blue, salmon and black, all long sleeve and all in a Large. None has shrunk in the wash. Neither brand is one of the eight picks below.
The eight picks at a glance:
| Henley | Fiber | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corridor Waffle Henley | 100 percent cotton waffle | Midweight | $145 |
| Todd Snyder Lightweight Mini Waffle Henley | 100 percent cotton | Lightweight | $148 |
| Taylor Stitch Organic Cotton Waffle Henley | 100 percent organic cotton | 10 oz | $90 |
| Iron & Resin Topock Henley | 100 percent cotton slub jersey | 7.5 oz | $55 |
| Wythe Cotton Henley | 100 percent cotton | Midweight | $148 |
| Taylor Stitch Sunset Henley | 100 percent organic cotton French terry | 14 oz | $128 |
| Merz b. Schwanen Merino Wool-Cashmere-Silk Henley | 55 percent merino, 30 percent silk, 15 percent cashmere | Not listed | $260 |
| Minus33 Midweight Merino Wool Henley | 100 percent merino | 245 gsm | $109.99 |
What makes a good henley
Check four things before you buy: the placket, the fabric weight, the collar and the tag.
Start with the placket. Three buttons is standard. A short placket reads like a tee, and a deep one reads closer to a shirt. Either way, it should lie flat when buttoned.
Then weight. Use the published weight as a comparison, then check the knit, fit and room under your outer layer; these are not fixed layering thresholds.
Then the collar. Look for a ribbed band with some body, and check the care instructions; ribbing alone does not guarantee shape retention.
Last, read the tag. Plenty of henleys blend in polyester, elastane or modal. Every pick below is cotton or wool, with silk and cashmere in one.
Best waffle henley
Waffle knit traps a little air in its grid, so it feels warmer than flat jersey. Brands base the look on vintage thermals.
Corridor Waffle Henley
The top pick. The Waffle Henley in Natural is 100 percent cotton waffle knit, garment dyed and vintage washed, at $145. Corridor calls it midweight and makes it in Portugal. It also comes in navy, black and dusk. The 6 foot 2 model wears a medium. Returns run 14 days from delivery, and the prepaid label takes $11 off your refund. The Corridor NYC guide covers the rest of the line.
Todd Snyder Lightweight Mini Waffle Henley
The slim option. The Lightweight Mini Waffle Henley in Navy Batik is 100 percent cotton, made in Peru, at $148. Todd Snyder cuts it slim and pitches it as a layer under a button-down. Its 6 foot 2 model also wears a medium. Navy batik had every size; antique white was out of large. Returns run 30 days, with a $7 fee unless you take store credit.
Taylor Stitch Organic Cotton Waffle Henley
The value pick. The Organic Cotton Henley in Faded Black Waffle is 10 oz organic cotton, garment dyed and washed, at $90. Taylor Stitch based the seed stitch thermal on vintage pieces. It also comes in vintage white. The fit is tailored, and the brand says to size up for a looser fit. It is made in China. Returns are free within 21 days in the continental US.
Best slub cotton henley
Slub yarn is spun unevenly on purpose. The fabric gets a light, irregular texture that looks lived in from the first wear.
Iron & Resin makes the pick. The Topock Henley is 7.5 oz slub jersey in 100 percent cotton, at $55. It has raglan sleeves, a three button placket and a raw edge hem. The brand says it runs slim and may shrink slightly in the dryer, so consider one size up. Natural, black and military had small through XXL in stock. Returns run 30 days with a $10 fee, and exchanges ship free.
Best everyday henley
Wythe makes the one to wear most days. The Cotton Henley in Faded Olive is 100 percent cotton, midweight and made in Portugal, at $148. Wythe calls it the halfway point between its tees and its crewneck sweatshirts. The placket is deep, with three buttons. Wythe says it works on its own or under its shirts. Natural and faded olive had every size. Returns run 14 days, with a 5 percent restocking fee. More in the Wythe New York guide.
Best heavyweight henley
Taylor Stitch makes the heavyweight pick. The Sunset Henley in Washed Indigo Terry is 14 oz organic cotton French terry, bleach washed, at $128. That is sweatshirt weight with a henley neck. It has heavyweight ribbing at the cuffs, neck and hem. The model is 6 foot 2 in a medium, and every size was in stock. It is made in China, and returns are free within 21 days.
Merz b. Schwanen’s loopwheeled 2S08 is the other serious heavyweight. No color had more than two sizes left, so it is not ranked.
Best merino henley
Merino is warm for its weight and breathes well, so a merino henley covers fall into spring. Most need gentler care than cotton.
Merz b. Schwanen Merino Wool-Cashmere-Silk Henley
The upgrade. The Merino Wool-Cashmere-Silk Long Sleeve Henley is 55 percent merino wool, 30 percent silk and 15 percent cashmere. It is $260 on the US store. Merz cuts it relaxed and slightly oversized, with corozo nut buttons. It comes in navy and espresso. Sizes run 3 to 8, and a 6 is a large. The 6 foot 2 model wears a 6. Returns run 30 days from delivery, and the return costs what your original shipping did.
Minus33 Midweight Merino Wool Henley
The value merino. The Midweight Merino Wool Henley is 100 percent merino in a 245 gsm interlock knit, at $109.99. Minus33 calls the fit regular and says it runs true to size. It goes in the washer and the dryer on low. The 5 foot 10 model wears a medium. Black, forest green and navy had every size. Minus33 offers a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, but you pay return shipping.
What about Faherty and Buck Mason?
I own the Faherty Long-Sleeve Cloud Henley, so I checked its fiber on Faherty’s site. It is 60 percent Pima cotton and 40 percent modal. Modal is a man-made fiber spun from wood pulp. There is no polyester in it, but it is not all natural, so it is not a top pick. It costs $98, with a classic fit and raglan sleeves. Faherty takes returns for 60 days.
Faherty’s waffle henley fails the tag test outright. It is 12 percent recycled polyester and 3 percent elastane.
Buck Mason makes henleys too. They are covered in the Buck Mason review rather than ranked here.
How to wear a henley
Under an overshirt. Leave one or two buttons open and wear the overshirt unbuttoned. The placket gives the open front something to frame. Waffle under a smooth twill overshirt is the easy pairing. The overshirt guide has eight to choose from.
Under a chore coat. A heavier henley holds its own under canvas or corduroy. Tonal works, like indigo terry under an indigo cord coat, as long as the textures differ. Start with the chore coat guide.
On its own. Push the sleeves to the forearm and wear it with selvedge denim or chinos. Leather boots dress it up. Canvas sneakers keep it casual.
Under a blazer. A smooth, dark henley under an unstructured blazer works for a casual office or a dinner out. Keep the top button open and skip the tie.
How to wash a henley
Wash them cold. Taylor Stitch says to tumble dry low. Iron & Resin warns the Topock may shrink slightly in the dryer, so hang it if the fit is right. Minus33 allows a gentle cycle and a low dryer for its merino. Faherty says to wash the Cloud Henley inside out on gentle.
Frequently asked questions
What is a henley shirt?
A henley is a collarless knit pullover with a short button placket at the neck, usually two to five buttons. It sits between a T-shirt and a button-up shirt. You will find it in plain jersey, waffle, slub, French terry and merino, with short or long sleeves.
Should a henley be tight or loose?
Neither. The shoulder seam should sit on your shoulder. You should be able to pinch an inch or two at the chest. The hem should land around the middle of your fly. Go a little trimmer if it layers under a shirt, and roomier if it is the top layer.
Can you wear a henley to work?
Yes, in a casual or creative office. Choose a solid, dark, smooth knit and keep the placket mostly buttoned. Add a layer, like an overshirt, a chore coat or an unstructured blazer. Save waffle and slub for weekends. A henley does not belong under a suit.
Prices and stock as shown on each brand’s site on October 6, 2026.
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