You would be hard-pressed to find a more versatile garment than the timeless and classic flannel. This is literally the only shirt we own that can be worn on the construction site in the morning and out for casual wine tasting in the evening. Whether you wear it standalone, unbuttoned, layered over your favorite tee, or as a light jacket for brisk fall/winter weather, it just works. We set out to find the best men’s flannel shirts, here are the results.
Best For The Environment: Outerknown Blanket Flannel Shirt
Outerknown
Founded by designer John Moore and surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown was created to bring sustainable practices to fashion without compromise. One of their first releases and their most popular garment to date is their ultra-soft and comfortable Blanket Flannel Shirt. The fabric is made from 100% organic cotton heavyweight twill and is sans potentially harmful synthetic chemicals. The staff at Upgraded unanimously voted this the best men’s flannel shirt for 2021. Our favorite feature? The buttons are carved from fallen corozo nuts from South America which is an approach that helps eliminate deforestation of rainforests.
Price: $148
Best For Any Occassion: Relwen Blanket Flannel Shirt
Huckberry
Unlike a lot of flannels which are way oversized, this heritage quality woven shirt comes in a regular fit for a more slim look. It gets its ridiculously soft feel from double-brushed, pre-washed 100% cotton which means it will look like your good ol’ favorite shirt from day 1. Our favorite feature? Relwen never fuses or glues its collars so they naturally wear in like the rest of the shirt.
Price: $198
Most Innovative: Norrona Tamok Wool Shirt
Backcountry
Narrona might be a new name to most but they have been making premium outdoor gear out of Norway since 1929. Having just opened its first American store in Boulder in 2019, the brand’s popularity is exploding. One reason for the brands’ popularity is their innovative approach to product development. The Tamok Wool Shirt is a great example. Made from a blend of reprocessed wool and nylon, the shirt sports uniquely designed hidden hand and chest pockets that maintain a clean look without sacrificing functionality. Our favorite feature? Reinforced elbow patches will ensure this skjorte will last.
Price: $199
Best Wool Design: Filson Northwest Wool Flannel Shirt
Filson
Wool shirts are awesome until they get wet. Luckily this classically styled flannel is made from 85% wool & 15% nylon so it will keep you warm even if you get a little wet. For added comfort, Filson sews in cotton feather cloth on the inside of the collar and placket. Our favorite feature? Military-grade melamine buttons. Why? Because they’re’ military grade.
Price: $165
Best For Rugged Use: Duluth AKHG Crosshaul Flannel Shirt
Duluth Trading Co
Duluth Trading Company prides itself on combining toughness and comfort. This shirt is a prime example of that effort. Made from their proprietary Tough Cotton®, it’s 3x more resistant to abrasion than your standard cotton. On the comfort and mobility side, they added extra room in the armpits for unrestricted movement. The standard-fit and untucked length mean it not going to be bulky or cumbers. They also added snaps instead of buttons for quick wardrobe changes. Our favorite feature? The shirt includes a built-in glasses chamois.
Price: $89.50
