Customer Reviews L.L.Bean River Driver Shirt Long Sleeve Henley Regular

I love the weight of this shirt...it IS nice and warm. Out of the package it has a wonderful look and feel but some of that leaves with the first washing. Because it's part wool you probably don't want this shirt in the dryer and LLBean suggests drying it flat. Even doing that you'll probably want to pull things back into shape. You'll likely find that your shirt will now look wrinkled and it will have a different feel. I bought two but don't think I'll buy more...it's a lot of extra effort to get it looking good...it's fine if you're only using it as an under layer but there are better and easier products out there.

nothing to add

Great shirt except at collar and button area, where the wool blend is against your skin and itches like, well, wool. Described as wool on outer layer, cotton inside. Almost, but not everywhere.

I certainly like my 2-layer shirts. They're comfortable, fit well, and are warm. However, since they're part wool, I don't put them in the dryer. Consequently, they retain lint and dog hair (I have an awesome yellow lab)....wanted to buy a couple more, but now, not so sure. I'm going to put one in the dryer and see if it solves the "lint/hair" problem. Hopefully, it won't shrink.

Considering returning. Very thin and scratchy (especially at collar),even after washing 3x and using softner. Was for son.

I really liked this shirt. It is warm and looks nice. It did run a little big for me but it was fine. However, I'm annoyed that a shirt like this has wool in it. I didn't think to check that until I noticed it shrunk after I dried it on low heat like I do all of my other clothes like this. I pull it out, noticed it had shrunk, and then check to see that it is 40% wool... Seriously couldn't you guys have at least made it more obvious so that we know to watch out for it? I know to check sweaters for this and dress clothes. But let's be real, no one thinks a henley would have wool in it. It definitely shrunk and is more scratchy/itch now to use and now I'm trying to stretch it back out. It fits more snug, which isn't necessarily a bad thing since I had room for shrinkage. But regardless, I'm not entirely sure I'm happy with this now, especially with the cost. I may send it back, which sucks because they are out of my size now...

I really wanted to love these, because I have one that I've had for 18 or 20 years and it's held up amazingly well. It's never had a problem with pilling, it's kept its shape, and got me through a few Montana winters at a time when I couldn't afford much high tech stuff. Unfortunately, like so much other LL Bean clothing anymore, this is not designed to fit in a sensible way. I'm 5'11" and 170 lbs, which usually works out to be a snug medium and a size 40 jacket. As Seinfeld said - my size is really "extra medium". I got these in medium tall, knowing that I wanted the extra length to stay tucked in. Sadly, these new henleys are cut larger than my size large sweatshirts and sweaters. In fact, the arm holes are over 12 inches top to bottom at the shoulder...12 inches! That's bigger than the arm hole on many of my coats, and actually bigger than the leg opening on most of my pants. Are these shirts intended to be worn as a top layer, over my shirt, fleece, and shell? What a shame, because the material and construction seemed otherwise pretty decent, and the waist was surprisingly reasonable. Sizing is a total shot in the dark with anything LLB anymore. It's pure luck if the measurements of what I buy are anything close to what's listed on the site (if anything is even listed), and as a result I have ended up returning my purchases at a very high rate. Well, at least they make it easy to do that.

Shirt is sturdy and I'm wearing it right now. It is not as soft as earlier models, which I still wear but not in public (20 years is tough on shirts). 2 watchouts: 1. bleeds a lot so be careful with first couple of washes. 2.Considering the use of merino wool, it is surprisingly scratchy, not really that bad and as I said I'm wearing one of mine right now. Also, IMHO $50 is too much, but I bought mine on a 25% off sale, making the price acceptable. I have no doubt that this shirt will last the 20 years my other river driver shirts have.

Nice shirt........fits snugger than the Traditional Fit Mini-Waffle Henley, of which I have several of them. Also does not have a hemmed bottom as the Mini-Waffle Henley's do.

I like the design and fit, but the wool blend is a little scratchy. Will see if it improves over time.

The shirts quality appeared good however my grandson never got a chance to wear it. It was purchased for a Christmas gift. I purchased a XLG which is what he has always warn. It was to small every where but especially in the length. If it had been washed and dried he would have looked silly in it!!!!! We used to be a big shopper in LLBean but we have had to return more than we have kept in the last few years. It's just not worth it any more to continue trying and having to return items!!!! The quality, including the styling changes and sizing have been a down wall to us.

The shirt is great.....if it only had a pocket. I need it for my glasses, had to send it back!

Bought these 2 henleys for my husband this Christmas. Have NEVER returned an LLBEAN purchase before. Really love LLBEAN quality. BUT... Beware, the description states the inside is cotton, however the inside of the placket and neck are WOOL and made the shirts too itchy and therefore unwearable for my husband. He hasn't had problems previously with wool apparel. Definitely do not like having to pay extra to return these items.

I purchased this men's shirt because for the second year in a row llbean ran out of the women's sizes in November. I bought the smallest size and deliberately dryer dried it but the shoulders are still too wide, the sleeves and the shirt length too long. Money wasted because llbean refuses to buy sufficient stock to fill KNOWN demand two years in a row. P. S. I do love the women's River Driver Shirt for all outdoor activity hear in Northern DE/PA.

I expected this to be a little thicker than it was since it is a two-layer shirt. Bought a 'tall' size and it is plenty long! I bought this for my husband and he likes it enough to keep it. I just had different expectations.

I have lived in the women's version of the river driver shirt for several years. I layer it and love that the wool ads so much warmth and comfort. Since it has been discontinued I am trying the mens size small. I is warm, but not as soft and the style is to masculine. PLEASE BRING BACK THE WOMENS HENLEY 2-LAYER RIVER DRIVER SHIRT with soft wool and more gentle styling.

This shirt is disappointing. The description was great, but the shirt requires too much special care for washing. Even when following the washing instructions, the hem isn't very attractive. It looks unfinished.

I love these shirts. But why discontinue black? I'm a carpenter and wear these shirts everyday. I love LL bean's quality but I don't want to look like I'm going to a Christmas party at a live, laugh, love candle shop.

Already has a hole in the outer layer of the shirt

The shirt I received was a completely different shade of green from the photo on the website. More like forest green. Will be returned.

Not really the level of quality considering the cost. Collar after one wash ( as per care label) looks terrible.

The design of this piece is nice, but the wool is just too scratchy. It pokes through the cotton liner. Id heard the vintage were better so I found one on eBay. Turns out it is indeed a lot softer and doesn't have that issue. The design of the garment is fine, if a little long, suited more for an undershirt than anything else. Would have to be tucked in otherwise.

Look familiar? Same title as my Bean chamois shirt review. I've been wearing your River Driver shirts for perhaps 20 years. They were always comfortable and warm, and the fabric was just "there," not making itself obvious in any way other than pleasant to feel. Well, my last three purchases of these shirts are disappointing. I thought at first the color made a difference, but it's the same across colors. The outer wool layer is now coarse and unpleasant. I've noticed several reviewers said exactly the same thing. Combine this with my observation yesterday at a local Bean store that your previously wonderful chamois flannel shirts have gone way downhill in quality, sorry to say you've lost me as a customer. I do business with Filson and Pendleton, and it looks like they will have my business here on in.

My husband bought this for me after the one I'd had for probably 20 years had to be mercy killed. I loved that old shirt! The new one -- not so much. Main reason is that the wool used on the outer layer is really (and I mean really) coarse. And scratchy. I'm a wool spinner so I'm familiar with a lot of different wools -- this stuff I would never even consider spinning. I can't even tuck this shirt into my jeans because it makes my waist itch. There are wools that are so fine (like merino) that almost everyone can wear them next to their skin. And there are cheap, coarse wools that will be scratchy no matter how they are spun or processed. This is definitely the latter. If you are at all sensitive to wool -- or anything scratchy -- avoid this! Even with the cotton layer between my skin and the wool, I can feel the scratchiness.

Order was for small, and this just hangs on me like a large. Have ordered other items as small and fit was good.