Customer Reviews L.L.Bean Carefree Unshrinkable T-Shirt without Pocket Short Sleeve

I used to love these shirts. Then Ll Bean changed the sizing (and I'm guessing the manufacturer). Now the regular sized t-shirts fit like a dress. I'm 5' 8" and both the large and the medium go down to mid-thigh or lower. They fit more like a poncho than a t-shirt. Perhaps more importantly, two of the shirts had holes in the neck along the seams when they arrived, so quality control is lacking. I'm worried the old Ll Bean (that I used to love so much) has gone the way of this t-shirt.

Here's what's great about these shirts: good material, not heavyweight, but not H&M disposable as is so common in most stores now. Here's what's terrible about these shirts: apparently the no-shrink or moisture wicking treatment results in constriction around the neckline after the first wash. And I don't mean a mere tightening of the fabric. I mean the shirts LOOK THEY HAVE PLEATED NECKLINES. I bought three of these in the spring. I didn't notice at first on the black and blue shirts. The dark color actually helped hide the pleated lines. But the heather gray shirt looked like a skirt around the collar after the first wash. I tried ironing to no avail. I finally bought ANOTHER shirt and hoped I had a bum batch with the first. This time, I looked closely when taking it out of the mail wrapper. It looked great. Flat and normal. I washed it, and I have another pleated neck t-shirt. I love LL Bean products, generally, but these shirts just look silly after being washed. And a quick scan of comments shows it has apparently been a problem for years.

Even repeated washings--which I expected to resolve the problem--has not helped. These shirts do not breathe the way you expect cotton to breathe. It's like wearing a Hefty bag on a hot day. I purchased seven with the expectation they would perform like past L.L. Be a t-shirts I have purchased. But no.

I've shopped at LL Bean since before 1985. I put my arms in the "T" didn't feel wide like other Ts it wasn't wide for a Traditional cut & and IT WASN'T. THE NECK WAS SO TIGHT I FELT LIKE I WAS IN A SHIRT & tie that was TO SMALL. The neck was chocking me, it can't be attracted out. In hot weather I like my Ts loose enough to blow in the wind. Never got out of the house wicking???? I didn't open other one. Their going back. Sorry LL Bean has always fit perfect, even shoes

I am very disappointed with the quality of the clothing I have purchased recently. I purchased two of these expecting a great looking tee for casual wear and working outdoors. I really like the look but they feel like synthetic instead of "100% cotton". Worst of all is coating or fabric which doesn't wick any moisture. I wear tees while workout no outdoors in SC. Feels like I'm in a sauna suit instead of a tee shirt.

The stain and wrinkle resistant properties of this shirt completely negate any moisture absorption capability whatsoever. Wearing this for exercise or work, i.e. while you might be sweating, is like wearing plastic wrap. I see that numerous others have already registered the same criticism. Shame on LLB for not recognizing this as a concern (a pretty obvious one for a tee shirt) and disclosing this quality in the product description.

I have many, many of these shirts. They had always been very reliable for fit and sizing. I ordered 6 shirts and they now run very small. I returned all 6. I might try again. Maybe I got a bad batch? Would love to hear from LLBean as to what may of happened. They were always terrific shirts and I used to be able to rely on their consistency. Please LLBean, let me know.

I have purchased a number of T shirts because of the claim by LL Bean that they are unshrinkable and will not stain. Well, the claim is not right. I have returned a number of items back to LL Bean and am going to return more. ALL of them have shrunk and one of them got a stain from coffee and cannot be removed after washing. The one I just received back from LL Bean was already shrunk in length, I compare these to a NEW shirt that I have which has never been wearned.

I ordered small. This tee measures 40 inches around. That is not small. If LL Bean wants to call this small, then they need to introduce new sizes XS or even XXS.

Excellent Tee - fits and washes well. i am the proud owner of several of this tee and would definitely order again.

I recently bought two tee shirts, one in white. I put it on and made dinner, a nice pasta dish. During dinner I got sauce on the new tee shirt. Right after dinner I tossed it in the laundry and the stain was still there. Washed it again with oxi clean and the stain still had not even faded a bit. Tossed shirt in garbage instead of a third time in the wash. It lasted a total of 30 minutes. So much for stain resistant.

Great shirt except for the chemical treatment that causes the 100% cotton shirt not to absorb sweat. It might as well be 100% polyester. Very uncomfortable. Very disappointed. Sending nine shirts back and not happy about the charge to return. LL Bean never mentions the 100% cotton shirt as been treated. I've never been ripped off by LL Bean before.

I bought six of these T's a few years ago and loved them. XLT fits better than any T I've owned. So I bought four of what I thought were the same T's and was very, very disappointed. I suspect these T shirts are soaked in a water resistant liquid similar to something you'd spray on canvas to keep it dry. The result is, not only does it force the sweat to stay on my body, it causes me to sweat even more profusely. The best way I can describe it; the T shirt makes me feel like my chest has been wrapped in Saran Wrap. I've bought a ton of men's stuff from Bean with great success but this go round was a flop.

I loved this 100% all cotton men's T-shirt with pocket and recently re-ordered two more of these items. The prior version of this product was actually 100% cotton as advertised but the new version has a Lycra neck seam which creates an uncomfortable and continuous "squeeze" feeling around my neck. My neck is normal size for an X-Large T-shirt and I simply don't like tight clothing around my neck. No doubt someone thought the 100% cotton loose neck seam could be "clean up" in appearance but they totally forgot about comfort and functionality. I tried wearing the new design with Lycra for a few month but just returned the order as I no longer will wear them. Sadly, I must now find another vendor who sells a similar product without the Lycra neck seam. Moral to the story: change is not always for the better.

This t-shirt was a favorite work t-shirt of both my husband and myself for many, many years. However, we recently bought some new ones and were dismayed to discover that whatever has been done to the t-shirt to make it "carefree" and "unshrinkable" has also made the t-shirt less absorbent and less breathable. Sweat gets trapped inside the shirt and does not wick off or get absorbed. As a result, after working up a sweat and then cooling down, we get quite cold, and after working for a while both we and the shirt begin to smell. Unpleasant, to say the least, and not what we had experienced with this shirt before. We will not buy this shirt again, and we are trying out some other brands to see if we can find a replacement.

These tee shirts are well made, feel good, are a good price and come in great colors. However, being tee shirts not dress shirts you may find yourself sweating while wearing them. You saw that they are stain resistant when you bought them and you thought that really doesn't matter, they are tee shirts. But being stain resistant they resist "water", be it a rain shower, a sloppy drink of coffee, or sweat. Yes, they resist from the inside too. All the sweat just sits on the inside of the tee shirt. After taking a hike you will find that the inside of the tee shirt feels "soaked", but the sweat is not absorbed like a cotton tee shirt should. You can't wait to take the shirt off. When this shirt is sold without the additional features I will be back buying it. I am returning all 3 shirts.

What is this weird coating they're putting on the t-shirts? What was once the best t-shirt around is now this god awful thing that if it gets wet it stays wet, but does not absorb, so it becomes this gross thing with sweat pooling up on the surface. Who thought this was a good idea?

I bought these to replace the same t-shirts I had bought about 3-4 years ago. Those were great - cotton and very breathable (and untreated). When they wore out I bought these new "unshrinkable" tees. Very disappointed. They are treated with some kind of chemical that doesn't allow moisture or perspiration to be absorbed. It feels like wearing plastic. Any moisture or perspiration isn't wicked away or absorbed. It's even hard to get the t-shirt actually wet. Not good for hot humid summer days. The nice cotton and overall great shirt has been ruined by the chemical treatment. I wish they would offer this identical t-shirt without the chemical processing.

The shirts are well made but the neck opening is cut way too small and too high for my tastes. The medium size is also cut skimpy, at least the ones I had to send back were.

These Tee's live up to the "carefree unshrinkable" tag. They are very sturdy, and I'm sure durable. But, apparently the treatment used to make them so also makes them non-absorbent and not very breathable; takes the cotton qualities out of the cotton. End result is, when worn in warm, humid weather, you'll feel more sweaty than usual. The shirt won't absorb (much) or wick. I'll keep mine to wear in the spring and fall only.

This used to be a favorite T but the fabric treatment has made the shirt uncomfortable. As another reviewer said "slimy". The sweat stays inside the shirt and running down your body. It also shrinks in length, but I think the slimy factor is worse! Still wearing my old worn out ones. The difference is regrettable.

This is a mixed review! I LOVE the shirt... love that is has the pocket as my husband says a T-shirt without a pocket is "useless" but I have tried ALL summer to buy my husband one in "Tidal Blue" and LL Bean never has anything in stock but a small. We bought the shirt in yellow but don't care for many of the other colors, but it seems it is impossible to buy one in Tidal Blue. :( I am so tired of going to the site and jumping through the hoops to find the shirt only to find it is NOT in stock AGAIN. What a shame...

Crummy. If I hadn't used a coupon,I'd be sending it back (may still). Tail too long to permit the t to be worn untucked. Color brighter than shown. What happened to those nice subdued greens, blues and heathers?

recently bought 4 t-shirts with pocket and before wearing the shirts washed each one. hem on the cottage red t-shirt unraveled before wearing the shirt one time.

I ordered several of this model shirt in blue and was well satisfied. The gray color is a complete different product. The material is not the same as the blue shirts and not at all wrinkle resistant, and the seams pucker.. I do not recommend this gray color to anyone. And I wonder why there is such a difference between the gray shirt and the blue shirt.