There’s more pressure on men’s bodies today than ever before, especially after 20 years of superhero movies dominating the box office – each with a thirsty shirtless scene more gratuitous than the last.
Nowadays it feels like nearly every male icon is completely jacked and has zero percent body fat.
And it’s not just young guys or professional athletes, either. Hugh Jackman was 45 years old when he got completely shredded for X-Men: Days of Future Past, where the picture featured here is from.
Hell, even Jim Halpert got jacked! How the hell are average guys supposed to compete, when the quintessential regular-guy-who-got-the-girl now has an eight pack and biceps that could crack a walnut?
For those of us who don’t have movie studios financing our fitness regimens and personal training sessions, one answer is men’s shapewear.
While it might not give you a six pack or a six-picture deal with Marvel, the best pieces of shapewear for men can help your physique look a little more fit, without forcing you to stoop as low as making a Michael Bay movie.
(Take that, Halpert. Boom—roasted.)
In this post I’ll round up 15 of the best men’s shapewear pieces on the market and introduce you to some of the men’s body shapers that will help you look svelte, slender and sharp.
Spanx for Men? You Bet Your (Nicely Compressed) Ass
Breaking Down the Best Mens Shapewear Pieces
Overall Best Mens Body Shaper
Spanx for Men Zoned Performance Compression Crew Neck
Features:
- 4.5 Stars on Amazon
- 172 ratings
- Available in black or white
- Made from a nylon/spandex blend
Advantages:
Spanx is the industry leader in shapewear for men and women alike, and their “zoned compression” shirt is basically the Rolls Royce of Spanx for men. As one reviewer on Amazon put it, “Worth every penny… You can’t help but feel like a male model with this shirt under your clothes.”
In this case, “zoned” refers to the various compression zones, meaning that different levels of compression are applied to your abs, torso and chest as needed. The underams and back consist of what Spanx calls their “Breatheasy™” zones, meaning they wick moisture and allow for maximum mobility.
Upper Body Men’s Shapewear
Rounding Up the Best Men’s Compression Shirts
Alignmed Posture Shirt
Features:
- 4.1 Stars on Amazon
- 132 ratings
- Available in black or white
- Polyester/spandex blend
Advantages:
Alignmed’s Posture Shirt is a heavy duty men’s compression shirt designed to help correct posture and increase both mobility and range of motion.
It features vented mesh panels that allow for breathability and what Alignmed calls “NeuroBands,” which are meant to activate and stimulate specific muscle groups.
Esteem Apparel Original Max Men’s Slimming Chest & Body Shaper
Features:
- 4.3 Stars on Amazon
- 278 ratings
- Available in black or white
- Retains compression elasticity
Advantages:
This compression top from Esteem Apparel will help your stomach look flatter, you waist look slimmer and your back look stronger, by helping your upper body look more in line with “the golden ratio.”
Spanx for Men Slimming Compression Tank Top
Features:
- 4.4 Stars on Amazon
- 484 ratings
- Available in black or white
Advantages:
This cotton compression tank top will firm up your chest, help flatten your stomach and even improve your posture by supporting your lower back.
Spanx make some even more compressive shapewear for guys who want some help shaping their full upper bodies (one of which is featured above), but what I like about the tank top style is that it’s easy to conceal under your clothes; no matter what type of sweater or shirt you’re wearing, the shapwear should stay hidden, even if you want to leave a few buttons undone.
Copper Compression Long Sleeve Men’s Recovery Shirt
Features:
- 4.4 Stars on Amazon
- 133 ratings
- Constructed with 85% copper-infused nylon
Advantages:
Copper Compression’s long sleeve compression shirt is designed to help support stiff and sore muscles, but will also help you cut a slim and slender physique, especially if you size down when ordering. (The brand actually specifically recommend sizing down at least one size from whatever your normal shirt size would be.)
The long sleeves mean your entire upper body will be compressed, making this a great piece to wear next time you want to look a little trimmer while wearing a suit.
Spanx Zoned Performance Compression V- Neck
Features:
- 4.3 Stars on Amazon
- 238 ratings
- Available in black or white
- V-neck dips below collar bone
Advantages:
The v-neck version of the Spanx Zoned Performance compression almost got my vote for the overall piece of best mens shapewear, but v-necks can be somewhat polarizing among menswear aficionados, and in the end I chickened out thought that the crew neck was more universal.
Nonetheless, this version has many of the same advantages as the crew neck featured above, and might actually be preferred by guys who prefer to keep their undershirts out of sight.
Men’s Shapewear for Your Core
Five of The Best Men’s Girdles
Leo Slimming Compression Body Shaper
Features:
- 4 Stars on Amazon
- 380 ratings
- Available in black or white
- 79% Polyamide, 21% Elastane
Advantages:
Leo’s men’s girdle is designed to provide moderate compression in the upper, middle and lower parts of your abdomen and waist, while providing support for your back. It comes with a double layer of Leo’s “DuraFit” material, which is designed to be soft and light, so it’ll be comfortable under your clothes.
The Amazon reviews suggest you may want to size down on this one. Here’s one that was fairly typical of the reviews I read: “They fit great. I needed one for a wedding to tuck in my extra pounds and this worked so well. If you’re plus sized, you may want to go one six smaller, but that’s just my opinion. More importantly though, they’re great for ALL men to wear when working out. They help shed excess water weight, plus they provide support under your work out clothes, particularly when doing cardio.”
Wonderience Mens Belly Girdle Body Shaper
Features:
- 4 Stars on Amazon
- 120 ratings
- 92% Polyester, 8% Spandex
- High waist to compress belly fat
Advantages:
Made from 92% polyester and 8% spandex, this men’s girdle from Wonderience is comfortable and breathable, features a double layer around the waist to flatten your abdomen and hold in belly fat.
Optlove Men’s Tummy Control Shapewear
Features:
- 4 Stars on Amazon
- 997 ratings
- Available in black, white or blue
- 88% Nylon, 12% Spandex
Advantages:
I know, I know: the phrase “Tummy Control” doesn’t exactly fill me with inspiration either. But with four stars on Amazon after nearly 1,000 ratings, this men’s body shaper from Optlove is clearly doing something right when it comes to compression. It’s also designed to be extra thin and lightweight, so you can wear it year round.
Kocles Men High Waist Slimming Body Shaper Compression
Features:
- 3.6 Stars on Amazon
- 153 ratings
- Only available in black
- 88% Nylon, 12% Spandex
Advantages:
Also made from a mix of nylon and spandex, this men’s girdle from Kocles is similar in style and a little bit cheaper than the Optlove body shaper above, though not quite as well reviewed. (Maybe it’s because this one only offers one color option?)
Farmacell 405 Men’s Waist Control Belt
Features:
- 3.5 Stars on Amazon
- 1,198 ratings
- Available in black or white
- 85% Nylon, 15% Elastane
- Made in Italy
Advantages:
Offering a slightly different style of core compression than the other men’s girdles and body shapers on this list, Farmacell’s shaping band sits right on your waist rather than having built in shorts that extend beneath it.
Lower Body Men’s Shapewear
The Best Men’s Compression Shorts
Leo Butt Enhancement/Lifting Performance Underwear
Features:
- 3.4 Stars on Amazon
- 91 ratings
- Removable pads
Advantages:
These aren’t your average boxer briefs. Leo’s butt-enhancing performance underwear is designed to naturally enhance and lift your butt (giving the impression that you’ve done a few more squats than you actually have). It includes removable padding on the glutes, which increases both the comfort and appearance of your backside.
2(X)IST Men’s Essential Cotton Contour Pouch Brief
Features:
- 4 Stars on Amazon
- 22 ratings
- 80% Cotton, 20% Spandex
- Original contour pouch for boost and support
Advantages:
These compression shorts from 2(X)IST provide shape for both your legs and waist all at once. Made from a blend of cotton and spandex, they’re designed to provide support for your lower back while simultaneously giving you the appearance that you’ve lost two inches off your waistline.
DoLoveY Men Butt Lifter Shapewear
Features:
- 3.5 Stars on Amazon
- 347 ratings
- Available in multiple colors and styles
- 90% polyester, 10% spandex
Advantages:
Fellas, let’s not beat around the butt bush: Available in both black and white and in three different styles – the boxer briefs shown here, high-waisted boxer briefs that provide waist cinching and straight briefs – these are for enhancing everything you keep stored in your boxer briefs.
Leo Butt Enhancement/Lifting Briefs
Features:
- 4 Stars on Amazon
- 126 ratings
- Available in black or white
Advantages:
These are essentially the tighty whitey version of the Leo butt-enhancing boxer briefs featured above. Briefs may not be the most attractive men’s underwear option (at least not according to many women), but a lot of guys think they’re more comfortable. So if you want the butt-enhancing benefits without the excess fabric running down your quads, these are the perfect choice.
Go Beyond the Best Mens Body Shaper
Spanx for men can provide a strong base—now learn what to layer over top
Now that you know which men’s body shapers constitute the best men’s shapewear pieces on the market, you’ll know how to cut a svelte physique underneath your clothes.
But the key word there is “underneath.” While rocking some Spanx for men can help you cut a slimmer profile, making a strong and stylish impression has a lot to do with the clothes that people can actually see – and how you wear them.
If you want to present your most stylish self to the world, the (handsome) devil is in the details. Fortunately, you don’t have to look very far to find the nine details that are most important to putting your best face forward.
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More Fitness, Health & Men’s Style Advice from Irreverent Gent:
- The Best Cheap Workout Clothes for Men
- How to Start – and Stick to – a Workout Plan
- Scared to Go to the Gym? How to Get Over Gymtimidation
- The Best Shorts for Men
- The Absolute Best Men’s Sweatpants and Joggers