Where can I buy more durable summer basics?

July 22, 2024 6:41 AM

I'm looking for women's shorts and tank tops that are durable enough for hiking and travel but don't look too sporty for casual social gatherings. The ones I buy from places like Target and Old Navy always fall apart, and I'm willing to spend more to buy higher-quality pieces that I can repair as needed. Does anyone have recommendations?

My summertime uniform is a combo of women's shorts and tank tops that I buy at places like Target and Old Navy. I aim to choose pieces that are durable enough for hiking and travel but don't look too sporty for casual social gatherings. But after a year or two my shorts are perpetually wrinkly and get holes between the legs, and my tank tops have little holes and stretch marks all over them. I try to sew or patch them they usually tear again anyway. I'm willing to spend more to buy higher-quality pieces that I can repair as needed. But my fear is that I will spend a bunch of money and then they will wear out in a year anyway.

Does anyone have recommendations for durable shorts, tank tops, etc. that last a decent amount of time? I'm mostly looking for basics, but I also like shirts with fun patterns or other styles of knit tops. I dislike visible brand logos but I'd make an exception if it's something you really love and can vouch for.

posted by moleplayingrough to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (21 answers total)

I associate Athleta, Duluth Trading Company, and Columbia with durability, versatility, and minimal logo visibility. Athleta is probably the priciest of the three brands, but watch for sales.
posted by little mouth at 6:53 AM on July 22

Pact is great - I have some nice hiking shorts from them (not for sale on their site at the moment) and a bunch of basic tanks that have all held up well and are suitable for everywhere a plain tank would be suitable (the tanks are 4+ years old, I've only had the shorts about a year). They're also great for taller socks (the no-show socks slide down - avoid those).
posted by snaw at 6:53 AM on July 22

L.L.Bean has great, very modest, stuff geared for outdoor and casual use, very high quality, and if it falls apart in less than a year you can return it to them.
posted by anastasiav at 6:55 AM on July 22

I have some Prana hiking shorts and icebreaker merino t-shirts that have been alternating between backpacking and the pub for years.
posted by TORunner at 6:57 AM on July 22

Second Duluth Trading. My wife is a huge fan of their Flexpidition line and I recently got some and liked the stretch in the fabric, water resistance, and slightly durable feel on the few hikes I took with them. Also serve as a great travel pant because they play the double duty of hiking and nice casual line so well.
posted by advicepig at 6:59 AM on July 22

Seconding Athleta. Most of my stuff is sportier than you'd want but I love that their cuts are very versatile -- even the actual workout clothes feel tidy enough that I don't feel weird wearing them to the store, fr ex.

Every piece I have from there is still going strong years later, despite some really hard use and lots of washing (because I love them & wear the hell out of them).
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 7:28 AM on July 22

REI has a lot of this, I find. Rarely cheap, but reliable. If you can monitor their sales of returned-barely-used, all the better.
posted by clew at 8:00 AM on July 22

After years of dealing with this, I finally started investing in Patagonia shorts - more $ upfront, but considerably more durable, and they will repair damaged items that are reparable for free.
posted by ryanshepard at 8:11 AM on July 22

I've found Amazon Basics to not be anywhere as good as Duluth, but a significant step up from Old Navy.
posted by metasarah at 8:20 AM on July 22

Do you have a Costco nearby? They have great stuff really reasonable.
posted by beccaj at 9:00 AM on July 22

After years of dealing with subpar shorts I bought 1 of every colour of these du/er shorts and have not had to think about shorts since.
posted by btfreek at 9:24 AM on July 22

You may need to buy heavier-weight knits or get a higher percentage polyester, thin knits are inherently delicate and hard to repair. Woven fabric is likely to hold up better.

I just lean into gorpcore and get clothes from REI on clearance. Thrift stores are a good way to try out new styles / brands and get a sense for how things hold up, go to a wealthy neighborhood if possible. Used clothes from outdoor stores tend to have been well-loved or have obvious design flaws, in my experience.
posted by momus_window at 9:28 AM on July 22

Thirding Athleta, which is (surprisingly enough) also great for dresses. But definitely wait for their sales--basically everything goes on sale eventually, and at some point the sale always ends up in the "extra 20% off" stage, and then it's quite reasonably priced. The J. Crew sale section is also great for affordable, durable tank tops, though I'm less enthused about their shorts.
posted by dizziest at 10:18 AM on July 22

Athleta is great, and they have a flash sale going on for the next day or two. I got some normally $89 leggings for $69.
posted by A Blue Moon at 10:29 AM on July 22

Lands' End is another good source.
posted by wryly at 12:11 PM on July 22

Icebreaker, Prana, and I'm in love with these shorts from the outdoor brand Black Diamond which I originally bought on sale from Sierra and then have bought a bunch more when they've gone on sale for ~$35ish instead of $85 list.
posted by deludingmyself at 2:19 PM on July 22

I have t-shirts and tank tops that I bought at Walmart for a few bucks that have lasted a decade or more, they've held their color and their shape. If you're getting a lot of small holes in your clothes it could also be your washer or dryer.
posted by mareli at 5:30 PM on July 22

I’ve gotten some really nice stuff from Eddie Bauer lately.
posted by haptic_avenger at 5:38 PM on July 22

I know it has a “boomer” rep but truthfully Talbots has decent stuff. (I received a pair of shorts from there as a gift, and the plain fact is they’re well-made and comfortable.)
posted by cotton dress sock at 9:37 PM on July 22

If you have a Sierra near you, you can usually find a good number of these brands (and other good quality outdoor brands) for solid discounts, with the added bonus that you can try everything on in-store. That'd be my first stop. As noted above, thrift shops aren't usually great for outdoor clothes (and for me, not shorts, because the selection is usually very strange.) However, they are RICH with tank tops this time of year, and I've had great success getting a bunch of random styles and fabrics for super cheap. This would let you try different fabrics/knits/cuts without stressing on price. Some of my favorite tanks are linen and heavy cotton thrift finds from random brands that look to be of 90s-00s vintage when clothes were made to last longer.
posted by luzdeluna at 6:55 AM on July 23

Duluth Trading I can't recommend enough; I have tons of their clothing and it all lasts and still looks new years later. Also Lands End and L.L. Bean.
posted by annieb at 4:39 PM on July 25