Looking for the rundown on Buck Mason? In this hands-on Buck Mason clothing review, I’ll share my thoughts about this popular clothing brand.
Internet-first menswear brands have totally changed the fashion scene in the past decade. Without the need to subsidize big storefronts or go through as many middlemen, they often offer top-quality fashion at affordable prices for the average guy.
Buck Mason is one of the best online-native menswear brands, so I was stoked to try out a half-dozen of their staple items.
In this Buck Mason review, I’ll give you my honest opinions of their t-shirts, button-ups, shorts, pants, and polos—including how they fit me as a shorter guy and who each fit might be best for.
About Buck Mason
Two neighbors from Venice, California—Sasha Koehn and Erik Allen—founded Buck Mason in 2013. They set up in a tiny garage on the outskirts of their neighborhood and obsessed over quality and construction while creating their website and first lineup of t-shirts and jeans.
While they no longer make all of their clothes in that same “suburban factory,” Buck Mason still puts a great deal of attention to detail into all their clothing. Their pieces, designed as riffs on iconic American classics, are made to last both stylistically and in terms of durability.
For more details on what goes into every piece of Buck Mason clothing, it’s worth checking out their process for sourcing, knitting, sewing, and selling their clothes.
Key Factors Before Buying From Buck Mason
Even though I had a pretty good experience with Buck Mason, like any brand, there are things you should be aware of before purchasing. First, there are certainly some fit and sizing issues. Many customers report sizing inconsistencies. As you’ll read below, some things fit spot-on while others have minor issues like a wide short opening or long inseams for men of modest height. You might want to check out other Buck Mason reviews (besides this one) to get a better understanding of the brand’s fit.
Additionally, while Buck Mason’s clothes are of high quality and craftsmanship, they have a price tag to match. If you’re uncomfortable with spending $158 on pants or $50 on a T-shirt, this might not be the brand for you.
Last, Buck Mason has an excellent return policy. As long as the items you purchase are new with the tags still attached, you have 365 days to return them. If you are not near a Buck Mason store, the brand charges an $8 return shipping fee, which you’ll see as a deduction from your return total.
My Build
For reference, I’m 5’6” in shoes and about 125 lbs after dinner. I have a 35” chest and almost always order XS tops. My off-the-rack suit jacket size would be 34S, and my ideal pant size is usually 28×28.
Buck Mason Review: What I Tried
I wanted to see what Buck Mason offers across its entire lineup of wardrobe staples, so I picked up five items: a T-shirt, button-down, knit polo, pants, and shorts. Let’s take a look at each of them in more detail.
Buck Mason T-shirt Review: The Pima Classic Tee
This is one of the items that Buck Mason still makes entirely in the USA from American-grown cotton. It’s a really nice shirt with a modern fit—not super tapered, but not oversized or baggy.
What I really like about these tees is that you can actually get them in two different lengths: Short or tall. That made it easy to find a T-shirt that was a perfect fit for me as a shorter guy. Just check out the pictures to see how well it fits!
Additionally, this is a T-shirt built to last. I’ve put it through quite a few wash cycles already, and it’s holding up great. That’s probably because of the durable 145 GSM cotton construction and the double-stitched flat seams. I’d highly recommend this T-shirt, especially for shorter guys.
Twill Short Sleeve One Pocket Button Down
Buck Mason advertises the Draped Twill S/S One Pocket Shirt as a “slim, casual button-up cut from a silky cotton blend,” and I definitely agree. First, the brand makes it from a nice fabric. It’s heavier than linen but breathes better than regular cotton. It also seems like it’s pretty durable as well, so that’s a big plus.
This shirt’s color options are classic, from navy to black, natural tan, and light green. These great neutral tones make it easy to pair this sort of shirt with anything in your closet.
While this shirt is still a good fit for shorter guys, it’s a little bit too long to wear untucked. You could get it hemmed, but that might change the taper a little bit. So, I’d recommend buying this if you like wearing your shirts tucked in.
Carry-On 6.5 Inch Shorts
Next up is one of the brand’s most popular shorts. They have a lot of cuts and fits, but their Carry-On shorts are a real classic cut and fit made from a 5.5-ounce stretch cotton fabric.
I love the color on these; they go well with just about anything from the Buck Mason catalog.
The weight and quality are great, too. The shorts seem like they’ll last for years and get better with age.
I’m pleased with the fit of these shorts around the waist and hips. However, because I have pretty thin legs, the leg opening is definitely too wide for me. Since it’s not the most flattering silhouette, I’d prefer having a slim fit option here. However, they look good on the models online, so your mileage may vary.
Slub Twill Maverick Slim Officer Pants
Buck Mason makes the Slim Officer Pants with an 8.9-ounce cotton twill fabric with a light slub texture that’s visually appealing. That gives them a heavy-duty feel, with only a slightly heavier fabric — these are definitely not the stretchy performance pants that have become so popular lately.
These pants offer a more relaxed fit than might be great for shorter and slimmer guys, but they still have a decent taper towards the calves and ankles. The only problem is, they’re made with a 32 ¼ inch inseam across the board — meaning that if you’re on the shorter side, you’ll have to get them hemmed or wear them cuffed.
Overall, these pants are well made. I like their drawstring waist! However, they pose some challenges to shorter and thinner guys, who’ll probably require adjustments and tailoring to dial in the fit.
Avalon Knit Polo
Are you tired of the preppy look of pique polos? Then something like the Avalon Knit Polo will be perfect for you. It has a much more retro look, almost like a blend between a polo and a sweater. I could see Don Draper wearing one of these while on vacation, sitting poolside, and drinking cocktails.
This shirt fits super well, with a flattering cut and fit. It’s tight around the biceps, too, so it’s even more flattering if you work out. It’s maybe an inch or two too long for me — but that’s just getting into nitpicky details. Overall, I’m very satisfied with this polo.
Pros and Cons
Some overall pros of Buck Mason: It’s a cool brand. They’re not making trendy, of-the-moment clothes, but more of a modern classic style. That puts them in a category with J. Crew, but more rugged and less preppy. The overall quality is excellent for the price, and I’m especially happy that they have t-shirts available in both short and tall lengths.
Overall cons: You might have trouble finding Buck Mason clothes that are your size, depending on your height and build. The brand’s regular-fit shirts are a bit too long for shorter guys, and their pants and shorts aren’t a slim enough fit for slimmer guys. So, you’ll probably need to shop around and take advantage of the brand’s outstanding return and exchange policy to find the exact fit you’re looking for.
To see how the products rank, check out the table below.
Buck Mason Clothing FAQs
Before we wrap up, I also want to answer a few questions I’ve heard guys asking online about Buck Mason.
Is Buck Mason Made in China?
Buck Mason makes its clothes in various locations, both domestic and international. The brand may make some of its clothes in China.
Do Buck Mason Shirts Shrink?
Buck Mason makes most of its shirts from high-quality cotton, which means they will not shrink in the wash.
What Is Buck Mason Known For?
Many know Buck Mason for their modern, classic, rugged style.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, you could just shop at Buck Mason and have a really cool-looking wardrobe. They’ve done a great job of making a cool and desirable brand, and their clothing is on point, too — durable but stylish.
I’m confident that you’ll enjoy the brand as long as you’re willing to try on a few of their items to find your perfect fit.
What do you think of Buck Mason? Let us know in the comments below. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the Modest Man newsletter to receive our latest content right in your inbox.
Nothing wrong with made in China clothes as long as the quality control is there. Most of my Polo Ralph Lauren and RRL wardrobe is made there – and it’s excellent.
Yes, made in China is no longer shorthand for low quality — it all depends on the manufacturer.
Do your t-shirts run small or large, or are they true to size (not much is!)?
Great review very helpful. What shoes are you wearing – they look really cool.
I feel like the polo and maybe the pants are the only ones I like much. The t shirt is ok but not so much for the price.
Also gotta hope any of the $100+ stuff isn’t made in China at that price point :/
I am assuming you bought XS in all items including the t-shirt? It’s not mentioned in the review, but that’s what you normally seem to get.
Sorry, forgot to include that info! Yes, all XS for the tops, and 28 for bottoms.