Buck Mason Review: What to Buy & What to Avoid

Looking for the rundown on Buck Mason? In this hands-on 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 for subsidizing big storefronts or going through as many middlemen, they often offer top-quality fashion at prices that are approachable for the average guy.

Buck Mason is one of the best of these online-native menswear brands, so I was stoked to have a chance to try out a half dozen or so 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 both how they fit for 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 back in 2013.

Setting up in a tiny garage on the outskirts of their neighborhood, they 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.

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.

What I Tried

I wanted to see what Buck Mason has to offer across their whole lineup of wardrobe staples, so I picked up five items: A t-shirt, button-down, knit polo, a pair of pants, and a pair of shorts.

Let’s take a look at each of them in more detail.

Pima Classic Tee

This is one of the items that Buck Mason still makes entirely in the USA, from American-grown cotton. And it’s a really nice shirt, with a modern fit. That makes it 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 good it fits!

Additionally, this really seems like a t-shirt that’s 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 this as a “slim, casual button up cut from a silky cotton blend,” and I’d definitely agree.

First, it’s made from a really nice fabric. It’s heavier than linen but breathes better than regular cotton. It also seems like it’s quite durable as well, so that’s a big plus.

This shirt’s color options are classic, from navy, to black, to a natural tan, and to light green. They’re great neutral tones, and make it really 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 be worn 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 really 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 just seem like they’re going to last for years and get better with age.

For the fit, I’m pleased with how these shorts fit around the waist and hips. But I have pretty thin legs, so the leg opening is definitely too wide for me.

Since it’s not the most flattering silhouette, I’d really prefer having a slim fit option here. They look good on the models online, though, so your mileage may vary.

Slub Twill Maverick Slim Officer Pants

The Slim Officer Pants are made 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 do pose some challenges to shorter and thinner guys, where they’ll probably require adjustments and tailoring to really get the fit dialed in.

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 definitely see Don Draper wearing one of these while he’s 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 if you work out, it’s even more flattering. It’s maybe an inch or two too long for me — but that’s really just getting into nitpicky details. Overall I’m very satisfied with this polo.

Pros and Cons

So some overall pros of Buck Mason: It’s a really 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 great 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.

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 their clothes in a variety of locations, both domestic and international. Some of their clothes may be made in China.

Do Buck Mason Shirts Shrink?

Most of Buck Mason’s shirts won’t shrink much in the wash because they’re made from high-quality cotton.

What Is Buck Mason Known For?

Buck Mason is known 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.

As long as you’re willing to try on a few of their items to find your perfect fit, I’m confident that you’ll really enjoy the brand.

Questions? Comments? Leave them below!