Polo shirts are among the most recognizable and timeless types of shirts for men. Characterized by their collared necks, two or three fastening buttons, and short sleeves, polos are so common, nearly every menswear brand you can think of makes one.
As much as I love a classic polo shirt, the Public Rec Go-To Polo has become my favorite choice for its standout comfort and versatility. The shirt aims to blur the lines between workwear and weekend, and it does so in a way that's hard to beat.
I first tested the Go-To Polo in 2018 when it launched, so I decided to test it again, and I was quickly reminded why I love these polos so much. It's stretchy, lightweight, wrinkle-free, and just as the name suggests, it can be your go-to polo for any occasion.
Athleisure brand Public Rec just made the most versatile polo shirt ever — the Go-To Polo.
Founded in 2015 by former investment banker Zach Goldstein, Public Rec was created to fill the industry void of quality loungewear that men are comfortable wearing outside their home.
The shirt is made from a proprietary fabric blend of Pima Cotton, TENCEL, and Spandex, which is designed to wick moisture and never shrink while staying soft and stretchy.
When I first tested the Go-To Polo, I commuted to New York City five days a week for work. I loved the shirt because it stood out in work settings without getting wrinkled before I made it into the office.
Now, I have an even greater appreciation for its design. I primarily work from home, and quite frankly, I can wear whatever I want most of the time, so when I do get dressed, comfort is absolutely imperative — and the Go-To Polo always meets my needs.
What it's like to wear
The Go-To Polo gets the job done for long summer days at the park with my son or workweek days when I decide to commute into the office or work at a local coffee shop. When your priorities for comfort and function shift on a day-to-day basis, the versatility of this polo won't let you down.
On my busiest days in the Go-To Polo, I wore it to the office, out for dinner, and to the gym for a late-night workout. Finding a shirt that's business casual enough for work, but made to perform well in a gym, is otherwise pretty impossible. Of course, there are plenty of performance dress shirts on the market, but realistically, you won't be doing full workout sets them. With the Go-To Polo, any physical activity is completely doable, and you won't look out of place while wearing it.
How the material holds up to repeated use
The fact that the Go-To Polo never loses its shape is a major bonus. My biggest peeve in regards to polos is when the collar loses its shape, becoming droopy and sloppy. To me, at that point, the shirt is unwearable. That will never be an issue with the Go-To Polo because the collar is made from the same stretchy material as the rest of the shirt. I've worn, washed, and dried my Go-To Polo many times, and it's always come out of the laundry in perfectly good condition.
I love Ralph Lauren polos — they're iconic, oftentimes collectible, and I admittingly own a ton of them — but when it comes to form and function, the Public Rec Go-To Polo is an all around better design. As you can see in the close-up picture above, the collar isn't warped or wrinkled. There's not much more you could ask for out of a polo.
The bottom line
The Public Rec Go-To Polos are a smart buy for anyone. Even if you have no plans of wearing them for workouts or heavy physical activity, they're still more comfortable and will last much longer than traditional cotton polos.
If you're looking for a versatile, stylish, and well-fitting shirt you can wear anywhere and everywhere this spring and summer, I strongly recommend the Public Rec Go-To Polo.
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