Looking for Lightweight, Zippered Men's Shirts with Pockets

Hi everyone - I dress very casually for work. That means a zip sweatshirt almost all year. Summer comes around, and it's impossible to wear that. I looked for big and loose sun protection tops that are lightweight, breathable, short-sleeved, have a zipper, and pockets. I'm quite demanding, but that's what I need. Why? Because with my "doesn't need surgery but is obvious hernia," everything sticks out to a degree that makes me uncomfortable. I'm self-conscious and really don't like being asked by kids (I work at a school), "What's that?" as they point. I don't like adults noticing and wondering either, but at least they don't say anything. It looks like I am carrying a pistol in my waistband with how much is going on. Big and tall and long shirts don't help, but a zipper covering with pockets does. How? Because I put stuff in my other pocket, and it looks like I'm just carrying a bunch of stuff in my pockets. Pullovers with a kangaroo pouch are no good. I can't have stuff in there sliding all over to my appliance side. Bounty for anyone who recommends to me a perfect solution - I will buy you one too if you like :)

Adding: I've tried everything I have found online, but they have hoods, no pockets, are slim-fitting and counterproductive, or have some other flaw.

Short sleeve, zipper, no hood if possible, large size - I'm 6 foot 240, thin as possible.

G-Day my friend,

First, the hernia is able to be operated on, as I proved a couple of years ago, and now I just wear a normal shirt or top.

Second, if you don't want to have an operation, then go back to your pullover with a kangaroo pocket and get it sewn in the middle of the pouch, turning it into a two-sided pouch. Job done.

Regards, IGGIE

Like this….

🔒 Login to see image

www.blair.com. You can also look at Mazel full zip work shirts; just Google it.

Thank you, sir! Sometimes I don't see the forest for the trees. How simple a solution to sew a pouch pocket closed. Eliminating my zipper stipulation opens up a bunch of new possibilities. I don't remember why my surgeon said he didn't want to fix the hernia. Most likely the primary reason was we are converting my illy to a coly soon enough.

Very nice top, but it looks like it doesn't have pockets. I'm so fussy.

How to Get Back to Fitness After Ostomy Surgery with Ryan | Hollister

It has 4 pockets. 🤷‍♂️

Google what you're looking for and find who sells them, then go shopping, my friend. Enjoy.

IGGIE

Dude SAAAAAAAAAME here. So frustrating.

Untuckit does a great job with button-downs. True Classics also work for me, but I'm a bit barrel-chested. You could also try a stealth belt from Siil; that helps "blend" my hernia into the rest of me a bit.

I too have a very large hernia, and yes, I tried to get it fixed. It did not work. I wear a hernia belt and sometimes the Stealth Belt over it. I have worn a hernia belt for over four years now, and it's second nature to me. Personally, it makes a big difference and also secures the device to me. As for shirts, I wear T-shirts one size bigger so it's a loose thick cotton, like L.L. Bean. And for short sleeves, I wear button-downs again one size larger. Yes, I look a little larger than I am, but it does conceal the hernia and bag.

I've worked 5+ years with a hernia that protrudes about an inch. I don't need a zipper front shirt; a baggy button front from Walmart works great. I play golf with a baggy polo shirt. It covers my bag well. Sometimes I play at a "nice" course where everyone's shirt is tucked in. The larger shirt can be pulled out a bit. If that still shows my bulge, my attitude now is, "Who am I trying to impress?" Once I took that attitude, life has gotten so much easier.

How about a cowboy shirt? An embroidered Gunfighter one won't do, but they have them in cotton and in short sleeves, which you prefer. Western attire is rugged and romantic. I have always been fascinated by anything to do with cowboys. I dress in cowboy attire sometimes at work and elsewhere; nobody cares here, and it always gets compliments, many from the opposite sex. Billy the Kid was born in New York City, by the way; nobody dared criticize what he wore. Best wishes.

They are not cheap, but Lululemon has a great line of super stretchy, breathable shirts called “Airing is easy.” I have about four of them, some with pockets and some without.
It looks like the current ones don't have pockets, but they are the most comfortable shirts I own.

🔒 Login to see image

Like Alex, I was going to suggest looking at Haband/Blair. They have a lot of different men's tops, which my husband wears.

Iggy said it best. Can you put a stoma dome over the hernia? Depends on how large it is. MaO won't let me post an image.

I wear short-sleeve vests year-round and long-sleeve when appropriate. It hides the bulge while providing enough pocket space for the usual (and unusual) items I carry around...

Before taking this continually or for long periods of time, you really should look at how dangerous Imodium is!

I have a short-sleeve vest also, and I like it for coverage and carrying things. But I've had trouble finding a good, lightweight, but strong vest. Is there a lightweight brand anyone would recommend?

Guayabera shirts are worn by many down here in Texas, cool, and have pockets. They can look dressy-ish and lots on Amazon. I might look at hemp camp shirts too; they cover my hernia but don't have the pockets.

This one fits the bill, except it does have a hood, but it is short-sleeved, with a zipper, etc.  https://a.co/d/3dBUrp9

I wear black pants or cargo shorts with a black pouch cover (odor-eating fabric; can't remember the name) and Duluth Relaxed Fit (long front and tail) Armachillo fabric T-shirts and polos. They both have a pocket, the polos with a zipper pocket, and the T-shirts with an extra little pocket for a pen. My big phone fits in the pockets, but I hold it if I bend over. The shirts are long enough and loose enough to cover my two-piece pouch. The black cover with black background pants or shorts is not very noticeable if the shirt rides up. They had big and tall. Not sure if they still do.

4 pockets in the front of that shirt.

My problem is that I often attend business, formal, and white tie occasions, and with a peristomal hernia and a prolapse besides, putting a button-down shirt on and trying to tuck it only makes me look like a schlep. Because of that, I simply no longer attend.

I have considered having a vertical cut made in all of my shirts and having the cut surged all the way around much like a large buttonhole, or, alternatively, having the same thing done, only horizontally. But looking into the expense of doing that and having a reliable tailor to perform the surgery on my shirts is a bit more than I feel like spending, though I could do it in installments. And then there is the issue of covering up the ostomy just the same. This would require a waistcoat and in temperatures of nearly 100°, and almost as much humidity, the whole thing seems more than is worth it. But I'm open to some suggestions!

Wow - I didn't see alerts that so many people responded - thank you all. So much good info. I do wear a stealth belt sometimes, but feel I pay a price for doing so. My stoma seems to protrude more, or at least try to, so when I take the belt off it expands - sometimes so big I can't remove my wafer for fear of scratching myself open. I already cut the biggest hole possible in the wafer. My ant hill (that's what I call it) is about the circumference of a grapefruit and the stoma is close to 2 inches long.

I don't care what people think - I am proud I have won my fight and not ashamed I need a medical appliance, but still somehow I am self-conscious. Mostly, I guess, because I want to get on with the day, not explain to people all the time.

I did once get followed by loss prevention in a store who thought I had stuffed something into my waistband. I went to him and said, "I know you have an important job and I want to put your mind at ease. This is a medical device, and I can show you, but I'm not sure you want to see." He smiled and said, "Thank you, that won't be necessary," and stopped following me.

I am checking out all your suggestions tonight! I like the cowboy idea - get me some style for a change!

G-Day Fingers,

I, 99% of the time, wear my shirt on the outside, but when I need to look a little more like the rest of the group in a formal way, I use my IGGIE CLIP to fold the bag up as much as needed, and it helps me to be able to tuck my shirt into my trousers. See attached.

🔒 Login to see image

🔒 Login to see image

I hope this helps, Fingers.

Regards, IGGIE

You want to check out Solumbra as they make really nice, roomy, and versatile sun protection clothing. Quite expensive, but very well made, and their stuff lasts. I've had a couple of their big shirts and sun hat for at least 15 years, and they're still like new. I'm quite chubby and often buy a men's 2X, as I sure as hell don't need form-fitting clothes. I would love to be able to carry my gun, but in Canada, we can't buy handguns anymore because of Trudeau—always coming down on legal gun owners and not the illegal guns. I only have a Walther P1, and thank God I have that and a shotgun. I digress.

I'm all for pro-gun, but I'm not quite sure how not being able to carry a gun has anything to do with finding a shirt to wear. 🤷‍♂️

Alex said he carries a pistol. He wants to conceal it.

Yes, but you ranted about not being able to carry because of Trudeau.

I purchased an all-purpose lightweight vest from TravelSmith. It wears well, and although it is 'pricey,' it seems to last decades—or at least a lot longer than either of my two marriages...

It's dreadful having a prolapse like yours. Mine is also prolapsed, and it makes it very difficult to get much done during the day. Always having to rest every couple of hours interrupts work. Good luck with it.