It was a good shirt as it is lightweight and dries fairly quickly. I used 5 medium shirts as a tank top at a time and it lasted about a year before the fabric thinned and stretched a size up. I still think it's a good buy, mostly because it's comfortable. As for sizing, buy your actual size - it will not be loose or tight; but if you want the compression to hold your tummy, go down a size. I'm 6ft 2in and 180lbs and I usually wear medium sized clothes. The length of this shirt is normal even if you are my size.