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Is there a garment more beloved by more people? We put over a dozen to the test to find out. Plus Size Bottoms
The hoodie is a pillar of the casual wardrobe. It has transcended its roots as a sportswear staple and is an essential garment regardless of social class or aesthetic taste. Though the design hasn’t changed much over the years, brands offer versions of the hoodie in a range of quality fabrics unfound in previous decades.
Still comfortable and durable, these sweatshirts show the depth of materials in French terry, fleece-back and double-face constructions. Whether you’re a fan of pullover or zip-up styles, quality fabric makes the garment. Explore the options below and invest in a hoodie worth wearing for years.
Our tester put dozens of hoodies to the test for this guide, wearing them as base- and mid-layers but also on their own as they worked, went to the gym, ran for groceries or met friends for a game at a local bar. Beyond simply wearing them, they inspected each up close, committing hours to understand how each was made, fits and how it'll hold up over time. For the options on this list we didn’t test, we consulted hundreds of user reviews, message boards like Reddit and Style Forum, and our knowledge of reputable brands, fabrics and manufacturing.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
This hoodie utilizes hefty 23 oz fleece from South Carolina. It features a double-lined hood and a reinforced kangaroo pocket. What's more, it's got a 10-year guarantee so if it rips or wears out in a decade, the brand will repair it.
Our tester found it fit well, especially with the raglan sleeves, but the poly blended-in is slightly noticeable, especially if you're someone who's worn 100 percent cotton Champion hoodies your whole life. While it doesn't necessarily feel synthetic, it feels... different, in a way that makes you wonder what exactly it is. That said, the polyester is here to improve its durability and help it stand up to the wash. It doesn't feel stretchy or too sticky, like some synthetics, making it the ideal hoodie, especially at this price.
If you closed my eyes and imagined a hoodie, here you’d land: Adsum's heathered Logo Hoodie. It's made in Canada using 400 GSM heavyweight Canadian fleece, which has been preshrunk to avoid a size change the first time you wash it.
Its raglan sleeves give you room in the armpits, and the slightly oversized fit helps you hide inside like any good hoodie should. It works well with sportier clothing or starched chinos, our tester found, and as far as feel goes, it's the softest to the touch. It's a hoodie, despite the rest of these on this list, our tester returned to it day after day, perhaps even to a fault.
"Are you ever going to wear something else?" our tester’s fiancée asked, on the fourth day of wear. Their answer was no.
(I did cut the strings off, though, because they felt a little long.)
Uniqlo is one of the best-kept non-secrets in fashion. The better basics brand is a go-to for anyone on the style spectrum and its Sweat Pullover is a simple, pared-back hoodie with a fabric stands up to the competition in higher price brackets.
For the price, Quince's super-soft Organic Heavyweight Hoodie hits the mark. It's better than pricier competitors' hoodies — see: Buck Mason, for example — while falling in well under normal retail. That's made possible by being direct to the consumer, shedding the cost of establishing a traditional retail chain or shipping it to multiple wholesalers.
Inside, it's soft against the skin. It also fits well as a true large. What our tester likes most about Quince's hoodie, though, is the kangaroo pocket. It has an angled opening so that your phone or keys won't slide right out of either open end. A small inset seam helps keep things inside, like a catch-all does.
Knickerbocker's natural hoodie comes cut from heavyweight cotton fleece in several tones. It is horizontally knit so it’s less prone to shrinkage in the wash, and its classic look and feel will fit in, even in the modern era.
Our tester found it flattering, despite being somewhat short and pretty square in the shoulders. The fabric is tight, too, meaning it doesn't give. That's good for longevity, but makes moving around — or getting it on and off — a little tough.
Slim-fitting throughout, as evidenced by how it hangs across my chest while staying trim along my torso, Reigning Champ's Midweight Terry Pullover Hoodie is the right weight, provides plenty of warmth and looks great, especially if you have an athletic body type.
Our tester personally doesn’t love the trim look — think: modern classic, a la Todd Snyder — because they like their hoodies a little big: The flat-lock seams helps prevent chafing; the cuffs keep their shape even after repeat stretching; and the raglan sleeves encourage full range of motion.
Made from an all-natural blend of hemp and organic cotton, this hoodie features ribbed hems and cuffs, a snap at the neck and a kangaroo pocket. It's garment-dyed so it looks and feels like a much-loved vintage sweatshirt from the first wear.
We like Everlane's new ReTrack Hoodie a lot, and not just because it's partly made from recycled materials. This option's cotton-poly blend fabric makes this feel more sportswear-oriented, like something you could pair with stretchy chinos or wear overtop a performance dress shirt.
As for fit, this one drapes well — not too tight nor too loose, but it's fitted in the right areas: in the shoulders, at the neck and around the waist. That said, it doesn't billow in the middle, making you look round. In fact, it fits a lot like Adsum's.
Buck Mason makes good basics. Some are great, while others are, well, par for the course. Case in point? Its Brushed Loopback Hooded Sweatshirt, which feels paper-thin, while offering little terms of over-the-top touches. That being said, it's a nice, good-for-them kind of design, even if it doesn't quite compare to its heavyweight T-shirts.
That said, the sleeves are the right length, which is often not the case for true large sweatshirts. We don't love the contrasting strings on this option — they’re probably best cut out — and the reinforced elbows are a little harsh, even if they're there for a good reason. The elbows are where most sweatshirts go first, and the addition is cost-saving, even if they're slightly distracting.
Champion invented the hoodie, so it makes sense that the century-old company makes a pretty good one. It has the signature reverse weave fabric for which the brand is known, which is tough and won’t shrink in the length. Several users describe the unisex fit as tough to nail down, though, and the fabric as very stiff.
If you need an extra warm hood, Sunspel’s Loopback Hoodie is double lined for extra insulation and no exposed lining. Its fabric makeup provides another layer of warmth and prevent shrinkage, plus it feels cozier on the body, especially if you’re into wearing your hoodies without an undershirt. Of course, its lux construction also has the price to match, but that’s to be expected from a company preferred by James Bond.
Russell Athletic is best-known for literally inventing the sweatshirt — Champion coined the hood — so if you’re one to gravitate to the real deal, look no further. Its Dri-Power Pullover Fleece Hoodie comes with baby soft fleece fabric and vintage details like the v-insert, drawstring and a comfortable relaxed fit. It’s a no-frills hoodie that customers love for its loose fit and soft, durable fabric.
Made from a mix of 60-percent cotton and 40-percent polyester, Richer Poorer's recycled fleece hoodie is about as simple as it gets — in a good way. It's plain with no logos or graphics, and it comes in four. What our tester likes most about Richer Poorer's hoodie is the wide-set kangaroo pocket and oversized hood. Both are deviations from standard hoodie design, but in a good way. The pocket doesn't just span your belly button, but it covers your entire lower half, offering plenty of space for both hands.
Stylish running brand Tracksmith makes essentials for jaunts around town, and get-togethers, too. This Trackhouse Sweatshirt doesn't lean too hard into sportswear, making it something you could pair with casual outfits. Plus, it's cut from reverse-weave cotton that won't shrink or pill.
That said, it feels different from the rest of the hoodies on this list. More like soft, spandex underwear than a hoodie, this guy gives and stretches when you do, which made this the ideal sweatshirt for our tester to wear to workout classes or during the occasional stretch session. It's versatile, though, so if you get coffee afterward, you won't look like you're wearing head-to-toe workout gear.
Made from super heavyweight fleece-back fabric, this sweatshirt has an oversize fit and is garment-dyed for a lived-in appearance. The hood doesn't have drawstrings and the hoodie is pre-washed so it won't shrink. At the time of this writing, you can grab one in one of 15 colors.
British supermodel David Gandy's clothing line, David Gandy Wellwear, competes with luxury lines like Sunspel, not celeb-backed brands like Skims or Yeezy, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's respective lines. As such, this particular piece is less streetwear than fine loungewear. It's soft, comfortable and hard not to wear on repeat –– doubly so because of its anti-odor treatment that reduces the need to wash so often, which David Gandy claims holds up after 40 washes.
Made from organic cotton in a fair trade certified factory, Pact's hoodie is soft and lightweight yet plenty sturdy. Plus, most of the colors can be paired with matching bottoms. As thick and durable as this hoodie is, several users say that it fits less more snug than advertised, and the pieces are very lengthy.
Les Tien's luxe Heavyweight Hoodie is cut from vintage textured, made-in-the-US fleece. It's fine and soft to the touch yet plenty durable. Think Los Angeles Apparel but upgraded in every way, from its heft and durability to the U.S. quality cotton. Plus, gold-plated grommets give it a vintage feel. A lack of drawstrings may be a drawback for some, but that doesn’t seem to bother celebrities like Drake and Billie Eilish.
A luxury fabric at a non-lux price, Quince’s Mongolian Cashmere Pullover Hoodie is an incredibly soft hoodie. It fits close to the body to make for a great baselayer, airport fit or lounge piece, and several reviewers say it’s a super comfortable top for the cooler seasons. Given that it’s cashmere, however, hand-wash only may be a chore for those who don’t like keeping up with delicate fabrics.
Sometimes referred to as loopback cotton, this fabric is warp-knitted with a flat face and loops on the underside, which serve the same purpose as the loops on a towel: to absorb moisture and sweat. Most commonly offered in 100 percent cotton, French terry can also include added elastane for stretch.
To create fleece-back fabrics, the underside of a knitted fabric is brushed with sandpaper or wire brushes until the yarn becomes soft and fleecy. This technique can be applied to many knitted cotton fabrics and is utilized for its velvety hand feel.
This material is made up of two interlocking knitted fabrics. A double-knitted jersey, for example, comprises two single jerseys knitted together so that both the underside and outside of the fabric are flat. Domestically, the Northwestern Knitting Co. has a proprietary knitted fabric made of two distinct layers, while internationally, brands like Norse Projects utilize this material.
Contrary to cotton, jersey is not a fabric but a type of knit. This knit offers stretch and shape retention without additional material or synthetic fibers.
This is a technique invented in 1938 that calls for heavy-duty cotton cut on the cross-grain to prevent shrinkage. Rather than stitching the sweatshirt vertically, Champion, the originators, did so horizontally and with side panels to nearly eliminate the possibility altogether.
Ounces are how most brands measure the weight of their hoodie. 13-18 oz is considered heavy.
This is the front pocket found on most hoodies. They typically have two points of entry on either side.
"Hoodies are about attachment," American Trench designer (and hoodie collector) Phat Phu says. "They're almost as important as a T-shirt. Everyone needs at least one hoodie that’s personal to them, something they wear all the time, something uniform."
As for what to look for, he identifies four prerequisites: "Warmth, fit, hood size, design — these are variables we all weigh when making a purchase," he says. "For a T-shirt, the design can be okay, or the fit could be meh, or it can be less-than-comfortable. But at a lower price point and for a brand you enjoy, you'll make it happen. Hoodies are a bigger investment. They need to check off all the boxes. They need to be balanced."
Thicker, more tightly knit hoodies will help trap heat better, making them ultimately warmer. For winter, opt for a heavier style.
There are loads of ways a hoodie could fit: oversized, tight, slim, cropped, you name it. Most like their hoodies slightly oversized, because with more room, comfy, cozy attributes are enhanced. A big hoodie is a hideaway.
Our tester has a big head and prefers wearing hats, so a bigger hood provides ample room for both. Smaller hood sizes make sense for someone who will never wear theirs up, but a big hood is preferable for folks who like hiding inside it.
"I've never felt guilty about wearing a hoodie in any setting," Phu says. But he agrees that it "depends on how you wear it." Hoodies are more acceptable than ever. "I think almost every brand has a hoodie for sale now," he adds.
Extra Large Tshirt Women As for his boss, American Trench owner Jacob Hurwitz, he doesn't like wearing hoodies in formal settings. "When I am going to a nice restaurant, I want to wear tailored clothing," he explains. "I want to wear a blazer. But that doesn't mean I have to abandon comfortable knits — [the] hoodie's cousin, the crewneck, can look great in a setting like that."