The Best Hoodies for Men: Which Style Is Right for You?

The humble hoodie has come a long way since its gradual emergence as a style statement in the 1970s. By the ‘90s, they were already ubiquitous, and have remained so, which makes sense: They’re warm, comfortable, and can be dressed up or down as appropriate. What’s not to like? If you’re on the hunt for the perfect one, check out our list of the best hoodies for men and discover which one’s right for you.

Our picks for the best hoodies for men

What makes a hoodie a hoodie?

“A hoodie is a type of sweatshirt that has a hood attached to it—it’s exactly what it says on the tin!” says Josh Herbert, founder of fashion publication Captain Creps. “Hoodies are typically made of cotton or a cotton blend, and can come in a variety of weights—this is often also what dictates the price, particularly high-end hoodies, which have a heavier feel than their cheaper counterparts.”

How to style a hoodie

“A hoodie is versatile: You can wear a sweat jersey hoodie to the gym; a more refined cashmere or merino hoodie under a suit or jacket; or the newest trend, if you want to show off your abs, is a lightweight T-shirt jersey cropped hoodie to the beach,” says Hanshaw. “The most practical way to style a hoodie if you live in a colder climate is layering it under a coat or jacket, where it looks both functional and cool.”

“The beauty of a hoodie is that it can be styled a number of ways, however I would always recommend straight-leg chinos and slip-on sneakers,” says Herbert. “Essentially, the classic skater look that seemingly never goes out of style.”

What to consider when shopping for hoodies

“The first priority is purpose,” says Hanshaw. “Is it for casual wear, or maybe the gym? Or do you want a designer hoodie to wear out, or maybe a cashmere hoodie for a casual Friday? Once you determine the use, the fit is the next decision (do you want a slimmer or fuller body style?) and after that, whether you want plain or printed.”

“Make sure that you actually try the hoodie on so you can feel the weight of it and get an idea of the ‘true’ size,” says Herbert. “For example, brands like Carhartt and Cole Buxton will have a weightier, heavier construct with an oversized look, in comparison to cheaper ‘blanks’ like Fruit of the Loom and Gildan.”

How we selected the best hoodies

We made our selections through a combination of expert advice, personal experience, and customer reviews.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Which is the best hoodie brand?

“Champion is the brand that brought the hoodie style we recognize today onto the market, back in the ‘30s, and they remain a well-respected, quality athletic brand,” says Hanshaw. “This brand is the base for many of the athletic and university logo'd hoodies. There are thousands of hoodies out there from almost all brands that sell a full line of men's clothing, so whether you like H&M or Gucci, chances are your favorite brand has a hoodie that is right for you.”

“I love Nike and Champion for hoodies, personally, but there are now fashion brands that make quite the selection,’ says Vargas. “Brands like CMFRT, Reformation, even Alo Yoga and Hotel Collection.”

What is the best color hoodie for men?

“Black or gray is always a staple color to have,” says Vargas. “If you’re feeling adventurous, then start moving into the neutrals like browns or camel.”

“Hoodies come in pretty much every color, so it makes sense to find a color that works back to your wardrobe,” says Hanshaw. “Or, since you probably have a few in your closet, you might want to pick a tone that would add a pop of color to your wardrobe.”

What is the highest quality hoodie material?

“There are hoodies made from cashmere and other luxury fabrics, but the vast majority of hoodies are made from a cotton polyester blend, so you need to look at two aspects when determining the quality,” says Hanshaw. “First, the weight of the fabric, the proportion of cotton, and how soft and comfortable it is. The cotton allows the fabric to breathe and not hold odors and perspiration as much as a polyester fabric.”

“Then, look at the quality of the construction,” Hanshaw continues. “Does it have grommets or sewn openings for the drawstring? Does the drawstring have aglets in metal or plastic, or just a knot? Is there a banding in the collar to reduce seam stress? If it has a zipper, what is the quality of the zipper? These are all things to look at when determining the highest quality hoodie.”

What looks good under a hoodie?

“A tee shirt looks best under a hoodie, but anything that doesn’t cause bumps and bulges where they shouldn't be is a good idea,” says Hanshaw.

“A slightly oversized T-shirt looks great under a hoodie,” suggests Herbert. “You’re giving that added pop of color to the outfit whilst remaining true to the style of the hoodie.”