The best zip-up hoodies for men are like a fashion flashback to my days as a hopelessly romantic high school kid. My most impressionable years were marred by angst and soundtracked by pop punk, emo, and indie rock. The thing that held it all together? A zip-up hoodie and healthy dose of heartbreak. The zip hoodie was core to the indie aesthetic, with every forlorn frontman sporting one over a thrashed ringer tee and slim jeans. But nostalgia never seems to stay in the past, especially when fashion is involved.
Sifting through 2000s pop culture has resuscitated everything from wired headphones to Freaky Friday, which means zip-up hoodies are back and have all but usurped the pullover hoodie as the sweat du jour. Of course, there's no replacing the pullover hoodie. Don't be silly. But the versatility and practicality of the zip hoodie isn't up for debate. With the flick of the zip, you can put your beloved Death Cab for Cutie tee on full display while letting your pits breathe, or keep it zipped up to the top when it's just a bit too nippy out. It's got the styling dexterity and these days, there are more options than the usual Champion and Russell Athletics we were raised on.
So I dusted off Transatlanticism and went on a search for the best zip-up hoodies on the market. The good news is that the old classics are still good. The better news is that there's a lot of great competition to choose from.
The Best Men’s Zip-Up Hoodies, According to GQ
Best Zip-Up Hoodie Overall: Uniqlo Sweat Full-Zip Hoodie
Uniqlo’s no-nonsense clean aesthetic and low price point has made it a go-to for any menswear enjoyer looking for good style on a budget. While the brand excels at cashmere sweaters, T-shirts, and a slew of homerun collabs, the Japanese label’s sweats are criminally underrated. We’d go so far as to say that they should be talked in the same breath as brands like Champion and Sunspel. This zip up hoodie took us by surprise thanks to its comfy midweight, all-cotton fabric and solid construction. But the main selling point is the impeccable fit.
So many other brands cut their hoodies too long in the body and leave you looking like Jack Skellington’s pubescent brother. Uniqlo managed to cut its French terry hoodie to sit right at the hips which makes for a more classic and natural silhouette that’s neither lanky nor sloppy. Because of the fabric, the feel, and the overall fit, this is my favorite zip-up hoodie by a sizable margin. It’s my most-worn hoodie and has yet to show signs of any fraying.
| Body Fabric | 100% cotton |
| Sizes | XXS-3XL |
| Colors | 6 |
Best Upgrade Zip-Up Hoodie: Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard Zip Hoodie
It’s hard not to sing the praises of Reigning Champ, a brand that built its fleece empire on sweatpants and hoodies. The Canadian label’s flagship midweight terry fabric has drawn the attention of streetwear royalty and menswear buffs alike and its dedication to quality has elevated the humble hoodie to oxygen-deprived heights. We named Reigning Champ’s crewneck sweatshirt and pullover hoodie as among our favorites in their respective categories, and the same goes for its zip-up hooded sweatshirt. It’s made of the same 100% cotton French terry fabric as its superlative-earning brethren and is cut with high-quality flatlock stitching for a smooth, un-bulky feel.
I had high expectations for Reigning Champ, given my previous experience, and I’m not surprised at all with how nice this zip-up is. And while I'm partial to the standard fit, it’s also available in a slim fit version, too.
| Body Fabric | 100% cotton |
| Sizes | XS-XXL |
| Colors | 9 |
Best Budget Zip-Up Hoodie: Hanes EcoSmart Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie
Hoodies were originally meant for sportswear, as warm up gear before a grueling game of football. These days, they’re more often worn for lounging on the couch to watch the kickoff. And if you want to kick it in comfort while saving your pennies for booze and amuse bouche for the big game with the boys, the best budget zip up hoodie to buy is Hanes’ EcoSmart zip hoodie. The fit is spot on—relaxed, but not sloppy, comfy in the body and the sleeves without swallowing you like a sand pit.
The fit is impressive for the price, and the overall quality means you’re getting a little more than what you pay for. It’s not a hoodie that’ll last you for too long, but it is a good quality piece for just 15 bucks. And when other hoodies offer lesser quality and worse-fitting options for about the same price? The answer is clear.
| Body Fabric | 50/50 cotton/polyester |
| Sizes | S-3XL |
| Colors | 15 |
Best Fashion Zip-Up Hoodie: Our Legacy Level Hoodie
Hoodies live in a universe well beyond the sportswear world from which they originated. And while we still enjoy the OGs and the classics that made the hoodie a bona fide menswear must-have, we also love seeing all the ways the style has been pushed, tweaked, and freaked. Our Legacy's Level Hood has been a successful avenue for the Stockholm-based brand to explore the limits of the hoodie and this particular version strikes a delicate balance between the freaky and the fashion-curious. It's made of an English wool knit into an all-over ribbed texture for a throwback '90s feel. The cropped, boxy silhouette and elongated sleeves harken back to the grunge-y era, while the sultry dual-tone nightshade colorway throws you off in the best way possible.
| Body Fabric | 100% English wool |
| Sizes | 44-54 (EUR) |
| Colors | 2 |
Best Cropped Zip-Up Hoodie: Abercrombie & Fitch Essential Cropped Zip Hoodie
Menswear influencers will be happy to regale you with their TedTalk on the golden ratio of clothing proportions. Essentially, that means your outfit should be divided into three equal sections where the top takes up one third of the outfit. Basically, your tops should be cropped and sit closer to your natural waist. Follow it up with some high-waisted pants with a wide silhouette and you’ve instantly garnered 300K views on TikTok (RIP). With so many indie brands and influencers scrambling to make their own versions of “the perfect cropped hoodie” you’re probably tired of wading through all the choices. Do yourself a favor and go to Abercrombie.
The Moose’s version is backed by actual trend forecasters, actual designers, and actual fit models. What does that mean, exactly? It means that its cropped zip hoodie fits really well and uses surprisingly beefy fabric. It was a revelation for me, too—Abercrombie wasn’t a name I associated with hoodies, but after I saw this in person, I had to readjust my menswear word cloud.
| Body Fabric | 70/30 cotton/polyester |
| Sizes | XS-XXL (plus Tall) |
| Colors | 16 |
Best Heavyweight Zip-Up Hoodie: Camber Heavyweight Hoodie
Some of the best zip-up hoodies for men are made by a brand you never see in brick and mortar stores. Camber has been crafting the most durable sweats for decades, right here in America and have been the shining example of the difference between good quality and great quality. Sure, you have to order through an old-school web 1.0 website and wait for several weeks to actually get your hoodie. But trust us when we say that the relatively minor inconvenience is completely worth it.
The heavyweight fleece is almost as thick as a leather jacket and can stand in as outerwear if you wanted it to. While other hoodies are washed to hell in giant industrial washing machines to reach a super soft texture by the time it gets to you, Camber’s actually require you to do the work yourself. It sort of feels like you’re being swaddled by an anaconda, which means if you’re a proponent of hard clothes like raw denim, you’ll like Camber’s hoodie a lot.
| Body Fabric | 90/10 cotton/polyester |
| Sizes | S-5XL (plus Tall) |
| Colors | 11 |
Best Cashmere Zip-Up Hoodie: Naadam Signature Cashmere Zip Hoodie
Cashmere zip hoodies, once the exclusive province of Silicon Valley unicorn founders and PJ-flying nepo babies, have been democratized, none better than Naadam's take. You know the brand for bringing thoughtful, sustainable cashmere pieces at “really, only that much?” prices. Its zip hoodie is as soft as it gets, with extra credit points awarded for coming in a classic fit (too many cashmere hoodies err on the side of slim) and six colors, including this decidedly handsome olive. Wear it on weekends, work-from-home Fridays, and long flights—even if it's just Economy+.
| Body Fabric | 100% cashmere |
| Sizes | XS-XXL |
| Colors | 6 |
More Zip-Up Hoodies We Love
Champion
Reverse Weave Fleece Zip-Up Hoodie
Champion’s Reverse Weave fabric is iconic for its nearly shrink-proof quality and almost unsettlingly rough exterior. Flip it to the inside and you’ve got a luxuriously brushed interior that’ll have you feeling like you’re melting into a cloud. Heads-up that pricing varies kinda wildly by size on Amazon.
Russell Athletic
Dri-Power Fleece Hoodie
We can’t deny Russell Athletic’s contributions to the hoodie space. And while its formula has changed over the years, the new hoodies are still pretty good for the price. The fabric is soft and lightweight, and it’s available in a rainbow of colorways. Plus, if you’re looking for a hoodie with a little more length, this is a great option.
Gap
Vintage Soft Arch Logo Full-Zip Hoodie
Bold graphics aren’t usually deemed classics, but Gap’s retro-leaning collegiate-style block logo has staying power almost as much as the Levi’s red tab. Add to that a wonderfully fluffy midweight fleece material and a tailored straight fit and you’ve got something you’ll see on moodboards for generations to come.
Arc'teryx
Kyanite Hoodie
It's not built for a shower meme, but Arc'teryx's hoodie is here to do what the brand does best: mix field-tested tech with futuristic sleekness. With four-way stretch and a helmet-ready hood, the Kyanite hoodie is ready to crush a V6 or three. But that inimitable Arc-teryx cool works just as well at ground level, too.
The Real McCoy's
Ballpark F/Z Hooded Sweatshirt Grey
The Real McCoy's is considered by many to be the ultimate in reproduction Americana clothing and this revival of an early 20th-Century hoodie is just one small piece of the brand's preservation prowess. It's made using beefy sinker-knit fleece, old-school Talon-style zippers, and vertical patch pockets.
Haven
Excel Full Zip Hoodie
We're not shocked that our Neighbors in the North make a killer zip-up hoodie. Haven Brand's Excel hoodie is made from a custom Japanese Azume Urake cotton which is made on rare knitting machines that give it a unique loft and density. Features like a two-way zipper, hidden internal storage, and underarm gussets turn an otherwise heritage-leaning hoodie into a modern marvel.
Stussy
Waffle Cashmere Zip Hood Sweater
Stüssy's crown as streetwear royalty remains fixed and it's pieces like this hoodie that keep it there. This zip hoodie is crafted from a luscious and toasty cashmere wool that's knitted into a waffle texture. It also happens to feature a two-way zip and a relaxed fit.
Cease
Standard Zip Hoodie
Shoutout to brother in arms Louis Cheslaw, GQ Recs contributor, whose writing for the newsletter Magasin put us on to young brand Cease. From seed to sewing, it's beefy 20-ounce cotton is fully American-made. Assembling the fabric vertically means the hoodie will shorten up to a slightly cropped, oversized fit. Act fast if you want some of the less-boring colors—they move fast.
How to Style a Zip-Up Hoodie
Think of the zip-up as the pullover hoodie's elder brother, but with way more layering potential. In its most natural state, it can cuddle up to a matching set of sweatpants and a baggy tee with flair. (Top it off with a swanky necklace, crisp sneakers, and some stellar shades and you’re left with a fit on par with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at his tunnel-trotting best.)
Unzipped and left open, it can also take on the role of a picture frame ready to display your sickest graphic tee—much like the cardigan, another treasure of 2000s fashion. Or make like a mid-Aughts garage band ironically donning corporate attire and wear your zip-up over a dress shirt and baggy tailored trousers, a high-minded fashion move with a jolt of kooky Scandinavian cool.
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.
How We Make These Picks
We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.
To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.
We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.
Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.
Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)