The best hoodies for men you can buy in 2023, tried and tested
THEY’RE the ultimate in comfort wear, branching the gap between bedroom and bar, but finding the best hoodie for you is deceptively tricky.
Too casual and they become an item you can only wear in the house, but you also want them to be one of the cosiest items in your wardrobe. There are other factors to consider, too, including thickness, fit, zips and brand names.
We’ve tested out some of the best hoodies from top brands, and we’re confident that we’ve created the ultimate guide. Keep reading for more.
Best hoodies for men at a glance:
- Best fitting hoodie:
- Best blank hoodie:
- Best workwear hoodie:
- Best corduroy hoodie:
1. Champion
- Champion Reverse Weave Hoodie, £48.12 from Amazon -
Having been founded in 1919, Champion is one of the oldest brands on this list, and it knows what it's doing when it comes to sportswear — after all, it's created garments for everyone from the US Military to Wigan Athletic.
In fact, the Knickerbocker Knitting Company, an ancestor of the brand, is commonly credited with inventing the hoodie.
It definitely hasn't lost its knack for making it — this hoodie was the best fitting we tried, and struck the best balance between quality and value.
With a slightly oversized fit, it's very flattering, and it's thick enough to wear out and about.
On Amazon, it comes in a choice of eight colours, which is substantial without being overwhelming, and there's a nice mixture of sober and offbeat tones: I got mine in the "Gold" colourway, which is actually a deep sunshine yellow, and there's a striking scarlet hue available, too, but you can also get it in more refined black, navy, grey and white.
Composition: 82% cotton, 18% polyester Fit: True to size
2. Carhartt
- Carhartt Loose Fit Midweight Hoodie, £50.80 from Amazon -
Carhartt has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years thanks to its popularity as a workwear brand, with workwear perhaps being the biggest buzzword in mens fashion of the last two or three years.
It's also got a reputation for providing durability at a fairly reasonable price, and there's no deviation from that in this hoodie, which feels like it has all of the quality of every other Carhartt garment I own (if you can't tell, I'm a fan).
Composition: 50% cotton, 50% polyester Fit: Oversized
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3. Scotch and Soda
- Organic Cotton Corduroy Hoodie, £85 (saving £85) from Scotch and Soda -
If you're on the lookout for a basic hoodie that still has an element of style, look no further than Scotch and Soda.
Constructed from corduroy, it stands out from the other hoodies without being too out there, and we love the colourful drawstrings, which give it a slightly psychedelic feel.
It comes in several colours, and you can even get matching tracksuit bottoms to complete the look.
Composition: 98% cotton, 2% elastane Fit: slightly small
4. Uniqlo
- Uniqlo Heattech Pile Lined Sweat Zipped Hoodie, £39.90 from Uniqlo -
This is, without doubt, the best hoodie for working from home that we tried.
Made from Uniqlo's Heattech material and lined with a fleecy pile material, it's warm enough to nip to the shop and get some milk in and sit comfortably at home without the heating on, but thanks to a relaxed fit and zip up style, it's not oppressing in any way.
We also love the quirky design choices, especially the fact that you can zip the hoodie all the way up to your chin. The double zip is also an entertaining (if not slightly odd) feature to absent-mindedly play with.
And thanks to the raglan cut (meaning the sleeve is one piece of fabric from collar to cuff), it provides excellent mobility, making it a great workout hoodie for the cold weather.
Our only qualm is that it's a little short on the body, so if you're of the taller persuasion, you might want to size up.
Composition: 66% polyester, 19% acrylic, 15% viscose Fit: True to size
5. Russell Athletic
- Russel Athletic Men's Dri-Power Hoodie, £29.87 from Amazon -
If you're on the lookout for a plain pullover hoodie that you afford to buy in bulk, look no further than Russell Athletic.
Like Champion, it's a legacy American brand; it was founded in 1902, and claims responsibility for the invention of the sweatshirt (the hoodless hoodie, if you will). Over the last century or so it has perfected the art, creating uniforms for a roster of teams across baseball, basketball and American Football, as well as leisurewear for the U.S. Army during WWII.
Despite accumulating such clout over the last 121 years, the brand's clothes are still eminently affordable, with this Dri-Power hoodie costing just £19.49 on Amazon.
Composition: 50% cotton, 50% polyester Fit: True to size
6. Tommy Hilfiger
- Tommy Hilfiger Logo Hoodie, £110 from Accent Clothing -
Kicking off a trio of stylish, minimalistic logo hoodies is this number from Tommy Hilfiger.
At £110, it's certainly not cheap, and thanks to the brand name, there's no denying that part of what you're paying for is status, but this is also a well made, quality hoodie that's sure to earn you some compliments.
If there is such thing as a "going out hoodie" (whether there is is up for debate) then this is it.
Composition: 64% cotton, 36% recycled polyester Fit: True to size
7. Levi's
- Levi's Men's Hoodie, £45.98 from Amazon -
If you're on the lookout for a smart logo hoodie but don't have the budget for the Tommy Hilfiger, we'd opt for this one from Levi's, which still has a premium feel (thanks to the fact it's made from 100% cotton) but doesn't pack a heavy price tag.
It fits true to size, but comes in a slim fit, so if you're seeking an oversized look, we'd size up. As it is, it's perfect as a smarter hoodie, and we like layering it beneath an oversized flannel and pairing it with jeans (it is Levi's, after all).
Composition: 100% cotton Fit: True to size
8. BAM Seaton Quilted Core Hoody
- Seaton Quilted Core Hoody, £89 from BAM -
BAM is so named because it focuses on clothes derived from bamboo. Thanks to the fact it can grow as quickly as an inch per hour, bamboo an extremely sustainable material, and the fabric made from the plant just happens to be super silky.
That means that this hoodie feels amazing, and it's also super warm. There's a lot of movement too, thanks to the raglan sleeves — we think this would be a great top to work out in.
Composition: Bamboo Fit: True to size
9. Joules
- Parkside Coastal Hoodie, £49.95 from Joules -
As it's on the thinner side, this is a bit more of a summer hoodie, or one to use for layering in the winter — Joules recommends layering it beneath a gilet, if that's your thing.
While it is still a minimalistic logo hoodie, it does have a bit of character to it; it's inspired by the coast, and the main design takes inspiration from beaches. We also love the touch of the black and white drawstring aglets, which also take inspiration from beach flags.
Composition: N/A Fit: True to size
10. Amazon Essentials
- Amazon Essentials Men's Hooded Fleece Sweatshirt, £18.20 from Amazon -
If you're looking for a hoodie that you don't mind getting a bit messy, then we'd propose this one from Amazon.
The brand's "essentials" line of clothing is extremely affordable and often surprisingly nice; and while this hoodie isn't turning any heads, it's great as an around-the-house solution.
It's admittedly a little thin, and it doesn't have the quality of some of the brands further up this list, but if it's value you're after, this is a good option.
Composition: 52% cotton, 48% polyester Fit: Slightly small
11. Jack and Jones
- Jack and Jones Men's Hooded Sweatshirt, £30.99 from Amazon -
Another recognisable but affordable brand, Jack and Jones makes this basic hoodie in a wide arrange of colours, and it's made from 85% cotton.
It's great for layering, but if you're between sizes, we'd recommend sizing up.
Composition: 85% cotton, 15% polyester Fit: slightly small
12. Star and Stripes
- Star and Stripes Hooded Top, £15.50 from Amazon -
Another basic hoodie that's great for layering or knocking about in, this Stars and Stripes hoodie comes in a dizzying array of colours.
Confusingly, different colours and sizes are different prices, but they're all extremely affordable, with most coming in at between £10 and £15.
We found that the body was a bit long compared to the arms, but it's a comfy, affordable option nonetheless.
Composition: 80% cotton, 20% polyester Fit: True to size
How to fold a hoodie
Hoodies can be slightly more difficult to fold than normal crew-neck jumpers, with the hood getting in the way.
We use the technique outlined by Nike, which cleverly folds the rest of the jumper inside the hood.
How to style a hoodie
Part of the attraction of a hoodie is its versatility; they're perfect for knocking around the house or going out in (although we wouldn't wear one to a nice restaurant).
For the perfect casual winter look, we layer ours under a then pop on a pair of , and a
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The only things we don't think a hoodie goes with are smart trousers and shoes: we'd stick to casual trousers and trainers.