11 Best Zip-Up Hoodies for Men 2025, According to GQ Editors
GQ RecommendsFor the first time in years, the cozy Y2K-era staple is poised to knock the pullover off its pedestal.By Gerald OrtizJanuary 13, 2025Photo: Getty Images; Collage by Sarah CassutoSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.For decades, it seemed like the only hoodies worth wearing were of the pullover variety. No longer: the best zip-up hoodies for men are undeniable proof that the times are indeed a-changin'.Imagine this: It's 2003, you're in your room instant messaging your crush, “Tell All Your Friends” is blasting from your Sony Psyc boombox—and you're wearing a zip-up hoodie. You weren't the only one, either: from gym classes to red carpets, zip-up hoodies were everywhere throughout the 2000s, popularized by peak indie sleaze (and sometimes, just plain sleazy) brands like American Apparel.Then something changed. Society and the fashion powers that be reevaluated their opinion on the matter, and suddenly, the zip-up ceded its dominance to the almighty pullover. Band tees as virtue signals became a strictly warm weather swerve. Easy donning and doffing with the flick of a zipper? No longer. For much of the 2010s, the pullover hoodie—buoyed by a streetwear boom that encouraged emerging brands to slap their graphics on some beefy fleece—reigned supreme. But with the hallmarks of Y2K style on the upswing, zip-up hoodies are once again flooding the market.If you had the foresight to save your zip-up hoodies from high school, it's time to crack open the attic and dust them off. But for those of us whose zip-ups were lost to time (or are too young to remember when Transatlanticism first dropped), we rounded up the best zip-up hoodies for men you can buy right now, boombox very much sold separately.The Best Men’s Zip-Up Hoodies, According to GQThe Best Zip-Up Hoodie Overall: Uniqlo Sweat Full-Zip Hoodie, $50The Best Upgrade Zip-Up Hoodie: Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard Zip Hoodie, $135The Best Budget Zip-Up Hoodie: Hanes EcoSmart Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie, $15The Best Cropped Zip-Up Hoodie: Abercrombie & Fitch Essential Cropped Zip Hoodie, $80 $64The Best Heavyweight Zip-Up Hoodie: Camber Heavyweight Hoodie, $99The Best Zip-Up Hoodie for Fashion Guys: Entire Studios Eternal Zip Hoodie, $160Looking for Something Specific?AccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronMore Zip-Up Hoodies We LoveHow to Style a Zip-Up HoodieHow We Test and Review ProductsHow We Make These PicksBest Zip-Up Hoodie Overall: Uniqlo Sweat Full-Zip HoodieUniqloSweat Full-Zip Hoodie$50 UniqloPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsAll-cotton materialClassic fit that sits at the hipsGood valueConsFabric could be a bit thickerMight be a bit short for taller peopleUniqlo’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.Best Upgrade Zip-Up Hoodie: Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard Zip HoodieReigning ChampMidweight Terry Standard Zip Hoodie$135 Reigning ChampPros & ConsAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronProsImpeccable fabric and constructionTwo-way zip for more functionality and stylingAvailable in multiple fitsConsWill cost you three sedan’s worth of gasWill last you forever :\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 w
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
For decades, it seemed like the only hoodies worth wearing were of the pullover variety. No longer: the best zip-up hoodies for men are undeniable proof that the times are indeed a-changin'.
Imagine this: It's 2003, you're in your room instant messaging your crush, “Tell All Your Friends” is blasting from your Sony Psyc boombox—and you're wearing a zip-up hoodie. You weren't the only one, either: from gym classes to red carpets, zip-up hoodies were everywhere throughout the 2000s, popularized by peak indie sleaze (and sometimes, just plain sleazy) brands like American Apparel.
Then something changed. Society and the fashion powers that be reevaluated their opinion on the matter, and suddenly, the zip-up ceded its dominance to the almighty pullover. Band tees as virtue signals became a strictly warm weather swerve. Easy donning and doffing with the flick of a zipper? No longer. For much of the 2010s, the pullover hoodie—buoyed by a streetwear boom that encouraged emerging brands to slap their graphics on some beefy fleece—reigned supreme. But with the hallmarks of Y2K style on the upswing, zip-up hoodies are once again flooding the market.
If you had the foresight to save your zip-up hoodies from high school, it's time to crack open the attic and dust them off. But for those of us whose zip-ups were lost to time (or are too young to remember when Transatlanticism first dropped), we rounded up the best zip-up hoodies for men you can buy right now, boombox very much sold separately.
The Best Men’s Zip-Up Hoodies, According to GQ
- The Best Zip-Up Hoodie Overall: Uniqlo Sweat Full-Zip Hoodie, $50
- The Best Upgrade Zip-Up Hoodie: Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard Zip Hoodie, $135
- The Best Budget Zip-Up Hoodie: Hanes EcoSmart Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie, $15
- The Best Cropped Zip-Up Hoodie: Abercrombie & Fitch Essential Cropped Zip Hoodie,
$80$64 - The Best Heavyweight Zip-Up Hoodie: Camber Heavyweight Hoodie, $99
- The Best Zip-Up Hoodie for Fashion Guys: Entire Studios Eternal Zip Hoodie, $160
Looking for Something Specific?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 web1.0 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.
Best Zip-Up Hoodie for Fashion Guys: Entire Studios Eternal Zip Hoodie
It seems like every menswear influencer and their dad is chasing the ‘perfect cropped hoodie’. Stop chasing: it’s this one from Entire Studios. Every so often the hoodies-sphere experiences a tectonic shift that pushes the medium’s boundaries. From the first “designer” hoodies to box logo mayhem to the indie-sleazification brought on by American Apparel in the late-00s. These days, the brand that’s making those seismological changes is Entire Studios. The Yeezy alums present some of the coolest boxy-and-cropped hoodies in the game and leave countless young designers inspired, if not frustrated that they didn’t perfect the style themselves.
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The brand’s Eternal Zip hoodie has become a staple in Entire Studios’ collection and features a hefty brushed organic cotton fleece material with a vintage wash that would make any hoodie-obsessed dude foam at the mouth. Add to that a head-to-hem zipper and you’ve got a hoodie that’s as cozy as it is punk.
More Zip Up Hoodies We Love
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.
How to Style a Zip-Up Hoodie
Think of the zip-up as the pullover's edgy young brother, but with way more layering potential. In its most natural state, it can cuddle-up to a matching set of pants 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.)
