The 15 Best Zip-Up Hoodies for Men, From Zegna to Todd Snyder
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Zip-up hoodies have been on a bumpy ride in the past few decades. Let’s start with the early aughts, which brought us cloaked celebrities shielding themselves from the paparazzi. Then, a couple of years later, Soylent-chugging tech bros started throwing on these zipper-front athletic toppers without a shred of consideration, ushering in Normcore: the style’s low point. Caring about how you looked took a back burner to profits and productivity, and wearing a zip-up hoodie became associated with the sartorially lazy.
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But when we look past these fraught moments, there are plenty of redeeming appearances in the history of zip-up hoodies to consider. Elliott’s bright red sweatshirt in E.T., for instance, is almost as famous as the blanket he uses to disguise his extra-terrestrial companion. Rocky Balboa sports one for his triumphant, sweaty ascent up the steps in Philly. And who could forget the number of times the titular fresh prince of Bel-Air oozed cool in colorful zip-ups. These are icons of the screen, masters of layering.
Now, we can safely say the zip-up hoodie is returning to form. It has come out of its flop era, shed some regrettable associations and has reached its own pinnacle. The sheer variety in the market speaks to the style’s versatility, and the choices have never been better. The best zip-up hoodies will always have athletic roots, of course, but the ones on this list bring something new to the table: luxe materials, subtle design swerves and sustainable manufacturing. They’re anything but lazy.
Whether you’re working out or just in need of an easily removable—and yes, thoughtful—layer, check out the best zip-up hoodies, all of which will have covered in more ways than one.
Best Slim-Fit Zip-Up Hoodie
Thom Browne Striped Loopback Cotton-Jersey Zip-Up Hoodie
Consider this my plea to get an invite to Thom Browne’s infamous Thanksgiving football game. I’ll be wearing this zip-up hoodie, made from a soft loopback cotton jersey and featuring the designer’s signature (ahem, hard-won) quadruple stripes on the sleeve. As with most styles in TB’s collection—as well as the man’s own coif—this one’s cut pretty high and tight. Choose your size accordingly.
Material: Cotton.
Fit: Slim.
Color: Gray.
Best Sherpa-Lined Zip-Up Hoodie
Todd Snyder Deep Pile Sherpa-Lined Zip Hoodie
Here Todd Snyder comes, swooping in with the ideal winter grail. This sherpa-lined zip hoodie could easily serve as your outer- or mid-layer, keeping you cozy with an Italian double-sided bonded fabric: knit jersey on one side and soft fleece on the other with plenty of pockets right out front.
Materials: Polyester and wool.
Fit: Regular.
Color: Navy.
Best Athletic Zip-Up Hoodie
Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Zip Hoodie
Reigning Champ’s midweight hoodie is about as Balboa-esque as it gets on this list. Whether you’re doing hand-clap pushups or waiting for a post-elliptical smoothie, its worn-in look—subtly frayed seams, classic contrasting drawstring, pouch pockets—says you’ve been putting in the work.
Material: Cotton.
Fit: Regular.
Color: Gray.
Best Designer Zip-Up Hoodie
Sacai Blue Sweat Zip Hoodie
Designer Chitose Abe brings her penchant for slicing and dicing materials—producing a sum greater than its parts—to this deep blue hoodie. The thick French terry with a contrasting trim and a hefty two-way zipper will have you strutting the street with swagger.
Material: Cotton.
Fit: Relaxed.
Colors: Blue.
Best Leather Zip-Up Hoodie
Zegna Leather Zip-Up Hoodie
In the category of pieces you didn’t know you wanted but now need, we bring you Zegna’s supple nappa leather zip-up. As much a jacket as it is a hoodie, the material slowly reveals itself, prompting further inspection and making you question, “Is that really leather?” Yes, it is. It’s also fully reversible, with the other side made of cream polyester.
Materials: Leather and polyester.
Fit: Regular.
Colors: Gray and cream.
Buy Now on Saks Fifth Avenue: $4,990
Best Loopback Zip-Up Hoodie
Sunspel Loopback Zip-Up Hoodie
A classic fit, a two-way zipper, warm-but-not-too-warm feeling and a moisture-wicking loopback texture: there’s not much more we could ask for from a zip-up hoodie. Sunspel checks all of these boxes, along with offering a touch of English refinement.
Materials: Cotton.
Fit: Regular.
Colors: Gray.
Best Heavyweight Zip-Up Hoodie
Lady White Co. Heavy Zip-Up Hoodie
Lady White Co. has been quietly producing excellent sweats, fleeces and T-shirts from its LA factory since 2015. The brand has perfected the dense (18 ounce) cotton jersey, offering a beefy hoodie with a soft brushed interior. The dark raisin color will be a welcome addition to your wardrobe rotation.
Materials: Cotton.
Fit: Relaxed.
Colors: Raisin.
Buy Now on Lady White Co.: $275
Best Garment-Dyed Zip-Up Hoodie
Stone Island Garment-Dyed Cotton-Jersey Zip-Up Hoodie
A go-to for techwear enthusiasts and hunters for the best cargo pants around, Stone Island also makes some stellar sweatshirts. Its deep obsession with fabric innovation is evident in this garment-dyed loopback cotton-jersey hoodie in a shade just left of navy.
Materials: Cotton.
Fit: Regular.
Color: Navy.
Best Technical Zip-Up Hoodie
Nike Sportswear Tech Fleece Full-Zip Hoodie
We can’t talk about hoodies without talking about Nike. The activewear behemoth’s latest drop includes this Tech Fleece hoodie that traps in the warmth without creating too much bulk. Plus, tonal panels, taped details and a ton of colors keep things fresh.
Materials: Cotton and polyester.
Fit: Relaxed.
Colors: Khaki, mint, earth brown, rattan, teal, elemental gold, diffused blue, dark gray, photo blue, midnight navy, yellow, university red, alligator green, saturn gold, black, light thistle, violet, rosewood.
Best Cashmere Zip-Up Hoodie
Brunello Cucinelli Fine-Gauge Wool-Cashmere Full-Zip Hoodie Sweater
You say cashmere, we say Brunello Cucinelli. The designer upgrades the humble hoodie with a fine-gauge virgin wool-cashmere blend, made under the Umbrian sunshine.
Materials: Cashmere and virgin wool.
Fit: Classic.
Color: Gray.
Buy Now on Bergdorf Goodman: $2,095
Best Oversized Zip-Up Hoodie
Fear of God Beige Zip Hoodie
There were plenty of hoodie purveyors in the world before Jerry Lorenzo came along, but no one with his singular perspective on LA cool. A slouchy—but not sloppy—fit, drop shoulders and hefty cotton fleece set his hoodies apart. This one’s part of Fear of God’s the Eternals Collection, an assortment of styles that, as its name suggests, imbues timelessness.
Materials: Cotton.
Fit: Oversized.
Color: Beige.
Best Fleece Zip-Up Hoodie
Moncler Grenoble Fleece Zip Hoodie
If you’ve already got a full Moncler kit for the French Alps, then you know they aren’t messing around when it comes to winter gear. Here, the luxury brand tops off warm wool fleece with nylon shell accents for a versatile zip-up hoodie that’s mountain- and city-ready.
Materials: Wool, polyester and polyamide.
Fit: Regular.
Color: Navy with green panels.
Buy Now on End. Clothing: $1,265
Best Lightweight Zip-Up Hoodie
James Perse Vintage French Terry Zip-Up Hoodie
James Perse has that golden-hour, laidback, lived-in LA vibe in its DNA. The City of Angels may not experience harsh winters, but it does get chilly. Which means you need a thin top layer, something like this lightweight French terry hoodie with heathered vintage vibes and tons of color options. It’s like you’ve had it forever—in a good way.
Material: Cotton.
Fit: Regular.
Colors: Blue, gray, heather gray, black and white.
Best Celebrity Favorite Zip-Up Hoodie
Les Tien Heavyweight Zip Hoodie
LeBron, JLo, Bieber, Drake: The biggest celebs are all rocking Les Tien’s sweats—and with good reason. This hoodie, for one, is made from heavyweight fleece with all kinds of techniques applied to the fabric (like rubbing the surface with a steel brush) to make it feel authentically vintage. Check out the gold-plated grommets, too.
Material: Cotton
Fit: Relaxed
Colors: Raspberry, washed grease, kale, cantaloupe, aloe stone, lavender stone and navy.
Best Sustainable Zip-Up Hoodie
Pangaia Wide Fit Zipped Hoodie
2020 brought many iterations of sweats, some of which are better left in the past. Pangaia’s brand of innovative, Earth-friendly hoodies and sweatpants, which had its social media swell during lockdown, however, continues on its upward trajectory. And if you’re looking to try what everyone’s been raving about, this wide-fit organic and recycled cotton zip-up hoodie is a good place to start.
Material: Cotton.
Fit: Oversized.
Color: Sand, foxglove pink, slate blue and black.
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