We normally don’t think of Hanes a core player in the hoodie space. But of all the Amazon hoodies we tested, Hanes was the most surprising as far as fit is concerned. It felt like the hoodies we remember from the ‘90s with a roomy body and not-too-long hem that sits right about the waist. And where other hoodies might require a few months of wears and launders to achieve that broken-in, lazy day level of comfort, Hanes was ready to go straight out of the package. The main downside? The zipper was a bit too janky for our liking, but workable. Other than that, for less than $20, how much can you really complain about?
Best ’90s-Classic Hoodie: GAP Logo Heritage Full-Zip Hoodie
Gap
Logo Heritage Full-Zip Hoodie
Pros
- Solid fit
- Trendy, but also timeless
Cons
- Logo’s ain’t for everyone
Material: 60% cotton, 40% polyester | Sizes: XS-XXL | Style: Full-Zip
Gap’s seat at the American fashion table is well-deserved, from its solid lineup of denim products to ultra-soft pocket tees and more. It’s no wonder vintage-heads have been mining thrift stores for old Gap gear. Unlike its other mall neighbors/competitors, GAP can be sourced from Amazon with that sweet 2-day shipping and gratis returns. While we’re hesitant to call anything with a huge logo a timeless piece of clothing, Gap’s collegiate block letter logo hoodie is one of the very few exceptions.
It evokes the best of ‘90s style but it’s not just about the cute logo. The hoodie itself is a perfect midweight terry fabric that’s brushed on the inside for a plush feel. And as for the fit, it’s cut into an effortlessly relaxed silhouette without veering anywhere near sloppy. Pair it with your favorite wide-legged pants for a fit that’s straight out of 1995—in the best way possible.
Best Heavy-Duty Hoodie: Carhartt Midweight Rain Defender Hooded Sweatshirt
Carhartt
Midweight Rain Defender Hooded Sweatshirt
Pros
- Wide size range
- Beefy, durable material
Cons
- Fit can be a little sloppy
Material: 75% cotton, 25% polyester | Sizes: S-4XL, Big and tall sizing | Style: Pullover with kangaroo pockets
If you’ve ever passed by a construction site, you’ve probably seen Carhartt’s classic hoodie. It’s dense and durable, with a cotton-heavy blend fabric that’s weightier than most pairs of jeans. A water-repellent finish can shrug off some drops and spills (though no, this is not a raincoat subsitute). If you prefer more in-your-face Carhartt branding, then opt for the similar Carhartt Logo Sleeve Hoodie, though you’ll lose out on the Rain Defender finish. For guys that like to wear their hoodie outside the house, this is a smart upgrade over basics from Hanes or Russell Athletics.
What Are the Best Hoodie Brands on Amazon?
If there’s one thing we know about shopping for menswear on Amazon, it’s not a place to score white-hot grails. Where the Bezos boutique excels is basics, i.e., hoodies. But don’t get too excited because we’re not talking about limited-edition graphic hoodies from your favorite indie streetwear label (though, that could be a high-level marketing stunt).
The kind of hoodies that we’re eyeing on Amazon come from the tried-and-true household names, the sort of brands that you, your parents, and grandparents grew up wearing. In the age of AI, there’s no stopping the waves of indie brands and upstart no-names looking to cash in on the hoodies demand. But the vast majority of them are just selling white-label sweats affixed with their own tags. Big ups to the entrepreneurs, but we’d steer you away from the all-caps, all-consonant “brands” on Amazon.
Instead, rely on the brands that have been doing what they do for generations. That means brands like Champion and Russell Athletic whose contributions to fashion led to the booming hoodies industry we have today. In the same way Levi’s is a go-to name for its five-pocket blue jeans, it helps to think of brands that have had a meaningful impact in the sweatshirt category.
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.)
