Updated May 13, 2026
My 3 Best Hoodies: Best Value, Most Durable, and Made In America
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I don’t want to alarm you, but a lot of hoodies are crap.
It’s the same as t-shirts or jeans: when an item of clothing becomes so overwhelmingly popular, every company wants to make their own version of it and you wind up with countless shoddy imitators.
Thin material.
Way too much polyester.
Stress points that tear.
Sloppy fits.
A year ago, I started buying up hoodie after hoodie in an effort to make the definitive list of the best on the market. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I’ve landed on my three favorite hoodies: the top two are the best, warmest, and most durable overall, and then I’ve got the best for under $60.
1. Best Hoodie: American Giant Full Zip
American Giant famously sold out of this product for over a year after Slate called it “the greatest hoodie ever made,” and while it’s easy to roll your eyes at marketing hyperbole, this hoodie really is worth the hype.
Its big selling point is that it’s totally made in the United States: the fabric and thread are dyed in South Carolina and it’s cut, sewn, and finished in North Carolina.
But whether or not made in the US matters to you, this burly, beefy hoodie is spectacularly well made, which might not come as a surprise once you learn that the company actually hired a former industrial designer from Apple to design it.
World's Best Hoodie?
American Giant Classic Full Zip Hoodie
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The world famous hoodie that sold out for over a year when it was first launched — that's how much the public adores this heavyweight, all-cotton, all-American-made classic.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Material
The thick, 13-oz-per-square-yard material is 100% combed ringspun cotton with a nice textured, rugged exterior.
Just about everything else on the market is made with a cotton-polyester blend, and because American Giant is all cotton it’s less likely to become brittle and tattered with washing and drying, it’s more abrasion resistant, and it looks better as it ages. As a side note, it’s a lot harder to make a hoodie that’s fuzzy on the inside when it’s 100% cotton, so the company puts it through a machine that picks individual loops of thread out of the fabric instead. It isn’t cheap, but it’s better.
Details
All this is topped off with nice, metal-tipped drawstrings, brass zippers, a double-lined hood, reinforced elbow pads — a boon for those of us who slouch and get a lot of wear on their forearms — and a stretchy rib side panel for extra mobility.
There’s also double needle straddle-stitching with high-strength thread, which is always the same color as the hoodie you buy. It’s a small detail, but it’s one of many that reinforce the fact that this is not your average hoodie.
Fit
This is a modern, athletic fit: broader around the chest and shoulders, slimmer around the waist, less baggy around the arm holes and a little long in the torso. (This way you don’t flash your belly button when reaching overhead.) Men’s clothes are usually either slim or a boxier “classic” cut or they’re cut closer to the body. Your preference will depend on your body type and overall style (read: how baggy your pants are) but I find this slimming and flattering.
Price
$168. Yes, you can buy four Old Navy hoodies for that price, but every one of them will fall apart before an American Giant hoodie will. It has a real heft and durability to it and it just gets better with washes.
There is a warranty, but it’s the main downside besides the price: it only covers manufacturing defects, not normal wear and tear.
What I liked:
- Completely made in the USA
- 100% combed ringspun cotton, ages well
- Reinforced elbow pads
- Thick, durable
- Slim, athletic silhouette
World's Best Hoodie?
American Giant Classic Full Zip Hoodie
Check Best Price
The world famous hoodie that sold out for over a year when it was first launched — that's how much the public adores this heavyweight, all-cotton, all-American-made classic.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Downsides, not dealbreakers:
- Quite pricey
- Warranty is only for manufacturing defects
2. Runner Up: Flint and Tinder 10-Year Hoodie
Want a really good warranty? Check out Flint and Tinder’s popular 10-year hoodie.
Material
Flint and Tinder was actually started on Kickstarter, where they became the most successful crowdfunded fashion item of all time.
Like American Giant, this is also made in the United States from American materials. The cotton is from the Mississippi Delta and it’s cut, sewn, and finished in Los Angeles. The material is 23 ounces per square yard, but while it’s worth noting that this is 30 percent polyester — so it might not age quite as well as the top pick — it’s softer and a little thinner, so it’s easier to layer under your jacket.
Tough But Cozy
Flint and Tinder 10-Year Hoodie
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American made, two different fits, and over half a dozen colors, this seminal hoodie has a 10-year guarantee and will look better every day.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Details
Metal-tipped drawstrings with the F&T logo on ’em, heavy duty grommets with brass zippers, and the hoodie is double lined for warmth.
Fit
While the top pick is a modern, athletic fit, Flint and Tinder went with more of a loose, classic fit. It’s not baggy, but the fit is more straight up and down: a little looser at the waist, less tapered, and more relaxed.
I’ll note I didn’t love the wristcuffs, which aren’t as elastic and edge over my wrists a little.
Price
Its list price is $168 — sometimes it’s marked down.
You might consider this better value than American Giant, though, because this has a 10-year warranty against any damage. Did you fall into a ravine and tear up the sleeves? Set yourself on fire? Trip into a volcano? If you survived and you want a replacement hoodie, Flint and Tinder will send you one free of charge.
What I Liked
- Made in the US
- Has an inner pocket
- 10-year warranty for any kind of damage
Tough But Cozy
Flint and Tinder 10-Year Hoodie
Check Best Price
American made, two different fits, and over half a dozen colors, this seminal hoodie has a 10-year guarantee and will look better every day.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
Downsides, not dealbreakers
- Not 100% cotton
- Wrist cuffs aren’t very elastic
- More boxy fit
3. Best Hoodie for Under $60: Champion LIFE Reverse Weave Hoodie
Lest you think of me as an elitist bastard who only spends over $100 on hoodies, this is the best for under $60.
[Buy the Champion Reverse Weave Hoodie here!]
Material
Made in Honduras with a blend of 80 percent cotton and 20 percent polyester — the ratio varies depending on the color, but it actually has more cotton than Flint and Tinder — this is a nice, thick hoodie with 12 ounces of material per square yard, and the hood is double lined for extra warmth.
Details
This is a pullover hoodie and there’s not a lot of sophistication to the drawstrings or grommets, but there are stretch ribbed side panels for ease of movement and there’s plenty of spandex in the trims, cuffs, and hem. The wristcuffs aren’t loosening any time soon. Importantly, it’s double stitched at stress points (eg. the shoulder), which is very rare for this price point.
A possible downside is the Champion logo on the arm, and some versions of this hoodie also have one on the chest. I prefer no logos on my clothes, but hey, that’s just me.
Fit
Baggy. It’s a baggy ol’ hoodie. I picked up a large (my normal size) and perhaps I could have gone with a medium, but whatever size you go with this will never be a slim fit: it’s boxy and the arm holes are huge with plenty of extra material. That’s no big deal; it’s just a hoodie for lounging or perhaps exercising in, not for looking modern and fashionable. For most people, loungeyness is what they want from a hoodie.
Price
$60 at most, and I’ve seen them drop as low as $36 on Amazon.
What I liked:
- Inexpensive
- Two-ply hood
- About 80% cotton, 20% polyester
- Nice and thick
Downsides, not dealbreakers
- Very relaxed fit
- Not made in America
- Long wristcuffs
[Buy the Champion Reverse Weave Hoodie here!]
Wrapping Up
I am supremely confident in this list of the best hoodies on the market. American Giant is the warmest and the most durable, Flint and Tinder has the best warranty and a softer feel, Champion is a terrific money saver, Myles is as good for pull ups as it is for snuggling on the couch, and Outerknown has the ethical angle down pat. Let me know what you think of these products below, and sound off with your own favorites!
