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The best men's crewneck sweatshirt is, if you'll excuse the cliché, essential. Plenty of fashion-minded outlets like to use that term pretty liberally, but when it comes to the gray crewneck it's actually true—next to a plain white T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, it really is about as essential as it gets. It's basic in the best way—cozy as a camp fire on the beach, never not wearable, and an integral part of menswear history.
The allure is equal parts form and function, a distinct mix of hard-earned ruggedness wrapped in the blanketed exterior of a fine cotton knit. But the style's enduring popularity also means the market is flooded with spins on the athletic-inspired classic, and finding the right one can feel like more hassle than it's worth. So to help you chase a menswear-icon status of your own, we hunted down the highest-quality, supremely versatile, absolute best men's crewneck sweatshirt available today.
Take Me To: More Crewneck Sweatshirts We Love | What to Look For | How to Style a Crewneck Sweatshirt | How We Tested | Our Testers
Gilbert is 6”2 and wears a size medium.
Sizes: S-XXL | Materials: 100% cotton | Fit: Classic | Collar: Slightly loose crewneck
Reigning Champ has been in the sweats game for generations, producing some of the absolute finest hoodies, sweatpants, and crewnecks around. When I was first introduced to the brand an unspeakable number of years ago, it left an impression on me. The idea that something so basic could be so good revealed to me that my base line for quality was much lower than I’d realized.
Though we here at GQ have adored their slim-fit crewnecks for years, Reigning Champ's more classic-fitting sweatshirt is one that will stay steady through the fickle fashion trend cycle. It's made with custom-knit midweight French Terry fabric, cut with a relaxed but clean fit, and sewn with super smooth flatlock seams to cut down on bulk. While most sweatshirts will opt for either raglan sleeves or set-in sleeves, Reigning Champ’s crewneck stands out for its unique construction that uses both techniques. The result is a more tailored set-in sleeve look at the front with raglan details at the back to give the wearer a freer range of motion.
The brand’s name alone sets high expectations, and in every aspect, Reigning Champ’s crewneck sweatshirt meets and exceeds them. While $125 isn’t by any means cheap, the stunning quality from the fabric to the fit and finish all equate to a sweatshirt that punches well above its weight class. If I really had to nit-pick, though, I'd like to see the color palette expand a little more, especially for such an essential piece of kit.
Gilbert is 6”2 and wears a size medium.
Sizes: S-4XL | Material: 50% Polyester, 50% Cotton | Fit: Regular | Collar: Classic crewneck
If your sweatshirt budget is decidedly smaller, your first stop should be Russell Athletic, the Alabama sportswear stalwarts who literally invented the crewneck sweatshirt way back in 1926. Almost a century later, they're still turning out the best bang-for-your-buck fleece crew on the market. It's got all the classic details that made Russell a household name: ribbing at the cuffs and hem, a V-insert collar, and a classic cut (size down if relaxed ain't exactly your thing).
The midweight 9 oz. fleece is pleasantly soft and warm, and it's moisture-wicking and breathable so if you run a little hot, it won't emphasize the sweat in ‘sweatshirt’. The thing I like most about Russell’s crewnecks is that they still fit like the vintage joints—but you don’t have to work yourself to death bobbing between vintage stores trying to hunt one down.
Sizes: XS-3XL | Material: 82% Cotton, 18% Polyester | Fit: Relaxed | Collar: Slightly loose crewneck
No list of the best crewneck sweatshirts would be complete without Champion's reverse weave joint in the mix. Todd Snyder’s legendary collab (see below) has got style and function down pat for the new-school, but the OG heavyweight pullover deserves a crown of its own. The sturdy cotton-poly blend is soft but will hold its shape after countless wash cycles (loungewear and pizza go hand in hand—residual stains do not). Fabric aside, the fit is just right: not too slim, not too baggy, and with slightly dropped shoulders to make your neckline really pop. We pick quality over quantity any day, but with this classic sweatshirt you get the go-to year-round layering piece for the fewest amount of dollar bills.
If you’re expecting a soft, motherly embrace, I hate to tell you this, but Champion’s iconic Reverse Weave sweats aren’t the softest. In fact, they’ve got a pretty rough hand. But don’t worry about that too much because that’s just straight out of the box. What you get in return is an unquestionably beastly durability. And the longevity you get out of them means they’ll only get softer and luscious with age.
Gilbert is 6”2 and wears a size medium.
Sizes: S-XXL | Material: 100% Cotton | Fit: Relaxed fit | Collar: Classic crewneck
When I heard that menswear man about town Aaron Levine was hard at work behind a new line of tees and sweats, my ears perked up. The roving creative director has been behind the scenes of some the industry’s most stylish brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Aimé Leon Dore, Club Monaco, Viberg, and more. Trumbull, the exclusive label under the menswear retailer Huckberry, was spearheaded by Levine with a focus on US manufacturing and a true vintage feel. The collection is tight and concentrated, which works in the brand’s favor because it’s laser-focused, like a really good restaurant with only five dishes on the menu.
Trumbull’s crew sweatshirt features US-grown cotton that’s knit into a midweight, brushed-back fleece before it’s cut and sewn in Detroit. The fit is relaxed but not sloppy, with a deftly tailored length that sits right at the hips. That’s great news for a guy like me who identifies as, uh, “not tall”. It’s one of those fleece crewnecks that feels like it stepped out of a time machine but doesn’t feel asynchronous. Much respect goes to the legends that paved the way for sweatshirts, but if there’s a new contender that has a chance at becoming a classic, it would have to be Trumbull.
Gilbert is 6”2 and wears a size medium.
Sizes: S-XL | Material: 100% Cotton | Fit: Straight-fit | Collar: High crewneck
For something as basic as a sweatshirt, it might actually make more sense to spend the extra cash on a better overall experience, especially if you plan on wearing it daily. (Sort of like upgrading to business class on a long flight.) If you’ve got the money, Lady White Co.’s ‘44 Fleece Sweatshirt is the cushy step up. The Los Angeles knitwear gurus have a rock-solid reputation for high-quality T-shirts (I’ve got over 30 different white tees and Lady White’s are my fave), and the same goes for its sweatshirts. To me, the ‘44 has the best parts of every good sweatshirt. It’s as beefy and dense as the Champion Reverse Weave, even softer than the Russell because of the brushed interior, and built as well—if not better—than Reigning Champ's.
Unlike many other brands, LWC forgoes the synthetics and spandex, opting instead for a high-quality, custom-knit heavyweight all cotton brushed fleece that’s dense yet plush. As for the silhouette, it has a relaxed chest with a straight fit that falls just around the hips, a vintage-inspired design that looks impeccable with some 501s. And for the eagle-eyed, the ‘44 comes with unique custom ribbing at the cuffs and hem to help set it apart even further.
Sizes: M-XXL | Material: 100% Cotton | Fit: Relaxed fit | Collar: High crewneck
You can’t ignore the impact that vintage clothing has on the modern fashion landscape, not just for the endless references and inspiration it gives designers, but also for the sheer explosion of secondhand style. Vintage-obsessed dudes like myself will search high and low for forgotten garments with esoteric details, from jeans left in abandoned barns to rare leather jackets tucked away in grandpa’s attic. And if you’re thrifting skills aren’t up to snuff or if coughing up the dough to a dealer is too big of a hit, the best thing to do is to look to Japan where they’re even more obsessed with reviving the grails of bygone eras.
While many repro brands deserve their flowers, I’m particularly keen on Buzz Rickson’s' interpretation of the perfect vintage sweatshirt. The fabric is made using ultra rare loopwheel knitting machines that knit the terry material methodically and slowly, using the natural tension of gravity to achieve a product that’s shockingly soft for its density. It also results in a fabric that’s totally seamless around the torso, an old-school detail that’s hard to come by but oh-so-satisfying once you do. The crewneck sweatshirt also features low-profile flatlock seams, tall ribbing at the cuffs and hems, and the throwback V-neck insert for easy donning.
There are levels to sweatshirts, as humble as they are. What we look for in high-quality sweatshirts comes down to fabric, construction, and fit. Sweatshirt fabrics should be soft, certainly, but many high-quality options are quite burly and stiffer than you'd think. Most of the time, that means the more material goes into the sweatshirt the longer it'll last. And if you're willing to commit to them, they'll get softer and more comfortable the more you wear and launder them.
Most garments are made by overlapping fabrics and sewing them together. That may be fine for a dress shirt, but sweatshirts are made of a thicker, knit fabric which can bulky and irritating when it's sewn like this. We like sweatshirts that are made with flatlock seams which are made by butting two fabrics next to each other rather than overlapping; the result is a smoother, flatter seam. On rarer occasions, some sweatshirts are made the old-school way on either tubular knitting machines or very rare loopwheel knitting machines which produces a sweatshirt without any side seams on the body. Garment nerds go gaga over this kind of detail, but it's by no means a requirement for a good sweatshirt.
Sweatshirt fabrics are typically made from terry cloth, French terry, or brushed terry. (If that sounds familiar, it's because terry cloth is the same stuff that's used to make bath towels.) Terry cloth features loops of yarns which are absorbent and insulating. But the main difference between your bath towel and your sweatshirt is that sweatshirts only have the loops on the inside of the garment. Often, those loops are either brushed or shorn to give the material a luxuriously fluffy hand.
Fit is always subjective, but classic-fitting sweatshirts will fit somewhat relaxed all-around and fall at the hips. Slimmer sweatshirts will fit better if you want to layer them under a jacket and look cleaner with slim-fitting pants. For a fit that's more of-the-moment, opt for a sweatshirt that's boxier and cropped to go with some high-waisted, baggy trousers.
The humble gray crewneck helped Steve McQueen evade capture in The Great Escape, cemented John Travolta’s heartthrob status in Grease, and made Eddie Murphy a badass in Beverly Hills Cop. Paul Newman, the patron saint of laid-back menswear, wore one religiously. And today, a roster of famous—and famously stylish—dudes still put their trust in it. The only difference now is that it comes in a rainbow of different colors and silhouettes, not to mention fabrics far beyond the staid French terry. But for our money, every-dependable gray is still the shade to beat.
Like many menswear staples, crewneck sweatshirts were born from athletics and have transcended into everyday leisure. You could style a crewneck with baggy jeans and sick sneakers for a streetwear-leaning aesthetic, dive headfirst into a preppy look with a pair of chinos and loafers, or turn up the lounge-factor and double it up with some sweatpants and classic sneakers.
Like The Bachelor, we had a flock of hopefuls vying for our love. But instead of hot singles, we had to dole out roses to a gaggle of cozy sweatshirts. One by one, we got to know each sweatshirt, taking them out on dates (literally), and looking intently for rock-solid characteristics, flaws, and dealbreakers. We wore every sweatshirt like any other piece of clothing in our closets, styled them with our favorite pants, scrutinized their fits, put them through harsh laundry cycles, and repeated the whole process over again. What we ended up with was an A-team of great crewnecks, from budget options to luxurious upgrades and everything between.
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