There’s no such thing as ‘the best men’s crewneck sweatshirt,’ at least not in the objective sense. As tactile and quantifiable garments can be, the truth is it’s all open to interpretation, and comes down to personal taste (even if your personal taste sucks). That said… I do have some strong opinions on what makes a good sweatshirt and have tested too many to name.
I grew up wearing cheap, serviceable sweats from places like Walmart. I’ve also invested in unreasonably heavy 24-ounce sweatshirts and became obsessed with the unyielding craftsmanship of Japanese reproductions that required rare loopwheel machines. Through decades of experience, I’ve honed in on what makes a sweatshirt special.
A good crewneck sweatshirt should be comfortable, and that all comes down to fabric and fit. The fabric, usually made of either a French terry or a brushed fleece, should be both dense and soft. The silhouette shouldn’t squeeze, but should be relaxed enough to layer over a T-shirt or even a button-up.
I’ve also dialed-in on the things you should avoid, like when sweatshirts are too tight in the neck, especially as a guy with a thicker gullet for my frame. And I really hate when sweatshirts are too long. As a long-torso individual, you’d think this wouldn’t be a problem, but it’s something that feels endemic to the genre.
Now that I’ve given you a brief tour of the weeds, let’s get into what you came here for. Through rigorous research and far too much time on our hands, here’s what’s what in the world of crewneck sweatshirts. 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.
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