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Today’s zipper-front sweatshirts won’t make you look like an obnoxious tech bro—so long as you pick the right one. Nylon Zippers For Sewing
The zip-up hoodie has a less than stellar reputation. It can come across as lazy: it has too-close-for-comfort associations with a certain tech billionaire, notorious for wearing them; they belong to a subset of menswear which has yet to fully evolve away from mostly plain, basic, functional design.
But! But, the zip-up hoodie has it's merits, and I'm here to defend it. It's comfy as fuck—let's start there. All the gravitas and coziness of a regular hoodie, with the added convenience of a zipper. Scores of handsomer designs are coming through; some made for lounging, some for working out, some for looking cool and maybe dropping a fit pic to the Gram.
There are a lot—and I mean a lot—of choices out there. Pick the wrong one and, yes, you're apt to look like the Zuck (and trust me, you really don't want to look like the Zuck). But pick the right one and the zip-up hoodie can prove transformative, instantly providing a dose of casual cool in the form of an easy on/off layer you can shed and reapply as you see fit. With all that in mind, here are some of the best zip-up hoodies on the market today—none of which, it should be noted, will make you look like a dead-eyed internet magnate hellbent on upending the foundations of American democracy.
Let your favorite black hoodie take it easy in your closet, and wear this maroon style out for a couple of rounds instead.
A hefty 14 oz. fleece zip-up crafted in L.A. for decidedly East Coast conditions.
This is the hoodie for casually cool guys who know how to dress—and know that a dope enough hoodie can make an outfit.
Few can hold a torch to Carhartt when comes to durability and dependability. Same could be said of the matching hat.
Turns out, micro-sanded french terry and a little bit of stretch make for a hoodie that remains, ahem, aces.
Made in icy-cold Vancouver, so you know it's the real deal.
Not too thick, not too thin. Just right.
You trust Fruit of the Loom for your underwear, so why not your outerwear, too? This is a cozy, basic hoodie that you'll never want to take off.
Go for a run in it, or watch 5 hours of Netflix in it. It's one of those versatile, adaptable pieces.
Making a hoodie look chic is hard, but Marine Layer manages it, with a quilted outer that looks—and feels!—soft and plush.
Uniqlo does basics to perfection, with quality that doesn't skimp. And what's more basic than a gray zip-up hoodie?
For softness you can't really beat, reach for a merino wool option. AllSaints' is nice enough to wear to work, and perfectly ready for some serious winter layering.
Two front zip pockets and a full zipper bring this hoodie to the next level.
With a soft material and relaxed fit, this is the one companion you're gonna want around even when you just want to kick it all alone.
Abercrombie doing what Abercrombie does best: cool, casual basics.
Soft, washed supima perfection from a master of laid-back L.A. cool.
Wear this on a run or on a lazy day—it's versatile like that.
The classic, infallible gray hoodie.
The sweatshirt that deserves a spot in every man's rotation, no matter his style or the season.
Sunspel makes soft, sumptuous hoodies ideal for layering or for wearing on their own.
Trishna Rikhy is the Associate Style Commerce Editor at Esquire. Previously, her writing has appeared in Vogue Runway, PAPER Magazine, V Magazine, V MAN, and more. She is based in NYC, but can probably be found wherever the strongest cup of coffee is.
Barry Samaha is the former style commerce editor at Esquire, where he covered all things fashion and grooming. Previously, he was an editor at Harper’s Bazaar, Surface, and WWD, along with overseeing editorial content at Tod’s Group. He has also written for The Daily Beast, Coveteur, Departures, Paper, Bustle Group, Forbes, and many more. He is based in New York City and can't seem to find enough closet space for all his shoes.
Avidan Grossman is the Style eCommerce Editor at Esquire, covering men’s fashion, shoes, grooming, and accessories. He spends way too much time deciding what to wear. Needless to say, his parents still have no idea what he does.
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