The Best Men's Crewneck Sweatshirt in 2026, According to GQ

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.Best OverallReigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard Crewneck Read MoreBest Classic FitChampion Reverse Weave Crewneck Sweatshirt Read MoreBest BudgetRussell Athletic Dri-Power Fleece Sweatshirt Read MoreBest Vintage-InspiredBuzz Rickson Flatlock Seam Crewneck SweatshirtRead MoreBest Overall Crewneck Sweatshirt : Reigning Champ Midweight Terry Standard CrewneckReigning ChampMidweight Terry Standard CrewneckProsClassic fitHigh-quality constructionYear-round fabric weightGood price-to-quality ratioConsLimited colorways availableReigning 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.Best Budget Crewneck Sweatshirt: Russell Athletic Dri-Power fleece sweatshirtRussell AthleticDri-Power Fleece SweatshirtProsSuper affordableSoft straight out the boxRainbow of colors availableExpansive size rangeConsSynthetic materialIf 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.Best Classic Crewneck Sweatshirt: Champion Reverse Weave Crewneck SweatshirtChampionReverse Weave Crewneck SweatshirtProsHeavyweight and durableClassic detailsConsFabric isn’t the softestLogo detail may put off some peopleNo 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.Best Vintage-Like Crewneck Sweatshirt: Buzz Rickson Flatlock Seam Crewneck SweatshirtBuzz RicksonFlatlock Seam Crewneck SweatshirtProsNext level qualityRare loopwheel constructionAuthentic old-school detailsConsLimited size rangeLimited colorwaysYou 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.More Crewneck Sweatshirts We LoveHAVENExcel CrewneckHAVEN's Excel crewneck employs the label's telltale details like custom ribbing and underarm gussets for increased range of motion. But the star of the show has to be the fabric which comes from rare 1980s Azume knitting machines, lauded for producing low-tension French terry with unrivaled softness and character.Lady White Co.Mini CrewneckLady White Co.'s methodical approach to jersey knits has brought them to the top of the heap not just for tees and sweatshirts, but for the entire wardrobe. It's mini crewneck uses custom-milled terry fabric that's cut to a flattering cropped silhouette and garment-dyed for depth.GapHeavyweight Oversized SweatshirtLook, I'm just as surprised as you are that Gap's heavyweight sweatshirt is not only $70, but actually that good. It's legit heavy and will handily knock out other sweats in beefier weight classes, especially since you can often find it on a mega discount.Camber234 Cross-Knit Heavyweight Crew Neck SweatshirtThe kings and queens of American-made cotton fleece at Camber make their crewneck from a beefy 12-ounce cotton fleece with just enough elastic in the body panels to make it feel like a big hug. Plus you can get it in 11 colors.BucketsSplat SweatshirtDyed one at a time by hand, each sweatshirt from the New York-based indie label Buckets is completely unique and certainly distinct from the droves of potassium-dyed, sun-faded, vintage-inspired sweats that have flooded the market in recent years.3sixteenHeavyweight Crewneck SweatshirtNYC-based 3sixteen has built out a line of carefully dialed-in menswear, like this hardy crewneck made with a fleece that's, quote, "some of the heaviest available on the market." And yet it's the pockets, surreptitiously slipped into the side seams, that have us nodding in appreciation.WhitesvilleHeavy SweatshirtKnown for its chef-approved T-shirts, Whitseville's reproduction sweats deserve equal praise for its heavy all-cotton fleece, tubular construction, and double-V gussets that reference rare vintage crewnecks.QuinceEveryday Fleece CrewQuince's 70-30 cotton-poly blend recalls vintage sweats of yesteryear, the kind that were as soft as they were durable and didn't break the bank. Its Everyday fleece crew ticks all the boxes.What Makes a High-Quality Sweatshirt?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.What Fabrics Should I Look For?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.How Should a Crewneck Sweatshirt Fit?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.How To Style a Crewneck SweatshirtThe humble 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.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.How We TestedLike 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 is this A-team of great crewnecks, from budget options to luxurious upgrades, and everything between.Production CreditsPhotographs by Bowen Fernie and Natalie PiserchioStyled by Tyler AustinGrooming by Yuko Kawashima and Akane Awaji