None of those hoodies are good comparisons for their price ranges if we’re just talking about a sweatshirts quality (excluding branding).
Not that anyone asked but my list would probably be something like
Lowest price <$50
Hanes and other off-the-shelf brands.
Mid Range $50-$100
Champion Reverse Weave, maybe Carhartt
High Range $100-$200
Reigning Champ
F.U. Range
Lady White Co.
Generally, I’d say that most people could get away fine with the mid-range gear, but they may benefit from the cuts and finer details that can only be found in the pricier stuff.
Regardless, you’re a fool if you spend $1,000 on a Balenciaga hoodie in 2023.
I mostly share Frugal Aesthetic videos because I think he's funny, but yeah, Reigning Champ and that whole family of brands, those seem to be what people like.
Do you own a Reigning Champ? If yes, what do you think about it?
I’ve gone on a few hoodie-as-a-winter coat kicks. I live in the Midwest and spend a decent amount of time outdoors. It’s fairly cold here. Not damn cold mind you, but it’s often in the 20s with a constant breeze, which makes hoodies a bit of a challenge. We do have a few weeks every now and then where it won’t break 20. Here are some more random hoodie thoughts for anyone who might be lurking too.
This all started about 20 years ago when I was in highschool and I bought a Hollister Strands Point hoodie for half off in late winter. I wore it as a winter coat daily for probably four years until it was starting to show it’s age. They’re well made, very heavy, and are basically coats in hoodie form. I’m a bit old to be wearing these now, but I’ve picked up a few used over the past few years and regret nothing. I did pull the embroidery off one to be a bit more stealthy with my guilty pleasure though.
I wasn’t a big fan of Carhartt’s offerings. They were warm, but a few years ago they were all coated with a water replant and I found that they didn’t breath very well if you were moving and getting sweaty. Maybe their coatings have improved or maybe they offer an uncoated hoodie now.
In the $50-100 bucket
Refrigiwear. It’s not very fashionable, but it’s pretty warm and holds up fairly well to wind. The version I own is quilted like HiVis offering but has a metal zipper
Tommy Hilfiger Hoodie I grabbed one on a lark at Macy’s. It was on sale, was reasonably thick, and is fairly warm. It doesn’t hold up to wind though
Some others in the $100-200 bucket
American Giant Classic Full Zip I’ve owned one for 4-5 years and it’s holding up well. It doesn’t see daily use, but I do have it on at least weekly when it’s cold out. Even though the material isn’t that heavy, it’s woven very densely and does a pretty good job blocking the wind. It does make the hoodie kind of stiff, but eh. I’ve gone many a windy 20 something degree day with a thermal, this hoodie, jeans, and a pair of snow pants
Ralph Lauren Fleece hoodie soft and feels nice, socially acceptable, not particularly warm, won’t block the wind
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