The Sur comes in over half a dozen sun-dappled colors, but the heather gray version you’re looking at here is the most versatile by a mile. Sure, you could throw it on with board shorts to keep cozy before an early-morning surf sesh, but it’s sharp enough to pull double-duty at the office when you swap the trunks for chinos, too. You know that warm and fuzzy feeling you get watching the sun set over the water after a long day in the sun? Pulling this guy over your head is like wrapping yourself in that feeling year-round, no beach necessary.
The Best Old-School Crewneck Sweatshirt
No list of the best crewneck sweatshirts would be complete without Champion's reverse weave joint in the mix. While the Todd Snyder collab nails style and function for the new-school, 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—the 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.
The Best Crewneck Sweatshirt for Advanced Layering
It should come as no surprise that Fear of God whipped together a pullover that looks even better when layered. The new-school fashion juggernaut's Essentials line churn's out eminently wearable everyday basics, and this short sleeve sweatshirt is a prime example. The slightly higher neckline and 3/4 raglan sleeves come together to create a relaxed shape that’s completely chilled out but far more elegant than a typical sweatshirt, while the ample arm space provides prime real estate for your swerviest long-sleeve tees to come out and shine. Pair with matching joggers and you’ve got a certified banger on your hands.
Plus 10 More Crewneck Sweatshirts We Love
Nike
"Solo Swoosh" oversize crewneck sweatshirt
The roomy fit will have you feeling extra swooshy and extra fly.
Sunspel
Cotton French Terry Sweatshirt
Like a big (gray) bear hug when you need it most.
Hanes
Ecosmart fleece sweatshirt
Legitimately one of the softest crewneck sweatshirts we've handled, Hanes Ecosmart crewneck is a no-frills sweatshirt made with a smidge of recycled material and a whole lot of comfort. For just about twenty bucks, it's also one of the best deals you can get.
The Real McCoy's
Loopwheel Crewneck Sweatshirt
Paying homage to sixties collegiate style, it's the sweatshirt to school your other sweatshirts on what it means to be a real-deal classic. The Real McCoy's is known for its mind-melting reproductions of vintage garments and this throwback is considered the creme de la creme of crewnecks. It's made in Japan using rare loopwheel machines which produce a fabric with unparalleled density and softness, all without side seams.
Abercrombie & Fitch
Essential crew sweatshirt
You never leave the house without your phone or keys, so why would you skip out on this quintessential fall athleisure staple?
Entire Studios
Enzyme-Washed Cotton-Jersey Sweatshirt
Entire Studios built their brand on head-turning pieces like cropped puffers with bulbous silhouettes, the kind of kit you'd see an NBA player rock on the way to practice. The indie brand has since expanded its oeuvre to include staple pieces with their signature silhouette and this subtly distressed crewneck is immaculate.
J.Crew
Heritage 14 oz. fleece sweatshirt
If you needed more proof of J.Crew's comeback, just peep the old-school looks of this beaut.
Reigning Champ
Midweight Terry Classic Crew Neck
Reigning Champ has been in the sweats game for generations, producing some of the absolute finest hoodies, sweatpants, and crewnecks around. Though we've adored their slim-fit crewnecks for years, Reigning Champ's more classic-fitting sweatshirt is one that will endure the oscillating silhouette trends. It's made with custom French Terry fabric, cut with a relaxed but refined fit, and sewn with super smooth flatlock seams to cut down on bulk.
Buck Mason
Cotton Sweatshirt
The yarn-dyed French terry means that this heathered fabric is really heathering.
Gap
Vintage soft crewneck sweatshirt
Gap knows a thing or two about affordable basics that'll actually stand the test of time.
Crewneck Sweatshirts FAQs
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 there's more material goes into the sweatshirt which means they'll last longer. 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. Concerning construction, 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 a boxier and cropped to go with some high-waisted, baggy trousers.
How to style a crewneck sweatshirt
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.
