Has there ever been a more coveted apparel item that can balance both comfort and style? The hoodie is the Swiss Army knife of clothing– find your favorite one and you have something perfect for a Netflix marathon or a night out with friends.

After testing, washing, wearing, and living in over 40 of our best sellers and personal favorites, we created a list of the best hoodies in categories you request the most.

We sell more pullover hoodies than we do zip, but it’s often a close race. People have their preferences, so how do you decide when ordering swag for your crew or customers?

Something to consider when purchasing pullover hoodies is they tend to be more economical in an apples-to-apples comparison. Many argue they offer a more streamlined, uniform appearance and better heat retention.

On the flip side, the zip up hoodie is favored among those who don’t want to mess up their hair or makeup. It’s easier to control temperature (pointed out by my MIL who frequently suffers from hot flashes), and easier to layer.

While both styles offer warmth and casual comfort, the choice between them typically depends on personal preference and the specific requirements of the wearer’s activities and climate

We often are asked to showcase sustainable apparel to our customers. Many brands will claim their garment made from recycled plastic bottles is eco-friendly, but is it truly?

Benefits to using recycled plastic:

1. Waste Reduction: They help reduce plastic waste by repurposing bottles that might otherwise end up in landfills or oceans.
2. Resource Efficiency: Producing recycled polyester uses fewer resources compared to virgin polyester, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Durability: Recycled polyester is durable and long-lasting, potentially reducing the need for frequent replacements.
   

Drawbacks:

1. Microplastic Pollution: Washing these garments can release microplastics into waterways, contributing to environmental pollution.
2. Energy Use: The recycling process itself requires energy and resources, though generally less than producing new polyester.
3. End-of-Life: Like most synthetic fibers, recycled polyester is not biodegradable, posing disposal challenges at the end of its lifecycle.

While recycled bottle shirts are a step towards sustainability, their overall impact depends on responsible production, usage, and disposal practices. We chose a 100% organic cotton hoodie as our sustainable pick because the garment was well made, and the fabric is biodegradable (among the many other things tentree does for sustainability). While you can argue that cotton production has its own downfalls, we believe the overall impact has a higher sustainability rating.

There are hundreds of hoodies we could choose from, so how do we even start? We start by asking great questions of our suppliers, Kotisans, and customers to narrow our search. Once we selected our contenders per category, the test was ready to begin.

The samples showed up at roughly the same time, and we tried them on to get a sense of the initial fit. Then, off to a nice warm bath they went. Each of them went in a warm water cycle and dried off in a low tumble- in accordance with most of the label instructions. Those that very noticeably shrank and changed shape, were out. If they came out with the beginnings of pilling, they were out. One didn’t make the cut because the neck opening was too small for my head to comfortably fit through after a few laundry cycles.

We tested these for over a month, cycling through the finalists until we were certain of the results. I personally took my hoodies skiing, hiking, out in town, and to work. Some categories had clear winners right off the bat, others had so many great options it was difficult to choose a winner.

Ultimately, the hoodie choice is yours and we’re here to help listen to your needs and wants and recommend the best option. We’ve done our homework and we’re here to be your expert.