If nothing else, you’re definitely familiar with Champion’s iconic “C” branding adorning the chest or sleeves of countless sweatshirts you’ve encountered. While finding Champion-branded sweats isn’t going to be particularly difficult, you should make sure to search for products that utilize its signature “Reverse Weave” construction. Ideating on the technique 1938, but finalizing the process by 1952, Champion garments with a reverse weave are sewn transversely (horizontally) across the garment; this is unlike most T-shirts and hoodies, which are sewn vertically to save time and money. Designed with coaches and team managers in mind, items with Reverse Weave construction are less prone to shrinkage—especially after a run through an athletic department’s high heat wash-and-dry laundry process. While these hoodies may look like the average Champion hoodie at first glance, take note of the longer wrist cuffs and side panels on either side of the sweatshirt. This should be the first indication that you’ve stumbled upon an American classic.

It’s easy to think of Champion when it comes to hoodies; the classic American brand has practically cornered the market on the classic American hoodie. That said, you shouldn’t sleep on Russell Athletic’s iteration. Touting itself as the “pioneer, inventor and creator of the sweatshirt,” Russell serves up a sweatshirt that’s just as good (and often goes for a slightly less than its heritage competitors).

For a bit more flash than the average, solid color, generally unbranded Russell hoodie, tap into collabs with colleges or with NYC sneaker shop-meets-streetwear label Kith.

Leave it to a brand from Canada to help set the standard for the modern hoodie. Reigning Champ, part of CYC Corporation, has been innovating and iterating on the classic hooded sweatshirt from its headquarters in Vancouver. While Reigning Champ was founded back in 2007, its products are shaped from years of “white label” production—the practice of building blank garments for other labels. Known for its fleece, Reigning Champ’s blank pullover help sets the standard for luxury hoodies; with reverse flatlock seams and a construction clearly inspired by Champion’s Reverse Weave techniques, this is a hoodie that should feel a little more fashionable than your average athletic sweatshirt—without forcing you to worry about a luxury-level price tag.

If you’re going to own one streetwear hoodie, it should be this one. Supreme, the now-global streetwear juggernaut has been creating this street, or in this case, skatewear staple since its founding in 1994. While the brand uses the hoodie as a canvas to display its various cultural references and logo flips, there’s few items that can top the Box Logo hoodie within the wider Supreme ouvre. It’s not all aesthetics either, historically produced by CYC Corporation (the minds behind Reigning Champ), the Box Logo hoodie’s coziness is rivaled only by its sheer variety and multitude of colorways.

A master of avant-garde design, Rick Owens is always at the top of any fashion fan’s list—whether they choose to fill their closets with his forward-thinking designs, or not. DRKSHDW, considered a more approachable and accessible iteration of Owens’ forward-thinking design ethos, is an excellent starting point for those introducing themselves to the designer’s work. While Owens’ hoodies typically vary in proportion (and sometimes, by name) based on the designer’s latest collection, they’re always identifiable for their extra-long thin white drawstrings. While not all DRKSHDW hoodies are identical, some forgo a bottom hem, allowing the hoodie to have a flatter, boxier shape on the body.

While Comme des Garçons is praised for its forward thinking designs and its wide-ranging family of brands, its public profile is buoyed and sustained by one of its more approachable lines: Comme des Garçons PLAY. Identified by the brand’s heart-shaped patch, it’s a subtle way to indicate that you’re in-the-know when it comes to one of fashion’s biggest names.

Hey, we get it: This hoodie is not for the faint of heart. As equally revered as Supreme, Japan’s BAPE played a vital role in establishing Japan’s role in the global streetwear conversation. While BAPE’s signature Shark Full Zip hoodie comes in a variety of iterations, it is notable for its...well, full zip closure—something which, when completely zipped up, covers the entire face with its shark print graphic and varsity lettering. Whether you’re copping a version boasting BAPE’s over-the-top camo prints, or something in a solid color, this is the hoodie to snag if you’re looking to stand out from a crowd.

Hoodies might have crossed over into everyday wear, but there’s no denying the piece’s lineage on the gym floor. Few athletic brands top Nike, and when it comes to hoodies, you can’t go wrong with the brand’s proprietary Tech Fleece material. With a lightweight feel but middleweight warmth, items boasting Tech Fleece walk the line between sport-focused details and streamlined design. Even though Nike has tweaked this hoodie silhouette over the years, with its connection to sport, you can expect to find a sculpted hood shape and a zip closure higher up on the collar—among other design touches. While this is definitely a hoodie that will fit comfortably into your gym wardrobe, its athletically-inspired practicality makes it worth wearing during your day-to-day.

In terms of luxury knitwear, there’s nothing quite like the feel of cashmere. A combination of smooth softness and warmth, cashmere knits are a luxury addition to any wardrobe—without looking over-the-top or ostentatious. Vince, the Los Angeles-meets-New York brand known for its sweaters and knitwear, has managed to churn out classic menswear basics since its founding in 2002. When cult New York menswear designer Patrik Ervell, known for his modern, Scandinavian-influenced aesthetic, joined the team to punch up its designs, the brand was due for a second look. This cashmere hoodie—offered both as a zip up and a pullover—offers incredible bang for your buck.

It’s easy to dismiss Noah as just another brand on the Supreme family tree; the man behind the whole operation—Brendan Babenzien—was once Supreme’s creative director. Ignoring Noah, however, would be a major mistake. While the brand traffics in streetwear staples like T-shirts and hoodies (not mention a rigorous supply of cut-and-sew prep staples), it’s far more than just a distant relative of Supreme. Noah has gained traction for its clean, grown-up graphics and top-notch quality; it’s a choice that may make Noah’s garments more expensive, but the brand’s transparent attempts to explain the cost behind its items shows that Noah has a commitment to quality, while focusing on using only fair and honest production practices. Selecting a hoodie with one of Noah’s signature graphics might be difficult, but the choice to cop a piece from one of the most ethical and transparent companies in streetwear shouldn’t be.

You’ve probably seen Aimé Leon Dore making a cameo in street style galleries or on the back of your fashion forum-obsessed friend. The brand, helmed by Teddy Santis, exists both within and outside of NYC’s robust roster of premiere streetwear brands, crafting something that manages to fuse European-inspired luxury with the sidewalk-level cool of New York and its five boroughs. Case in point? The brand’s take on a classic logo hoodie. Constructed with heavyweight French terry and thicker flat drawstring laces, it’s simple-yet-sophisticated take on a hoodie that’s worth wearing on a night out. Current iterations feature a worn-in “sand wash” treatment, but earlier seasons have resulted in a myriad of different colorways and treatments.

Japanese mainstay Needles is famous for its ability to design exceptionally clever modern takes on sportswear classics that are just different enough from the original’s that they stand out. Its “Cuts” pieces are, usually, exactly in that vein. Using reclaimed vintage scraps, Needles transforms discarded T-shirts, flannels and hoodies into unique 1-of-1 creations. Cheekily referred to as “seven-shirts-in-one,” the pieces have become a viral sensation, the flannels in particular.

Though the 7 Cuts pieces are significantly more tame than their reconstructed nature lets on, in the case of the 5 Cuts Tie Dye Hoodie, all bets are off. Made from five separate vintage pieces of tie dye are sewn together, the final product is a melange of disparate colors, shades and fabric weights. With strips hanging down the back, an uneven hem line and wide array of eye-popping colors, this is one of the loudest (and most in-demand) hoodies on the market

No stranger to Americana, cult Japanese label Kapital regularly explores a wide range of American sportswear tropes, ranging from Western ranch wear to military and, naturally, prep. Though they no longer boast the same cultural cache, for years, prep-friendly brands like Abercrombie, Hollister and Gap where arguably even more coveted in Japan than they were in the States, and the “Surf” hoodie perfectly encapsulates that movement.

A clear homage to “GAP” and “A&F” logo hoodies, the sweatshirt—originally available in that unmistakable mall-brand blue but now made in a wide range of colors—features a patch letter logo on the front that’s an obvious riff on the aforementioned brands. While the inspiration is clear, the details are signature Kapital, with an oversized scuba hood, button-and-hook details at the neck and wide cut heavyweight terry you could never hope to get at your local mall.

While there are a lot of detail-oriented brands, few even attempt to go to the painstaking lengths that Visvim designer Hiroki Nakamura does. An Americana obsessive bar none, when Nakamura discovers a reference piece he will literally scour the earth sourcing the perfect fabric, dyes and factories to ensure his version is made to its utmost specifications.

In the case of the hoodie, Visvim has a few versions in rotation, but none are as beloved as the Jumbo. Available in a wide range of colors and dye techniques, Visvim’s take on an oversized hoodie is made from the highest grade cotton money can buy before undergoing incredible costly dye treatments creating some of the most unique colorways imaginable. A staff favorite for a reason.

There’s no argument that Jerry Lorenzo played a pivotal role in the proliferation of premium basics. Through his main line, Fear of God, the designer made $800 luxury cotton sweatpants and equally as expensive hoodies an industry staple. Yet, even on Grailed, many of us find it difficult to justify spending that kind of cash on a sweatshirt. Thankfully, that’s where Essentials comes in.

Lorenzo’s cotton basics focused diffusion label, Essentials offers those same oversized, heavyweight hoodies fans can’t seem to get enough of at a much more palatable price point. While these hoodies may not boast the same premium cotton or be handmade in Italy like pieces from the mainline, we doubt anyone will notice the difference—and, for this price, who cares?

What can we say that hasn’t already been said about Carhartt? The undisputed champ of real American workwear, Carhartt is—as opposed to countless imitators—designed for doing actual work, meaning fabric, production and details are all built to withstand the worst. And while most hoodies on this list weigh in between 10-12 oz., Carhartt uses an ultra-heavyweight 13.75 oz. cotton for its Paxton Hoodie, to ensure durability, longevity and warmth.

Not just thick, the Paxton is designed entirely for function, devoid of unnecessary design flourishes and excessive details. With a simple patch logo and clocking in at less than $50 at retail, the Paxton basically sells itself. If you need a simple hoodie, there are few options better.