Sweaters are a versatile and fun way to add some warmth and style to your wardrobe. Our team of reviewers researched over 30 of the best-selling sweaters available today before purchasing ten of the most promising to put to the test. After wearing these sweaters day in and day out, our team compared the comfort, fit, versatility, and ease of care of each one. We hope our in-depth breakdown of the best and worst qualities of each will help you find the perfect sweater without having to go to the department store.
If you are looking for a long-sleeve option to get active in, you might like our best men's fleece jacket review. Or, perhaps you're in need of a new jacket — we've got you covered (literally!) When temps drop, check out our picks for the top winter boots, the best winter jackets, and the top winter gloves, where we share our favorite options based on real-world testing.The 5 Best Sweaters
We tested the top sweaters from Carhartt, Pendleton, Hanes, and more to find the best styles for your wardrobe
Perfect for cozying up on the couch, the Pendleton Shetland crewneck is a well made sweater.
Credit: Buck Yedor
Our Top Picks
By Buck Yedor ⋅ Review Editor
Friday May 19, 2023
REASONS TO BUY
Thick
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Runs large
Not office appropriate
The Carhartt Crew Neck Pocket is a thick and comfortable sweatshirt perfect for everything from morning lounging with a cup of coffee to chopping wood on a brisk winter afternoon. The thick material offers a decent amount of warmth and some serious durability. This isn't a sweater you have to worry about beating up. While it might not be office-appropriate (depending on your office), it is excellent for almost every other occasion, making it one of the most versatile sweaters we reviewed. It serves as both quality workwear and stylish streetwear. This one is fuss-free in the laundry; it's constructed from a cotton-polyester blend, so you can toss it in the washer and dryer with the rest of your clothes with peace of mind.
The only qualm we had with the Carhartt sweater was its large fit. The torso is quite long and generally feels at least a full size larger than standard sizing. All in all, this sweater is highly comfortable, versatile, and easy to care for. If you're looking for one sweater that can do it all and you dig a baggier look, this is our top recommendation.
This Carhartt Crew Neck is thick, durable, and soft.
Credit: Buck Yedor
REASONS TO BUY
Stylish
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
More involved care
Over the years, Pendleton has more or less become synonymous with high-quality wool. The Shetland Crew is no different and won't disappoint those searching for a simple but well-made crew neck from a coveted brand. Made from 100% wool and sporting a trim but still cozy fit, you could just as easily wear this piece to the office as you could for apres-ski drinks. We found this sweater fit true to size and offered a good range of motion.
The Pendleton Shetland Crew is really only for true wool lovers. Those sensitive to wool will want to look elsewhere. Fortunately, this sweater is still machine washable, but it's recommended to wash cold and then hang dry. This piece is ideal for anyone looking for a simple but high-quality wool sweater.
The Pendleton Shetland crew is a wool lover's delight.
Credit: Buck Yedor
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Soft interior
REASONS TO AVOID
Thin
Runs small
The Hanes EcoSmart Fleece Sweatshirt is an affordable sweater offered in over 20 different color options. The inner fabric is brushed, which gives it an incredibly soft and comfortable feel against your skin. The polyester used in this piece is made from recycled plastic, which will hopefully make you feel a little less guilty about buying one of these sweaters in all your favorite colors.
Overall, this is a fairly versatile piece. It would make an ideal layer for the gym or just for casual everyday use. The thin material might not stand up to serious manual labor, and it might be too casual for officewear. This sweater does run on the small side, particularly in the torso length, but it's an excellent buy for anyone looking for a well-priced, comfortable crew neck.
The Hanes Crew Neck is an affordable option that is available in a huge selection of colorways.
Credit: Buck Yedor
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Unique style
REASONS TO AVOID
More involved care
Expensive
The West End Knitwear Aran Button Cardigan brings the look and feel of the Irish seaside to the comfort of your home. Complete with aran style cable knitting that represents traditional fishing ropes, this cardigan is stylish and unique. The 100% merino wool fabric is incredibly comfortable and soft to the touch, and the fit is spot-on for the style of the sweater. The torso is a little longer than on your average crew neck, but that comes with the territory for a shawled cardigan. This elegant knitwear can easily be dressed up or down. Put on a collared shirt and tie underneath and you're ready for the office, or layer it over a t-shirt, and you're ready for a comfy day of lounging.
When deciding to purchase this sweater, consider whether you're ready to commit to a piece of clothing you must hand wash. This can't be thrown in the wash or dry cleaned, so if you're constantly spilling food on your favorite outerwear, this sweater might be too high maintenance. It's an excellent option that is perfect for anyone in the market for a new cardigan.
Made from 100% Merino Wool, the Irish built West End cardigan offers a unique look and comfortable wear.
Credit: Buck Yedor
REASONS TO BUY
Great mobility
Aesthetic style details
REASONS TO AVOID
Large branding
Runs small
With its ribbed crew neck and raglan-style sleeves, the Adidas Trefoil Warm-Up Crew brings subtle styling details to an otherwise simple crew neck sweater. The 100% French Terry fabric is comfortable and super stretchy. This sweater is as easy as it can be to care for and can be washed and dried with the rest of your laundry.
The fit is athletic, and if anything, runs a little small. The raglan sleeves give you a great range of motion despite a tighter fit across the shoulders. The large Adidas branding relegates this piece to casual street or sportswear but is hard to beat for either of those purposes. It's perfect for anyone looking for a comfortable and stretchy sweater to hit the gym or the streets in.
The Adidas Trefoil Crew was designed with movement in mind.
Credit: Buck Yedor
REASONS TO BUY
Soft brushed interior
Stretchy
REASONS TO AVOID
Oversized collar is hard to style
More involved care
The H2H Slim Fit Turtleneck is a polyester henley that ultimately falls into the casual wear side of the spectrum. The brushed interior is soft and comfortable on the skin, while the stretch of the fabric provides for unrestricted movement. We found the fit to be on the slimmer side but in no way tight or "athletic" fitting.
The arms are somewhat baggy, and the oversized collar is too large and floppy to wear flipped up and looks a little silly folded down. The awkwardness of the collar will keep this from being your going-out sweater, but it's perfect for a cozy day at home. Despite being made from polyester, the care instructions call for hand washing or dry cleaning only. We'd recommend this piece to those who want the ease of a pullover but want to class it up with henley styling details.
The H2H Henley has one of the softest fabrics of any of the sweaters we tested.
Credit: Buck Yedor
REASONS TO BUY
Stretchy
Soft
REASONS TO AVOID
More involved care
Limited versatility
It might not come out of the closet every day, but having a turtleneck on standby is a must when the occasion calls. The Poriff Basic Turtleneck is offered in over 25 colorways in both short and long-sleeved options. This piece is slim fitting through the arms and shoulders and opens up through the chest and torso. The 5% spandex gives this sweater an incredible stretch and would easily let you size down if you want a slimmer fit.
The care instructions allow for machine washing but hang drying only. As far as versatility goes, it depends on your style and preference. While most people won't be wearing a turtleneck every day, it's a fun and simple way to dress up an otherwise casual outfit. This is an affordable and comfortable option for anyone looking to add a turtleneck to their quiver of sweaters.
The stretchy Puriff turtleneck is an easy way to dress up a pair of jeans.
Credit: Buck Yedor
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Susceptible to shrinking
Runs large
The Goodthreads Soft Cotton Cardigan is a great way to add some sophisticated but casual style to any outfit. The oversized shawl collar and small waist pockets will keep you looking good on your way from the coffee shop to the office. This sweater fits as a cardigan should; it's slightly oversized, which lets you easily layer over shirts. The 100% cotton fabric is soft and feels great against the skin.
This 100% cotton sweater is susceptible to shrinking a bit in the dryer. It's best to either dry on low or skip the dryer altogether and hang dry. The Goodthreads cardigan is an affordable option for anyone looking to add a little class to their everyday look.
The Goodthreads Cardigan is affordable and ideal for layering.
Credit: Buck Yedor
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Susceptible to shrinking
Short torso
The Amazon Essentials Crew Neck is a simple, comfortable crew neck sweater that works great as an everyday basic. The 100% cotton material is soft, supple, and easy to move around in. The ribbing on the sleeves, neck, and bottom hemline elevate this piece from looking like a basic pullover to a sweater with a touch of sophistication. While this piece isn't designed for manual labor or sports, it works for just about every occasion, making it one of the most versatile options we reviewed.
While our testers found this sweater to fit nicely, the torso length is on the shorter side, and if you typically need "tall" sizing, this sweater likely won't work for you without upsizing a considerable amount. This sweater is an affordable, comfortable, versatile, and easy option for anyone looking for a crew neck sweater.
The Amazon Essentials Crew runs a little small, but is a comfy every day basic.
Credit: Buck Yedor
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Easy to care for
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited versatility
Runs large
The Champion Graphic Powerblend Crew is a perfect choice for your morning run or while warming up at the gym. The fit is slightly baggy, which makes it great for athletics and streetwear but probably not office-appropriate. This is a pretty basic sweater and, as such, has no issue being tossed in a washing machine or dryer.
The large branding on the chest, large fit, and weave make this feel more like a sweatshirt than a sweater; assuming you're not holding on too tight to your apparel definitions, we'll let this one straddle the boundary between the two. This is a great choice for anyone looking for a casual crew neck to wear to the gym.
The casual Champion Crew performs well for everything from running to rock climbing.
Credit: Buck Yedor
Why You Should Trust Us
To begin our quest to find the best men's sweaters, we researched the best-selling sweaters on the market, choosing ten of them to independently purchase and review. Once we had them in hand, our review team incorporated them into their daily lives and wardrobes. Using a specific set of standardized metrics, our testers determined the pros and cons of each sweater.
Sweater testing was led by Buck Yedor, who has a huge affinity for sweaters in his personal life. Over the course of his review career, he has tested a wide variety of men's outerwear, giving him a critical eye for construction details and fit. From the top-rated down jackets to the best fleece jackets and now everyday sweaters, Buck loves to explore the nitty-gritty details of men's apparel.
Analysis and Test Results
Our testers were looking at the comfort, fit, versatility, and ease of care for each sweater throughout the testing process. Our simplified in-depth testing will help take some of the mystery out of your next purchase.
Comfort
Comfort is king in clothing; nobody likes to feel uncomfortable in the clothes they're in. The biggest component of the comfort metric when it comes to sweaters is what we like to call the "cheek" test. How does the fabric feel brushed up against your cheek? Is it soft and cozy, or is it stiff and scratchy? The H2H Henley, with its brushed interior, is one of the softest and most comfortable sweaters we tested. The West End Aran Cardigan, made from 100% Merino wool, was another highly comfortable option.
The Pendleton Shetland Crew is made from 100% high quality wool.
Credit: Buck Yedor
The Amazon Essentials Crew Neck was by no means uncomfortable, but it wasn't as soft as most of the other sweaters we reviewed. The Pendleton Shetland Crew was a bit polarizing. It is made from 100% wool, and it feels like it. If you're someone who likes the feel of wool, you'll love this sweater, but for those who find it to be scratchy, buyer beware.
The H2H Henley's brushed interior is incredibly soft against skin.
Credit: Buck Yedor
Fit
Sweaters are usually fairly simple pieces of apparel, but the difference in fit can make or break them in terms of wearability. The Adidas Trefoil Warm-Up Crew offers our favorite fit. Built for athletics, the raglan-style sleeves provide an uninhibited range of overhead motion. The Pendleton Shetland Crew fits in all the right ways. True to standard sizing, the arms and torso fit our testers just right. The Poriff Basic Turtleneck is another option that fits incredibly well. Its high-stretch fabric ensures that it will fit almost anybody as long as you're in the ballpark with sizing.
The Carhartt Crew Neck runs about a full size larger than average.
Credit: Buck Yedor
The Carhartt Crew Neck Pocket fits large. Our testers found it to be cozy and easy to both move and layer with, but we found it to run almost a full size larger than standard sizing. Conversely, the Hanes EcoSmart Fleece Sweatshirt runs a little small. With a short torso and minimal stretch, you may want to size up.
The Amazon Essentials Crew Neck runs small.
Credit: Buck Yedor
Versatility
Versatility refers to the variety of situations each sweater is appropriate for. Is it good for wearing into the office, going out for drinks, hitting the gym, or some combination of uses? We found the Carhartt Crew Neck Pocket was extremely versatile. Whether you need some extra warmth on the job site, are meeting friends for a night out, or just lounging at home, this sweater does it all and does it well. The only thing it's not suited for is formal office wear. The Amazon Essentials Crew Neck was another option that will work for a variety of occasions. Wear it to work or wear it to a BBQ; this piece can be dressed up or down with ease.
The Goodthreads Cardigan can be dressed up or thrown on for a cozy layer to wear around the house.
Credit: Buck Yedor
The Adidas Trefoil Warm-Up Crew though highly comfortable, with its large branding and sporty look, is probably best reserved for working out and casual streetwear. The West End Aran Cardigan is also a fairly specific piece. While it can be used for anything from semi-formal workwear to classing up a pair of jeans, it will always carry an air of formality that isn't needed for everyday use.
Nothing says sweater weather like a nice cup of tea.
Credit: Buck Yedor
Ease of Care
Ease of care boils down to cleaning each sweater when it's time for a wash. The Carhartt Crew Neck Pocket, Adidas Trefoil, Hanes EcoSmart Fleece, and the Champion Crew can all be machine washed and dried.
The Goodthreads Cardigan, Amazon Essentials Crew Neck, Pendleton Shetland Crew, and the Poriff Turtleneck can be machine washed but must be hung up to dry.
The high quality wool of the West End Aran cardigan requires special care.
Credit: Buck Yedor
The H2H Henley and the West End Aran Cardigan both must be hand washed for longevity, so we only recommend these sweaters to someone who doesn't mind dealing with a more finicky care routine.
Always be sure to check the care instructions for your outerwear. Even though it's synthetic, the H2H Henley requires hand washing.
Credit: Buck Yedor
Conclusion
After wearing and testing ten of the best-selling men's sweaters, our review team determined the best and worst qualities in each. Through hours of everyday wear and use and over a wide range of activities and environments, we compared the comfort, fit, versatility, and ease of care of each sweater against all the others. We hope our results will help you determine the right sweater for your specific needs, style, and budget.
— Buck Yedor
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