Before the specific fabrics, it’s helpful to know what attributes make a hoodie “good” material-wise:
- Comfort / softness against skin
- Warmth / insulation
- Breathability / moisture management
- Durability (resisting wear, shrinkage, fading, pilling)
- Feel of weight / thickness (heavy for colder weather, lightweight for mild climates)
- Ease of care (washing, drying, how much shrinking / tearing)
- Aesthetic / drape and look
- Eco / sustainability (organic fibres, recycled materials, etc.)
there are some fabrics and blends that tend to perform very well, and I’ll go through them plus trade offs so you can decide what fits your needs.
Based on what you might need, here are some suggestions:
- If you want a hoodie for cold weather, go for heavy brushed cotton fleece, maybe with some polyester blended in to reduce shrinkage.
- For everyday wear in mild climates, 50 65% cotton / 35 50% polyester blend is usually the sweet spot.
- If you want something stylish and comfortable (not bulky), a tri blend or French terry is great.
- For activewear, choose lightweight polyester or poly blends with some stretch (elastane) and moisture wicking properties.
- For sustainability / skin sensitivity, go for organic cotton, bamboo or TENCEL blends.