If you’re still scrambling to ID the best deal Amazon Prime Day has to offer, I have a single, solitary suggestion: the Russell Athletic hoodie. Sure, a sweatshirt is probably the last thing you want to wear in the middle of July. But for those of us blessed/cursed with central air (and an office that routinely abuses it), it just might be the answer to your chilly prayers. Even if you don’t need one right this very second, its pedigree merits valuable real estate in your closet. Not convinced? Let me cook.
First and foremost: I’ve worn many, many hoodies. Russell’s are undoubtedly the best bang for your buck. A good degree of their success boils down to sheer reps—around a century ago, the brand literally invented the sweatshirt as a comfier alternative to the woolen jerseys football players wore on the field. The newfangled cotton crewneck became a massive hit, solidifying Russell as the godfather of athletic clothing in the process.
These days, the company still makes its hero products using a 50-50 poly-cotton blend that’s brushed for ultimate plushness, growing softer with each subsequent wash. That fabric weighs in at 9 oz. per square yard (translation: it sits comfortably in the middleweight category), perfect for most-of-the-year wear. The secret sauce, though, is the fit. Over the decades, the proportions of Russell’s pullovers and zip-ups have stayed classic, with a length that hits right at the hips, a virtuosic example of menswear’s golden ratio. There’s a reason vintage fanatics go crazy for early versions of the brand’s hoodies, and today’s riffs aren’t so different from the sun-battered joints they lust after.
Summer’s punishing temperatures had already leveled hoodie prices, when, earlier this morning, Prime Day absolutely decimated ’em, slashing the cost of Russell’s contribution to the fashion canon by 50%. The final asking price? A mere $12—less than you’d pay for a fancy cocktail at happy hour, and a ridiculous steal for a bona fide piece of menswear history.
Here’s the catch, though: Prime Day’s flash-in-the-pan nature operates in direct contrast to the Russell Athletic hoodie’s enduring legacy. The former has been around for decades, the latter ends at midnight. Summer is short, Prime Day is shorter, and both are simply too fleeting not to buy a ridiculously cozy hoodie when the opportunity arises.
For every other worthwhile bargain on our radar, head over to our massive list of the best Prime Day deals so far. To receive all our shopping intel going forward, subscribe to the GQ Recommends newsletter.
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