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The not-so-humble hooded sweatshirt is still the reigning champ.

Before it took over the runways of the world, the modern iteration of the hoodie came from relatively humble beginnings. Let's backtrack.

In the 1930s, Champion, then known as Knickerbocker Knitting Company, began producing sweatshirts in a thicker material with hoods to protect athletes and men in the workforce who had to cope with chilly environments. Its purpose was purely practical. At the same time, the brand started reaching out to high schools across America, offering merch for sports teams. It gained steam with the kids, and the hoodie took on some personality. By the ’70s and ’80s, the style was adopted by counterculture groups, from hip-hop artists to punk rockers to skaters. The hoodie accrued a rep, becoming an integral part of their MO.

Today, the humble hooded sweatshirt ain't all that, well, humble. It not only packs personality—available in every conceivable color, fabric, size, and print—it also has gone mainstream. In fact, there was a period not too long ago when finding one was sort of tough. In the ’90s and early aughts, unless you went to a sporting goods retailer or shopped at a college store, or didn’t mind a large Gap or Nike logo emblazoned on the front, hoodies just weren’t readily available—at least by today's standards. A lot has changed since then, especially with what is deemed respectable enough to wear out and about. And with the rise of normcore, as well as luxury streetwear, the hoodie, which has long had dominion over those categories, conquered the market entirely. It is the champ, walking down almost every runway with no worthy challengers.

Indeed, you can buy a hoodie for $30 or $3,000, and at every price in between. From breathable, workout-oriented options done up in the best technical fabrics to beefy, ultra-comfortable takes for serious lounging to ones that are office-ready, there's a hoodie out there for everyone. In other words: It's the hoodie's world, and we're all living in it. The sooner you reconcile yourself to that reality, the sooner you can move on and cop as many of the best hoodies as you possibly can.

A fantastic color, a perfect-for-right-now fit, and a price that's almost impossible to beat.

Champion remains the, well, champion of cranking out solid hooded sweatshirts.

The sleek, aerodynamic layer you'll want to keep on long after you've cooled down.

As classic as they come, courtesy of the Crew.

Outdoor Voices' beloved CloudKnit fabric will make this the softest and most lightweight hoodie in your wardrobe.

When it comes to well-made wardrobe staples, Everlane, once again, has you covered.

A French terry hoodie in an eye-catching shade of French blue that's a definite oui oui.

Everyone loves a good burgundy, whether it's poured from a bottle or pulled over your head.

The brand behind the blanks for most of your favorite concert tees also happens to make a damn-fine hoodie at a price that'll let you stock up.

The Gap doesn't miss when it comes to hoodies, especially this season with the slew of colorful options it has on offer.

Uniqlo's collection of basics is not only foolproof, but affordable. Its cotton hoodies, which come in an array of colors, are the perfect top layer for pretty much any season. As far as which hue to pick, it's worth saying that gray is always a good bet.

Pro tip: Carhartt makes a hoodie more durable than almost any of its designer counterparts. If you're looking for a solid option that'll stand up to pretty much everything you throw at it, start here.

A cool shade of camel from the folks at Alternative (née Alternative Apparel), a brand that specializes in super-soft fleece in all its forms.

Tie-dye is a thing. Jason Sudeikis demonstrated that last year. It's also a style that is both old and now. And Katin is demonstrating that pretty visibly with this vintage-wash hoodie.

A crispy white hoodie? A crispy white hoodie!

A hefty 14 oz. fleece zip-up crafted in L.A. for decidedly East Coast conditions. 

From the soft micro-brushed French terry to the roomy cut to the perfectly situated pockets, Mack Weldon once again serves an ace.

Get your head right with Noon Goons.

Proof's hoodie is as much figuratively seamless as it is literally.

When it comes collaborating, Todd Snyder only enlists the best of the best. And when it comes to hoodies, the OG (see intro) still does it better than most.

It's called a Gym Hoodie, yes, but this pullover from burgeoning designer Darryl Brown is best to wear out and about. It'll definitely win you some fashion cred.

Made of a soft blend of baby alpaca and merino wool, Wills's hoodie is like a warm hug that everyone needs to embrace.

Carrots and butterflies, together in one hoodie. It's like a garden party without all the awkward small talk.

A mint-colored hoodie from the cool, fresh folks at Daily Paper.

How fitting: purple haze from Camp High.

Isn't this JW Anderson hoodie just peachy?

With this Comme des Garçons Play hoodie, you will always wear your heart on your, well, heart.

Five decades in the biz and C.P. Company still offers the kind of quality styles, with its instantly recognizable lens, that last the long haul.

A hoodie with a name the perfectly reflects the designs of the wondrous Martine Rose.

It's impossible to discuss the state of the hoodie today without talking about what John Elliott did for the style back in the 2010s. It's only fitting, then, that his 2022 take should move the needle forward once again.

Kapaital's Kiro Hirata never fails to offer the kind of stuff that cool kids covet. To wit: The way he takes Japanese cotton, quilts it, and then casts it in a print inspired by American bandanas is a sartorial masterclass.

Wunderkind Nicholas Daley takes us on a journey into his family history, offering an excellent hoodie that recollects his parents printing "Reggae Klub" tees for Jamaican music night in Scotland during the ‘70s.

When it comes to super-elevated sweats, it's tough to beat Jerry Lorenzo and the team at Fear of God. This hoodie is appropriately kingly, considering the "Monarch" moniker.

A logo-heavy riff on the hoodie that's sure to please minimalists in the front and Baroque fans in the back.

Thom Browne, the modern-day master of shrunken suiting, also happens to make a bestselling hoodie—cut from Japanese cotton, of course.

From the streamlined cut to the striking tan hue to the use of the label's iconic check, this hoodie has everything that we'd expect from Burberry.

Celine Homme partnered with artist Gregory Edwards on a fierce hoodie that will unleash the sexy beast within you.

Last season, in a moment that took the fashion world by storm, Balenciaga presented a mini film starting the cast of The Simpsons. It was campy, entertaining, and cool—all sentiments that is perfectly reflected in this hoodie.

Visvim's hoodie looks simple, yes, but the way it is washed to perfection, using natural dyes, is worth top dollar.

When The North Face and Gucci joined forces last year on a collection, it sold like gangbusters, offering pieces the combined outdoorsy styles from the '70s with an unmissable Italian quirk. The second installment follows its predecessor, which means this hoodie will likely sell out quick. So cop it now, while supplies last.