Ditch Your Old Hoodie—This Workwear Upgrade Does It All

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If your go-to work hoodie is worn out, thin, and barely holding together, it might be time for an upgrade. The 1620 Workwear Full Tech Work Hoodie is built for tough jobs with heavyweight fleece, Cordura reinforcements, and a durable, weather-resistant design that’s made to handle everything from garage work to cold nights outside.

For years, whether I was working under my truck, raking fall leaves, or fiddling with the latest project in my shop, the old worn out sweatshirt that wasn't fit for public wear was my go-to. They were threadbare and ill-fitting and not very warm, but I didn't care if I spilled oil on it or tore a elbow on chicken wire. But, now that I've tested out a 1620 Workwear hoodie, I'll never go back to those thrift shop drop-off should've-beens.

The first thing I noticed when putting the Full Tech Hoodie on is its heft. It felt solid and substantial, and the Cordura reinforcement panels along the elbows and forearms, along with comprising the front pouch, made it feel like it would last for a long time. It's made from a heavyweight fleece fabric—originally developed as an alternative to synthetic fleece that melts when exposed to flame—and uses YKK snaps, shorter cuffs, has a longer torso so it's perfectly made for active pursuits, whether working in the yard, building a structure, or even riding a ATV. The fabric dries faster than cotton and is treated with a PFC-free water repellent coating to repel moisture. 

This hoodie quickly became my new favorite, performing well in the aforementioned activities, and just great for hanging out around the fire in when the early spring temps dipped overnight. Some of the other features I appreciate it are the Cordura pocket inside the kangaroo pocket for storing your phone or other essentials, high corners on the sides of the pouch to keep things from dropping out, generous hand openings in the pouch that allow you to grab items with gloves on, voluminous hood that works with helmets, reflective 1620 logo above the pouch, and snaps instead of drawstring that inevitably just get in the way. And it's 100-percent hand-crafted in North Carolina, which—along with it's bomber construction—justifies the higher price.