www.icebreaker.com
We get it—sometimes clothes are like comfort food. You just want to wear something cozy and accommodating, like the well-worn all-cotton hooded sweatshirt of your youth.  Well, Icebreaker has upgraded that standby, both satisfying the slacker in us all and impressing the gear-head we embrace. Their Aspiring Hood employs the company’s latest-and-greatest concoction “RealFleece,”  made with ultra-soft merino wool treated to feel like that cotton-era throwback—except now you get wind and rain repellency along with the bevy of merino’s benefits (warm when wet, all-natural odor repellency, and machine-wash friendly).  Icebreaker has also upped the fashion/function ante by crafting a shaped hood and a more streamlined fit than most traditional (read baggier) counterparts. Twin zip pockets echo the kangaroo sweatshirts of old, a stealthy zipper chest pocket makes for a great stash spot for your misc digital accessories, and set-in sleeves make layering a breeze. The price is a bit dear, but this is likely the only hoodie you’ll ever need. And if you’re more into high collars than hoods, they also make the Aspiring Zip (sans hood) for $25 less that one fashion-forward tester loved.