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For decades, it seemed like the only hoodies worth wearing were of the pullover variety. No longer: the best zip-up hoodies for men are undeniable proof that the times are indeed a-changin'.

Imagine this: It's 2003, you're in your room instant messaging your crush, "Tell All Your Friends" is blasting from your Sony Psyc boombox -- and you're wearing a zip-up hoodie. You weren't the only one, either: from gym classes to red carpets, zip-up hoodies were everywhere throughout the 2000s, popularized by peak indie sleaze (and sometimes, just plain sleazy) brands like American Apparel.

Then something changed. Society and the fashion powers that be reevaluated their opinion on the matter, and suddenly, the zip-up ceded its dominance to the almighty pullover. Band tees as virtue signals became a strictly warm weather swerve. Easy donning and doffing with the flick of a zipper? No longer. For much of the 2010s, the pullover hoodie -- buoyed by a streetwear boom that encouraged emerging brands to slap their graphics on some beefy fleece -- reigned supreme. But with the hallmarks of Y2K style on the upswing, zip-up hoodies are once again flooding the market.

If you had the foresight to save your zip-up hoodies from high school, it's time to crack open the attic and dust them off. But for those of us whose zip-ups were lost to time (or are too young to remember when Transatlanticism first dropped), we rounded up the best zip-up hoodies for men you can buy right now, boombox very much sold separately.

Uniqlo's no-nonsense clean aesthetic and low price point has made it a go-to for any menswear enjoyer looking for good style on a budget. While the brand excels at cashmere sweaters, T-shirts, and a slew of homerun collabs, the Japanese label's sweats are criminally underrated. We'd go so far as to say that they should be talked in the same breath as brands like Champion and Sunspel. This zip up hoodie took us by surprise thanks to its comfy midweight, all-cotton fabric and solid construction. But the main selling point is the impeccable fit.

So many other brands cut their hoodies too long in the body and leave you looking like Jack Skellington's pubescent brother. Uniqlo managed to cut its French terry hoodie to sit right at the hips which makes for a more classic and natural silhouette that's neither lanky nor sloppy. Because of the fabric, the feel, and the overall fit, this is my favorite zip-up hoodie by a sizable margin. It's my most-worn hoodie and has yet to show signs of any fraying.

It's hard not to sing the praises of Reigning Champ, a brand that built its fleece empire on sweatpants and hoodies. The Canadian label's flagship midweight terry fabric has drawn the attention of streetwear royalty and menswear buffs alike and its dedication to quality has elevated the humble hoodie to oxygen-deprived heights. We named Reigning Champ's crewneck sweatshirt and pullover hoodie as among our favorites in their respective categories, and the same goes for its zip-up hooded sweatshirt. It's made of the same 100% cotton French terry fabric as its superlative-earning brethren and is cut with high-quality flatlock stitching for a smooth, un-bulky feel.