Can you wear a hoodie as a jacket
Short answer: Yes, on mild and dry days a hoodie works well as light outerwear. It does not protect against rain and wind like a proper jacket, though, so in autumn and winter it is best worn as a mid layer under a shell or winter coat.
What a hoodie does well
A hoodie is a jumper in soft knit, usually sweatshirt fabric with a brushed or looped inside, and with a hood. It keeps you warm by trapping air close to the body, and it is comfortable to move in. On a sunny spring day or a warm late summer evening it is often exactly enough. The hood gives a little extra shelter for the ears and neck, which is why many people use it as a light jacket for short trips.
Where it falls short
A hoodie is not waterproof and rarely windproof. Wind passes easily through knitted fabric and takes the warmth with it, and rain soaks into the material, making it heavy, cold and slow to dry. On a windy, wet day you will usually feel cold faster in a hoodie than in a jacket, even if the jumper is thick. It is best suited to dry weather and shorter spells outdoors.
Layer by layer
In autumn and winter a hoodie works best as a mid layer. Next to the skin goes a thin layer that moves moisture away, then the hoodie for warmth, and on top a jacket that keeps out wind and rain. That way you can add or remove layers as you move between indoors and outdoors. A women's long-sleeved bamboo T-shirt suits the inner layer well, as it is thin and lies smoothly under a thicker jumper.
Fit and length
If the hoodie is to be your outer layer, it helps if it is long enough to cover the lower back, even when you bend over. The sleeves should ideally have ribbed cuffs that close snugly at the wrist, so cold air does not travel up the arm. A zip hoodie is easier to open and close as the temperature changes. If it is too tight you cannot wear layers underneath, and if it is too loose the warmth escapes.
What you wear underneath
The layer closest to the skin matters a great deal for comfort. Cotton holds on to moisture when you sweat and can feel cold afterwards. A smooth, soft viscose top feels light under a hoodie and glides easily against the fabric. Here bamboo tops for women can make a good base layer. Underwear also plays a part in feeling dry and comfortable all day, for example soft fitting bamboo panties.
Caring for a hoodie
A hoodie lasts longest when it is washed inside out at the temperature on the label, and not too often. Worn as a jacket, it rarely gets as dirty as clothing worn next to the skin, so airing it between washes is often enough. Let it dry flat or over a chair so a thin hanger does not stretch the shoulders, and avoid the tumble dryer if you want to prevent shrinking and pilling.
Frequently asked questions
Does a hoodie keep you warm in the wind
Not very well. Wind passes through knit, so a jacket on top is better on breezy days.
Can you wear a hoodie in the rain
Only briefly. The fabric absorbs water and becomes heavy and cold.
What is best to wear under a hoodie
A thin, smooth layer next to the skin that moves moisture away.
