It’s Sweater Weather. Here Are Our 5 Favorites for the Winter.

Sweaters are back. Sure, fleece has been the king of mid-layers for decades, dominating the key mid-layer space of adventurous wardrobes, but in recent years old school knitwear, made mostly from natural fibers, is raging back into fashion. Personally, I’ve become absolutely sweater-obsessed in the last couple of years and can’t remember the last time I chose a fleece over a sweater.

Listen, I’m not mad at fleece, but knitwear adds a level of sophistication to your ensemble that a Patagonia Synchilla just can’t match. The right sweater says, “I rip pow all day, but I can also recite a Keats poem by the fire.” And they don’t just look good. Sweaters perform in the field, too, making them a versatile double threat.

Sweaters can be casual, and they can be fancy. They can be for lounging and they can be for shredding. Picture Ernest Hemingway in his roll-neck fisherman sweater, ready to handle the moisture and cold temps while battling the sea. Now picture Mr. Rogers in his comfy cardigan, soothing you with his ASMR-friendly voice. The Big Lebowski wore sweaters while lounging about, but so did Reinhold Messner when he was ticking off 8,000-meter peaks in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Robert Redford wore an iconic, slim-fit ski sweater in the movie Downhill Racer, but ‘80s TV dads also wore them in the living room.

I’ve picked five of my favorite sweaters below, some of which are designed for performance while others are simply made to look good while keeping you warm. Either way, they’re all stylish and an upgrade to your wardrobe as we lean into the cold, winter months ahead.

At a Glance

• Paka Mountain Crew ($145)
• Outerknown Nostalgic Sweater ($178)
• Royal Robbins Rockcraft Wool Hoody ($140)
• Alps and Meters Guide Sweater ($350)
• Grayers Nelson Jacquard Swacket ($295)

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Paka Mountain Crew 

$145 at Paka

The crew sweater is the ultimate staple, an understated layer that works in a variety of different situations, and Paka’s version nails the utility you expect from the style. It looks great, and is easy to dress up with a collared shirt, but it’s built for adventure thanks to the blend of alpaca wool, merino wool, and nylon. The wool combo breathes well and helps regulate heat, but the addition of poly gives the rib-knit texture the ability to stretch and rebound back to its original shape, so you don’t have to worry about the Mountain Crew losing its luster over time. I’ve found this sweater to be a great piece for hiking or just walking the dog. The fit is a little baggy, so consider sizing down if you like a slimmer cut or if you want to layer this under a shell.

Outerknown Nostalgic 

$178 at Outerknown $178 at Revolve

Outerknown leans hard into the nostalgia of ‘70s board sports with the aptly named Nostalgic Sweater (notice the tri-color racing stripe that is reminiscent of board shorts and the best Matchbox cars from my childhood). But the styling is the only bygone aspect of the Nostalgic; for this sweater, Outerknown used a mix of organic cotton and Coolmax, which is a polyester known for its high moisture-wicking capabilities, to create a waffle-knit piece that’s built for sipping tea under a blanket or riding bikes on sunny winter days. It has a sweatshirt vibe to it, making it the most casual sweater on this list.

Royal Robbins Rockcraft Wool Hoodie 

$140 at Royal Robbins

I’m a sucker for a good hoodie. It’s probably my Peter Pan complex that I hope comes across as boyish charm. Whatever, I’ll wear hoodies long after I’m using a walker to get around. The majority of my hoodies are thick, cotton numbers that are fine for moping around the house like a moody teenager, but terrible if you’re doing anything active, as they just absorb moisture without ever letting it go. But the Rockcraft is a 100 percent merino wool sweater that’s perfect for absolutely every winter activity. Skiing? Check. Hiking? Check. Camping? Check. Avoiding going outside altogether because global warming means it’s raining instead of snowing? Check. Merino wool breathes, wicks like a champ, and is incredibly good at thermoregulation, which makes this hoodie one of the most versatile pieces on this list. One thing to consider: Royal Robbins built this sweater with unisex sizing in mind, so you might want to size up if you’re a dude, or down if you’re dudette.

Alps and Meters Guide Sweater

$350 at Alps & Meters

This is the piece that turned me into a sweater junkie. I’ve been wearing the Guide Sweater for two ski seasons, and it’s become my favorite mid-layer on bitter cold mornings, and my only layer on bluebird powder days. It’s a fully-featured sweater, with zippered hand pockets and a chest pocket, all of which are water resistant to keep your phone or wallet dry, and a triple-ply yarn (80 percent lambs wool and 20 percent nylon blend) with canvas shoulder patches to boost durability. It’s so damn pretty, you’d think this sweater would be relegated solely to apres situations, but the Guide goes hard on the slopes. It’s form fitting, but not restricting at all, making it ideal for layering under a shell. That said, it looks so good, it would be a shame to hide it under another layer.

Grayers Nelson Jacquard Swacket 

$295 at Grayers

Grayers makes beautiful ski sweaters, crews, and cardigans, but my favorite piece in their lineup is this “swacket,” a crossover piece that takes the cut and vibe of a blazer and applies it to a knitted lambswool sweater.  From a distance, it looks like a well-made blazer, but get up close and personal with the Nelson Jacquard, and you’ll think you’re slipping on a comfy robe. It’s incredibly warm, and the addition of nylon to the yarn gives it a surprisingly stretchy build. I think it looks good whether you button it up or leave it open at the chest, and I also really like the collar, which works folded down or popped up to battle the chill. Obviously, this swacket isn’t made for skiing, and you’re not going to climb El Cap in this thing, but it will absolutely take your fit to the next level on date night.