A heavyweight hoodie is a hoodie that still looks like itself after a winter of wear. The number that decides that is GSM. Most hoodies you'll pick up in a mall sit somewhere between 280 and 350 GSM. Ours are 500. This is what that means, why we build them that way, and what to check before you buy any heavyweight hoodie, ours included.
- GSM is grams per square meter of fabric. Higher means denser, warmer, more structured. 500 GSM is the top of the range for a cotton hoodie.
- Every Red Letters hoodie and zip-up is 500 GSM, 100% cotton French terry, oversized but true to size. $180. Sizes S–3XL.
- Weight alone isn't the whole story. Look at the stitching, the cuffs, the pockets and the print method.
- Wash cold, inside out. Heavy cotton holds its shape when you treat it that way.
What GSM means on a hoodie
GSM is grams per square meter. Cut a square meter of the fabric, weigh it, that's the number. It's the cleanest way to compare hoodies before you touch them, because it strips out marketing words and leaves a measurement.
Rough guide for cotton fleece and French terry:
- Under 300 GSM — light. Fine for spring, prints crack early, loses shape in the wash.
- 300–400 GSM — mid. Most blanks sold as "heavyweight" actually live here.
- 400–500 GSM — heavyweight. Structure in the body, weight on the shoulders, sleeves that hold a shape.
500 GSM works out to roughly 14.75 ounces per square yard if you think in imperial. Either way, it's the point where a hoodie stops draping and starts standing.
Why ours are 500 GSM
The Scattered design lives on the sleeves. Puff print, chain stitch embroidery, pearls on the Camo Gem. That kind of detail needs a fabric that can carry it without buckling, which is why the weight isn't a flex, it's a requirement. Thin fleece under heavy embroidery puckers on the first wash.
Every pullover hoodie and zip-up on the site is built the same way:
- Heavyweight 500 GSM French terry, 100% cotton
- Oversized, true-to-size fit — order your usual size
- Oversized baggy sleeves, because that's where the work is
- Hidden side pockets and ribbed cuffs
- Pullover or full-zip with the RL heart enamel zipper
- Sizes S–3XL, $180
Weight is the start, not the finish
A 500 GSM blank with a screen print on the chest is still a blank. When you're comparing heavyweight hoodies, look past the number:
- The print method. 3D puff print and chain stitch embroidery sit on top of the fabric and age with it. Cheap plastisol cracks.
- The cuffs and hem. Ribbed and tight, or they stretch out and the whole silhouette drops.
- The pockets. Hidden side pockets keep the front clean and keep the weight off the hem.
- The fit. "Oversized" should be cut oversized, not sold a size up. Ours are oversized in the pattern and true to size on the label.
- The hardware. On a zip-up, the zipper takes the most abuse. We use an enamel RL heart zipper for a reason.
What it feels like
Here's one from Laurie, verified buyer of the Black Lightning Zip-Up Hoodie:
"The weight and quality of this hoodie was beyond expectation. It appears to be very well made and I expect to have it for years to come."
That's the whole pitch. It's heavy the first day and it's heavy in year three. Red Letters sits at 4.8 stars across 1,500+ verified reviews.
Pullover or zip-up?
Same fabric, same weight, same sleeves. The pullover is the cleaner front. The zip-up is the one you wear open over a tee when it's not quite cold yet, then zip to the chin when it is. If you're building a rotation, most people end up with one of each.
How to wash a heavyweight hoodie
Cold water. Inside out, so the sleeves aren't rubbing the drum. Hang dry if you can, low heat if you can't. Skip the fabric softener on French terry, it coats the loops. Do that and the hoodie you bought is the hoodie you own.
Shop 500 GSM hoodies
Pullovers and zip-ups, $180. Ships same day. Complimentary delivery.
FAQ
What GSM is a heavyweight hoodie?
Generally 400 GSM and up. Standard hoodies sit around 280–350 GSM. Red Letters hoodies and zip-ups are 500 GSM, 100% cotton French terry.
Is 500 GSM too hot?
It's a cold-weather and evening weight. In fall and winter it replaces a jacket. In summer, that's what the tees are for.
Should I size up in an oversized hoodie?
No. Red Letters hoodies are cut oversized and fit true to size. Order what you usually wear.
Do heavyweight hoodies shrink?
Heavy cotton can shrink slightly in a hot wash and a hot dryer. Wash cold and hang dry, or dry on low, and the fit holds.
How much does a Red Letters hoodie cost?
$180 for pullovers and zip-ups. Orders ship same day with complimentary delivery.