Reigning Champ vs Faherty: is the pricier sweater worth it?
The Faherty Wool-Blend Crew Sweater runs $148; the Reigning Champ Knit Crewneck Sweater is $160, about 1.1× the price ($12 more). Here is the side-by-side, and what that gap buys.
| Faherty | Reigning Champ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $148 | $160 |
| Material | Wool and cotton blend, mid gauge; some recycled-fibre styles. | Premium cotton and wool blends, mid gauge. |
| Fit | Relaxed casual fit, true to size. | Clean athletic-leaning fit, true to size. |
| Quality | Mid-tier — soft and comfortable; wool blends rather than pure wool, pills over time. | High — substantial, well-constructed knit with clean finishing. |
| Best for | Coastal-casual outfits, soft relaxed comfort, and easy everyday layering. | Elevated everyday knitwear, clean athletic-casual outfits, and considered construction. |
| Care | Gentle wool cycle or hand-wash and lay flat; shave any pilling. | Wash per the fibre; cotton machine-washes gentle, wool blends need a wool cycle. Lay flat to dry. |
Faherty's $148 wool-cotton crew is the soft, relaxed coastal-casual option; Reigning Champ at $160 is a premium cotton-wool blend with a cleaner athletic-leaning fit and noticeably better construction. The $12 gap buys a more substantial, better-finished knit that holds its shape rather than pilling.
- The case for Faherty
- Cheaper by $12, soft relaxed comfort, coastal-casual look, recycled-fibre options
- The case for Reigning Champ
- Higher-grade construction, clean athletic fit, substantial well-built knit, holds up over time
VerdictWhat the extra money buys
The extra $12 for Reigning Champ buys a genuinely better-made knit with cleaner finishing and a sharper fit, and it's the smarter long-term buy. Go Reigning Champ if you want polished everyday knitwear that won't pill out quickly. Save the $12 with Faherty only if soft, slouchy comfort matters more than durability, and buy it on sale since the blend wears down over time.
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