H&M vs Old Navy: which hoodie to buy, and when
Both land in the budget tier: the H&M Relaxed-Fit Hoodie at $25, the Old Navy Gender-Neutral Vintage Hoodie at $30, $5 apart. Here is how they stack up, head to head.
Comparing the brands overall, not just these two? H&M vs Old Navy, the whole-brand comparison
| H&M | Old Navy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25 | $30 |
| Material | Cotton-blend fleece, ~7oz, often with polyester content. | Cotton-blend fleece, ~7oz, garment-washed soft. |
| Fit | Relaxed/oversized, on-trend; sizing varies between drops. | Relaxed everyday fit, true to size; softens further with wear. |
| Quality | Fast-fashion build — soft new, but pills and fades within a season; cuffs and cords wear first. | Budget — soft from new but the fleece thins and the colour fades within a year of regular wear. |
| Best for | Trend-led layering and an oversized look on a tight budget. | Everyday rotation, around-the-house comfort, and cheap layering basics. |
| Care | Cold wash inside-out and hang dry; the dryer accelerates the pilling and fade. | Cold wash and low heat to slow the fade and keep the soft hand. |
H&M's Relaxed-Fit Hoodie is $25 of ~7oz fast-fashion fleece cut oversized and on-trend; Old Navy's Vintage Hoodie is $30 of the same-weight fleece, garment-washed soft and cut for everyday wear. The $5 gap buys a softer hand and steadier sizing, not a different quality class.
- The case for H&M
- Cheaper, and the only one of the two with the oversized on-trend silhouette — fine for chasing a look on a tight budget.
- The case for Old Navy
- Garment-washed soft from new, true to size where H&M's sizing varies between drops, and its wear-out arrives more slowly — thinning within a year rather than pilling and fading within a season.
VerdictThe pick
Buy the H&M at $25 only if the oversized silhouette is the point and you accept it pilling and fading within a season, with the cuffs and cords going first. Step up to the Old Navy at $30 for everything else: softer out of the bag, true to size instead of shifting drop-to-drop, and a slower failure mode. Five dollars for softer fleece and predictable sizing is one of the easier upgrades going — neither is a long-term hoodie, but the Old Navy is the better version of cheap, especially on its frequent promos.
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