Camber 232 Hoodie
Grey

There are certain products that almost become folklore. They transcend being “just a hoodie” and instead become something people spend years hunting down, discussing on forums and recommending to complete strangers on the internet. The Camber 232 Cross-Knit Hooded Sweatshirt is one of those products.

If you’ve ever wandered into the strange, wonderful corner of the internet where people debate heavyweight sweatshirts with the seriousness of wine critics discussing Bordeaux, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Ask for the best hoodie money can buy and, sooner or later, somebody will simply reply, “Camber 232.”

The first time I spoke to Barry, it wasn’t quite the conversation I expected. We chatted about Philadelphia, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and life in general long before we really got around to hoodies. It was immediately obvious that this wasn’t a company built by marketing departments, it was built by real people who simply believed in making things properly.

Sadly, Barry is no longer with us, but his influence remains in every sweatshirt, whether it is sold to an outdoor electrician in Montana, a hoodie enthusiast in Paris or someone in Accrington that just like nice clothes. Camber continues to manufacture in the USA with exactly the same philosophy that made the company legendary in the first place, build it once, build it properly and let the product do the talking.

The 232 is made from a hefty 12oz cross-knit fleece that feels more like armour than clothing the first time you pick it up. It’s heavy without being cumbersome, substantial without feeling stiff, develops character with every wash and every winter. The cross-knit construction also helps the fabric resist shrinkage and twisting, making this one of those increasingly rare garments that actually seems designed to outlast its owner.

Nothing that Camber does is made to please fashiony types, the oversized hood, the chunky ribbing, the slightly longer cuffs, the generous fit, the heavyweight drawcord. Obviously there are wonderful side panels too… something that only the best hoodies have!

The Camber 232 isn’t inexpensive, nor should it be. American manufacturing, uncompromising materials and a refusal to cut corners rarely are, but if you’ve spent years buying hoodies that lose their shape after a wash, this is probably where the search ends. These hoodies used to have wait times of 12 months plus, but now thanks to increased production capacity, we should be able to get hold of these fairly regularly.

The hoodies are quite large in size but do shrink significantly after their first wash, so just pop it in the wash and watch it magically become your new favourite hoodie. I don’t really have much else to say really, just go and get yourself one as it may be the last hoodie you buy.

90% cotton, 10% polyester.