Six Reigning Champ alternatives worth a look are American Giant, 3sixteen, Velva Sheen, Taylor Stitch, Faherty and John Elliott. Decide first whether weight, origin or price matters most, then use the table below to pick.
Reigning Champ sells plain, logo-light heavy terry. If you are shopping for a replacement, you probably want the same sweatshirt with clearer answers about weight and where it is made.
This page compares one flagship heavy hoodie or pullover per brand. Prices are what each product page showed on 2026-10-16, fabric weight is in each brand's own unit, and origin is quoted as the brand states it.
What you are replacing: Reigning Champ
The Midweight Terry Standard Hoodie is $128 on Reigning Champ's site. Its product page lists 100% cotton, 390 GSM and "Imported." Returns are accepted within 14 days, with exchanges within 30 days.
The brand's manufacturing page names no country and says products are "sourced from specialist manufacturers who share the same attention to details as we do." Its about page says it was "Founded in Canada in 2007."
Older sources, including a May 2024 review on The Adult Man, describe the clothing as made in Canada. A Trustpilot reviewer wrote on 2 Aug 2026: "Now however I have discovered almost none of their products are made in Canada." That is one review on a page that notes the company has not invited its customers to leave reviews.
How we picked these brands
- A heavy, plain sweatshirt in a similar price band. The main hoodie or pullover we compare for each brand is priced between $87 and $220 on 2026-10-16. John Elliott's Frances full-zips are $298.
- Weight or origin on the page. Where a brand states what the fabric weighs or where the garment is made, we quote it. Where a page gives neither, we say so.
- Sold direct. Every brand here sells on its own site. For a wider set of direct-to-consumer labels, see our DTC clothing brand picks.
- Prices checked on one date. All prices are from 2026-10-16 and can change.
At a glance
| Brand | Best for | Price (item, 2026-10-16) | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Giant | Domestic-made heavy fleece | $155 Classic Pullover | 12.2 osy cotton fleece, made in Los Angeles (brand claim) |
| 3sixteen | Heaviest fabric | $220 Ultraweight Pullover | 615gsm french terry, LA-knit, SF-sewn (brand claim) |
| Velva Sheen | Heritage label, lower price | $160 Pigment Pullover Hoodie | Cincinnati maker since 1932, "Made in the USA" (homepage claim) |
| Taylor Stitch | Lowest price | $87 sale (compare-at $145) Shop Hoodie | 16-oz organic cotton french terry, made in China (brand claim) |
| Faherty | Soft, certified cotton | $168 High Standard Fleece Hoodie | Regenerative organic cotton fleece |
| John Elliott | Fashion fit | $198 Beach Hoodie 2 | Custom knit French terry, made in Peru (brand claim) |
1. American Giant
American Giant sells the Men's Classic Pullover at $155. The page describes "100% cotton heavyweight fleece, 12.2 osy" and cotton "from the Carolinas," and says it is "Made in Los Angeles, CA." Those are the brand's own claims.
It suits you if you want a domestic-made heavy fleece in one simple pullover. Returns and exchanges are accepted within 30 days, excluding Final Sale items.
It is a poor match if you want a fashion cut or the lowest price. Choose Taylor Stitch for price, or John Elliott for fit.
2. 3sixteen
3sixteen is a denim-first brand that applies the same heavy-materials approach to sweats. The Ultraweight Pullover is $220, described as "615gsm 3-end french terry that is custom knit for us in Los Angeles" and "Cut and sewn in San Francisco" (brand claims).
Pick it if you want a very heavy fabric and accept a $220 price. If price is your priority, note that it is $220 against $155 for American Giant's Classic Pullover. We found no returns policy on the product page.
3. Velva Sheen
Velva Sheen says on its homepage that it was "Established in 1932" as a Cincinnati, Ohio maker of sweats and other gear, and that it is "Made in the USA." That is a brand-level claim. The Pigment Pullover Hoodie is $160, and its page gives no fabric weight or per-product origin.
It fits a buyer who wants a heritage label for less than 3sixteen or John Elliott. Be careful with the range, though: its Made in Japan line includes a $190 crewneck and a $220 hoodie, so check the label of the specific piece you buy.
4. Taylor Stitch
Taylor Stitch lists the Shop Hoodie in Faded Black at an $87 sale price, down from $145, as of 2026-10-16. The page says "16-oz. 100% organic cotton french terry" and "Made in China."
At the $87 sale price it is the least expensive item on this page, though that is a sale price set against other brands' list prices. Its weight and origin are stated plainly. It is the one to skip if domestic manufacture matters to you, and sale prices can change. The site banner offers free shipping and returns on every domestic order. For more in this vein, see our brands like Taylor Stitch.
5. Faherty
Faherty sells the High Standard Fleece Hoodie at $168, made from "Regenerative Organic Cotton fleece" with a relaxed fit and double-layer hood. The product page gives no fabric weight or country of origin.
It suits the premium-basics buyer who cares more about softness and a fabric story than raw weight. If you want to compare gsm, look at 3sixteen instead. Faherty states 60-day returns on its site, against 30 days at American Giant.
6. John Elliott
John Elliott is a New York fashion label with sweats at the high end of the category. The Beach Hoodie 2 is $198, in "custom knit French terry," 100% cotton, "Made in Peru." No weight is stated for that hoodie.
For more heft, the Frances full-zips are $298 and "Made in Turkey." The Overcast Fleece is listed at 550 GSM and the Reverse Terry at 630 GSM. Take John Elliott if cut matters most and you accept a high price. It is the wrong pick if you want a bargain, or if you want the US-made origin that American Giant states. The two John Elliott items named here are made in Peru and Turkey. The product page does not state a return window.
How to choose
- If you want domestic-made, go with American Giant, which states "Made in Los Angeles, CA," or 3sixteen, which states Los Angeles knitting and San Francisco sewing. Velva Sheen claims US manufacture at the brand level.
- If you want maximum weight, John Elliott's Reverse Terry Frances Full-Zip lists 630 GSM at $298. 3sixteen's pullover is listed at 615gsm and $220. American Giant lists its pullover at 12.2 osy, a different unit, so we do not rank the two.
- If you want the lowest price, Taylor Stitch's $87 sale hoodie is it, with the made-in-China label to match.
- If you want a soft, certified-cotton fabric story, Faherty is the pick. For the cozier end of the category, see our loungewear brand picks.
- If you want a fashion fit, John Elliott.
- If you want a longer returns window, Faherty states 60-day returns, against 30 days at American Giant and 14 days for Reigning Champ returns (with 30 days for exchanges).
Frequently asked questions
Where is Reigning Champ made now?
The Midweight Terry Standard Hoodie page says "Imported," and the manufacturing page names no country. The 1ABEL comparison (7 Sep 2026) calls it "Vietnam manufacture," but the brand does not confirm a country.
How heavy is a Reigning Champ hoodie?
The Midweight Terry Standard Hoodie lists 390 GSM. The Dual Fleece Standard Hoodie lists 355 GSM.
Which alternative is still made in the USA?
American Giant states "Made in Los Angeles, CA" on its Classic Pullover page. 3sixteen says its Ultraweight Pullover is knit in Los Angeles and sewn in San Francisco. Velva Sheen's homepage says "Made in the USA," but its hoodie page gives no origin.
What is the heaviest alternative?
John Elliott's Reverse Terry Frances Full-Zip lists 630 GSM at $298, and the Overcast Fleece version lists 550 GSM. 3sixteen's Ultraweight Pullover is 615gsm at $220. Velva Sheen and Faherty give no weight.
Which is the cheapest alternative?
Of the items compared here, Taylor Stitch's Shop Hoodie, at an $87 sale price against $145 compare-at on 2026-10-16.
What are the returns windows?
Faherty states 60-day returns. American Giant accepts returns and exchanges within 30 days, excluding Final Sale items. Reigning Champ allows returns within 14 days or exchanges within 30.
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