ORIGINAL Hoodie vs ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie

The short answer

Choose the ORIGINAL Hoodie if you want a lighter pullover in your choice of six colours, at ₹1,299. Choose the ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie if you want more warmth and the ease of a zip, at ₹1,799, in Noor Black or Rui White. Both are Solids, in a unisex regular fit.

Side by side

The table shows the two big differences: weight and closure. Everything else follows from those.

Weight and warmth

GSM stands for grams per square metre, and it tells you how much fabric is in a piece. A higher number means a denser, heavier cloth. At 300 GSM, the pullover is a comfortable everyday weight, warm enough for cool evenings and air-conditioned rooms without feeling heavy. At 400 GSM, the zip hoodie is a proper cold-weather layer.

The heavier fabric also affects how a piece hangs. A 400 GSM fleece holds its shape and falls in a straight, weighty line. The 300 GSM version is softer and moves more easily. Neither is better; they suit different days.

Daily use: where each one wins

The pullover for simple, all-day wear

A pullover has nothing to fasten. It goes on in one move, and the lined hood and front pouch pocket give you a place for your hands and your phone. For a trip to the market, a train journey, or a quiet evening at home, this is the one you pull on without thinking. Because it comes in six colours, it is also the easier one to match to the rest of your wardrobe.

The zip for changing temperatures

The zip is useful when your day has several temperatures in it. Walk out into a cold morning, and zip it up. Reach the office or a café, and open it halfway. The zip is also quicker over a tee, since you do not have to pull anything over your head, which matters if you have just styled your hair or you are wearing glasses.

If your days move between cool rooms and warm streets, the zip hoodie is the more adaptable piece. If you want to know more about it, read The ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie, Explained.

Climate and city

Where you live changes the answer. In cities with mild winters, the 300 GSM pullover covers almost every cool day, and the 400 GSM piece may only come out for a few weeks. In colder places, or if you feel the cold easily, the heavier zip hoodie will be used more.

If you spend your day in strong air conditioning, either piece works, and the zip gives you finer control. For travel, a heavier hoodie takes more room in a bag, so wear it on the journey instead of packing it.

Styling differences

• Pullover: works well as a single top piece with jeans or joggers. The pouch pocket and hood give it a relaxed look. Try it in Neel Blue or Arav Green for something other than black. See six ways to style a black hoodie for outfit ideas that apply to both.
• Zip: works as a layer over a tee, and you can leave it open to show the tee underneath. The zip line also gives a cleaner, more structured front.

Which to pick, by situation

1. You want one hoodie and you like colour. The ORIGINAL Hoodie. It has the wider range, at the lower price.
2. You feel the cold, or live somewhere cool. The ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie, for the extra weight.
3. You layer over tees and shirts. The zip. It opens and closes without disturbing what is underneath.
4. You want the simplest possible piece. The pullover. No closures, one motion.
5. You are buying two. One of each. The pullover for mild days and the zip for cold ones, and the pair covers a full year of cool weather.

Sizing and care

Both hoodies have a size guide link beside the size options on the product page, with that piece’s own measurements. Use it to check the fit before you reserve. If you are between sizes, think about how you plan to wear it: with layers underneath, the larger size gives room; worn alone, the smaller one sits closer.

To keep either hoodie looking good, wash it inside out with similar colours, and dry it in shade. Heavy fleece is easier on the fibres when it is not dried in strong sun. For a full guide to storing fleece, see How to Fold and Store Hoodies.

Thinking about cost per wear

The zip hoodie costs ₹500 more than the pullover, and it is fair to ask whether the difference is worth it. The answer depends on how often you will wear it. A hoodie that you reach for three times a week through a cool season pays back quickly, whichever one it is. A hoodie that hangs unused because it is too warm for your city does not, however good it is. Be honest about your climate and your routine before you decide.

It helps to picture a normal week. Note how many mornings and evenings are cool enough for a layer, and whether you are mostly indoors or outdoors. If you are outdoors and it is cold, the 400 GSM piece earns its price. If you are mostly in air-conditioned rooms, the 300 GSM pullover is often all you need. Our guide to cost per wear for a hoodie shows how to do the sum.

A note on colour choice

Because the pullover comes in six colours, it is the one to pick if you want something other than black or white. Neel Blue and Arav Green both look good in fleece, and Gulabi Pink and Agni Red are strong choices if you want the hoodie to be the colour in your outfit. The zip hoodie in Noor Black or Rui White is the quieter option, and it works with nearly everything you already own.

FAQs

Which is warmer, the pullover or the zip hoodie?

The ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie is 400 GSM against 300 GSM for the ORIGINAL Hoodie, so it is the heavier and warmer of the two. The zip also lets you open it to adjust when the temperature changes.

Which is easier to wear every day?

The zip is easier to put on and take off, and easy to regulate indoors. The pullover is simpler, with a lined hood and a front pouch pocket, and it goes on in one move.

Do both have the same fit?

Both are described as a unisex regular fit. The Zip Hoodie is the heavier piece, so it feels more structured on the body.

Which colours can I choose?

The ORIGINAL Hoodie comes in all six house colours: Noor Black, Rui White, Agni Red, Neel Blue, Arav Green and Gulabi Pink. The ORIGINAL Zip Hoodie comes in Noor Black and Rui White.

Decided? Reserve your hoodie from the EKVAAR shop.