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Best men’s knitwear 2024, from cardigans to spring cotton

From patterned and colourful to timeless classics, here’s the best men’s knitwear for winter dressing

Samuel Mathewson
Tuesday 02 January 2024 12:08 GMT
Whatever your style, we’ve got the jumper for you
Whatever your style, we’ve got the jumper for you (The Independent)
Our Top Picks

As spring turns to summer, knitwear is still a perrennial necessity for the unpredictable British weather. Whether you need a thin knit for a spring day or jumper that will see you through a summer evening once the sun’s gone down, we’ve got options for you.

Finding the right fit for your knitwear is the first step – do you prefer a relaxed look or a more fitted style for layering? Mock neck or crew neck? Boxy or true to size?

Knitwear is the perfect way to inject some personality into your wardrobe this season, so try opting for something out of your comfort zone: whether that’s an oversized fit, a new texture or something with a bold colour. We have gathered a variety of styles so you’ve got lots of options.

Whatever your style, we have been testing a range of knits to find the best options for men this season.

From statement-patterned knits and slogan pieces, to fluffy mohair styles and carbon-negative pullovers, you are sure to find the perfect style.

How we tested

We’ve been building outfits around these knits for months, making sure each and every one is stylish and good value. From more affordable knits to independent British knitwear makers such as Hades and investment pieces, all of these knits come highly recommended.

The best men’s knitwear for 2024:

  • Best men’s knitwear overall – Colorful Standard oversized merino wool crew: £105, Colorfulstandard.com
  • Best simple cotton jumper – Benetton v-neck sweater: £49.95, Benetton.com
  • Best short sleeved cardigan – Hugo crochet cardigan: £169, Johnlewis.com
  • Best 100 per cent wool knit – Hades David Bowie knit: £230, Hades-shop.co.uk
  • Best patterned cardigan AllSaints amore cardigan: £169, Allsaints.com
  • Best eco knitwear - Sheep Inc. the cable knit: £290, Sheepinc.com

Colorful Standard oversized merino wool crew

Colorful Standard oversized merino wool crew best knits for men
  • Best: Overall knit for men
  • Colours: 22
  • Sizes available: XS-2XL
  • Material: 100% recycled extra-fine merino wool
  • Why we love it
    • Soft and warm
    • Bold colour options
    • Oversized fit
    • Made with recycled materials

Create a statement with a big pop of colour. Lavender might not be every man’s first choice but Colorful Standard has a wide range of colourways for its oversized merino wool knit – and for its wider range of basics (our round-up of the best shorts for men also features the brand).

The cut of this knit is boxy with drop shoulders and it’s pinched at the wrists and waist for a great vintage silhouette. The simplicity allows you to go bold with pinks, purples, sunflower yellow and more (the netural shades are great, too), and all are made from recycled extra-fine merino wool.

These sell out quickly so cycle through the colours for one in the colour and size of your choice.

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Benetton v-neck sweater

Benetton v-neck sweater best men’s jumpers knitwear 2024
  • Best: Simple cotton jumper
  • Sizes: XS-XXL
  • Colour options: 7
  • Material: 100% cotton
  • Why we love it
    • Soft and lightweight

Statement knits are an important addition to any wardrobe, but for those days when you want something easy and comfy while still looking put together, good basics are essential.

This v-neck jumper from Benetton is minimal, versatile and made from pure cotton which feels very soft on the skin. We’ve even been wearing this on its own without a T-shirt. Lightweight and not too long in the body (a bugbear of ours), this piece sits nicely at the hips.

It comes in a few colours but we opted for a classic black that will pair with almost any look on days you don’t want to pay mind to putting an outfit together.

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Hugo crochet cardigan

Hugo Boss crochet cardigan best mens knitwear jumper sweater cardigans 2024
  • Best: Crochet cardigan
  • Sizes available: S-XXL
  • Material: 100% cotton

Hugo Boss’ contemporary diffusion line Hugo has the perfect summer knit, a short-sleeved crochet cardigan. The 100 per cent cotton feels substantial and good quality and the cut is definitely oversized so opt for your normal size for that slouchy, oversized feel.

The weave is tight enough to wear without a layer underneath for a hot day or add a tank top or T-shirt if you want a bit of extra warmth. We found ourselves grabbing this for dinner or drinks with smart trousers and loafers, and will be great for European summer city breaks during the late spring paired with shorts and sandals.

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Hades David Bowie knit

Hades ‘the man who sold the world’ knit best jumpers and knitwear for men 2024
  • Best: 100 per cent wool knit
  • Colours: 1
  • Sizes available: XS-XXL
  • Material: 100% wool
  • Why we love it
    • 100 per cent wool
    • Independent British brand

If you don’t know Hades knitwear yet, it’s time to catch up. The independent British brand creates playful pieces inspired by musicians and artists, such as David Bowie, Blondie, Sex Pistols and more. Working with high-quality, natural materials and keeping transparency in the manufacturing process, a lot of love goes into these jumpers, and they’re really made to last.

Emblazoned with David Bowie’s 1970 album, this knit is a simple black-and-white design, making it a versatile wardrobe staple. It’s warm, comfortable and mostly importantly, very cool. Crafted in Scotland from 100 per cent wool, this is a hand wash or dry clean-only situation. This fits true to size, so get one a few levels up for an oversized look.

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AllSaints amore cardigan

AllSaints amore cardigan
  • Best: Patterned cardigan
  • Sizes: XS-XXL
  • Material: 33% wool, 33% alpaca, 31% recycled polyamide, 3% elastane
  • Why we love it
    • Playful pattern
    • Warm and cosy
    • Chunky and oversized fit

AllSaints has some of the best statement knitwear right now, like this heart motif cardigan with a soft brushed yarn that will add a refreshing sprinkle of quirk to your wardrobe. The fit is relaxed with subtly ribbed sleeves and hem which our reviewer loves.

Made with a wool and alpaca blend, this is definitely a cosy option when layered, but will take you into spring too when paired with a T-shirt and jeans. Opt for your regular sizing for an oversized vibe.

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Sheep Inc. the cable knit

Sheep Inc. the cable knit
  • Best: Eco knitwear
  • Colours: 5
  • Sizes available: XS-XXL
  • Material: 100% merino wool
  • Why we love it
    • Warm and heavy for wintertime
    • Meticulously made
    • Lifetime repair guarantee
    • Traceable and carbon negative

Sheep Inc. is a luxury knitwear brand with a focus on sustainability and designs that are novel takes on classic styles. Each piece is fixed with an NFC tag with a QR code, so you can register your knitwear and explore the journey it has taken: where the wool was sourced and processed, who it was hand finished by and even the carbon footprint of the knit. There is also a lifetime guarantee for repairs, should it get damaged.

This piece, which we tested in the beautiful raw white colourway, has a striking oversized cable knit pattern on the front. It’s warm, soft and weighty with a definite luxury feeling and the attention to detail becomes apparent from the trim between the sleeve and the cuff to the baby blue signature stitching on the back of the collar.

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The verdict: Men’s knitwear

Our best buy of the season is the Colorful Standard merino wool crew which is warm, thick and has a vintage style in a variety of colours. For a more budget-friendly option, we’d order one of the Benetton v-neck sweater in pure cotton that’s soft enough to wear without an undershirt. It’s lightweight so perfect to throw on when the weather is mild. For something a bit different, independent British brand Hades has knits crafted in Scotland with band names emblazoned across them that you will be wearing for years to come. The quirky David Bowie knit is a favourite.

Want more inspiration? We’ve rounded up the best men’s coats and jackets

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