The Best Cashmere Sweaters for Men at Every Budget

Over the past couple of centuries, cashmere has earned a reputation as one of the top luxury fibers for sweaters. And it’s not unwarranted. The material is a mainstay in most brands’s catalogs, both because it’s soft and warm but also because it’s refined and flattering.

How We Tested

A few sweaters on this list were worn by our tester, who noted each item’s feel, quality, construction and build. For picks we didn’t have hands-on experience with, we relied on a combination of brand reputation, in-house expertise and user reviews to find the best cashmere sweaters available.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

Naadam

Best Overall Cashmere Sweater: Naadam Original Cashmere Sweater

• $98.00 at Naadam

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: 10
• Sizes: XXS to XXL

Naadam produces some of the more affordable cashmere sweaters available and still manages to give a wide variety of choices — the Original Cashmere Sweater comes in 10 colors.

Unlike other brands, Naadam discloses that it sources all of its cashmere from Mongolia and knits its sweaters in China. The light-midweight 12 gauge knit is breathable and has one of the softest handfeels out of the box.

After a year of wear, our tester’s sweater started to pill, which made them hesitant to wear as often as usual. Still, they insist it’s an excellent sweater to pick up, especially at its price. It’s a super comfortable piece that’s extra soft and plush. It’s also form-fitting, which may not be ideal for those who prefer to hide their silhouette.

Everlane

Best Upgrade Cashmere Sweater: Everlane The Grade-A Cashmere Crew

• $170.00 at Everlane

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Slim
• Colors: Black, charcoal, navy, gray, dark navy Donegal
• Sizes: XS to XXL

Along with offering plenty of colors, Everlane is the most transparent about its Cashmere Crew sweater. The company will happily tell you that it’s knit in Dongguan, China and even show you the factory on its website.

Everlane is more than willing to share that they use Grade-A cashmere from Inner Mongolia, and that the fibers it uses are the longest (35 millimeters) and finest (15 micron) fibers, so that the sweaters are durable, pill less and get softer with wear. It’s extremely soft on the skin and lightweight, though many user reviews say it fits too snug in the body and advise sizing up for a looser fit.

Quince

Best Affordable Cashmere Sweater: Quince Mongolian Cashmere Sweater

• $60.00 at Quince

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: 8
• Sizes: S to XL

This sweater is made from Grade A Mongolian cashmere (fibers that are 15.1 microns thick and 35mm long) and weighs 240 grams. It’s available in several versatile colors and comes in sizes S through XL. Quince also offers free standard shipping and a year of free returns. Hard to beat that.

Take note, however, that these run even smaller than other cashmere sweaters we list with Quince’s largest size, XL, measuring 22 inches in the chest — about a medium in most other brands.

Ralph Lauren

Best Washable Cashmere Sweater: Ralph Lauren Washable Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

• $180.00 at Ralph Lauren
  $298.00 (40% off)

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: Gray, black, camel, brown
• Sizes: XS to XXL

You wouldn’t dare put most of the cashmere sweaters on this list in the wash, let alone with other things. The outcome would be… undesirable to say the least. But Ralph Lauren’s cozy cashmere crewneck can safely go in the wash and live to see another day.

That said, the brand doesn’t make any sacrifices in order to make this sweater more durable. It’s equally as soft and plenty structured, even for a woolen knit.

J.Crew

Best Color Variety Cashmere Sweater: J.Crew Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

• $138.00 at J Crew

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: 15+
• Sizes: XS to XXL, tall M to XL

J.Crew’s Cashmere Crewneck sweater comes in over 12 colors and costs $138 — and it’s made from certified Mongolian cashmere. It has a more substantial-feeling knit than some of the other more affordable brands offer. It features a standard fit that will complement a range of personal styles.You can also add a custom monogram for an additional $10.

The brand has democratized cashmere as it has already successfully done with the rest of the American wardrobe. Several customers say it’s a surprisingly quality piece considering its price, though sizing runs smaller than what most prefer.

Courtesy

Best Wool-Blend Cashmere Sweater: Gentle Herd Wool-Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

• $189.00 at

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: Black, smoke, blue, navy
• Sizes: S to L

Gentle Herd is another sustainability and transparency success story. They’ve assessed every step in their processes for overhaul — and made many big switches. Most notably, they ensure no animals are harmed during the making of their items, that herders are paid a fair wage, and farms are fair-trade certified.

This crewneck is a blend of 70 percent wool and 30 percent cashmere, which theoretically should help with future pilling and add some extra resistance. It’s available in limited sizes and runs small, however, which makes it a hard pick for those with bigger builds.

Banana Republic

Best Mall Brand Cashmere Sweater: Banana Republic Sarno Cashmere Crew-Neck Sweater

• $150.00 at Banana Republic

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Straight
• Colors: Peach, teal, sand, gray, black, navy
• Sizes: XS to XXL, tall M to XXL

With its renewed popularity, Banana Republic cashing in on cashmere, b. But they aren’t scamming you. For $150, you get a sweatshirt-style sweater (see the neck?) made from ultra-soft, 100 percent 12 gauge cashmere. Its ribbed neck and cuffs offer an ultra-smart look, plus it’s available in over 10 colors for seasonal rotation. It also has a v-insert for a casual look that still looks smart.

Huckberry

Best Cotton Cashmere Sweater: Wills Cotton Cashmere Crewneck

• $98.00 at Huckberry

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: Navy stripe, green stripe, black and tan stripe
• Sizes: S to XXL

If you’re looking for an alternative that isn’t so insulating but still want the of feel cashmere, Wills’ crewneck is a solid choice. It uses cotton cashmere, which, although isn’t as warming as traditional cashmere, is still comfortable and soft on the skin. This is perfect for a cool summer or fall day and and great for smart layering — so long as you can fit this smaller-sized sweater over your oxford.

Todd Snyder

Best Relax Fit Cashmere Crewneck: Todd Snyder Cashmere Crewneck

• $198.00 at Todd Snyder
  $348.00 (43% off)

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Relaxed
• Colors: 10
• Sizes: XS to XXL

Thin but still warm, Todd Snyder’s soft, simple cashmere crewneck can be worn a number of ways: tucked into dress pants, more casually worn with blue jeans or with something somewhere in-between, like cargo pants and nicer sneakers. It’s dressy, if you want it to be, but you can also wear it more informally. That’s thanks in part to its hue, but the shape — tight cuffs, collar and hem, with a relaxed body — is equally versatile.

Alex Mill

Best Luxury Cashmere Sweater: Alex Mill Jordan Sweater

• $295.00 at Alex Mill

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: Blue, pink, green, stone
• Sizes: XXS to XXL

Alex Mill’s heathered cashmere sweater, the Jordan Sweater, is sewn from heavyweight donegal cashmere, which can be brushed and washed. The brand did both, making it soft and extra fuzzy from the first wear. It’s also pre-washed for added softness.

Patagonia

Best Recycled Cashmere Sweater: Patagonia Recycled Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

• $139.00 at Patagonia
  $199.00 (30% off)

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: Blue, green, rust, gray
• Sizes: XS to XXL

Made using recycled cashmere sourced from preconsumer cashmere waste, Patagonia’s $200 sweater has a hefty collar and cuffs, comes in four colors and a number of sizes. Made with 95 percent recycled cashmere and 5 percent wool, it’s got an even softer broken-in feel typical of virgin cashmere, plus its wool adds durability. User reviews say it’s not too snug or loose, resulting in a fit similar to that of a typical crewneck.

Buck Mason

Best Basic Cashmere Sweater: Buck Mason California Cashmere Sweater

• $228.00 at Buck Mason

• Country of Manufacture: Portugal
• Fit: Classic
• Colors: Black, navy, gray, charcoal, khaki, brown
• Sizes: XS to XXL

California Cashmere is Buck Mason’s jersey cashmere fabric, a 16 gauge wool with a washed finish for extra softness. But it’s not like it really needed it — this crew is far from bulky or, truthfully, even textured, which makes it great for formal settings or for layering beneath a smarter jacket.

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