About Men's Zip-Up Jumpers and Half-Zips
Men's zip-up jumpers and half-zips: cashmere, pure wool and cotton, with stand collars, polo collars and ribbed cuffs. The zip is what makes them practical: open it to cool down, close it for the cold. Browse by zip length and by fibre below, or compare wool jumpers.
How to choose men's zip-up jumpers
Half-zip, zip polo or zip cardigan
Half-zip: the neat one, ideal over a shirt. Zip polo (the mesh-detail cotton-polyester polo and the cable-knit half-zip polo): a polo collar with a zip, for warmer days. Zip cardigan (the diamond-knit piece with spread collar): the layering piece. Full-zip (the cashmere zip-up with ribbed cuffs and hem): the quickest on-and-off.
By fibre
Cotton for everyday and the lowest price: the cotton half-zip sweatshirt with stand collar, the cable-knit half-zip in spun cotton, the half-zip polo-collar jumper in cotton knit. Pure wool for colder days: the colour-block half-zip. Cashmere for the softest feel: the ribbed half-zip, the cable-knit half-zip and the full zip-up.
By collar
A structured stand collar (named in the ribbed half-zip pullover and the cotton sweatshirt) looks finished open or shut. A polo collar sits flatter under a jacket. A spread collar on the zip cardigan sits over a shirt collar.
Sizing
Ribbed cuffs and hems hold the shape and keep sleeves in place under a coat. Choose your usual size for half-zips; if you plan to layer a shirt under the stand-collar styles, check the collar height on the product page.
Wearing the zip
Open to the chest over a shirt, closed to the chin on a cold morning, halfway for everything else. That range is why a half-zip replaces two jumpers.
Caring for zipped knits
General guidance: close the zip before washing so it does not snag the knit, wash inside out on a cool cycle, and dry flat. The care label on your piece takes precedence.
| Zip style | Fibre | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Half-zip | Cashmere, pure wool, cotton | Over a shirt |
| Zip polo | Cotton blend, cable knit | Warmer days |
| Full-zip | Cashmere | Quick layering |
| Zip cardigan | Diamond knit | Over a shirt collar |
FAQ
Do half-zips work with a tie?
How do I stop a zip catching the knit?
Close the zip fully before washing, and wash the jumper inside out. Pull the zip slowly, holding the fabric flat with the other hand.
Is a cotton half-zip warm enough for winter?
As a layer under a coat, yes. As the only layer, only on mild days. For cold days without a coat, the pure wool colour-block half-zip or a cashmere half-zip is the better pick.
Which zip-up sits best under a bomber or Harrington jacket?
The ribbed half-zip pullover with structured collar or the merino half-zip: both are fine-gauge with ribbed hems, so they do not bunch at the waistband of a short jacket.