With the Tech Leisure Hoodie, boutique studio 1Rebel has flexed its sartorial muscles and produced a cosy yet breathable hoodie that’s a cut above the competition.
Back in April, 1Rebel – the self-styled ‘King of Gyms’ – launched its inaugural apparel drop. I got my hands on a matching set from its Tech Leisure line, including this hoodie, and have been wearing it for months to see if it deserves inclusion in our guide of the best men’s hoodies. Now winter is coming, has it become an ever-present fixture in my weekly workout wardrobe?
Men’s Fitness verdict
While not an out-and-out workout layer, the excellent comfort, decent breathability and reasonable price make this one of my go-to choices for pre- and post-gym leisurewear.- Supremely comfortable with a 100% cotton lining
- Versatile for casual wear and low-intensity workouts
- Reasonably priced for a technical top
- Use of synthetic materials, including polyester
- Only available in one color: oat
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1Rebel Tech Leisure Hoodie design
On first inspection, the 1Rebel Tech Leisure Hoodie (buy now) doesn’t appear to be your garden variety jumper. An oversized fit, tapered sleeves, zipped pockets, under arm airflow vents and a buttoned adjustable hood – rather than generic drawstring – suggest the designers knows their audience. Available in six sizes from XS to XXL and with a unisex design, it’s evidently built for the gym-going, protein shaker-toting crowd.
Made in China, it’s constructed from 75% cotton and 25% polyester. The 100% cotton lining feels like you’re enveloped in a warm embrace when you slip it on. I tend to swerve anything oversized, as it does nothing for my not-so-broad shoulders. However, the Tech Leisure Hoodie’s loose fit is comfortable, with displaced side seams to reduce under-arm bulk. It also retains enough structure to hug me in all the right places.
1Rebel Tech Leisure Hoodie performance
The Tech Leisure Hoodie is more for show than go, perhaps too thick and toasty to be considered among the best workout clothes around. Instead, I found the cotton-polyester blend makes it well suited for casual wear to and from the gym, for slow-paced yoga classes or to keep warm while warming up. It also proved a godsend at a summer festival, where the temperature swung wildly from the mid-20s to sub-10s.
That said, on mild days I’d often find myself overheating, needing to strip off on busy commutes, but that bodes well once the mercury starts to plummet later in the year. As you’d hope from a product designed for active wear, the hoodie stood up well to regular use. It held its shape, with only very minor bobbling of the material after a few washes.
And while not inexpensive at £75 (the matching joggers retail at £65), it’s reasonably priced for an item that boasts lots of technical features.
1Rebel Tech Leisure Hoodie features
Adjustable hood with popper detail
A notable departure from the typical drawstring hooded garment is 1Rebel’s popper. Closed, it acts almost like a scarf, keeping your neck sheltered from the elements. Open, it allows fractionally more airflow to help you stay cool. Ditching the drawstring serves another practical purpose: there’s nothing to accidentally dangle onto your post-workout plate or slap you in the face when going on a run. Or maybe that’s just me.
Cotton-polyester blend fabric
The 75/25 cotton-polyester blend strikes a decent compromise between cosiness and breathability. It’s a shame this couldn’t be achieved with 100% natural materials (polyester is a synthetic fibre made from petroleum-based chemicals), but this ratio improves the hoodie’s durability and wrinkle resistance, which I can vouch for after several weeks of rigorous testing.
Impressive ventilation
1Rebel’s cotton mix also helped keep me cool under the hood, proving notably more breathable than one of my old faithful hoodies with a 63/37 ratio of cotton to polyester. That’s because cotton allows air to flow freely through the fabric. It’s also hypoallergenic, making it a smart choice for anyone with sensitive skin. The Tech Leisure Hoodie also features three ring punch-sized eyelets under each arm for improved airflow.
Zipped pockets
The hoodie’s two zipped pockets, including a small nylon and elastane mesh tech pouch inside the right one, meant I could tuck my phone, wallet or earphone case away securely, whether wearing the top or having set it aside during a workout. It’s a modest feature but a nice addition if you’re prone to misplacing your valuables.
1Rebel Tech Leisure Hoodie user experience
After a couple months of regular use, spanning the end of an unseasonably cold spring and height of summer, the 1Rebel Tech Leisure Hoodie became a mainstay of my weekly wardrobe. Warm yet also impressively breathable, it ably stood up to Britain’s constantly changing weather. That said, I tended to leave it in my locker when actually hitting the gym floor. It’s better suited for trips to and from your workout, rather than when the heat is on.
Should you buy the 1Rebel Tech Leisure Hoodie?
Given I wasn’t able to survive a hot and sweaty workout from start to finish in this hoodie, it would be hard to recommend as a dedicated piece of workout apparel. But when it comes to debating the best men’s hoodies in the business, the 1Rebel Tech Leisure Hoodie gets my top billing. Supremely comfortable, surprisingly breathable and reasonably priced, for a first foray into the hyper competitive world of ‘athleisure’, the King of Gyms has set a high bar.
1Rebel Tech Leisure Hoodie technical specs
| Materials | 75% cotton, 25% polyester |
| Features | Adjustable hood with popper; ribbed collar, cuffs and hem; mesh zipped pockets; under-arm vents |
| Sizes | XS – 2XL |
| Color | Oat |
