Polo Ralph Lauren Luxury Jersey Quarter Zip vs Carhartt Paxton Quarter-Zip Hoodie

The Polo Ralph Lauren is the dressier pick: a cotton-viscose jersey knit with a ribbed finish and a small logo, cut regular through the body. The Carhartt Paxton is the tougher, more casual piece: a cotton-poly fleece hoodie with a drawstring hood, pockets, a water-repellent finish and a loose fit. Buy the Polo for office days, dinners and layering under a jacket; buy the Carhartt for weekends, cold outdoor work and anyone who wants a hood. Owners of both tend to praise the fabric feel of the Polo and the hard-wearing build of the Carhartt.

• Choose the Polo Ralph Lauren if you want a smart, smooth-knit quarter-zip that works with chinos and a blazer and looks tidy on its own.
• Choose the Carhartt Paxton if you want a hooded, pocketed fleece that shrugs off weather and rough use and fits roomy over layers.