What Does 560 GSM Mean for a Hoodie? (And Why It's Worth It)

If you've shopped for a quality hoodie lately, you've probably seen "GSM" thrown around — 280 GSM, 400 GSM, "ultra-heavyweight." Most brands never explain it, so here's the plain-English version, and why it's the single most useful number when you're judging a hoodie you can't touch through a screen.

GSM, explained in one sentence

GSM stands for grams per square meter — literally how much a square meter of the fabric weighs. The higher the number, the denser, thicker, and more substantial the material. That's it. It's the most honest spec a brand can give you, because it can't be faked with marketing language.

The rule most GSM guides miss: compare like with like

Weight is not a single quality score you apply to everything in a wardrobe. It tells you what a fabric is for.

A 140 GSM tank isn't a failed hoodie. It's a tank — and it's light because airflow and unrestricted range of motion are the entire point when you're under load mid-set. Cut that same 140 GSM fabric into a hoodie and it's junk. Run 560 GSM as a training tank and you'll cook.

So GSM only means something when you compare a fleece to a fleece and a jersey to a jersey. Two scales, not one.

Jersey — tees, tanks, long sleeves

• 120–150 GSM — lightweight. Breathable, unrestrictive, built to move. Where the HUNGRI 140 sits, on purpose.
• 180–220 GSM — midweight. More opaque and structured, less airflow. The standard "premium tee" weight.
• 240+ GSM — heavyweight jersey. Boxy and structural. Great as a shirt, not a training fabric.

Fleece — hoodies, crewnecks, sweatpants

• 240–280 GSM — midweight fleece. Thin enough to wear under something. The HUNGRI 280 quarter-zip lands here deliberately: it's a layering piece, not a final layer.
• 280–350 GSM — everyday heavy. The daily driver, and where most genuinely good hoodies live. The HUNGRI 290 hoodie and the 340 crewneck.
• 400–500 GSM — heavyweight. Structured, warm, holds its shape. The premium tier most brands stop at.
• 500+ GSM — ultra-heavyweight. Rare air. Very few brands make fabric this dense, because it costs real money to produce.

A 560 GSM hoodie feels immediately different the moment you pick it up. It has weight. It drapes with structure instead of clinging. It holds an oversized silhouette instead of collapsing into it.

Why weight matters in a hoodie

It lasts. Denser fabric resists pilling, thinning, and stretching. A heavyweight hoodie you buy once outlives three cheap ones — which makes it cheaper over time, not more expensive.

It holds its shape. That clean, structured, slightly-oversized look only works if the fabric has body. Thin fleece just sags.

It feels premium — because it is. Weight is the first thing your hands notice. It's the difference between "nice" and "I'm keeping this for years."

The one trade-off: heavier fabric is warmer, so a true 500+ GSM hoodie is built for cold-weather training and layering, not August workouts. That's not a flaw in the fabric — it's the same reason the 140 exists.

What to look for beyond GSM

• 3-end French terry — a denser knit construction with a smooth face and heavy hand. It's what separates true ultra-heavyweight fleece from padded-out fluff.
• Pre-shrunk construction — so it doesn't shrink a size after the first wash.
• Ribbed cuffs and hem — they lock in warmth and keep the shape.
• Fit — heavyweight fabric shines in a relaxed, oversized cut.

Where HUNGRI lands

We name every piece by its fabric weight, so the spec is never a mystery — the number in the name is the GSM. The 140 is the training jersey, cut light because that's what training asks for. The 280 quarter-zip is the layer. The 290 hoodie and 340 crewneck are the everyday heavies you reach for daily.

And the flagship HUNGRI 560 is the ultra-heavyweight: 560 GSM, 3-end French terry, structured fit, double-layer hood — denser than almost anything else on the market at any price.

Every piece is built on the same principle: buy it once, wear it for years, outwork everyone in it.

Shop all HUNGRI hoodies →

New here? Use code HUNGRI10 for 10% off your first order.