The Best Reigning Champ Pieces Every Guy Should Own
From classic terry tees to crisp polo shirts, here are the Reigning Champ pieces that deserve a spot in your closet.
Spring is a season of new beginnings—and that includes losing the shorts that got you through lockdown. Personally, I’ve been clearing things out (shoutout to eBay and Marketplace) and trying to streamline my closet so that whatever I reach for actually works together. It’s easy to get caught up in the loud, fashion-y stuff, but let’s be real: it’s harder to wear. Lately, I’ve been sticking to the essentials—a well-made T-shirt, a soft hoodie, a solid pair of chinos—and my style’s felt a lot more dialled in because of it.
Which is why Reigning Champ’s been on my mind. Since 2008, the Vancouver-based brand has been turning out some of the finest cotton staples around—always with a sharp eye for detail. Over the years, it’s become a quiet favourite for guys who care about what they wear, but aren’t out here screaming for attention. Sure, trend forecasters have proclaimed we’re in the “Boom Boom” era—all that’s gilded and glitzy!—but there’s still a place for Regular Clothes a person can live in.
If you haven’t checked in on Reigning Champ lately, you might be surprised. The lineup’s grown beyond their signature sweats to include of-the-moment canvas jackets, relaxed chinos, and even swimming trunks. The neutral tones of heather grey, navy and black are still the go-to, but the brand also knows how to nail a seasonal hit—like British Racing Green, for example.
With that in mind, here are a few of the best pieces to pick up from Reigning Champ right now.
Midweight Terry Crewnecks and Hoodies
This is the bread and butter—the pieces that put Reigning Champ on the map. Their signature sweats are cut from premium midweight French terry, striking that sweet spot between cozy and structured. They’re soft enough to live in, but sharp enough to wear out of the house. As always, it’s the details that set them apart: semi-raglan sleeves for better movement, durable flatlock seams that won’t rub or rip, and a trim, athletic fit that flatters.
Midweight Jersey T-Shirts
Right alongside their signature terry sweats are the midweight T-shirts—pieces that strike the same balance of structure and softness. Like the sweats, they’re built to last and feel great from the jump. Focused details like a wide rib collar that won’t go wimpy on you after a few washes and durable flatlock seams elevate them from your average tee. And with a variety of different fits to choose from—long sleeve or short, with or without a chest pocket, graphics or clean —pick your poison.
Coach’s Series
Also worth your attention is the brand’s Coach’s Series, which expertly bridges the gap between gym gear and street-ready style. The Coach’s Jacket is a standout in the light outerwear category, made from regenerated nylon with a water-repellent finish and light insulation.
But the real sleeper hit is the Coach’s Pants. These have quietly built a cult following thanks to their 4-way stretch fabric that moves with you, not against you. They’ve got a clean, tapered fit hitting that rare sweet spot between tailored and relaxed. Whether you’re commuting, travelling, or just hanging out, they deliver the polish of proper pants with the comfort of sweats.
Polo Shirts
The brand was built on terry sweats but one of its real strengths today is how it’s expanded into categories like polos that offer a little more in the way of variety and move effortlessly from day to night.
Take the Lightweight Jersey Standard Polo: breathable, refined, and versatile enough to wear under a jacket for a casual meeting or out to dinner later that night. And the rest of the polo lineup follows suit, offering polished, unfussy styles that work just as well at the office as they do on a patio or a quick nine holes.
Ben Kriz is a Toronto-based freelance writer covering menswear and culture for publications like GQ, SHARP, and NUVO. He’s held a range of roles across the retail industry and was most recently Head of Editorial at Harry Rosen. He still likes to wear a tie now and then, and his favourite restaurant is L’Express in Montreal.
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