The best cardigans for men

The cardigan this category is measured against. Needles makes a mohair cardigan every autumn, this season in five patterns: 55% mohair, 30% nylon and 15% wool, made in Japan.

Why this one: Over the Stüssy: real mohair (55%) rather than mostly nylon, made in Japan, for $160 more.

Limitation: Nearly a third nylon, which is what holds a loose mohair knit together. The pattern changes every season, so the one you saw last year is probably gone.

100% Scottish wool spun from Shetland sheep, brushed with natural teasels until it is properly shaggy, and made in Scotland. The fuzzy look without any synthetic in the yarn.

Why this one: Over the Needles: the same shaggy look in 100% Shetland wool with no nylon, made in Scotland, for $28 less.

Limitation: Sizes sell through: the navy showed M and XL out of stock on 19 Oct. US delivery is $15 under $350.

Our Legacy's core cardigan: a hairy Italian wool-blend yarn in a relaxed, boxy V-neck with two front pockets and bone buttons, made in Portugal.

Why this one: Over the Howlin': a boxy, relaxed cut with two front pockets, for $193 more and far less wool (36%).

Limitation: Despite the colour name there is no mohair in it: Our Legacy lists 36% wool, 26% polyester, 22% acrylic and 11% alpaca. At $500 you are paying for the cut, not the fibre.

A 3-gauge textured knit with mother-of-pearl buttons and the stock flag label at the side seam: the shaggy look at about half the price of the Needles.

Why this one: Over the Needles: the shaggy look for $160 less, if you can live with mostly synthetic yarn.

Limitation: Mostly synthetic: 48% nylon, 20% wool, 19% acrylic and 13% alpaca. Stüssy doesn't say where it's made.

UNIQLO's brushed 'souffle' yarn cardigan: a fuzzy V-neck with two patch pockets, cut relaxed and long. The shaggy look for under $50, sold as unisex.

Why this one: Over the Stüssy: the brushed look for about $125 less, if you can live with mostly acrylic and polyester.

Limitation: Mostly synthetic: 57% acrylic, 32% polyester and 8% wool in this colour. UNIQLO warns the brushed yarn pills, and it is hand wash or dry clean only.

More than three pounds of 100% worsted wool in an extra-heavy four-end jersey knit, with welt pockets, interior elbow patches and corozo buttons, knitted in Portland, Oregon.

Why this one: Over the J.Crew shawl: more than three pounds of worsted wool, knitted in Portland, for $192 more.

Limitation: Heavy enough to wear as a jacket, so too warm indoors. The XS was out of stock on 19 Oct.

Drake's classic shawl collar in 100% lambswool with knotted leather buttons, made in Scotland, meant to stand in for a tailored jacket on casual days.

Why this one: Over the Dehen: lambswool from Scotland, cut to wear with tailoring rather than workwear, for $295 more.

Limitation: The most expensive cardigan here, and Drake's publishes no measurements or weight for it.

100% wool in a sturdy rib stitch with leather buttons and two patch pockets: the classic shape at a little over half Dehen's price.

Why this one: Over the Dehen: the shawl-collar shape in 100% wool for $192 less, if you're not sure you'll wear one.

Limitation: Hand wash only, and J.Crew doesn't say where it's made or publish measurements beyond its size chart.

100% extra-fine merino at about 19.5 micron, with an anti-pilling treatment, and it goes in the washing machine. A thin layer for over a shirt or under a jacket.

Why this one: Over the Todd Snyder: merino rather than cashmere, but machine washable and about $318 cheaper.

Limitation: Thin, so not warm on its own in real cold. UNIQLO doesn't say where it's made.

A 12-gauge 100% cashmere cardigan with a five-button front, cut relaxed but tapered and a little short, to sit with a high-waisted trouser.

Why this one: Over the UNIQLO: 100% cashmere in a 12-gauge knit, cut relaxed and short, for about $318 more.

Limitation: Todd Snyder doesn't say where it's made, and cashmere pills with wear.

A dense, compact cotton knit modelled on J.Crew's '80s and '90s catalogue sweaters, with two pockets. 100% cotton and machine washable, so it works from early autumn to spring.

Why this one: Over the 3sixteen bouclé: a dense, machine-washable cotton knit for $157 less.

Limitation: Cotton isn't warm when the temperature really drops, and it is imported with no country named.

A V-neck raglan cardigan in an airy, spongy cotton bouclé with corozo buttons, knitted in Peru by the New York denim label. The texture of a mohair knit without the itch.

Why this one: Over the J.Crew cotton: a spongy bouclé with the texture of mohair, knitted in Peru, for $157 more.

Limitation: Cotton bouclé gives: 3sixteen says it stretches and recovers, so allow for that when you read its chart.

A mid-weight 7-gauge Pima cotton cardigan with a mandala jacquard in hand-dyed contrast yarn, made in Peru for the New York label.

Why this one: Over the 3sixteen: a hand-dyed jacquard in Pima cotton, for when the cardigan is the outfit, for $300 more.

Limitation: Expensive for cotton, and L to XXL were sold out on 19 Oct.

LEMAIRE calls it a staple of its wardrobe: a relaxed V-neck whose button placket wraps round to close on the side seam, with a double-layer placket, inside-out seams and corozo buttons. Made in Portugal.

Why this one: Over the Acne Studios: the twisted, side-closing placket nothing else here has, for $40 more, though it's half acrylic.

Limitation: Half acrylic: LEMAIRE lists 50% wool and 50% acrylic, at $640. It is sold as unisex.

Soft merino with a deep V-neck, ribbed trims and a branded metal rivet at the waist, cut regular and hip length. The wool is RWS-certified, from the ZQRX regenerative programme.

Why this one: Over the LEMAIRE: all merino rather than half acrylic, with a deep V, for $40 less.

Limitation: A plain cardigan at a designer price; the rivet is the only branding. Acne doesn't say where it's made.

A windowpane-stitch merino cardigan with a wide ribbed placket over a concealed zip, a ribbed collar, fallback shoulders and two hand pockets.

Why this one: Over the Acne Studios: a zip front and windowpane stitch that read as a knitted jacket, for $50 less.

Limitation: Dry clean only, and short: 22 in long in M. ALD doesn't say where it's made.