An Unbiased Review of Camber's Cross-Knit Sweatwear

Camber has always been touted as one of the USA’s best American sweat manufacturers. Founded way back in 1948, Camber still operates out of the same factory in Norristown, PA, producing high-quality sportswear staples.

Being from the U.K., I hadn’t had the chance to see any of their products until my first trip to The States in 2020. I was in the Nepenthes store in Manhattan, and the clerks were raving about these Engineered Garments hoodies which were produced by Camber. But even after that, the brand remained somewhat elusive to me. Camber gear was (and sometimes still is) ‘hard to get hold of’, even in the USA. Stuff often sells out or is subject to a bit of a backlog leading to long lead times on re-stocks.

I wasn’t able to get hold of any Camber until 2021, when the brand had a moment and started to pop up with a range of British/European stockists. Since then, I’ve tried a range of Camber sweat pieces, and I’m here to give you my unbiased review of the stuff. I’ll be focussing on the brand’s Cross-Knit sweatpants and sweatshirts in this article, but if you want us to review Camber’s ultra-heavy tees or maybe even their Chill-Buster Hoodies, let us know in the Heddels+ discord!

The Fabric

Camber’s Cross-Knit fabric gets a lot of love for its hefty construction and horizontal knitting technique which reduces shrinkage. It’s a 90% cotton 10% polyester blend that has a pretty dry hand feel which remains even after washing. This stuff feels like armor, and it’s easy to see why Camber is a workwear brand first and foremost, outfitting those in need of cozy and warm garb for work. It’s safe to say that if you invest in a piece of Camber, you’ll be wearing it for a long, long time.

The brushed inside is literally a dream when you first put a piece of Cross-Knit Camber. Like most brushed cotton fleece, the softness dwindles with wear and washing, but for me, it didn’t go dry or too bobbly.

Feeling hot, hot, hot

My only criticism of the Cross-Knit fabric is that it is the opposite of breathable. This stuff is hot. England isn’t the warmest country in the world by a long shot, but I still reserve my Camber pieces for the coldest temperatures. The Cross-Knit fabric is just so densely knit that it doesn’t let any cold in, but it also doesn’t let any sweat or heat out. Don’t get me wrong, if you live in Canada or somewhere where it gets really frigid, you will want to live in this stuff in the wintertime, but it can be a bit overbearing at times.

Shrinkage – Nothing to see here, folks

As intended, the horizontal knit of Camber’s Cross-Knit fabric means shrinkage is almost non-existent on a cool-to-medium wash. Sure, the fabric puckers up a bit after laundering, but it drops out again after a couple of hours’ wear.

The Fit

Sweatpants

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I went for a Large in Camber’s Cross-Knit Sweatpants. I’m a 34 waist and 6′ tall and have fairly beefy thighs these days. They fit spot on for me.

As a fan of wider sweatpants, these work for me. The leg is full and roomy, with a taper facilitated by a pretty tight elasticated hem. The result is a slightly ballooned leg if you’re over 6’2 or wear them high on the waist, and a standard straight/roomy sweatpant if you wear them on the hip. I do the latter. If you want a slim fit, you could try a size-down, but I would say these probably aren’t the sweatpants for you if that’s the case.

Camber Cross-Knit Sweatpant in Grey. Available for $130CAD (~$100USD) from Rhythmic Tones.

What you want to consider with Camber Sweatpants, is that the tight hem will mean the hem always sits above your footwear. Unless you wear them low, there won’t be any/much stacking on top of your shoes. There is some stacking, but the stacking happens on top of the hem. You also want to be aware that these have a gusseted crotch (pictured below). This can feel a bit stiff at first and poke out the back slightly, but it does soften up.

Crotch Gusset (left) and example of the stacking described in this review (right)

I don’t have a crystal ball, but I would bet that the heft of the Cross-Knit fabric means these will keep their shape for years to come

Sweatshirt

Camber’s sweatshirts follow the classic American blueprint pioneered by labels like Champion – a heavyweight sweatshirt with thick ribbed hems and side gussets. They’re boxy, especially before they’re first washed. Even after a wash, the elasticated hem bunches the sweatshirt up at the waist. However, around 5 washes and a month of regular wear, I found that the elasticated hem loosened up a bit. This led to the sweatshirt sitting lower and looking longer, which isn’t my thing, but I do wear very short, almost cropped sweatshirts, like Buzz Rickson’s. I would imagine many would welcome this development, but it’s not for me.

The thick fabric coupled with the boxy fit means this sweatshirt sits pretty proud when worn i.e. it makes your arms and shoulders look bulkier. I found it pretty flattering. I would recommend trying a size down if you’re worried that the sweatshirt might look like it’s wearing you, but if you have an average to bulkier build, I think it will look as intended.

Features

Sweatpants

Being a workwear brand, Camber’s features are minimal. The Sweatpants have a simple drawstring waist, but the drawstrings thread through metal eyelets, which is a nice touch that contributes to longevity.

The pockets are lined with a lighter-weight cotton jersey which has a nice soft handfeel. But, speaking of pockets – no rear pockets? Like not one? This is my biggest gripe with these sweatpants.

Sweatshirt

The beauty of Camber’s Sweatshirts lies in their simplicity. Aside from the gusseted side panels, there really aren’t any other standout features, other than the neckline being tight. And I mean tight. A lot of folk want a tight neckline (myself included) and these sweats deliver.

Are Camber Cross-Knit Goods Worth Buying?

Short answer? Yes. Despite the lack of breathability, I would say Camber Cross-Knit sweats are some of the best non-loopwheeled heavyweight sweat goods on the market. You get a lot of fabric for your money, and a pretty timeless fit/aesthetic whether you go for a sweatshirt, hoodie, or a pair of sweatpants.