I didn’t expect to fall in love with a hoodie and tracksuit, but here we are. The Essentials Hoodie and Essentials Tracksuit aren’t just another set of clothes tossed on a pile. For me, they’ve become the sort of gear you pack first, wear most, and forget you’re wearing because they just work.
And in Australia — where you can be sunburnt in the arvo and chilled to the bone by dinner — that matters.
It Started in Melbourne (Of Course)
I was staying in Fitzroy during a mid-year trip and, as Melbourne does, the weather turned from sunny to overcast to straight-up freezing in an hour. I ducked into a little shop just off Gertrude Street because I was underdressed and half frozen. That’s where I found my first Essentials Hoodie.
It was soft, clean-cut, and had just enough weight to it. I wore it out of the store, didn’t take it off until I flew back to Sydney.
I Had to Get the Tracksuit Too
After seeing how much I wore the hoodie, it was only natural that I got the Essentials Tracksuit to go with it. Didn’t take long before the full set became my travel uniform — and my lounge wear, and my “quick trip to the shops” wear. You get the idea.
Why It’s Now My Go-To, Everywhere I Go
1. It Works for Every Aussie City
- In Brisbane, the hoodie’s ideal for early walks along the river before the humidity kicks in.
- In Hobart, I layer it under a jacket and stay warm even when the wind bites hard off the water.
- In Perth, the full Essentials Tracksuit is my airport outfit—especially flying east where you never know what temps you’ll land in.
- In Adelaide, I’ve worn the pants with boots and a shirt out to dinner. Looked tidy, felt relaxed.
- In Darwin, I don’t wear it much during the day, but when the sun drops during dry season, that hoodie comes out fast.
2. The Quality Is Quiet but Solid
You won’t find giant logos or wild prints. The whole vibe is subtle. Clean lines, decent stitching, nothing that screams for attention. But you’ll feel the difference in how it fits.
- The Essentials Hoodie has a hood that actually fits your head (rare, right?)
- The cuffs don’t go loose after a few washes
- The Essentials Tracksuit pants taper just enough to look sharp without being tight
- The fabric keeps its shape, even after stuffing it in a duffel for a weeklong road trip
3. Doesn’t Just Look Good — It Holds Up to Real Life
It’s been through the wringer. I’ve:
- Spilled takeaway laksa on it in Sydney’s Haymarket (came out clean)
- Sat around a fire pit in Orange for hours (no lingering smoke)
- Copped beach sand, red dust, sweat, and city grime
- Left it crumpled in a tent and wore it again the next morning with zero regrets
I don’t baby it. Don’t need to. That’s half the beauty.
My Essentials Set on the Road
Over the past 18 months, here’s where the set has gone:
- Gold Coast: Post-surf, nothing better than pulling on the hoodie with damp hair and sandy feet.
- Canberra: If you’ve ever done the winter walk from the hotel to the coffee shop on Lonsdale Street, you know a good hoodie matters.
- Geelong to Warrnambool: Packed the tracksuit for the Great Ocean Road drive. Wore it more than anything else.
- Newcastle: Cool evenings by the coast, hoodie on, fish and chips in hand.
- Launceston: Layers are king, and this set is my starting point.
Everyone’s Caught On
My partner stole mine for a trip to the Blue Mountains and now won’t give it back. My brother wears his Essentials Tracksuit to walk the dog in the Adelaide hills. Even my old man — who rarely buys anything new — ordered the hoodie after borrowing mine for a weekend away in the Grampians.
No pushing, no convincing. They just wore it, and that was it.
It’s One of Those Rare Buys You Don’t Regret
Sometimes you get lucky and find something that fits your lifestyle without any effort. That’s what this set did for me. I didn’t buy it thinking it’d be my favourite thing. But the more I wore it, the less I wanted to wear anything else.
It’s become:
- My “grab-and-go” for errands
- My travel-day outfit
- My post-gym wind-down gear
- My lazy Sunday standard
- My all-day fit when working from home
Final Word: If You Live in Australia, Just Get It
You know how unpredictable the weather is. You know how hard it is to find something that works from Cairns to Canberra. That’s why I reckon the Essentials Hoodie and Essentials Tracksuit are such a smart choice.
They don’t just look the part — they feel right. Comfortable, easy, reliable. Whether I’m by the beach, in the bush, or bouncing between cities, this is the gear that comes with me.
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