The Essentials Hoodie & Tracksuit Are the Only Things I Wear That My Kid Hasn’t Spilled On… Permanently

Life these days? It’s early mornings, school runs, toast crusts in the car, and Lego pieces underfoot at all hours. I’m a dad now — the kind who can change a nappy in the dark and reheat coffee three times before actually drinking it.

So when I say my Essentials Hoodie is my go-to, I mean it. It’s the one piece of clothing that gets me from 6:30 am chaos to 9 pm collapse without making me look like I’ve given up.

The Morning Scramble, Sorted

We live in Hobart, just outside the city — and let me tell you, winter here doesn’t mess around. Our mornings are ice on the windscreen, breath in the air, and tiny fingers refusing to wear socks. That’s when the Essentials Hoodie earns its keep.

It’s warm. Like, properly warm. I chuck it on the moment I get out of bed — sometimes even over pyjamas while packing lunch boxes. It’s the kind of layer that makes a cold kitchen feel bearable when you’re waiting for toast to pop.

Built for Real Life (Spills Included)

The thing about parenting is, nothing stays clean. But here’s the beauty of the Essentials set:

• Yoghurt wipes it off.
• Coffee doesn’t stain it (trust me).
• Crayon? Didn’t even leave a mark.

It holds up in the wash too — no shrinking, no pilling. I’ve lost count of how many times it’s been through the cycle after playground mud or spaghetti night.

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The Tracksuit: My Weekender Uniform

Saturday mornings in our house mean park runs, errands, and babycinos at the local café. I used to wear whatever hoodie I found first, usually something stretched out or stained. Now, I wear the full Essentials Tracksuit set.

It’s not trying to be fancy. But it looks put together. The trackie bottoms aren’t baggy, they sit right — especially when I’m kneeling to tie my kid’s shoes for the fourth time or crouching to fix her helmet before we hop on the bikes.

I’ve had random strangers in Melbourne, even in hip areas like Collingwood, ask where I got them. That’s saying something.

From the Suburbs to the City

I’ve worn the hoodie on family road trips from Canberra to Sydney, down to Geelong, and even on flights to see the in-laws in Perth. It’s soft enough to nap in, stylish enough to walk off the plane without looking like a slob.

At this point, my wife has borrowed it more times than I can count. I keep joking we need a “his and hers” set.

Not Just for Dads

I see this gear everywhere now — not because it’s trendy, but because it works. Mums are wearing the hoodie over activewear at daycare drop-offs. Teenagers in Brisbane, pairing it with high-tops. Tradies grabbing coffee in Adelaide, hoodie hood up, earbuds in.

It’s not trying to shout. It’s just there, doing its job. And doing it better than 99% of the other “comfort” clothes I’ve owned.

What I Wish I Knew Earlier

I used to think all hoodies were the same. Fleece is fleece, right? Wrong.

The Essentials Hoodie isn’t just soft — it holds shape. The fit is that perfect balance between roomy and structured. And the tracksuit pants? Let’s just say my jeans are starting to gather dust.

Final Thought

I didn’t expect a tracksuit to change how I move through my day. But it has. It’s made getting dressed simpler. Made cold mornings warmer. Made messes less stressful. So yeah, it’s just a hoodie. Just some trackies.

But when everything else is unpredictable — nap schedules, tantrums, the weather in Tasmania — this stuff is the steady constant. And in this season of life? That means more than I ever expected.