The best men’s spring sweaters prove the colder months don’t have a monopoly on stylish knitwear. Sure, fall and winter offer ample opportunity to layer up in cashmere crewnecks and hefty lambswool, but the lightweight sweaters we’re talking about here play a different role entirely—as the centerpiece of your whole outfit. With no topcoat or puffer to obscure their shine, the right spring-ready sweater can, should, and will be all the outerwear you need from now until T-shirt time.

Their appeal boils down to more than just looks. Spring sweaters also skew more comfortable than the stuff made from wool, mohair, or alpaca—heat-preserving fabrics that, for a sizable chunk of people, mean nothing but off-the-charts itch factor. Instead, they’re usually made from easy-going, low-maintenance cotton; you can toss most of the options below in the washing machine right with your hoodies and tees. (The fact they’re cotton also means they’re a great opportunity to purchase some usually more-expensive labels for a much lower price.)

All of which is to say, if you prize your cold-weather knits for their unrivaled ability to bring the heat, their springtime counterparts are decidedly more chill. Which is exactly the point. Wear ’em now with some light wash jeans, and then leave one in your tote when the mercury really skyrockets—y’know, just in case.