Npbuy Spreadsheet Essentials Fear of God Review: Overhyped or Worth It?
After weeks of seeing Essentials Fear of God pieces dominate every haul post, I finally pulled the trigger on a full loungewear set from the Npbuy Spreadsheet. The hype is real, but is the quality? Let's cut through the marketing and see what you're actually getting for your money.
What I Ordered: The Full Essentials Experience
I went all-in on the minimalist aesthetic: an Essentials hoodie in Oatmeal, matching sweatpants, two basic tees in black and cream, and the signature knit shorts everyone seems to own. Total cost through Npbuy came to roughly $85 before shipping, which positions these pieces in an interesting middle ground—not budget tier, but far from retail pricing.
The Npbuy Spreadsheet listed these items with detailed size charts and multiple customer photos, which gave me confidence. But spreadsheets can be curated to show the best outcomes. I wanted to see if my experience matched the cherry-picked reviews.
Unboxing: First Impressions Matter
The packaging was standard warehouse fare—clear plastic bags with no branding. The Essentials pieces arrived slightly compressed but without any concerning odors or visible defects. The signature rubberized logo on each piece looked clean at first glance, though I noticed slight variations in placement between items.
The fabric weight immediately stood out. The hoodie felt substantial in hand, definitely heavier than your typical fast fashion piece. The sweatpants had a similar heft. However, the basic tees felt thinner than expected—not see-through, but noticeably lighter than the heavyweight blanks Essentials is known for.
The Hoodie: Where Quality Meets Compromise
Let's start with the star of the show. The Essentials hoodie in Oatmeal is arguably the most replicated piece in the streetwear space, and for good reason. The silhouette is oversized without being sloppy, and the dropped shoulders create that effortlessly cool look that justifies the hype.
The good: The cotton blend feels soft against skin, the interior has a decent brushed fleece lining, and the construction seems solid with reinforced stitching at stress points. The color is accurate to retail photos I've compared it against. The rubberized Essentials logo has the correct matte finish and proper spacing.
The skeptical take: After one wash following care instructions, I noticed slight pilling on the interior fleece. The cuffs also loosened more than I'd like, losing some of that structured fit. The hood itself is cut well but the drawstrings feel cheap—thin and prone to fraying. For a piece that costs $35-40 through Npbuy, these are acceptable compromises, but let's not pretend this matches $100+ retail quality.
Sweatpants: Comfort With Caveats
The matching sweatpants follow the same quality philosophy as the hoodie—good enough to satisfy most buyers, but with noticeable shortcuts if you're paying attention.
The fit is genuinely excellent. The tapered leg and elastic cuffs create a clean silhouette that works for both lounging and casual outings. The waistband elastic is comfortable without being too loose, and the pockets are actually functional with decent depth.
However, the fabric feels slightly different from the hoodie despite being marketed as a matching set. It's a touch thinner and has less of that premium weight. After wearing them for a full day, I noticed some slight bagging at the knees. Nothing dramatic, but it suggests the fabric doesn't have the recovery properties of higher-end materials.
Basic Tees: The Weakest Link
Here's where my skepticism proved justified. The Essentials basic tees are the most disappointing items in this haul. While the sizing is accurate and the logo placement is correct, the fabric quality simply doesn't match the other pieces.
These tees use a noticeably thinner cotton blend that feels more like a standard blank than a premium basic. The neckline started showing slight waviness after just one wash, and the hem stitching isn't as tight as I'd expect. At $12-15 per tee through Npbuy, they're priced fairly for what you get, but don't expect the substantial, heavyweight feel of authentic Essentials blanks.
The black tee also showed slight fading after washing, losing some of that deep, rich color. The cream tee held up better, but both pieces feel more like good quality basics rather than premium loungewear.
Knit Shorts: Surprisingly Solid
The Essentials knit shorts were an unexpected highlight. The fabric has a nice texture with visible knit structure, and the weight feels appropriate for year-round wear. The elastic waistband with drawstring provides good adjustability, and the length hits right above the knee for a flattering cut.
My main concern is durability. The knit construction, while comfortable and breathable, seems prone to snagging. I caught the fabric on a rough surface within the first week and created a small pull. It's not a deal-breaker, but it suggests these shorts require more careful handling than standard cotton pieces.
Sizing Reality Check
I followed the Npbuy Spreadsheet size charts exactly, ordering one size up from my usual medium to a large. This proved correct for the hoodie and sweatpants, giving me that intended oversized fit without looking like I'm drowning in fabric.
The tees, however, run slightly larger than indicated. The large fits more like an XL in the body length, creating an almost dress-like silhouette. If you prefer a more fitted look for basics, consider sticking with your true size or even sizing down.
The shorts fit true to the size chart with a comfortable, relaxed fit around the thighs and proper taper toward the hem.
The Logo Question: Accuracy Matters
For anyone concerned about callouts or accuracy, the Essentials branding on these pieces is generally well-executed. The rubberized logos have the correct matte finish, proper font, and appropriate sizing. Under close inspection, the edges aren't quite as crisp as retail, but in normal wear, the difference is negligible.
The reflective elements on the sweatpants work as intended, though the reflectivity seems slightly less intense than authentic pieces. Again, this is only noticeable in direct comparison.
Washing and Care: The True Test
I've now washed each piece three times following standard care instructions: cold water, inside out, tumble dry low. Here's what happened:
- The hoodie maintained its shape reasonably well but developed minor pilling on high-friction areas
- Sweatpants showed slight color fading and increased bagging at the knees
- Tees experienced the most noticeable degradation with neckline stretching and overall thinning
- Shorts held up best with minimal changes to appearance or fit
- First-time buyers wanting to test the Essentials aesthetic without retail commitment
- Budget-conscious shoppers who understand they're getting good-enough quality, not perfect replicas
- People building a versatile loungewear rotation where individual pieces won't see daily wear
- Buyers who prioritize style and fit over absolute durability
None of these pieces are falling apart, but they're clearly not built for years of heavy rotation. Expect a solid 6-12 months of regular wear before quality degradation becomes obvious.
Value Proposition: Breaking Down the Math
Let's be honest about what you're getting. At roughly $85 for five pieces before shipping, you're paying about $17 per item. Add shipping costs (typically $20-40 depending on method and weight), and you're looking at $20-25 per piece delivered.
Compared to retail Essentials pricing ($40-90 per item), you're saving significant money. Compared to budget alternatives on other platforms, you're paying a premium. The question is whether that premium delivers proportional quality improvement.
My take: For the hoodie and shorts, yes. These pieces punch above their price point and deliver wearable quality that justifies the cost. For the sweatpants, it's borderline—acceptable but not exceptional. For the tees, you're better off finding heavyweight blanks elsewhere and saving money.
Who Should Buy From Npbuy Spreadsheet?
This isn't a universal recommendation. The Npbuy Essentials pieces work best for specific buyer profiles:
Skip these if you're expecting retail-level quality, need pieces for daily heavy use, or have sensitivity to minor quality inconsistencies. Also skip if you're morally opposed to replica items—that's a personal decision everyone needs to make for themselves.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Before committing to Npbuy, consider these alternatives: Direct budget brands like Uniqlo or COS offer similar minimalist aesthetics with transparent quality standards. Other spreadsheet sellers may offer the same batches at different price points. Reddit communities often share updated seller information that might lead to better deals.
The advantage of Npbuy's spreadsheet system is convenience and consolidated information, but it's not the only path to affordable Essentials-style basics.
The Verdict: Measured Expectations Required
After living with these pieces for several weeks, my perspective is cautiously positive with significant caveats. The Npbuy Spreadsheet delivers on its core promise: accessible pricing for on-trend pieces with acceptable quality. But 'acceptable' is the operative word.
These aren't retail replacements. They're well-executed alternatives that capture the aesthetic while making compromises on materials and construction. If you approach them with realistic expectations—understanding you're getting $20 items that look like $60 items but won't last like $60 items—you'll likely be satisfied.
The hoodie and shorts earn genuine recommendations for their quality-to-price ratio. The sweatpants are acceptable if you need a matching set. The tees are skippable unless you find them heavily discounted.
Would I order from Npbuy again? Probably, but more selectively. I'd focus on their stronger pieces and skip the basics that can be sourced better elsewhere. The spreadsheet system works well for research and ordering, but don't let convenience override critical evaluation of what you're actually buying.
For anyone considering their first Essentials haul, start with one or two pieces rather than a full wardrobe refresh. Test the quality yourself, see how the sizing works for your body type, and then decide if the compromises align with your standards. Hype is powerful, but your own experience matters more than any review—including this one.