A history one: there was a time when Essentials hoodies showed up in every haul, and the old threads kept repeating “size down”. For today’s sizing method we already have the Essentials thread; here I’m interested in something else: which versions existed back then and how the community’s verdict changed. 
There is more detail in Essentials hoodie sizing: tag size or pit-to-pit? Why batches differ.
Related threads: Why old Tech Fleece advice says “size up two” and Asian sizing: how do I read the size chart without getting it wrong?.
The starting point was the retail cut: very boxy and oversized. The early haul reviews reported that boxy fit on the versions they covered, and one reviewer sized down once and was happy with it. That’s where the shortcut came from: it described those early versions, not reps in general.
And were all the versions back then the same?
So the “size down” crowd and the “it’s tight” crowd were literally talking about different hoodies lol 
Exactly. Many threads just said “Essentials” without naming the version, so advice written for one got applied to the other. The confusion was about labelling more than about fit.
And the fabric made the difference between versions: the thick fleece of the good one held the boxy shape; the thin one of the other drooped and looked smaller. In the QC photos of the time you could see it at the collar and cuffs.
When did the community move away from the blanket “one size down”?
Not in one moment. The turning point was reviews that included measurements: they made the tighter version obvious, and from then on replies started asking “which version?” before giving any size advice.
Summary of how the verdict changed:
1. At first: very roomy retail cut + early oversized versions → “size down” as a shortcut.
2. Later: different versions appear under the same name:
| Version back then |
Reports |
Did “size down” work? |
| thick, oversized (3M reflective logo) |
close to retail |
yes, generally |
| tighter, thin fabric |
narrower than retail |
no |
| black |
soft interior, loose threads on the sleeve |
no sizing consensus |
3. Final verdict of that era: the advice depends on the version, not the logo. Reviews with measurements were what changed it.
[[PHOTO: two oversized hoodies side by side on a flat lay, one thick and boxy, one thinner and narrower]]
Note: these are old versions, so their sizing advice doesn’t apply to the new ones. To choose a size, follow the Essentials sizing thread.
Crystal clear: the “size down” came from a few specific versions. Marked! 
Good to know where the old rule came from.
one version described as thick, oversized and close to retail (the 3M reflective logo variant)
another reported tighter than retail, with thin fabric; embroidery acceptable