Updated June 2026 · 11 min read
Figs gets all the hype. But which scrubs actually hold up to 12-hour ICU shifts, industrial washing, and a career's worth of wear? An ICU nurse's honest breakdown.
Most scrub reviews focus on how they look in a dressing room. Working nurses care about different things: how they hold up after 100 industrial washes, how many pockets they have and where, whether the fabric breathes during a code at hour 11, and whether they still look professional when you're presenting to an attending after a difficult night.
I've worked ICU for years and I've gone through a lot of scrubs. Here's my honest breakdown of every brand worth considering.
Figs earned their reputation. The fabric (their proprietary TECKNIK stretch) is genuinely better than anything at this price point — four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, soft against skin during a 12-hour shift, and it doesn't pill after repeated washing. The Zamora top has a good pocket layout for ICU: two front patch pockets, a chest pocket, and an inner pocket for your phone.
The criticism Figs gets is mostly about price and the fact that they market heavily to people who care more about Instagram aesthetics than function. That's fair, but the product itself is excellent. If you can get them on sale or use a referral discount, they're worth it.
Cherokee is the workhorse of hospital scrubs for a reason. The Infinity line specifically is where they got the fabric right — four-way stretch, tagless, and durable enough for the institutional washing machines most nurses rely on. Not as premium a feel as Figs, but at half the price and with comparable pocket count, the Cherokee Infinity is the smart budget choice for nurses building out their scrub rotation.
Hospital gift shops almost universally carry Cherokee. When yours are in the wash and you need something today, you can actually find these locally.
Grey's Anatomy scrubs are quietly excellent for nurses who need a lot of pocket real estate. The classic top has six pockets, including a large chest pocket that fits a full-size notebook and a deep side pocket that holds a tablet or larger items. ICU and ED nurses especially love the pocket layout because you're carrying a lot: brain sheet, phone, pens, trauma shears, alcohol wipes, and whatever else your unit requires.
The fabric is a soft four-way stretch that's not as structured as Figs but more comfortable for long shifts. They wash well and the colors stay true longer than most mid-range brands.
The Dickies EDS line is what you buy when you're a new nurse who can't afford Figs yet or when you need scrubs that are going to get absolutely destroyed during orientation and you don't care. They're basic, functional, and cheap enough to replace without grief. The fabric is stiffer than premium options and doesn't breathe as well, but they hold up to washing and look professional.
Good as a starter set or for days when you know you're going to go home looking like something happened (trauma bays, pediatrics codes, messy procedures).
Fashion-forward, premium fabric, excellent for outpatient and clinic settings. Less practical pocket layout for ICU/ED. ~$70–90/set.
Soft, stretchy, comfortable. Popular in med-surg and outpatient. Good value at ~$40/set. Limited color range.
Built for durability above all else. Great for OR and procedural settings. Stiffer fabric, utilitarian look, excellent pockets. ~$45/set.
Budget-friendly with better fabric than Dickies. Good starter option. Colors fade faster than Cherokee or Figs. ~$30/set.
Check your unit's color policy before buying. Many hospitals assign scrub colors by role — RNs in navy or ceil blue, CNAs in a different color, lab in white, etc. Some hospitals enforce this strictly; others are relaxed about it as long as you look professional. ICU policies especially vary. Find out before you order 5 sets of the wrong color.
For 3 shifts per week (standard RN): 4 sets minimum. You need one for each shift day plus one spare for when something goes wrong with laundry timing or a shift gets extended. If you're doing 4-day weeks or working extra, get 5–6.
New nurses often underestimate this and spend the first month re-wearing scrubs that should have been washed. Buy enough to rotate properly from day one.
Wash inside out in cold water. Tumble dry low or hang dry if possible. Don't use bleach on colored scrubs — it destroys the fabric faster than anything. Figs specifically recommends their laundry instructions — follow them and a $65 set can last 4–5 years.
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