Poly(N-hydroxyethyl-L-glutamine) (PHEG) hydrogels were prepared by aminolysis of poly(gamma-benzyl L-glutamate) with 2-aminoethanol and hydrophobic or hydrophilic crosslinkers, and the effect of the hydrophobicity of the crosslinkers was evaluated. The swelling properties, tensile properties and enzymatic degradation behavior were studied in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The swelling ratio and degradation rate of these hydrogels were highly dependent on the hydrophobicity of the crosslinkers, while tensile properties were dependent on the swelling ratio, but not on the hydrophobicity of the crosskinkers.