When it comes to picking a hoodie, style might be everything -- although not in the way you think.
Different hoodie styles have different traits so the best custom hoodies will vary dramatically person-to-person depending on their needs. A great athletic hoodie, for instance, will usually be lousy when you want something for warmth. And something super-stylish might not be terribly comfortable (particularly if you're looking for a baggy style).Given that hoodies serve so many different purposes, the first question worth thinking about is why you're considering custom hoodies. Your goal will likely drive most of your decisions.
How heavy are the hoodies in your closet? Have you given much -- or any -- thought to their weight?
Although it might seem like a meaningless measurement (because it's a difference of ounces), weight has a substantial impact on how a hoodie does (or doesn't) meet people's needs.
Lighter-weight hoodies won't keep you as warm as heavier hoodies. Whether this is a benefit or drawback comes down to how you plan to use your hoodie. For general use during cold weather, you obviously want to stay warm. However, if you're wearing a hoodie during a chilly morning jog, you don't have to worry as much about being too cold.
Additionally, the fabric weight can affect the style. Fashionable hoodies tend to have much thinner material.
The other major factor is how much cotton is used in the hoodie.
Greater cotton use typically means the hoodie will be both warmer and a bit heavier. It's a benefit if you're spending a lot of time outdoors in the cold, particularly if you're a bit less active.
Conversely, a heavier polyester use is great if you're planning on being more active. Having more of it in the fabric blend will make the hoodie more breathable and adds moisture-wicking qualities.
The other major factor is how much cotton is used in the hoodie.
Greater cotton use typically means the hoodie will be both warmer and a bit heavier. It's a benefit if you're spending a lot of time outdoors in the cold, particularly if you're a bit less active.
Conversely, a heavier polyester use is great if you're planning on being more active. Having more of it in the fabric blend will make the hoodie more breathable and adds moisture-wicking qualities.
Although picking custom hoodies might seem hard, there are a number of considerations that can make the process a lot easier.
Who will be receiving your custom hoodies and how will they be used?
Your decisions will vary greatly depending if you're looking to start selling custom hoodies, outfitting your employees, supplying a team, or giving them away (either as gifts or a promotional item).
Ultimately, the "best" hoodie is one that specifically meets your needs the closest. That's why there's no such thing as a perfect hoodie.
Hoodies are an impressive promotional item, but they can get expensive quickly. If you're planning to sell custom hoodies, you can pass that expense along to customers (and maybe justify it as a premium option). Otherwise, you might find yourself staring at the price tag.
Although the price might seem daunting, compare the cost of hoodies against each other. No matter what, hoodies will be more expensive than other custom apparel. And you likely have a very good reason for wanting a custom hoodie. So, instead of just looking at the expense -- or comparing it to ordering a custom t-shirt -- think of it in terms of the cost vs value between the various options.
And there are certainly benefits to going with a more expensive hoodie. For starters, it's going to make a far greater impression if the superior quality is self-evident. Not to mention the hoodie will be something they're more likely to keep and use.
However, it doesn't always make sense to go with the most expensive option. If you're outfitting your employees and the custom hoodies are likely to get ruined -- such as if you employ tradesmen who work in dirty conditions -- you probably don't want to spend a ton on personalized hoodies.
The style, material, and other elements on this list will all impact your cost. Some options are more affordable while others may cost more, but offer a benefit that justifies the added price.
Do you expect the wearer will be outdoors a lot? If you're giving custom hoodies to a scout brigade, for instance, the sweatshirts might be taken camping or hiking. In a case like that, warmth might matter a bit more than it would to sports fans huddled closely together watching a local team play. (By the way, custom clothing can be a great way to raise money for local teams. Not only are fans able to contribute to their favorite team, but they're able to show their affection for that team... and, in the process, bring more attention to it!)
However, as mentioned, if the hoodies are being used for athletics, warmth is less of a concern -- after all, people will get a bit warmer working out anyway.
When it comes to warmth, you're going to consider the fabric choice and weight. Cotton provides warmth while polyester is good for performance. Likewise, a thicker garment will usually be warmer than a thinner one.
Does the hoodie need to breathe? Does it need to wick moisture?
As mentioned, polyester helps with a lot of these performance issues. However, just going with a thinner cotton may also help.
While function is important, you may also want to consider how your custom hoodie looks.
When it comes to fashion vs function, there are usually some tradeoffs. Stylish hoodies tend to use thinner fabric and go for a tighter fit -- or, in other words, you're often sacrificing warmth, athletic performance, and everything else (which may even include comfort).
The other challenge with fashion is the fit itself. Because fashion tends to be geared closely to how a garment fits a particular person, it's harder to get it right as a giveaway. In fact, you may need to order a specific size for each person or let people choose.
If you plan to sell custom hoodies, style might be all-important. Just keep in mind that a successful online business will need to factor in a certain number of returns. (And, over time, you'll be able to estimate the return rate based on the number of orders shipped.)
Like fashion, comfort can be more subjective. The traits that make a hoodie comfortable for one person may completely turn off another.
What are some things that commonly make a hoodie comfortable? The first thing that might jump into your mind is whether the hoodie is soft. The feel of the material against a person's skin tends to be a pretty consistent comfort factor. Others vary person-to-person.
Although a lot of people like baggy hoodies because they're roomy, other people prefer a snug fit. (This preference can come down to the way a hoodie rubs against a shirt or a person's skin.)
Generally speaking, the more cotton in the hoodie, the softer that hoodie will be. Polyester and other materials aren't going to be as soft as cotton and, if the fabric is a blend, the non-cottons will likely make the hoodie less soft.
Polyester is one of the easier fabrics to clean because stains don't soak in the fabric.
However, cleaning shouldn't be a major issue -- just make sure to follow the washing instructions (which usually includes turning a custom hoodie inside-out to ensure the design lasts longer).
However, if cleanliness is a big issue -- particularly if the hoodie is used for something where it gets messed up pretty frequently -- this can be a sticking point (or, depending what you get on it, a sticky point). But keep in mind some kinds of stains won't come out.
Zip-up hoodies can be a lot more expensive than their normal hoodie counterparts. For a lot of uses, adding a zipper won't be practical given the added cost. However, if you're providing people with higher-end custom hoodies, a detail like this can be a big deal.
For example, the Gildan (pictured above, in one of its 17 colors) has a decidedly high-end look. However, it's also very affordable, as far as zip-ups go.
While zippers are a fantastic option -- and make somebody more likely to wear a custom hoodie -- there's a slight downside. Because you have a zipper running down the front, the design space is broken up. Depending on your usage, that could be a deal-breaker or -- if you're just placing something on the left chest -- it might be a non-issue.
Some people are surprised to learn sleeveless hoodies exist. After all, if hoodies are intended to keep a person warm, how well can they work without sleeves?
While the idea of a sleeveless hoodie seems counterintuitive, there are some benefits. The obvious one might be fashion -- these hoodies can have a cool look. The less obvious is the level of warmth it provides. If you're wearing a long-sleeve shirt, your arms are already covered. Effectively, it's a bit cooler -- and more breathable -- than a traditional hoodie.
But is it a good choice for a custom hoodie? Considering it tends to be a somewhat fringe option, you'll probably want a specific reason for going without sleeves.
After you've figured out what kind of a hoodie you want, the question becomes what brand will you go with.
There are a LOT of high-quality hoodie brands out there, although some are better for specific functions than others.
When it comes to an all-around value, you can't go wrong with Gildan. Among the company's other benefits is an incredible level of consistency. Because Gildan is so vertically integrated (meaning it controls its supply chain), the company is able to produce garments where the color, fit, and everything else is kept extremely close.
Gildan's is a top-seller. It's very soft, durable, and available in 43 colors. In short, there's a LOT to like about it, which has made it a top pick.
The Independent Trading Company manufactures a lot of incredible hoodies, sweatshirts, and other apparel at often very-reasonable prices. While more expensive than some brands, their hoodies are still a great value.
Independent Trading Company's SS is a mid-weight hooded sweatshirt available in 32 colors and an absolute top-quality choice (and beloved by some of Bolt Printing's staff).
However, the company produces some of the absolute best custom hoodies, so there are a lot of amazing-quality hoodies to pick from.
For anybody looking to customize athletic apparel, Sport-Tek is often the go-to brand. Their clothes are designed for performance, generally with moisture-wicking qualities and breathability.
The ST235BL is a stylish fleece hooded sweatshirt available in 5 colors. The stripes and lining give it a cool, eye-catching look. Don't like the stripe color options? Sport-Tek has other striped hoodies. Don't like stripes at all? Sport-Tek also has plain hoodies, like the F244 (available in 13 colors).
If Cornerstone is known for one thing, it's durability. The company's apparel is amazingly durable which makes it great for the outdoors and industrial work settings.
Cornerstone's CS620 features a thermal lining. Although a more expensive option, CS620 fleece hoodies are designed to last. They're a superb choice if you're outfitting a group.
A household name known for its athletic clothing, Champion has been around for over a hundred years. Although it's had a few different owners during that time (as of , it's owned by Hanes, who also own Alternative Apparel), what hasn't changed is Champion's mainstream appeal and highly-respected quality. And, for many people, they're buying it mostly for the brand.
Champion's S700 Double Dry Eco Fleece Hoodie is a popular option available in 12 colors.
Interested in looking good while saving the planet? District may have the hooded sweatshirt for you.
The DT uses fabric made from recycled plastic, meaning it uses sustainable materials. If you're promoting an environmental-friendly cause or charity, it might be your best choice.
Port & Company is a respected brand and its hooded sweatshirts stack up well against the competition.
The PC850H is available in 12 colors. It uses ring-spun cotton (meaning it's on the softer side) and is a bit warmer than some of the most fashionable brands.
Looking for a great deal? You may want to consider the BDH80.
Available in a whopping 45 colors, the BDH80 is a solid value and among Bolt Printing's best deals. If you're looking to customize your own hoodie, it's an incredible value which gets even better when buying in bulk (and, in general, you'll notice some volume discounts as you move from a small run to a bulk order -- just going from ordering 12 to 24 offers a substantial discount on a per-unit basis).
And, of course, if you don't actually need a hood, you could check out our wide selection of sweatshirts.
BDC80 Crewneck Sweatshirts are directly comparable to the BDH80 and are only lacking the hood. If you're just looking for a higher-end promotional item that can keep people ward off the cold, a crewneck sweatshirt works just as well. More importantly, it substantially brings the price down.
That said, going with crewneck sweatshirts instead won't be an option for everybody. And while it's a very small difference, sometimes that hood (even if it's not actually used) can mean the difference between whether or not somebody wears a sweatshirt.
Once you've chosen the perfect hoodie, it's time to customize it. And, just like the usage helped to determine which custom hoodie works best for your needs, that usage will decide the best way to implement a design.
In many cases, the type of hoodie will help determine your design options. For instance, if you have a zipper running down the front, you're limited to where a design can go on the front. However, even without a zipper, your design area tends to be limited because most hoodies have a front pouch. (As for the ones that don't, they often have a zipper.)
Remember that you have more design placement options than just the front. Even if you're just doing a company logo, you could always have a smaller version of the logo in the left-chest spot on the front and then a larger version -- or your company name -- on the back.
Want to get a big less conventional (and possibly eye-catching) with your placement? Try using the sleeve.
You'll also want to consider color combinations. Depending on the hoodie color, your design could be either stand out or possibly be missed.
A design whose color strongly contrasts its garment is usually far more likely to grab somebody's attention than a larger image that blends with the apparel. In the case of text, it's usually also going to be easier to read.
While print is the preferred option for custom t-shirts and embroidery is only practical option for custom beanies, you have more of a choice when it comes to hoodies. You can choose to customize a hoodie with either option.
If you're completely unfamiliar with the terms, a print customization uses ink whereas embroidery uses thread.
For more information, please visit Dreamfox.
With print, you don't have to worry as much about your design size. Or, more specifically, you don't have to worry about printing adding a lot to your cost when you customize a hoodie. You're able to get a much larger design at the same price as a smaller one.
However, the more colors you use in your design, the more expensive it'll be.
The benefit of going with embroidery
Where print offers a larger design without increasing the price, embroidery gives you the choice of more colors.
Because the cost of embroidery is determined by the thread count, choosing a larger design for a custom sweatshirt will cost more.
[Note: Bolt Printing's hoodie embroidery prices factor in a count of up to 5k threads. Custom hoodies using more than that in their design will need a special quote.]
Few people find the perfect design on their first try. You'll likely need to experiment with font choices, text layout, and different graphic options.
Above everything else, don't be afraid to have fun -- at least, not when you're just playing around with a design. Oftentimes goofing around can lead to an interesting idea that might work incredibly well on a custom hoodie.
If you've been considering custom hoodies or sweatshirts, now is a great time to look into making them and there's no better place than Bolt Printing's online design studio.
Bolt Printing's online design studio has an incredible number of free design resources. And, best of all, you don't need to be a designer or have some deep graphic design experience to use it.
Already have art? Perfect! You can upload your design right into the studio.
Our studio was designed to make things as easy as possible for our customers. Not ready to order today? That's fine, you can save your design for later. And, if you're not feeling confident about your design, keep in mind our team of experts reviews customer designs to make sure there aren't any problems.
Above all else, we want to create customized apparel you're happy with -- the best custom hoodies you can get.
Note -- Bolt Printing's minimum order quantity for custom hoodies is 12. Because digital printing (a.k.a. direct-to-garment printing) isn't available for hoodies, we're unable to sell small quantities.
Our customization is done in the USA, right at our own facility in sunny Brookfield, CT. This means when you call us, you're talking to people who will work on your customization. (Unlike other companies who have their call centers in one place, rely on a separate production facility, and then might have fulfillment centers somewhere else.)
Bolt Printing offers a wide selection of custom hoodies, custom sweatshirts, and other clothing at affordable prices. Whether you need printed t-shirts, embroidered sweaters, sweatpants, or even a custom hat, we have you covered.
Want more? What if I told you we offer free shipping on most orders to a single address? And if our free shipping isn't fast enough for you, there are a number of express options, too. (Although you can avoid unnecessary shipping costs by ordering well in advance.)
Hoodies are so popular in this country that they have their own season– hoodie season. People get excited about it. We do. There's nothing like a soft, new hoodie.
For that reason, custom hoodies are a fantastic and memorable way to promote your brand, outfit your team, sell lots of merch, or just reward your friends, family, and followers with some warm, snuggly goodness.
But with dozens of competing brands and hundreds of styles on the market, it's hard to know where to begin.
This article makes it easy with 7 helpful tips about the beloved hoodie: the different styles, fabrics, how and where to print on them, plus our expert product recommendations. Let's get into some soft and cozy hoodies.
The two most popular styles of hoodies are pullovers and zip-ups. The major distinction between these two styles is how you put them on (hence the names). Zip-up hoodies have two front pockets, while pullover hoodies have one big front pocket. These two styles make up the vast majority of hoodies.
Sure, if you surf around the web, you can find quarter-zip hoodies, button-downs, side-zips, feather fringes, or sleeveless hoodies (for some reason), but these styles tend to be rare and specific to a certain brand or a designer gone rogue.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each of the top styles, along with our product recommendations.
Pullover hoodies
Pros: Warmer, easy to print across the chest area and on the front of the pocket. No zipper issues because there is none.
Cons: You can't control your temperature like with the full-zip; you can either keep it on or take it off. Those are your choices.
Zip-up hoodies
Pros: More fashion-forward and more versatile as far as ways to wear it and the zipper can be used to control body temperature.
Cons: Printing across the zipper is problematic and not recommended. Zippers can break, become wavy, or bend outward.
GOOD: Gildan Heavy Blend Pullover Hoodie (G185) budget-priced, durable, wide selection of colors and sizes
BETTER: Hanes Ultimate Cotton Pullover Hoodie (F170) moderately priced, thick, comfortable, standard fit, wide selection
BEST: Bella+Canvas Sponge Fleece Pullover Hoodie () premium-quality, super-soft, slim-fit, limitations on colors and sizes
GOOD: Gildan Heavy Blend Zip-Up Hoodie (G186) budget-priced, durable, wide selection of colors and sizes
BETTER: Hanes Ultimate Cotton Zip-up Hoodie (F280)moderately priced, thick, comfortable, standard fit, wide selection
BEST: Bella+Canvas Tri-blend Fleece Pullover () premium-quality, super-soft, slim-fit, some limitations on colors and sizes
Pro tip:If the item you choose doesn’t have the colors or sizes needed, or if you want a variation on the same product, our customer support team can always find otherhoodies and sweatshirts in our catalogthat will match the rest of your order. It’s not uncommon to split up an order between different styles and even brands.
Similar to T-shirts, hoodies are made out of all kinds of fabric types and blends. There's cotton, the soft, classic favorite. There's the moisture-wicking performance and ever-increasing technological advancements of 100% polyester. Then there are 50/50 cotton/poly blends and the best of three worlds: tri-blends.
So what is the absolute softest hoodie, you ask?
Sweatshirt fleece is a type of fabric that can be made from various materials, like those listed above. Essentially, it has shredded yarn loops on the inside that are brushed to make it all frayed and fuzzy. This technique makes it super soft and helps keep you warmer. But you wanna know what's even softer than fleece? Sponge fleece. It even sounds softer. But it's not as absorbent as terry.
French terry is a fabric type that is lighter weight than fleece and not quite as soft. The yarn loops are kept intact. It’s not as soft as fleece, but while sweatshirt fleece, being a heavier weight material, keeps you warmer, French terry being a lightweight material, can help keep you cooler– because it’s also highly absorbent and more breathable. That’s why they make towels out of it.
It would be bonkers to go through every hoodie brand we offer, so let's take a quick look at a few of the main brands we customize and give you some basic info about the quality and price points.
These are the top three premium brands for printing. They make some of the best, most well-designed, and fashion-forward styles on the market. If you order hoodies made by one of these three, you know you're getting high quality. American Apparel tends to have a slightly higher price point, while Bella+Canvas and District offer more competitive and affordable prices.
Next up is the mid-range brands. Champion is a classic and the O.G. of this group, as they were pioneers of hoodies in the s. Next Level is like an affordable American Apparel (minus the made-in-the-USA), but their products are great and customer favorites. Hanes is the reliable and go-to brand you're probably familiar with. Depending on the specific product, some of the price points could be considered in the premium range.
Our standard brands are perfect for budget-conscious customers, offering great value without compromising on quality. While they may not always have the trendiest styles, that’s evolving as the market gets more competitive. Jerzees has been a trusted choice for years, and Gildan stands out as our top seller, loved for its wide range and dependable quality.
How to use a drawstring:
This versatile garment has a variety of possible print locations and customizing methods, but it comes with some restrictions. For example, printing on the front of pullovers is limited by the front pocket (if it has one), and printing on the front of zip-ups is limited by the zipper.
Most restrictions have to do with print locations, but sometimes it can be the construction of a product, like fabric type or seams. Let's look at the print areas, print methods, and some restrictions particular to customizing hoodies.
Below is a graphic showing the standard print locations (also known as print areas) along with a few common alternatives. Remember, these are general guidelines. If you have any special requests or crazy ideas, we can usually make them happen. Try us.
On zipper hoodies, printing across the front is usually a no-go. There are ways to do it, but there are issues like clumpy globs of ink deposited. No one wants that. So as a general rule, we don't recommend printing across the zipper.
But like any rule, there are exceptions.
If you think your design is a candidate for printing across the zipper, one of our project specialists will help make sure the order is set up for success.
On pullover hoodies, the restriction is a limited print height on the front. Because of the front pocket (if there is a pocket), the maximum size for a chest print will be only 10″ high– and could be limited to just 6″ on the smallest size hoodies.
If you are printing on the front pocket, the print area is smaller than it looks. Also, it's considered a separate print area from the chest, so that will affect the price.
And no, we cannot print GIF animations. (Yes, people ask).
Screen printing is the go-to method for most hoodie printing. This classic method is vibrant, durable, and pretty much everyone's favorite. Another nice thing is you can print on dark fabrics with no problem. And almost any type of fabric. The trade-off with screen printing is that you pay per color, and set-up charges can be high if you're getting a small run. So keep the print simple.
Heat transfer (or perma-press) is the method to use if you want some shiny metallic foil business or when you have a full-color design but can't afford to pay for all the ink colors. Keep in mind it creates a thin plastic coating on the surface of the fabric, eliminating breathability. So best not to make the design solid.
Dye-sublimation is the method for doing an "all-over print" (almost all over). This is also a good choice for doing a full-color print, like a magical space unicorn design. Everyone has one, right? Dye-sub involves a chemical reaction, skipping the liquid phase when heated and turning into gas that bonds to the fibers. It makes a durable, permanent, brilliant "soft hand" print. Keep in mind that it only works on polyester. So there's that.
Embroidery is the method to keep it classy with your branding, outfit your staff, or brand your hoodies for retail. Keep in mind that embroidery comes with backing on the opposite side of the fabric that can be bulky on thinner garments or slightly uncomfortable in areas of friction (like on the nips). As always, keep your embroidery design small and simplified. The left chest is where a typical embroidered logo or design would go, but we have done some creative print placements, like the wrist or the edge of the hood.
Pro tip: Sometimes a 1-color print is all you need, especially on the premium hoodies. Larger designs and multiple colors can result in a heavier print that changes the way a hoodie feels when it’s worn. You can improve the breathability and flexibility of a design byusing a distressed effect (and it looks cool, too).
Generally speaking, hoodie sizes will match what you would typically wear in T-shirt sizes. 100% cotton hoodies will be a bit more susceptible to shrinkage than their polyester and blended counterparts.
As usual, there are exceptions, mostly to do with certain brands, styles, fit, and the differences between men's and women's cuts. It's always a good idea to check the product specs and compare measurements to see if it matches with standard sizing.
You may also want to consider personal style. Think of it like this: there's people's actual size, and then there's their preferred size and fit.
For example, some people like oversized hoodies. It's a trending look right now. Others prefer them tight and form-fitting. Consider your end-user or target market.
Trending big: oversized (left), very oversized (center), and super oversized (right).
Also, take a look at the photos of the product on models, and compare them to other styles and brands. Look for areas that are baggy or tight– you may notice some major differences.
Pro tip: If you’re doing a group order for a team or your family, just ask around about what people prefer. This is by far the best way to get your order right. Consider using a spreadsheet: get their normal size, and then ask them if they prefer their hoodies baggy or form-fitting.
Choices used to be limited as far as T-shirts, hoodies, and other custom sportswear. Then along came American Apparel to change the game with side seams and "fashion fit" cuts. These items were more streamlined and flattering and took the custom apparel industry by storm.
Nowadays, there are many brands offering fashion fit– also known as retail fit, slim fit, Euro fit, or just fitted.
Ladies' apparel has always been fitted, but now some men's styles hug the body and offer a slimmer profile for the more fashion-conscious. Oftentimes these styles will also feature thinner, blended fabrics and well-designed details. You also pay a bit more, of course.
How to be sure: Read the product descriptions carefully. If it doesn't say fashion fit, retail fit, or slim fit, it's most likely standard fit.
One of the major decisions to make when buying in bulk is whether to purchase all unisex or to split your order between men's and women’s hoodies. If you're selling merch, we highly recommend including women's styles.
Not all hoodie products come in both men's and women's. If they don't, it's called unisex. Unisex is essentially the same thing as men's, with occasional slight variation. Or, in other words, they didn't bother to make a ladies' version of it.
When you do see a style called men's, they will typically have the women's counterpart, also known as a companion style. Everything's always better with a companion, right?
The biggest difference is that the women's hoodies are overall more contoured to the female figure. Specifically, the cut will have smaller shoulders, taper in at the waistline, and flare out a bit at the hips. The men will tend to have more room around the waist, shoulders, and down the arms.
Typically, fashion fits women's sizes "run small." The women's version may not go up to the extra-large sizes in general and may be too small for plus-size women. So you may end up with leftover inventory because people some people might need a size above what they would normally wear.
If you're going for the oversized fashion look mentioned earlier, go with unisex.
Pro tip: For a large or bulk order, when you're guessing the size breakdown, if you want to play it safe, skew the spread slightly towards the larger sizes. That way, you won't have any leftover items in inventory that are too small. If you need a jumping-off point for choosing a typical spread of sizes, read my post about placing a bulk order.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Custom Sports Hoodies. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.