Not All Sweatshirts Are Created Equal
When you need custom sweatshirts, it can be tempting to think the process is as simple as picking a color, choosing a size and sending us your logo.
But there are a lot of sweatshirt options out there—and choosing the right one can make a big difference in the finished product.
That's why when someone comes into Badger Track Customs looking for sweatshirts, we don't just ask, "What color do you want?"
We start with a few better questions:
Do you want a hoodie or a crew neck? What are you going to do with them? Are you selling them, giving them away, outfitting a team, or ordering them for your family?
Once we know what you're trying to accomplish, we can help you choose the sweatshirt that makes the most sense for your project.
Gildan Heavy Blend: Our Go-To All-Around Sweatshirt
One of our favorite places to start is the Gildan Heavy Blend sweatshirt.
It's a great all-around option that wears well and works well with both printing and embroidery. It's also a particularly easy choice when you're outfitting a team, crew or larger group because so many people are already familiar with Gildan sizing.
We typically keep a good variety of Gildan sweatshirts on hand, including popular colors like black, gray and maroon.
For a dependable, versatile sweatshirt that works for a wide variety of projects, Gildan Heavy Blend is a great starting point.
Port & Company: Another Great Option
Port & Company is another sweatshirt brand we really like.
These sweatshirts print well, wear well and come in a wide variety of colors and styles. They also offer camouflage options, including military-style camo and other camo patterns.
One thing we always want customers to keep in mind when choosing between sweatshirt brands is color matching.
If you're trying to match maroons with maroons, blacks with blacks or navies with navies, it's best to stay within the same brand line whenever possible. Different brands can have slightly different versions of the same color.
So if color consistency is important for your project, choosing one brand and sticking with it can make a big difference.
Bella+Canvas Sponge Fleece: Soft and Trendy
Looking for something a little softer and more fashion-forward?
The Bella+Canvas Sponge Fleece sweatshirt is a great option.
These sweatshirts have a noticeably softer feel, with a fleece-like feel on the inside. They're also a little more trendy than some of the traditional sweatshirt options.
Because they're a bit more expensive, they're not necessarily our first choice for a large bulk project.
But if you're creating booster gear, smaller group orders or sweatshirts for personal wear, they can be an excellent choice.
Sometimes spending a little more on the garment makes sense when comfort and style are priorities.
Independent Trading Co.: A New Favorite
Another sweatshirt that has been climbing our list of favorites is Independent Trading Co.
These sweatshirts are soft, fit well, wear well and print nicely.
They're a particularly good option when you're not doing a huge bulk project and you're looking for something a little nicer for personal wear, family apparel or booster gear you're planning to sell.
They're one of those sweatshirts that just feels a little more premium without sacrificing the ability to customize it.
District: A Comfortable, Nicer-Cut Option
District is another brand worth considering.
These sweatshirts are soft and have what I would describe as a nicer cut.
They're another option I'm personally drawn toward when I'm looking for something for everyday or personal wear.
If comfort and fit are high on your priority list, District is a good one to consider.
Toltec: A Reliable Brand
Toltec is another reliable brand that we carry.
They offer both T-shirts and sweatshirts and provide another solid option when you're looking for quality apparel to customize.
Sometimes the right choice simply comes down to finding the brand, style and color that best fit what you're trying to accomplish.
Comfort Colors: The Vintage Look Everyone Loves
If you're looking for something trendy, Comfort Colors deserves a spot on the list.
Comfort Colors has become really popular because of its garment-washed appearance. It has that relaxed, vintage look and a bit of the '90s grunge vibe that's making a comeback.
These are a great choice for trendy apparel, especially booster gear, team merchandise and other sweatshirts that people will want to wear outside of the event itself.
If you're going for that comfortable, lived-in look, Comfort Colors is definitely worth considering.
Carhartt & CornerStone: When You Need Workwear
Not every sweatshirt project is about fashion.
Sometimes you need something that's built for work.
That's where brands like Carhartt and CornerStone come into play.
Carhartt is tried and true for work crews and people who need dependable workwear.
CornerStone is another brand we carry for people working on the job. One example is the Rain Defender option, which has a water-repellent finish.
There's an important distinction with garments like this, though.
Rain Defender + Printing? Not Our First Choice.
Because of the Rain Defender treatment, these garments don't accept printed decoration as well as a standard sweatshirt. Things simply don't stick as well to that treated surface.
For that reason, we really recommend embroidery on these types of garments.
The good news is that CornerStone offers several styles, including quarter-zips and mock-neck options, so you can create professional-looking workwear without having to stick with a traditional hoodie.
Hoodie, Crew Neck, Zip-Up or Quarter-Zip?
One of the biggest takeaways is that you have options.
Depending on the brand and style, you can choose from:
-
Crew neck sweatshirts
-
Pullover hoodies
-
Zip-up hoodies
-
Quarter-zips
-
Mock-neck styles
-
Workwear sweatshirts
-
Trendier, fashion-forward options
And that's exactly why we don't want to simply tell you, "Here's what we have."
We want to know what you're trying to accomplish.
So, Which Sweatshirt Is Right for You?
When a customer asks us what sweatshirt options we have, we like to turn the question around:
Tell us what you're looking for.
What's your end result?
Are you going to sell them?
Are you giving them away?
Are they for a school project?
Are you outfitting a work crew?
Are they for your family?
Are you looking for something trendy and comfortable?
Or do you need something that's going to hold up on the job?
Those answers help us determine the right garment, decoration method and overall approach for your project.
Let's Find the Right Sweatshirt for Your Project
With so many custom sweatshirt options available, you don't have to figure it all out on your own.
Whether you're looking for custom hoodies, embroidered workwear, team sweatshirts, booster gear or personalized apparel, Badger Track Customs can help you choose an option that fits your project and your goals.
We'll help you sort through the choices and find the combination of style, color, garment and decoration that makes sense for what you're trying to accomplish.
Have a sweatshirt project in mind?
Give Badger Track Customs a call, send us a message or stop by the shop in Choteau. Tell us what you're looking for—and we'll help you find the right sweatshirt for the job.
Because the right sweatshirt isn't just something you wear. It's part of the finished product.