Best Sublimation Sweatshirts & Hoodies (Polyester & Blends)
Are you in the sublimation business, searching for the best sweatshirts and hoodies to turn them into uniquely crafted apparel to promote your brand? Do you want to know the key factors that you should consider while purchasing?
Here I’ve shared all the best options that can be a pleasing surprise for sports teams, schools, and corporate clients and a perfect fit for all those who want a comfortable, customized outfit.
I’ve also thoroughly discussed all aspects including the fabric type, color, designs, polyester percentage, quality, etc. so you can make informed decisions according to your needs.
Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
If you don’t have enough time to read long guides. Here are some of the important points to make your decision easier.
- Fabric type and polyester percentage are decision-making factors; don’t overlook them. Go for 100% polyester or as close as possible for better results (Minimum 50%, the more the better).
- Never choose a dark-colored fabric if you want vibrant and long-lasting prints.
A Bird’s Eye View Of The Top Sweatshirts and Hoodies for Sublimation
| Product | Fabric Type | Closure Type | Sweatshirt/ Hoodie |
| TOLOER Men’s Hoodie | 100% Polyester | Pullover | Hoodie |
| Southpole Men’s Basic Fleece Polyester Hoodie | 100% Polyester | Pullover | Hoodie |
| JERZEES Men’s NuBlend Fleece Hoodie | 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester | Zipper | Hoodie |
| Hanes Men’s Poly Cotton Fleece Hoodie | 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester | Pull-On | Hoodie |
| Gildan Adult Fleece Hoodie, Style G18500 | 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester | Pull-on | Hoodie |
| Hanes EcoSmart Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt | 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester | Pullover | Sweatshirt |
| Gildan Adult Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt, Style G18000 | 50% cotton and 50% polyester | Pullover | Sweatshirt |
Detailed Overview of the Best Hoodies for Sublimation
1. TOLOER Men’s Hoodie
It comes with a ribbed waistband and cuffs to keep you warm and cozy in winter. It is a pill-resistant hoodie so you won’t face any fiber balls issues after use. It has a pull-on closure, and kangaroo pockets and also features a fleece-lined drawstring hood for moisture-wicking.
Key Features and Benefits:
Sublimation Friendly
This hoodie is made up of 100% polyester fabric and available in light colors as well which makes it one of the best choices for sublimation. It will get you the most vibrant prints.
Quality and Usage
This hoodie combines the best for a warmer and more comfortable softshell – durable and flexible fabrics that fold and drape with movement, as well as double-needle stitching so you can go from chasing mountains to snowboarding back to the slopes in a flash. You will feel the warmth of the hoodie’s insides, the comfort of wearing it, and the happiness of looking. Perfect for all seasons.
Pros and Cons:
2. Southpole Men’s Basic Fleece Polyester Hoodie
This hoodie is available in both pull-on and zip-up closures. It features a cozy front kangaroo pocket, a drawstring hood, and double-needle stitching throughout. Available in all sizes from small to 6X Large.
Key Features and Benefits:
Sublimation Friendly
This is another amazing hoodie that’s made of 100% polyester to get you vibrant and stunning results. Available in many colors to choose from. Just make sure you don’t go with the darker ones.
Quality and Usage
It is a popular polyester hoodie for sublimation because it never goes out of style. Its soft and warm fleece inner and extra thick hood will keep you warm and comfortable even on chilly fall and winter days.
The classic fit has enough room to wear over a t-shirt without restricting movement yet is also roomy enough to wear alone.
Pros and Cons:
3. JERZEES Men’s NuBlend Fleece Hoodie
It comes with a full zip closure and has a front pouch pocket that keeps your hands warm on a cold day. Plus, it helps keep keys or ID tucked away during a power walk.
Moreover, its ribbed collar with spandex makes it comfortable to wear, resistant to wear and tear, fade resistant, and retains its original shape.
Key Features and Benefits:
Sublimation Friendly
It is made up of 50% cotton and 50% Polyester fabric. It won’t get as vibrant results as the one with 100% polyester but still, it’s good enough to use for sublimation. It meets the minimum criteria of 50% polyester.
The only downside is that because of a zip-up closure, it may be tricky to sublimate and customize your hoodie with your favorite graphics.
Quality and Usage
The unique blend of polyester and cotton fibers provides a lightweight, durable garment that will stand up to any activity. Plus, it is a good choice if you are looking for an outfit with a vintage look.
With High stitch density for a smooth printing canvas, these hoodies have an anti-pilling surface that makes them aesthetically appealing.
In addition, it is an excellent fit if you don’t want to ruin your perfectly sculpted haircut while putting on your hoodie. You can layer it with other items to create a layered look with an open hoodie.
Pros and Cons:
4. Hanes Men’s Poly Cotton Fleece Hoodie
This unisex crewneck hoodie is ideal for everyday use thanks to its comfortable fit and lightweight cotton and polyester construction. It is a big hit due to its excellent cut, comfortable feel, and affordable price. It comes with kangaroo pockets, a ribbed waistband, and cuffs.
It has soft fleece material inside and outside it’s pill-resistant to save you from fiber balls.
Key Features and Benefits:
Sublimation Friendly
Its material is a pleasant combination of cotton and Polyester in the proportion of 50/50. Same as the previous hoodie, it also meets the minimum requirement of polyester percentage so it’s also a great option for sublimation. Available in multiple light color options to choose from for best prints.
Quality and Usage
It is lightweight but will keep you cozy and shielded from the chilly winter air just the same. If you suffer from cold hands in the winter, the sleeves are long enough to keep your hands warm.
Pros and Cons:
5. Gildan Adult Fleece Hoodie, Style G18500
This hoodie is made with double-needle stitching which makes it last longer than your expectations. It has ribbed cuffs and a waistband with spandex making it aesthetically more helpful. It adheres to your body and provides you comfort with a snug fit. It feels like your best buddy because it’s so comfortable & cozy. You’ll never want to take it off.
Key Features and Benefits:
Sublimation Friendly
Gildan adult fleece hoodies are also one of the best choices for sublimation for multiple reasons. Firstly it meets the polyester percentage criteria and is available in light colors as well. Secondly, without zippers, it has a large canvas front and back for customized printing. In addition, if you want to make apparel for schools, teams, businesses, and more, it will never disappoint you.
Quality and Usage
Its Pill-resistant air jet yarn offers a clear appearance as well as less hairiness. In addition, it is highly resistant to pilling and abrasion. Plus, it has good moisture absorption. Besides, the air Jet yarn is less prone to shrinkage and has high wash resistance.
For cold weather, no hoodie can suit you better than this Gildan hoodie because it has a double lining in the hood and a signature pouch pocket that makes it an excellent fit.
Pros and Cons:
Detailed Overview Of The Sweatshirts For Sublimation
6. Hanes EcoSmart Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt
This sweatshirt with a cozy crewneck style is popular given its subtlety and suitability for layering. It is the perfect winter garment since it keeps the chest close to the neck and warm. This tremendous lightweight apparel will be an excellent addition to your closet as a top layer.
Another good thing about it is its tear-away tags that can easily be ripped off without tearing the garment. So it is the best fit for you if you want to relabel it with your custom branding.
Key Features and Benefits:
Sublimation Friendly
It meets the 50% polyester criteria so you can definitely use it for sublimation. Go with light colors for vibrant and long-lasting results.
Quality and Usage
These sweatshirts are stitched with a double needle on all sites that may be prone to breakage of stitches, hence preventing the stitches from breaking.
It is perfect for wicking away moisture because it is thin and breathable. You can customize it easily with your favorite graphics and use this top layer to keep out the harsh weather.
Pros and Cons:
7. Gildan Adult Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt, Style G18000
It is an outfit that will significantly surpass your expectations due to its simplicity, comfort, and current style. Because Gildan has been making quality athletic wear for decades, their crewneck sweatshirt is a fan favorite. Not to mention, you can’t beat the unbelievably low price.
Key Features and Benefits:
Sublimation Friendly
Not everyone likes wearing polyester sweatshirts so this 50% cotton and 50% polyester blend is perfect for those. It can easily be used for sublimation.
Its easy relabelling feature also makes it friendly for your sublimation business as you can easily replace your own labels on it.
For a good reason, this fleece crewneck has become the go-to blank crewneck for all sorts of custom printing projects.
Quality and Usage
Everyone loves a crewneck sweatshirt like this. It’s available in 18 different hues, and the fabric is comfortable and flexible. As a classic piece, it will always be a go-to.
It is traditional and comfy thanks to its double-needle construction, ribbed cuffs, and waistband.
Because it is crafted from air jet yarn, which is resistant to pilling, it also survives several wears during the cold season.
While this Gildan sweatshirt is one of their more basic designs, without pockets or a hoodie, it has proven to be a popular choice among customers.
Pros and Cons:
Factors You Should Consider When Buying These
Before we tour the critical decision-making factor, we should know some basics that which material, blends and color will work best with sublimation. Let’s have a sneak peek at it.
Can You Sublimate On Any Fabric?
The straight answer is no, fellas. You can’t sublimate on fabrics other than polyester. But there is a workaround, we can’t sublimate directly but we can sublimate by using polyester coating on them.
Some helpful articles to read If you are interested in any of these fabrics:
- Can you sublimate on Rayon?
- Can you sublimate on Denim?
- Can you sublimate on Nylon?
- Can you sublimate on Leather?
Best Fabric Blends for Sublimation Printing
Everyone doesn’t like to wear the same fabric. So to produce a comfortable customer-driven product, we also have to use different combinations. So, here are some different best fabric types we can use for sublimation printing.
100% Polyester
The best go-to fiber for sublimation printing is 100% polyester fabric because polyester polymers bind perfectly with the sublimation dye during heating. Furthermore, they are easy to clean and retain their shape.
In addition, polyester is stain-resistant and economical as well.
Triblends
Triblends fabric comprises 50% Polyester,25% cotton, and 25% rayon blend. A tri-blend cloth is less likely to shrink and is best for gym wear, team uniforms, large-scale events, etc. And if you choose them as promotional apparel, they have the best material for sublimating on a hoodie to craft a customized outfit.
Moreover, it has the benefits of all three fabrics.
- Cotton gives it durability and breathability.
- Polyester facilitates the sublimation of dye for bonding.
- Rayon gives it softness and helps to drape over the body naturally.
But remember that although it is a comfortable and soft material, the sublimation result will not be as vivid as on the fabric containing high polyester content.
65% Polyester, 35% Cotton
A polyester blend containing 35% cotton with a 65% polyester ratio is the best choice for sublimation if you want a retro or vintage look outfit because results will not be the same as 100% polyester fabric due to the low binding of the dye. The rule of thumb for sublimation printing is higher the polyester percentage, the brighter the print.
Generally, we can print pretty well on this fabric, which would be brighter than a 50/50 blend of Polyester and cotton. But it will not be as promising as a 100% polyester.
That being said, if you intentionally want a vintage-style outfit, don’t hesitate to print on a 65/35 blend and get a classy outfit.
Heathered 65% Polyester
You can also use heather fabric for sublimation printing, containing 65% polyester. It will turn out a sharper and brighter look, but not as vivid as 100% polyester. Heathered fabric forms when yarns of mixed colors are interwoven to produce streaks of alternate colors. So your outfit will look trendy and work as the best casual wear.
But there is a downside of using heathered fabric; with delicate images, it will not work well, and the results will not be the same as they should be.
50/50 Polyester and Cotton(Poly Cotton)
The recommended poly cotton blends are
✅80% Poly: 20% Cotton
✅75%Poly: 25% Cotton
✅60% Poly: 40% Cotton
Any fabric blend less than this % will give a faded look because, firstly, the dye will not bond with the cotton, and if it binds, it will bleed away after the first wash. So only use a 50/50 polycotton fabric if you want a faded style image.
Vintage or distressed look garments have a big market and remain popular, so it is a perfect choice if you want to print for the vintage fabric industry.
What Color Sweatshirts are Best for Sublimation?
Usually, light colors like white or grey are best for sublimation printing. In order to make sublimation work on dark hues, you must employ a special process, such as coating the image with a layer of white heat transfer vinyl. Otherwise, your design will not show up well against the dark fabric.
Can You Sublimate on Cotton Sweatshirts?
Yes, it is possible to sublimate on cotton sweatshirts as well. To help the natural fibers bond with sublimation dyes, you must use specific sublimation fabric sheets or synthetic spray coatings on cotton to produce a synthetic surface on top of the fabric. But they aren’t as reliable as polyester sweatshirts.
Mistakes You Should Avoid While Sublimating On Them
Hey folks, if you are in the sublimation business, you must know how to grow your business and what mistakes you should avoid when sublimating on sweatshirts and hoodies. Understanding these mistakes and how they affect your business is very important if you are passionate about your craft. Here are some game-changing tips to avoid mistakes while sublimating on sweatshirts and hoodies. Let’s check them out.
- Choosing the wrong sweatshirt fabric type
- Using a bad font for the design
- Using complex designs
- Infringing copyright laws
- Getting the size of the design wrong
- Inappropriate selection of colors
- Poor quality of the Image
- Improper placement of the design on the shirt
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What sweatshirts are best for sublimation?
The best ones are light-colored and should have at least 50% polyester to get a unique, vibrant design that never peels or flakes off.
2. Does sublimation work on hoodies?
Yes, you can easily customize the hoodies like sweatshirts; you just need a light-color fabric with a high polyester ratio. You can transfer the images and graphics via sublimation to turn them into stunning sublimation apparel.
3. Can you sublimate 50/50 sweatshirts?
Technically, it is possible to sublimate sweatshirts with 50% polyester. The outcome will not be as vibrant as it should be but it’s great for a vintage look. If you want vibrant and long-lasting results then go with at least 60% or even better 70%.
4. Can I sublimate on black sweatshirts?
Yes, you can sublimate on black sweatshirts but via heat transfer vinyl. Besides, EasySubli media can also be used to sublimate dark-colored fabric.
Read More: Sublimation on dark colors
5. How long does it take to sublimate the hoodie?
To sublimate a hoodie temperature may vary depending on other factors, but 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 40-75 seconds at medium pressure is a good starting point. Then you can increase or decrease depending on the colors you get.
Wrap-Up
I have covered everything that I could about sublimation printing on sweatshirts and hoodies. I hope you can now decide yourself easily which one is best according to your needs after reading this detailed guide.
