KOTIS PICKS / HOODIES
The best hoodies
Hoodies reign supreme in branded merchandise, offering a versatile canvas for endless designs, messages, and color choices that reflect your brand perfectly. After thorough research and testing of numerous styles, we proudly present our top recommendations.
KOTIS PICKS / T-SHIRTS
The best t-shirts for branded merch
T-shirts – it doesn’t get any more quintessential to the branded merch scene than this piece of apparel we all wear daily. It’s a blank canvas that can have infinite decoration, messaging, and color possibilities for your brand. And there can also be infinite number of t-shirts to choose from. To help, we’ve researched and tested hundreds of tees over the years. Here are all the styles we recommend.
* Pricing based on 1 location, 1-color imprint
Marine Layer Sunset Hoodie
Where comfort meets style
Overwhelmingly the staff favorite, this absurdly soft hoodie slid right into home for Kotis’ overall pick. The fabric is breathable and lighter weight, made from 50/50 Supima cotton and Micromodal. It layered nicely over our T-shirts and under our coats, a perfect year-round garment. We wished that there were more than 4 standard colors, but it gets bonus points for offering a women’s option and it’s made in the USA.
as low as $79 *
HOUDINI Power Houdi Fleece Jacket
The ultimate upscale hoodie
You get what you pay for, and this hoodie is no exception. Even before we tried it on, we could see and feel the difference in the fabric and construction. The fit is a little closer to the body and the fabric has some stretch for movement. They even thought of a hidden draw cord in the hood and waistband to keep out chilly air. This Houdi is a step above all the rest.
as low as $253 *
Legends Hawthorne Tech Hoodie
Peak performance pick
When the President of Kotis tells you the Hawthorne is the best hoodie he’s ever worn, you listen. We loved the scuba hood, the high-end construction, and the fit. It has a unique curved hem and is made from a moisture wicking material- perfect for those pickleball tournaments. Every detail was thought about and perfected- down to the rubber ends of the drawstring. We wish there was a ladies companion option, but if women size down, this should fit like a dream.
as low as $169 *
tentree ® Organic Cotton Fleece Classic Hoodie
Responsibly created from start to finish
For the truly eco-conscious, this tentree hoodie has so many points in the sustainable category, we might as well just bullet list them:
- Made with 100% organic cotton
- Tentree is cradle to cradle certified
- Tentree has committed to plant...you guessed it...ten trees per purchase, trackable with a code on the hangtag
We loved that the fit was more slimming and the fabric was oh-so-soft. The detail in the stitching and woven label at the bottom hem was a dead giveaway in its retail-like construction and quality. Due to the commitment of the company and the higher-end materials used, this pick may be cost prohibitive to those who are price conscious. Overall, the tentree hoodie is an outstanding pick for a gift that will truly delight.
as low as $33 *
District V.I.T. Fleece Hoodie
Price conscious without sacrificing style and comfort
Getting a hoodie on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice comfort and style, and we found one that offers both. Boasting an impressive 36 colors, and sizes from XS-4XL the VIT fleece is a little something for everyone. Compared to the other picks that we tested, this held up well to multiple washes and wears. There was some pilling under the arms that started showing after several wash cycles, but very minor compared to other budget picks we tested.
as low as $26 *
Sport-Tek Super Heavyweight Pullover Hooded Sweatshirt
Traditional looser fit
We tested a handful of our heavyweight top dogs, and Champion’s Reverse Weave was our favorite. It handled multiple trips to the laundry without shrinking, had a nice loose fit with a long torso and arms, and kept us warm during these cooler testing days. The knotted ends of the hood string leave a little to be desired, but all around this is a great fit, great brand, with a handful of really nice color options.
as low as $47 *
Independent Trading Co. Lightweight Fitted Zip Hooded Sweatshirt
Lightweight and durable
At 7.5oz, this lightweight hoodie was perfect on its own during a mild fall day or layered up with a vest for cooler days. We loved the modern color pallete, the double string hoodie pulls, the slimmer fit, and the durability after 10 washes. This garment will stand the test of time in both style and functionality. We wished there was a companion garment for women, but if ladies size down, this should be a fit for all.
as low as $61 *
Cut & Sew Zip Hoodie – Kotis Custom
The more creative, the better
Not to toot our own horn here, but we have worked very hard to be a leader in creativity and design. Our custom hoodies are one of our favorite projects to take on with our more adventurous customers. If you have 2-3 months from concept to wear, and a minimum order of 144 units, there’s a buffet of options waiting for you. Visit our custom hoodie page to see examples of past projects and unique options to outfit your team in something truly amazing.
as low as $36 *
Looking for more hoodies? These are just our top picks, we can find whatever you need.
Additional info and FAQs
Tri-Blend
Tri-blend material is a mix of polyester, cotton, and rayon. Cotton adds breathability, poly adds durability, and rayon provides a nice drape. It’s typically more in higher end yarns than most cotton shirts.
Tri-blend fabrics are especially soft and comfy to wear. The rayon adds a smooth texture. Polyester adds strength and longevity, so tri-blend t-shirts can withstand more washes and wear than 100% cotton shirts without losing their shape or appearance. It also adds moisture wicking properties, but looses a bit of breathability compared to 100% cotton. The fabric tends to resist wrinkles better than 100% cotton, making them easier to care for. The blend also gives these shirts a slightly heathered appearance which we like.
CVC
CVC is a blend of cotton and polyester, with cotton being more than 50% (hence the name CVC: Chief Value Cotton). This blend was created to offer the best of both worlds: combining the natural comfort and breathability of cotton with the durability and wrinkle resistance of polyester.
Singles
Singles refers to the thickness of the yarn used to make up the t-shirt, and is expressed in terms of how many units of yarn are in one pound. The term comes from the spinning of the yarn, with “single” denoting a single strand of yarn before it’s twisted with others to create thicker yarns.
- Higher singles: A higher number (30s, 40s) indicates a finer yarn, which generally results in a softer, smoother, and more lightweight fabric. T-shirts made from high singles yarn are considered to be of higher quality because of their soft texture and comfortable wear. They’re particularly favored for premium or fashion-forward apparel.
- Lower singles: A lower number (18s, 20s) signifies a coarser yarn, leading to a heavier and often sturdier fabric. While these fabrics can still be comfortable, they might not have the same soft, luxurious feel as their higher singles counterparts. They are typically used for more durable, work-oriented clothing or budget-friendly apparel options.
Unisex vs Women’s styles
Most of our clients (~90%) only order the unisex style and then women order a size down (like you would with a concert tee). However, there are times when have a specific women’s style is nice to have and more fitting to your user. Almost all of our our picks have women’s equivalents (see the grid below), which was a general criteria for making it on our list.
Pigment-dyed
A pigment-dyed shirt is a garment that’s been colored using pigment dye, a type of dye that adheres to the surface of the fabric rather than fully penetrating the fibers like traditional dyes. This dyeing technique gives the t-shirt a unique, slightly faded or washed-out look that becomes more pronounced with each wash. Pigment-dyed shirts are known for their soft, comfortable feel and vintage, casual aesthetic, making them popular in fashion for their distinctive color and character.
T-shirt construction: side seam vs tubular
- Side seam: This is the most common construction method. It involves sewing panels of fabric together, including seams down the sides. This allows for a more tailored fit that follows the contours of the body.
- Tubular: A simpler method where a large tube of fabric is cut to length and sleeves and neckline are added. Because it uses less fabric and sewing, it’s cheaper to produce. However, the fit tends to be boxy and not as flattering.
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