Bear Grips Pro ShopsCustom Screen Printed Style Hoodies, Polos, and Tank Tops: Which Blanks Work Best
- Hoodies, polos, and tank tops are the three most-requested pieces beyond a basic tee for a custom apparel shop.
- Cotton and heavyweight fleece take bold single-color logos the way a screen printed look reads: clean and durable.
- Polos work best with a smaller left-chest logo, tanks and hoodies can carry a larger front or back design.
- All three come from the Bear Grips Pro Shops catalog with no minimum order and no setup fee.
Hoodies: Best for Bold, Single-Color Graphics
| Piece | Brand | Best for | VIP base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort Soft Hoodie | Bear Grips | Daily wear, mid-weight, soft hand feel | $36.88 |
| Unisex Champion Performance Hoodie | Champion | Heavyweight, cold-climate, longest-lasting print surface | $45.88 |
| Classic Zip-Up Hoodie | Gildan | Layering piece, back-only or left-chest design | $41.88 |
A thick fleece surface holds a bold, high-contrast logo the way a traditional screen printed look reads: crisp edges, no bleed into the fabric weave. Avoid tiny fine-line detail on hoodies, since fleece texture softens fine edges more than a smooth cotton tee does.
Polos: Left-Chest Logos for a Professional Finish
| Piece | Brand | Best for | VIP base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Performance Polo Shirt | Sport-Tek | Hot weather, customer-facing, sweat-friendly | $34.88 |
| Men's Premium Cotton Pique Polo | Gildan | Office, classic look, weekend wear | $34.88 |
| Women's Premium Cotton Pique Polo | Gildan | Same fabric, women's cut | $34.88 |
Polos read best with a small, 2-4 inch left-chest logo, not a full front graphic. A bold single or two-color mark in that placement looks closer to an embroidered, established-brand finish than a busy full-chest print does.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Tank Tops: The Warm-Weather and Gym Option
| Piece | Brand | Best for | VIP base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Performance Workout Tank | Bella+Canvas | Gym, athletic, sweat-friendly | $19.88 |
| Ladies Racerback Tank | Next Level | Women's athletic fit | $19.88 |
| Women's Premium Triblend Racerback Tank | Next Level | Softer triblend fabric, lifestyle wear | $25.88 |
| Mens Cut-Off Tank | AS Colour | Training, gym-brand casual | $24.88 |
Tanks carry both a large front graphic and a back design, since there is no sleeve to interrupt the print field. A bold chest logo plus a back callout (business name, tagline, location) is the most common working layout.
Design Tips That Work Across Hoodies, Polos, and Tanks
- Bold, single or two-color logos read the cleanest on every fabric type, closest to a classic screen-printed look.
- Fine detail and thin lines lose definition on textured fabrics like fleece hoodies. Keep those designs on smooth cotton tees instead.
- Left chest for polos and hoodies, full front or back for tanks. Match the placement to the garment.
- There is no color-count surcharge on any piece in the catalog, so a two or three-color design costs the same as a single color.
Building a Shop Around These Three Pieces
Most vendors start with one tee, add one hoodie for cold months, and round out with a polo or tank depending on the audience (polo for customer-facing businesses, tank for fitness brands). All three list in the same shop with no minimum order and no setup fee. Start building at shops.beargrips.com.
Build Your Full Product Lineup
Tees, hoodies, polos, and tanks, all no minimum, no setup fee. Start your shop today.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Are hoodies more expensive to print than tees?
The base price is higher because the blank garment costs more (hoodies run $36.88-$45.88 VIP base vs $19.88 for a basic tee), but there is no setup fee difference and no minimum order on either.
What is the best fabric for a bold screen-print-style logo?
Smooth cotton and cotton-blend surfaces (tees, polos) reproduce crisp edges the cleanest. Fleece hoodies also hold bold graphics well but soften very fine detail.
Can I print on both sides of a tank top?
Yes. Front and back printing is available at no extra setup fee, which works well on tanks since there is no sleeve interrupting either print area.
Do polos and tanks come in women's sizing?
Yes. The catalog includes women's-specific cuts for both polos (Gildan premium cotton pique) and tanks (Next Level racerback and premium triblend racerback).
