Ultimate Frisbee Apparel Brand and Vendor Comparison

Ultimate frisbee apparel splits into two categories with different vendors serving each. Sublimated jersey vendors (Five Ultimate, Savage Ultimate, VC Ultimate, Spinkix) make all-over reversible competition jerseys through cut-and-sew construction. Print-on-blank apparel platforms (Bear Grips Pro Shops and similar) make practice tees, hoodies, crewnecks, hats, and team gear with print or embroidery on pre-manufactured blanks. Most clubs use both, pairing a jersey vendor with a print-on-blank platform for full apparel coverage.

Sublimated Jersey Vendors

The major ultimate frisbee jersey vendors:

• Five Ultimate. One of the established ultimate-specific apparel vendors. Sublimated jerseys, shorts, and team apparel.
• Savage Ultimate. Long-running ultimate jersey vendor. Cut-and-sew sublimated jerseys with custom team designs.
• VC Ultimate. Sublimated team apparel vendor. Jerseys and matching team gear.
• Spinkix. Sublimated ultimate apparel vendor.

These vendors handle the all-over sublimated reversible jersey that ultimate competition requires. Lead times typically run 6-10+ weeks. Pricing per jersey typically $40-$80 depending on customization. Most clubs use one of these for game-day jerseys.

Print-on-Blank Apparel Platforms

Print-on-blank platforms handle everything that is not a sublimated jersey:

• Bear Grips Pro Shops. No-minimum club shop platform. Custom print on tees, hoodies, crewnecks, hats, sweatpants. Club sets retail and earns margin.
• Custom Ink. Bulk-order print platform. Tiered pricing favors 12+ piece orders.
• Bonfire and similar. Campaign-style print platforms for fundraising shirts.
• Local screen printers. City-by-city local print shops with varying minimum and turnaround structures.

For a club's full apparel program (practice tees, hoodies, alumni gear, tournament keepsakes, league shirts), one of these platforms is the right tool.

Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.

Pairing Jersey and Apparel Vendors

The standard ultimate club apparel program uses both vendor categories:

1. Choose a jersey vendor for competition jerseys. Five Ultimate, Savage Ultimate, VC Ultimate, or Spinkix. Order 6-10+ weeks before the season starts.
2. Set up a print-on-blank apparel platform for everything else. Bear Grips Pro Shops fits this role with no minimums, gym-owned design library, and club revenue model.
3. Run both in parallel across the season. Sublimated jerseys for game day. Everything else through the apparel platform.

Why Most Clubs Use Bear Grips Plus a Jersey Vendor

The Bear Grips Pro Shops model fits ultimate club non-jersey apparel because:

• No minimum. Ultimate teams of 7-30 players work natively in the no-minimum model.
• Always-on shop. Practice tees, alumni gear, and tournament apparel can launch any time without bulk-order coordination.
• Per-player ordering. Players order directly. The captain does not coordinate sizes or distribute boxes.
• Club revenue. The club sets retail and keeps the margin between the VIP base and retail.
• Fast turnaround. One week per order, fitting the tight timelines of in-season tournament apparel launches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which ultimate frisbee jersey vendor is best?

It depends on club preference. Five Ultimate, Savage Ultimate, VC Ultimate, and Spinkix are all established ultimate jersey vendors. The right choice depends on club's design vision, pricing tolerance, and prior vendor experience.

Can Bear Grips replace a sublimated jersey vendor?

No. Bear Grips makes print-on-blank apparel (tees, hoodies, crewnecks, hats) but not all-over sublimated reversible jerseys. The two vendor categories serve different scopes. Most clubs use both.

What apparel does Bear Grips make for ultimate frisbee clubs?

Practice tees, travel and spirit hoodies, tournament apparel, league night shirts, alumni and reunion gear, senior class keepsakes, embroidered team hats, coach and captain apparel, sweatpants. Everything except competition jerseys.

How do most college ultimate clubs structure their apparel program?

Most college clubs use a sublimated jersey vendor (Five Ultimate, Savage Ultimate, VC Ultimate) for game-day jerseys and a print-on-blank platform (Bear Grips Pro Shops) for everything else. Run both in parallel across the season.