Fall and winter sports directors ask the same question every year: what actually keeps a kid warm at practice without buying a whole new wardrobe. The Bear Grips catalog has a real answer, built around the handful of pieces that come in true youth sizing rather than adult small worn loose. None of it replaces a proper winter coat. It is team-branded layering for the walk from the car to the field and the practice itself.
| Piece | Brand | Best for | VIP base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth hoodie | Gildan | Warmest single layer, pre and post practice | $36.88 |
| Youth crewneck sweatshirt | Gildan | Lighter mid-layer under a coat | $33.88 |
| Youth performance long sleeve | Sport-Tek | Base layer for practice itself | $29.88 |
| Youth classic baseball hat | Valucap | Sun and wind, embroidered | $25.86 |
The pattern that works for most youth programs: Sport-Tek youth long sleeve as the base layer for the practice itself, since it moves with the kid and wicks sweat, then the Gildan youth hoodie or crewneck as a warm-up layer before and after, then the kid's own insulated winter coat over everything for the actual walk to and from the car. The team-branded pieces do the visible, photographed layer. The coat does the job it was built for.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.Set this expectation with parents at the start of the season. The catalog does not include an insulated, waterproof, or wind-shell outer coat in youth sizing. A hoodie is not a coat. Programs that are upfront about this avoid the complaint that comes in every January about a kid being cold on the sideline in team gear that was never meant to be the only layer.
An indoor winter sport, basketball or wrestling, mostly needs a warm-up hoodie for the walk in and a long sleeve for cool gym mornings, then the kids run hot enough during play that layers come off. An outdoor shoulder-season sport, soccer or football practice into late fall, gets more use out of the hat and the hoodie since the cold is constant through the full session rather than just at the start.
Order two to three weeks before the first cold practice so the gear is in hand when it is actually needed, not three weeks into shivering through warm-ups. Production runs about a week from order to door, which leaves a comfortable buffer for a normal season-start timeline.
Youth hoodie, crewneck, long sleeve, and hat, all in true youth sizing.
Start FreeNo. The catalog covers hoodies, crewnecks, long sleeves, and hats in youth sizing. There is no insulated or waterproof outer coat.
The Gildan youth hoodie at $36.88 VIP base is the warmest single layer available in true youth sizing.
Yes. It is offered with embroidery and holds a team logo well for daily outdoor wear.
For a single season, order the current measured size. For a program that runs fall through spring, consider sizing up slightly for a player mid-growth spurt.
Bear Grips Pro Shops