Informational hub for wholesale performance sweatshirts: explains performance fleece versus cotton—moisture-wicking, quick-drying, UV protection, durability, color retention, and comfort. Covers hoodies, crewnecks, and quarter-zips with brand examples (Team 365, Badger, Russell Athletic, Adidas, Gildan) and value-to-premium tiers. Provides decoration guidance for sublimation, embroidery, DTG/DTF, plus sizing notes and care tips. Includes seasonal purchasing pointers, discounts, and an FAQ to resolve sizing, printing, and care questions for teams, schools, and businesses — to maximize value and reduce mistakes.
Performance sweatshirts are basic team wear and sophisticated athletic apparel both, being versatile enough to be considered a staple for sports teams, schools, fitness clubs and even corporate groups across the United States. They were at the top of the athleisure trend. You can spot one in everyone’s loungewear collection today. And they are a specialty in YouApparel’s wholesale apparel collection, coming in at very competitive wholesale prices and bulk discounts.
Our customers look to brands like
Team 365, AllPro,
Badger,
Russell Athletic, C2 Sport, and
Adidas for
performance sweatshirt options with comfort, durability, and value being top preferences. We have styles in our sweatshirts &
blank hoodies collection that can make excellent team outfits, promotional tools, or custom merchandise. And we wish to make it easier for you to find the right performance sweatshirt every time, and get maximum value on your purchases with this guide.
How Are Performance Sweatshirts Different from Regular Sweatshirts?
Unlike cotton sweatshirts, performance fabrics are engineered for active use. They wick sweat, dry quickly, and often feature additional elements that enhance their versatility for sports and outdoor activities. Buyers prefer them for a lot of reasons, including:
- Moisture management to keep wearers dry during training or physical activities
- UV protection for outdoor teams and events.
- Durability to stand up to repeated washing
- Color retention to reduce periodic replacements
- Comfort to keep wearers warm without trapping too much heat
Performance sweatshirts you will find in YouApparel are all designed to be highly customizable, making them great choices for screen printing, embroidery, or sublimation.
Popular Wholesale Performance Sweatshirt Styles
Performance sweatshirts in YouApparel cover a range of styles with price points to fit any budget. Some of our
popular heavyweight sweatshirt styles and sustainable hooded sweatshirts also come with performance characteristics. Feel free to get in touch with our Customer Support team for quick recommendations to get started.
Hooded Sweatshirts:
Our hoodie selection includes performance hooded sweatshirts from a number of brands, including blank and custom-only styles.
JERZEES 700MR Eco™ Premium Blend Hoodie: A premium offering from Jerzees that possess both performance and casualwear properties, the 700MR is a CVC (Chief Value Cotton) hoodie made of 57/43 US-grown combed ring-spun cotton and recycled polyester blend. Despite its premium quality fabrics and construction, the 700MR still comes under $20 per piece which can drop further in YouApparel during seasonal sales. A great choice if you need something very comfortable to wear outdoors. Also a great choice if you prioritize sustainable clothing.
Badger 1454 BT5 Performance Fleece Hoodie: Badger has been serving athletes with top-quality apparel for years. This mid-weight 7 oz fleece hoodie features breathable waffle-knit panels and paneled shoulders for athletic movement. Priced moderately and loaded with sports-specific details and the embroidered logo of Badger, the 1454 is built not to disappoint in any way.
Russell Athletic 693HBM Dri Power® Colorblock Raglan Hoodie: Colorblocked with raglan sleeves, the 693HBM from Russell Athletic features the brand’s Dri Power fabric technology for enhanced moisture management. It’s 50/50 cotton-polyester fabric blend means the hoodie is built for customization. Popular with schools needing bulk orders.
Crewneck Sweatshirts:
Our
crewneck sweatshirt collection has a curated selection of performance crewnecks that are typically bought by schools, local tournament organizers, and growing fitness clubs.
Gildan 12000 DryBlend™ Crewneck: Also known as G120, the Gildan 12000 DryBlend crewneck isn’t actually built to be a performance sweatshirt but classifies as one due to the DryBlend moisture management and quick-drying traits of the sweatshirt. This style is a top pick among decorators and for sports merchandising.
C2 Sport 5501B Crewneck Sweatshirt: Blend fleece for comfort at very affordable pricing, the 5501B isn’t technically a performance sweatshirt as it lacks moisture control, but more than makes up for it with stretchability and decoration-friendliness. Like many styles from C2 Sport, this style also makes great school spirit gear.
Quarter-Zip Sweatshirts:
Did you know that a lot of Americans actually don’t consider quarter-zip pullovers as sweatshirts? We would say this is somewhat valid because not all quarter-zips are sweatshirts. There are quarter-zips in our t-shirts wholesale collection also that are lightweight and feel very much like a t-shirt. But we do have performance
sweatshirts with quarter-zips.
Sierra Pacific 3351 Microfleece Quarter-Zip Pullover: 100% polyester microfleece with snag resistance, clingfree backing, convertible collar and excellent print surface.
Team 365 TT31 Performance Quarter-Zip: Lightweight pullover with UV protection and excellent moisture management. A customer-favorite for team outfitting, warm-ups and travel gear. Also comes in a women’s variant (TT31W).
Devon & Jones DG480 CrownLux Performance Quarter-Zip: An 8.7 oz polyester-spandex jersey quarter-zip, the DG480 is luxury, comfort, and performance in one. It wicks moisture and offers UV protection. A great option for swag and merchandising. Also comes in a women’s variant (DG480W).
Brand Tiers: Budget to Premium
Here’s a quick breakdown of how buyers usually choose among our wholesale performance brands:
Value-focused: AllPro, C2 Sport, and
Gildan - Perfect for schools, camps, and organizations ordering in bulk.
Mid-tier: Team 365, Russell Athletic, and Badger Sport - These brands blend mid-range pricing with athletic performance features like UV protection, moisture-management, shape retention, and quick-dry properties. There are even more mid-tier and high-end performance sweatshirt options in YouApparel, which our guide can help you with.
High-end: Adidas, tasc,
Under Armour - Peak quality construction, premium fabrics and blends and widely praised brands. These brands are preferred by universities, pro teams, and corporate organizations.
Note that almost every brand in YouApparel has their own budget-friendly and premium products. Some of these brands are entirely focused on performance apparel while others focus on comfortable clothing with performance attributes. These include a
curated selection of heavyweight sweatshirts that are getting a lot of praise from our customers. This tier structure is meant to make it easier for you to match garments to your needs without over-or under-spending.
Wholesale Sweatshirts Buying Tips at YouApparel
It pays to think about customization, functionality, and price tiers before ordering even if you are not buying from us. Some quick points:
- Order polyester styles if you need vibrant printing through sublimation
- Embroidery looks cleaner on smooth fleece (stick to 4x4 inch designs on performance fabrics)
- For team warm-ups, quarter-zips are versatile and professional-looking, while hoodies provide maximum comfort
- Women’s and youth styles usually match men’s cuts, so it’s easy to build complete apparel sets for all ages
At YouApparel, you’ll find blank apparel for all these categories with optional decorating services. If you wish to decorate sweatshirts, we offer the right kind of
sweatshirts decorator-approved for their customizability, at prices that will surprise you. We recommend tuning in during our seasonal sales for maximum value with the best deals on the most in-demand styles.
Now that Fall is around the corner, we recommend checking out our blog on Fall-ready vintage sweatshirt styles and color tones that will make a wave this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Team 365 performance hoodies different from regular hoodies?
Team 365 hoodies typically have a polyester knit fabric with moisture-wicking technology. Some styles also have UV protection and cationic dyes for superior brightness and colorfastness. They're specifically designed for athletic performance and team outfitting unlike regular hoodies that are made for casualwear.
Which customization methods work best on performance fleece hoodies?
Embroidery, screen printing with high-density ink, DTG printing, and sublimation all work really well on performance fleece. If it's 100% polyester performance fabric, sublimation also delivers excellent results.
Do performance hoodies from Badger and C2 Sport run true to size?
The feedback we received from some of our customers remark that Badger and Team 365 styles fit true-to-size. But many others also claim that the hoodies from these brands run small. We recommend checking the size chart to match your measurements.
What's the difference between Dri-FIT and performance fleece materials?
Dri-FIT refers to Nike’s moisture-wicking fabric technology. Performance fleece is a fabric type that is heavy, and typically features a brushed interior for warmth.
Can you embroider detailed logos on athletic performance hoodies?
Yes, but we recommend keeping embroidery designs under 4x4 inches and avoiding fine details. But this may not apply to all performance hoodie styles. You can check with our Customization Team for input and information.
Which brands offer the best wholesale pricing for performance athletic wear?
The pricing range ultimately comes down to the wholesale supplier or distributor. In YouApparel, most brands offering performance athletic wear come at very competitive wholesale pricing - unbeatable for a number of popular styles from leading brands. Combined with our bulk discounts and free shipping on blanks above $149, we can offer incredible value on bulk purchases of blank apparel. There is no minimum order quantity in YouApparel either.
Are sleeveless hoodies practical for team uniforms?
Yes, sleeveless hoodies provide athletic functionality for sports teams, with unrestricted arm movement. They work well for warm-weather sports and layering over base layers.
What's the best way to print on 100% polyester performance hoodies?
Sublimation printing is ideal for 100% polyester as it creates permanent, vibrant designs. DTF also works well on polyester garments.
Do performance hoodies maintain their moisture-wicking properties after customization?
Yes, when properly customized. Avoid covering large areas with non-breathable materials. DTG, sublimation, and water-based screen printing maintain fabric breathability better than heavy vinyl applications.
Which performance hoodie features are most important for sports teams?
Moisture-management, UV protection, quick drying, stretchability, pill resistance, and tear-away labels.
Can heat transfer vinyl be used on performance athletic hoodies?
Yes, HTV works well on polyester performance fabrics due to lower application temperature. Choose stretchable HTV for athletic wear to prevent cracking during movement.
Are there eco-friendly options for performance athletic hoodies?
Some brands in YouApparel offer recycled polyester performance fleece and organic cotton blends. For example, tasc and econscious are brands known for using eco-friendly materials in the fabric.
What weight class of performance fleece is best for year-round team use?
We recommend 3.5 - 5 oz performance apparel for most climates and seasons. Heavier 7-8 oz fleece provides more warmth for cold weather sports and outdoor activities.
Do Adidas performance hoodies work well for custom team branding?
Yes, Adidas hoodies (70% cotton/30% polyester blend) accept decorations well. The brand recognition adds perceived value while providing quality performance features.
Can DTF transfers handle the stretch and movement of performance hoodies?
Yes, modern DTF transfers are designed to flex with performance fabrics.
Do performance hoodies work for both indoor and outdoor sports?
Yes, moisture-wicking properties benefit both environments. UV protection features are of benefit only for outdoor sports and activities.
Are there specific care instructions for custom performance athletic hoodies?
Wash in cold water, use mild detergent, and avoid fabric softener as it may reduce moisture-wicking. We recommend drying on low heat or air drying. Turn inside-out while washing to protect custom decorations.
