A few years ago, if you weren’t getting a custom T-shirt, you were probably ordering a custom hoodie. Schools wanted them for spirit wear, teams wanted them for travel days, and companies liked that people would actually wear them outside of work.
But things have changed a bit in recent years.
More schools, businesses, and event organizers have started leaning back toward crewnecks — partly because they’re more affordable, but also because they’re easier to wear, print, and live with long term (for example, think of how much more room hoodies take up in a suitcase). Hoodies are still extremely popular and make sense for plenty of orders, but they don’t completely dwarf crewnecks like they used to.
The right choice between the two typically comes down to who’s wearing them, how they’ll be used, and how important things like budget, print space, and overall comfort are to the order.
At a Glance
| Crewneck Sweatshirts | Hoodies | |
| Cost | Usually more affordable | Usually more expensive |
| Comfort | Cleaner, lighter feel around the neck | Warmer and more casual |
| Print Space | Easier for large designs (front and back) | Front pocket and hood create some limitations |
| Fit & Wearability | Easier to layer and style | Relaxed and oversized feel |
| Durability | Fewer moving parts | Drawstrings and pockets wear differently over time |
| Best For | Schools, staff apparel, spirit wear, and businesses | Youth groups, outdoor events, and casual merch |
How Crewnecks and Hoodies Wear Differently
Crewnecks are simpler in many ways. There’s no hood pulling at the back, no drawstrings, and nothing bunching up under jackets. They layer more easily and tend to feel less bulky throughout the day, especially indoors.
For schools and businesses especially, crewnecks tend to be popular (and increasingly so) because they’re easier to throw on in different settings. Someone can wear one over a collared shirt, under a jacket, or tied around their waist without it feeling overly casual.
Of course, hoodies still win on comfort for a lot of people. The extra lining and hood add warmth, the pocket is useful, and younger groups especially still gravitate toward the style naturally. For outdoor events, colder weather, or more casual merch drops, hoodies still have a strong place.
That said, the hood changes the experience. Long hair gets caught in it constantly unless it’s tied up, it can often be too warm for even temperate weather, and the drawstrings always end up tangled in the wash or disappear entirely after a few months.
Why Crewnecks Have Become More Popular Again
Besides matters of fit and comfort, hoodies have received most of the attention for years because they felt trendier and more relaxed. That hasn’t changed, but what has changed is an overall attitude shift toward the practical.
A heavier crewneck has a cleaner, more intentional look that works across more age groups. Schools like them because they feel easier to standardize for spirit wear and staff apparel. Businesses like them because they don’t immediately feel like gym clothes.
Meanwhile, a hoodie with stretched drawstrings or a worn-out pocket starts looking tired faster. Crewnecks avoid a lot of that simply because there’s less going on structurally.
We’ve also seen more organizations lean into slightly heavier or garment-dyed crewnecks lately because they feel more premium without dramatically increasing cost. Styles like the Comfort Colors 1566 have become popular for spirit wear and alumni-style apparel because they have that broken-in feel people tend to keep wearing long after the event is over.
Where Hoodies Still Win
Hoodies still dominate in certain situations and likely always will.
For example, youth-focused groups almost always lean toward a hoodie. Sports teams, clubs, and student organizations tend to like the oversized, casual feel, and hoodies are tremendous when the weather turns against you. If someone is buying apparel they want to lounge in, travel in, or wear constantly during colder months, a hoodie usually feels like the safer bet.
The pocket matters too. For some people, that front pouch is part of the appeal. It makes hoodies feel more relaxed and functional in a way crewnecks don’t.
Printing Differences That Matter on Large Orders
Hoodies tend to create more variables than crewnecks. The pocket limits front print height, especially on smaller sizes. A design that fits comfortably on an XL hoodie might feel cramped on a Small because the usable print area changes so much between sizes. That often means adjusting artwork sizing throughout production to keep everything looking proportional across the order.
The hood can also interfere with back prints more than people expect. Large back designs can end up partially hidden once the hood is down, which affects visibility for logos, event graphics, and sponsor designs. You could just print the design lower, but that tends to look strange once you actually put the shirt on.
Meanwhile, crewnecks are easier to print consistently, especially on larger orders with mixed sizing. You get a cleaner front print area because there’s no pocket breaking up the design space. Back prints are cleaner too because there’s no hood that will cover part of the artwork.
Hoodies can still look great printed, of course, especially with simpler designs. The extra planning mostly shows up when the artwork gets larger, more detailed, or needs to scale cleanly across a full-size run.
It’s also worth noting that heavier fleece hoodies also hold embroidery particularly well. For company merch or premium retail-style apparel, styles like the Independent Trading Co. SS4500 or the Bella + Canvas Sponge Fleece line tend to feel noticeably softer and more substantial than budget hoodies. They just come with more production considerations.
What We’d Choose for Different Groups
The decision between crewneck and hoodie tends to come down to how the apparel will actually be worn once the order is delivered.
When crewnecks usually make more sense:
- School spirit wear and staff apparel
- Corporate teams and company merch
- Fundraisers with tighter budgets
- Orders with large front or back prints
- Groups that want a cleaner, easier-to-layer look
When hoodies usually work better:
- Youth-focused groups and student organizations
- Outdoor events and colder weather
- Casual merch people will lounge or travel in
- Premium fleece orders where softness is the priority
- Smaller or simpler print designs
There’s no wrong answer here, so carefully evaluate who will be wearing it and what kind of print visibility you want; that will pretty much make your decision for you.