Hoodie Battle: Independent Trading Midweight vs Gildan Softstyle

Jessica Milan -

Sometimes, it’s just hard to settle on a hoodie and pick the one that looks and feels the best. That’s why we decided to put under the spotlight two of our more popular products and make a comparison.

Behold the contestants: the Independent Trading Midweight Pullover Hoodie and Gildan Softstyle Hoodie.

Think of it as an ultimate showdown where we’ll go into the ins and outs in terms of material, comfort, printing needs, and more.

Independent Trading Midweight Pullover Hoodie

This is a premium hooded sweatshirt boasting heathered hues, comfortable materials, and a contemporary fit. Its fleece interior is exceptionally soft and complemented by a t-shirt-style material lining.

The Independent Trading Midweight Pullover Hoodie offers a modern look with room for layering, making it ideal for individual or group customization. In short - it’s a versatile sweatshirt that is enjoyable to wear.

The hoodie is made out of 80% ringspun cotton and 20% polyester, and is available in S, M, L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL sizes. 

For your custom hoodie needs, it’s available in 6 colors for digital printing, and 41 colors for screen printing.

Do note that certain colors are made from a different cotton-polyester ratio.

Here’s a quick rundown of features:

  • 8.5 oz, 80% ringspun cotton, 20% polyester blend fleece with 100% cotton face
  • Dyed-to-match drawcord with metal eyelets
  • Jersey-lined hood
  • Twill neck tape
  • Ribbed cuffs and waistband
  • Front pouch pocket
  • Tear-away label
  • Slightly fitted

For a more detailed look, check out our video review:

Gildan Softstyle Hoodie

We have several Gildan products that are frequently used for custom t-shirts or custom hoodies, and this one is no exception.

It is an ideal year-round sweatshirt, renowned for its comfort and affordability. It’s crafted from high-quality ringspun cotton, resulting in a softer, smoother exterior and an exceptionally comfortable fleece interior. The standard fit and slightly dropped shoulders make it great for layering, while the 8.4 oz fabric suits various seasons.

The Gildan Softstyle Hoodie’s fabric is made out of 80% ringspun cotton and 20% polyester, and it comes in S, M, L, XL, 2XL, and 3XL sizes.

If you opt for it to make your own hoodie, do note that it's available in 6 colors for digital printing, just like the Midweight Hoodie. When it comes to screen printing, its color choice is slightly smaller - 33 colors, compared to the Midweight Hoodie’s 41.

Similar to the Midweight Hoodie, it’s worth noting that certain colors are made from a different cotton-polyester ratio.

A quick highlight of the hoodie’s features:

  • 8.4 oz, 80% ringspun cotton, 20% polyester with 100% ringspun cotton face
  • Flat drawcords
  • Sewn eyelets
  • Jersey-lined hood
  • Dropped shoulder
  • Rib-knit sleeve cuffs and hem band
  • Tear-away label
  • Standard fit

For more in-depth information, take a gander at our video review:

Which one to choose?

This will largely come to personal preference, as quite frankly both hoodies are quality products and rather comfy. The Midweight Hoodie is a bit more expensive, depending on the color (we’re talking a few bucks on average). 

Probably the main difference is that the Softstyle Hoodie is made out of a slightly lighter weight material and has a standard fit, while the Midweight Hoodie is a bit heavier in comparison and is slightly fitted. Both result in a comfy hoodie, it's just that the Midweight hoodie has a bit more of a premium feel.

To customize your own hoodies, either of these two will do the job. The Midweight Hoodie does have more colors, so if you really like those extra color options, that might make a difference to you. Otherwise, pick what you think looks better. Either way, you’ll end up with a great hoodie.