Picking the perfect tee shirt

There are SO many different tee shirt options out there. It may seem a bit overwhelming to navigate through all the choices… but no need to worry because the BBP team is here to help! I’ll be mentioning some of our bestselling unisex tee shirts and will be breaking them down in a few different categories that will hopefully make things a bit easier in picking the right tee shirt for your needs. Even if you have an all time favorite color, type, or brand of shirt we always recommend considering a couple of things 1) the type of setting the shirt will be worn in and 2) who will be wearing the shirt. It’s good practice to take a step back and think about the apparel as either, the individual that will be wearing the shirt the most frequently or the potential buyer.

If you’ll mainly be selling the tees in a retail setting, we typically recommend neutral colors. If you’re purchasing for your staff to wear at an event or an employee uniform, we normally recommend sticking with your branding colors. But that isn’t always the right move. For example, if outfitting a construction crew, a color that is high visibility would be a safer option than defaulting to a brand color. Although color is an important factor in determining the right tee for your needs, I’ll mainly be talking about the different tee shirt weights and the industries they are commonly used in.

Lightweight tees are the perfect summer shirt since they are a more breathable option. They are also softer, thinner, and more flexible. That being said, sometimes their fabric can appear a bit more transparent. They tend to dry quicker when worn in the rain but can be more prone to shrinkage and tend to wrinkle more easily. Our number one seller for the past few years has been the Next Level 6210 since it’s a great price point and it’s super comfortable. I personally prefer lighter weight tee shirts year round because I run warm and since I live in Colorado I tend to just layer up. We sell more lightweight tees than both mid weight and heavy weight tees combined!

Weight: Typically, around 4.5oz and under

Industries: Retail environments, Hospitality, Tech, Sports & Fitness

Medium or Mid weight tees are a good option for fall or spring. Depending on the demographic, this option may be the best of both worlds because they tend to hold up better to harsher settings but aren’t so thick they are uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. Mid weight tees can provide more protection from the wind and are less transparent than a lightweight tees. A classic example of a medium weight tee is the Gildan 5000, but that’s not one of our top sellers. Reason being is the Gildan 5000 fits and feels like a giveaway shirt. It has a very boxy look when worn and is pretty rough to the touch. We completely understand needing a budget friendly option but ultimately our goal is for the tees to be worn as much as possible, that way your logo or message is getting seen more frequently. Also picking a tee shirt that is a bit higher in quality will keeps the shirt out of the donation pile or even worse a landfill.

Weight: Range from 5oz to 6oz

Industries: Education, Nonprofits & Charities

Heavy weight tees are made of thicker fabric and tend to keep you a bit warmer when the temperature drops. Over the past couple of years, we’ve had more people requesting a heavier tee shirt and it also seems like more brands that are doing streetwear have been pushing the the heavier weight tees as well. Heavy weight tees are thicker, more durable, and tend to hold up better over time. Most heavy weight tees aren’t as form fitting and can be a bit on the boxy side when worn. We often suggest this style to industries that work outside during cooler months or need a more rugged tee to withstand harsher environments.

Weight: Typically, around 6oz and up.

Popular Styles: Hanes Beefy Tee 5180, AS Colour 5026 Classic Tee, Champion Heritage Jersey T-Shirt T105

Industries: Manufacturing, Painting, Roofing, & Farming.

Hopefully this information provided some insight on how to pick the right shirt. There is really no right or wrong choice here. It ultimately just depends on what tee shirt will best serve your needs, your crew’s needs, or your demographics needs. If your still overwhelmed… no need to worry! You can reach out to us, and we can help guide you in the right direction and help you throughout the ordering process.