Gildan vs Fruit of the Loom: which hoodie wins?
Both land in the budget tier — the Gildan Heavy Blend Hooded Sweatshirt at $16, the Fruit of the Loom Eversoft Fleece Hoodie at $18, just $2 apart. Here's how they stack up, head to head.
| Gildan | Fruit of the Loom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $16 | $18 |
| Material | 50/50 cotton/polyester fleece, ~8oz. | Cotton/polyester Eversoft fleece, ~8oz, brushed interior. |
| Fit | Boxy and roomy, runs large; shrinks toward true after a hot wash. | Roomy everyday fit, runs large; shrinks slightly toward true in a hot dryer. |
| Quality | Functional blank quality — warm and opaque, but the fleece pills and the cuffs lose stretch over time. | Budget — soft and warm new, but the light fleece pills and the cuffs lose stretch over time. |
| Best for | Layering, around-the-house warmth, printing on, and a hoodie you won't baby. | Cheap everyday warmth, layering, and a hoodie you will not baby. |
| Care | Wash cold and tumble low to limit the shrink and pilling the blend is prone to. | Wash cold and tumble low to limit the pilling and shrink the blend is prone to. |
Two disposable fleece hoodies two dollars apart: Gildan Heavy Blend at $16, Fruit of the Loom Eversoft at $18. Both are ~8oz cotton/poly fleece that run large, shrink toward true in the wash, pill over time, and lose cuff stretch. The Eversoft's edge is a brushed, softer interior; the Gildan's is being two bucks cheaper and a touch boxier. Neither is built to last, and both owners know it.
$2 cheaper, warm and opaque, boxy roomy cut, fine for printing
Softer brushed interior, soft and warm new, roomy everyday fit, slightly nicer hand
Which should you buy?
Grab the Gildan at $16 if you're printing on it, layering it, or just want the cheapest warm fleece you won't baby; opacity and warmth are there and the $2 saved adds up across a batch. Spend the extra $2 on the Eversoft if you'll wear it next to skin and want the brushed, softer feel out of the box. Both pill and lose their cuffs on the same timeline, so don't expect either to last. For blanks or print jobs, Gildan; for a slightly nicer everyday throw-on, Eversoft.
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