Next Level Apparel vs Bella+Canvas: which sweatpant wins?
Both land in the budget tier — the Next Level Apparel Santa Cruz Fleece Jogger at $26, the Bella+Canvas Sponge Fleece Jogger at $28, just $2 apart. Here's how they stack up, head to head.
| Next Level Apparel | Bella+Canvas | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $26 | $28 |
| Material | Combed cotton/polyester fleece, ~9oz, brushed interior. | Cotton/polyester sponge fleece, ~8.8oz, smooth brushed interior. |
| Fit | Tapered jogger fit with elastic cuffs, true to size. | Tapered jogger fit with elastic cuffs, true to size. |
| Quality | Budget-plus — soft, even fleece and clean stitching; mid-weight not heavy. | Budget-plus — soft and even, holds a print well; mid-weight rather than heavy. |
| Best for | Soft tapered loungewear, custom printing, and everyday value wear. | Soft tapered loungewear, custom printing, and value-minded everyday wear. |
| Care | Wash cold inside-out and tumble low to protect print and the soft hand. | Wash cold inside-out and tumble low to protect any print and the soft hand. |
Next Level's Santa Cruz ($26) and Bella+Canvas's Sponge Fleece ($28) are close blank-jogger rivals. The $2 gap is mostly fabric character: Santa Cruz runs a heavier ~9oz combed cotton/poly, while Bella+Canvas uses a smoother ~8.8oz sponge fleece prized for taking prints cleanly.
$2 cheaper, heavier ~9oz fleece, combed-cotton hand, clean stitching
smooth sponge-fleece interior, clean print surface, even soft hand, strong wholesale value
Which should you buy?
These are close enough that you can pick on feel. Buy the Santa Cruz to save $2 and get a slightly heavier, combed-cotton fleece with a substantial hand. Step up to Bella+Canvas if you're printing on it and want the smoothest, most even surface, or if you prefer the silkier sponge-fleece interior. Both are budget-plus blanks that sit clearly above basics, so neither is a wrong answer; let weight versus print-smoothness break the tie.
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