Gildan 18500 vs Independent SS4500: Which Bulk Hoodie Is Worth It?
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Short answer: pick the Gildan 18500 when the budget is the main thing, like a big giveaway or an event where hoodies get handed out. Pick the Independent Trading Co. SS4500 when people are going to wear it and judge your brand by it. Both measure 22″ across the chest in a medium. The SS4500 costs more at wholesale but is the hoodie our customers ask for again, and it is the one we recommend for staff, crews and brand merch.
Side by Side
| Gildan 18500 | Independent SS4500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Heavy Blend, about 8 oz | 8.5 oz midweight |
| Medium chest / length | 22″ across | 22″ across / 29″ long |
| Size range | S to 5XL | XS to 5XL |
| Wholesale price | Lower | Higher, by several dollars a piece |
| Matching styles | 18000 crew, 18600 full-zip, 18500B youth | SS3000 crew, SS4500Z zip, SS4001Y youth |
| Our take | Budget workhorse | The one people keep wearing |
Full measurements: Gildan size chart and Independent Trading Co. size chart.
How They Decorate
- Screen printing. Both take plastisol and specialty inks well.
- Embroidery. Both handle a left-chest logo. Fleece needs good backing and underlay either way so the logo does not sink.
- Puff print and 3D puff. Both work. See custom puff print hoodies.
- DTF. Both are fine for full-color art and small runs.
When We Recommend Each
Gildan 18500: giveaways, one-day events, fundraisers with a tight margin, and any order where the lowest price per piece wins.
Independent SS4500: staff and crew hoodies, clothing brands, booster club stores, and anything you want people to wear for years. If you want even heavier, step up to the 10 oz Independent IND4000. Every Independent style we carry, from midweight to pigment-dyed to the Perform line, is on our Independent Trading Co. hub.
The other budget option: the Port & Company PC78H sits right next to the Gildan 18500 on price, and Port & Company is our go-to budget brand.
Ordering in Bulk
On a bulk order the blank is only part of the price. Decoration, number of print locations and quantity all move the total. See wholesale hoodies and fleece for bulk pricing, or custom hoodies in bulk for decoration options.
FAQ
Is the Independent SS4500 better than the Gildan 18500? For a hoodie people will wear often, we think so. It costs more at wholesale, but it is our customers' favorite. The Gildan 18500 is the better pick when lowest price matters most.
Do the Gildan 18500 and SS4500 fit the same? Close. A medium in both measures 22″ across the chest.
What is the cheapest hoodie for custom printing? Among the hoodies we carry, the Gildan 18500 and Port & Company PC78H are the lowest-cost picks, within pennies of each other at wholesale.
Quote Bulk Hoodies
Tell us the hoodie, colors, quantity and your art. Request a quote or call 775-230-0211. We ship anywhere in the U.S.