Athletic apparel materials must be able to withstand higher amounts of stress and strain, which means the materials used to make it need to be of a higher caliber. Which one is best? Whether you’re shopping for athletic apparel or simply curious, here are five materials to choose from.

Types of Athletic Apparel Materials

Moisture-Wicking Polyester
Moisture-wicking polyester is the best type of fabric for athletes who want the durability of high-quality team uniforms without sacrificing their own personal comfort. This material is a solid fabric that allows sweat to wick away from the skin for more efficient evaporation.

Double-Knit Polyester
Double-knit polyester is the fabric of choice for teams who require extremely durable athletic uniforms. Sports such as lacrosse, with more than 25,000 players across the nation, has this fabric in high demand when their season starts.

Mesh Polyester
Mesh polyester was the fabric of choice before moisture-wicking polyester was available for athletic apparel. The mesh fabric allows air to flow through team apparel, circulating air to the skin quickly and allowing for maximum cooling. However, this fabric isn’t as durable as the previously mentioned materials. Mesh polyester jerseys can also collect odors if you put off laundry day.

Polyester-Cotton
These fabrics are similar to 100% cotton blends, but have several added benefits. In addition to being breathable and comfortable, they are far less prone to shrinking. Not only that, but they are often more durable than plain cotton uniforms.

Air-Knit Polyester
Air-knit polyester has all but replaced double-knit polyester in sports like hockey. This fabric, unlike double-knit, has small perforations in it that allow for better airflow without sacrificing the durability that custom team uniforms often require.

While these materials are more expensive than the 1920 price of a baseball ticket, they are more than worth it for teams who require the highest-quality athletic apparel. A uniform should allow an athlete to perform without being hindered by apparel or overheating, and these materials can do just that.

Check out Online Uniform Builder HERE.

The Athletic Shop is proud to be Chattanooga’s #1 top choice for sporting goods, custom team uniforms, and corporate apparel. With over 200 apparel brands, we offer everything from jerseys, spirit wear, and sideline gear to equipment and professional workwear. Our expert services include screen printing, embroidery, and direct-to-film printing. We also provide online apparel shops for spirit wear and fundraising, along with in-house design support. With fast turnaround times and unbeatable customer service, The Athletic Shop delivers quality team and corporate apparel and convenience every time.

Read our testimonial: “The University of West Georgia Athletics department has worked with The Athletic Shop for a few years. We have received the best customer service we could have asked for and developed a fantastic relationship with them. My rep, Christel, has worked directly with soccer and has always provided the time, attention and support with what we have needed. We are very appreciative of Christel and all that she has done for our program and we look forward to keeping this wonderful relationship going.” – Head Women’s Soccer Coach, University of West Georgia