Shop
  • Deals
  • Deal checker
  • Black Friday
  • Buying guides
  • Brands
  • Stores
Travel
  • Flight deals
  • Hotel deals
Company
  • Research
  • Press
  • deal.ai apps
Black Friday 2026
  • Walmart
  • Best Buy
  • Target
  • TVs
  • Laptops
  • Headphones
  • Apple
  • Gaming
  • Vacuums
  • Kitchen
  • Toys
  • Smartwatches
  • Tablets
  • Furniture
  • Mattresses
© Deal.ai Inc.
TermsPrivacy
Deal.ai › Compare

Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Hoodie vs Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie

Buy the Independent SS4500 if you want a softer, heavier-feeling hoodie with a cotton face that takes screen print and embroidery well and comes in a wide size run down to XS. Buy the Gildan 18500 if you need a proven, consistent blank for bulk decoration, DTG or heat transfer, with a double-lined hood and a huge color catalog. Reviewers rate both highly; the SS4500 leans streetwear-soft, the 18500 leans workhorse-durable.

  • Choose the Independent Trading Co. SS4500 if you want a midweight ring-spun cotton-face hoodie that feels softer and prints like a retail streetwear piece.
  • Choose the Gildan 18500 if you want a reliable, widely stocked blank that holds shape and print through washing and reorders the same every run.

Prices

  • Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Hoodie: $11.38 at Cheapest Clothing (checked today)
  • Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie: $10.94 at BulkApparel.com (checked today)
  • Difference: the Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie is $0.44 cheaper than the Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Hoodie today
Independent Trading Co.
Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Midweight Hooded Sweatshirt

Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Hoodie

Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Midweight Hooded Sweatshirt

4.9(13 ratings)
$11.38at Cheapest ClothingChecked 7 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Cheapest Clothing
Pros
  • Soft ring-spun cotton face
  • Heavier 8.5 oz hand feel
  • Split-stitch seams and twill neck tape
  • XS–5XL sizing
  • 45 colors
Cons
  • Blend varies by color, so hand feel differs
  • Fewer owner ratings to draw on
  • Jersey-lined hood is less structured than a double-lined one
Gildan
Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hooded Sweatshirt

Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie

Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hooded Sweatshirt

4.9(374 ratings)
$10.94at BulkApparel.comChecked 7 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit BulkApparel.com
Pros
  • Long, consistent reorder record
  • Double-lined hood with matching drawcord
  • About 54 colors
  • Low pilling face yarn
  • Widely available blank
Cons
  • Lighter 8 oz and 50/50 blend
  • Poly content complicates screen printing
  • No XS

What separates them

Independent Trading Co. SS4500 HoodieGildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie
Fabric weight8.5 oz./yd² midweight fleece8 oz./yd² Heavy Blend fleece
Fiber blend80/20 ring-spun cotton/poly with 100% cotton face (varies by color)50/50 cotton/poly (heathers about 60/40)
HoodJersey-lined hood with metal eyeletsDouble-lined hood with color-matched drawcord
Seam constructionSplit-stitch double-needle on all seams, twill neck tapeStandard construction, 1x1 rib with spandex at cuffs and waist
Size rangeXS through 5XLS through 5XL
Color range45 in-stock colorsAbout 54 colors in the full range
Decoration fitCotton face suits screen print and embroidery; tear-away labelStable for embroidery; poly content needs low-bleed ink or underbase for screen print
Track record13 ratings, 4.9 average374 ratings, 4.9 average

Price history

  • Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Hoodie: lowest $15.94 on Nov 10 at Amazon.
  • Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie: lowest $9.89 on Nov 10 at Joe's USA.

Prices at every store

Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Hoodie

  • Cheapest ClothingNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $11.38Checked 7 h ago
    Visit Cheapest Clothing
  • ApparelMaxNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $11.72Checked 7 h ago
    Visit ApparelMax
  • Joe's USANew

    In stockReturn policy

    $11.89Checked 7 h ago
    Visit Joe's USA
  • CheapTshirtUSANew

    In stockReturn policy

    $12.67Checked 7 h ago
    Visit CheapTshirtUSA
All 14 stores and price history →

Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie

  • BulkApparel.comNew

    In stock

    $10.94Checked 7 h ago
    Visit BulkApparel.com
  • Aviva WholesaleNew

    In stock

    $10.75+ $7.90 shippingChecked 7 h ago
    Visit Aviva Wholesale
  • Joe's USANew

    In stock

    $9.89+ $9.75 shippingChecked 7 h ago
    Visit Joe's USA
  • dtfdallas.comNew

    In stock

    $10.70+ $9.95 shippingChecked 7 h ago
    Visit dtfdallas.com

Also available at

  • Joe's USACheck price at Joe's USA
All 12 stores and price history →

What reviewers say

Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Hoodie

  • 4.9 / 513 ratings

Buyers rate it highly and mostly praise the soft, durable fleece and how well it takes prints and embroidery. The wide color range and inclusive sizing come up often as reasons to reorder.

What people mention
  • Fleece qualityPraisedBuyers describe the 8.5 oz. fleece as soft yet durable and holding up over time.
  • Decoration surfacePraisedPrinters and embroiderers say the cotton face takes graphics and logos cleanly.
  • Color rangePraisedOwners like the 45-color lineup and the extended XS–5XL size run.
  • FitMixedThe classic cut is roomy and boxy, which some wearers find less flattering.

Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hoodie

  • 4.9 / 5374 ratings

Buyers rate it highly and describe it as a reliable, true-to-size blank that prints cleanly and holds shape, color and print through washing. Repeat orders for the same job come back consistent.

What people mention
  • Print qualityPraisedBuyers say it takes screen print, DTG and embroidery cleanly.
  • FitPraisedOwners report it fits true to size in the classic unisex cut.
  • ConsistencyPraisedRepeat buyers say reorders match earlier runs in color and cut.
  • Wash durabilityPraised

Questions and answers

Which is better for screen printing?
The SS4500's 100% cotton face takes plastisol cleanly with less bleed risk. The 18500 prints well too but its polyester content calls for low-bleed ink or a poly-blocking underbase.
Which feels softer?
The SS4500, thanks to ring-spun cotton and a cotton face. The 18500 is a 50/50 blend and feels a bit crisper and more uniform.
Which lasts longer?
Both hold up well. Owners report the 18500 keeps its shape, color and print through repeated washing; the SS4500's heavier fleece resists thinning but its softer face can pill sooner.
Is the SS4500 worth stepping up to over the 18500?
Yes if you want a softer, more premium hand feel and XS sizing for retail-style pieces. No if you need the cheapest reliable bulk blank with the longest reorder history.
Which has more colors?
The Gildan 18500, at about 54 colors versus 45 for the SS4500. The SS4500's colors include earth tones and heathers with different blends.
Which is better for embroidery?
Both hoop well. The SS4500's heavier fleece gives a fuller stitch-out; the 18500 is stable and predictable for repeat logo jobs.

Ask our shopping agent

It checks today's price at every store, compares the alternatives and answers in about a minute.

Enter to send, Shift+Enter for a new line

More comparisons

  • Independent Trading IND4000 Heavyweight Hooded Sweatshirt vs Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Midweight Hooded Sweatshirt
  • Independent Trading IND4000 Heavyweight Hooded Sweatshirt vs Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hooded Sweatshirt
  • Independent Trading Co. SS4500 Midweight Hooded Sweatshirt vs Comfort Colors 1567 Heavyweight Garment-Dyed Hoodie
  • Gildan 18500 Heavy Blend Hooded Sweatshirt vs Comfort Colors 1567 Heavyweight Garment-Dyed Hoodie

Buying guides that pick them

  • Best wholesale bulk lots of blank hoodies and sweatshirts
Reviewers say shape, color and print survive repeated washing.