What Are Hammer Tees? Comparing the Gildan Hammer and Carhartt CTK87
By: ShirtsBargain Posted on: Feb 23, 2026Generally, “heavyweight” in the landscape of blank t-shirts wholesale is considered boxy, rough t-shirts that suit the requirements of a construction site. Or at least it used to be. People are more aware now, and heavyweight t-shirts are common today in both workwear and streetwear. If you are all too familiar with heavy t-shirts, you might’ve heard about “Hammer Tees” thrown around in print shops or on Reddit threads.
What are Hammer t-shirts? A brand? A style? Or a specific kind of fabric?
This blog will help you understand them better. But to clear things up, the Hammer tee is a specific t-shirt in the wholesale apparel market that kind of changed the game for budget-friendly streetwear. The t-shirt is part of the Hammer line from Gildan - designed to bridge the gap between standard promotional shirts and premium, heavy work t-shirts. This raised a comparison between the Gildan Hammer tee and Carhartt’s own iconic heavyweight t-shirt the CTK87.
If you are a screen printer, a brand owner, or just someone looking for a shirt that won't fall apart after three washes, understanding the difference between these two styles could really make a difference in your bottom line.
What Exactly is a "Hammer" Tee?
As we mentioned earlier, "Hammer" is not a generic industry term for heavy shirts; it is a specific trademark of Gildan.
The Gildan Hammer™ line is their answer to the demand for a 6.0 oz, super soft, ring-spun cotton t-shirt. Before this, if you wanted a heavy shirt, you bought the Gildan Ultra Cotton (G200), which is sturdy but feels a bit rough and open. If you wanted soft, you bought the Softstyle (G640), but it was too light for some tastes. The Hammer sits right in between, offering a good balance. It combines the heft of a work shirt with the smooth, tight-knit surface of a fashion tee.
This makes it a solid choice for modern streetwear brands. It feels expensive and retail-ready, but it typically costs a fraction of the price of heritage workwear brands.
The Challenger: Gildan Hammer (H000)
Weight: 6.0 oz/sq yd (203 gsm)
- Fabric: 100% Ring-Spun Cotton
- Fit: Modern Classic (slightly slimmer than a boxy work shirt)
- Label: High-Performance Tear-away (crucial for rebranding)
Can you print on the Gildan Hammer tee?
Absolutely. The biggest advantage of the Gildan Hammer is its high-stitch density fabric giving it a superb print surface. Because it uses ring-spun cotton rather than open-end cotton found in standard heavy tees, the face is incredibly smooth.
For printers, this is very much desirable.
- Screen Printing: Plastisol inks sit smoothly on top without needing excessive pressure to mash them into the fibers.
- DTG (Direct-to-Garment): The tight weave holds pretreatment solution evenly, resulting in crisp, vibrant digital prints that don't look fuzzy or washed out.
- Discharge Printing: We haven’t tested it ourselves but received feedback that the cotton reacts beautifully to discharge inks, leaving you with a soft print.
We recommend using the Gildan Hammer tee for band merch, streetwear drops, and promotions. It feels like a $30 shirt but keeps your production costs low enough to maintain healthy margins. If you want pockets on the tee, go for the Gildan Hammer H300 Pocket T-shirt.
The Legend: Carhartt Workwear Pocket Tee (K87)
- Weight: 6.75 oz/sq yd (229 gsm)
- Fabric: 100% Cotton Jersey Knit (Solids) / Cotton-Poly Blends (Heathers)
- Fit: Original Loose Fit (Large and boxy)
- Label: Tagless neck label (printed on)
What makes the Carhartt CTK87 (or K87) special?
The Carhartt K87 is built to be a tool, and a durable one at that. At nearly 7 ounces, it is heavier than the Hammer. The fabric is a dense, open-end jersey knit. It feels thicker and coarser to the touch, which many tradespeople prefer because it feels like armor against drywall dust, wood splinters, and abrasion.
Can you print on a Carhartt K87? Absolutely. But it has limitations.
- Texture: The coarser surface means fine-detail artwork might get lost in the grain of the fabric.
- The Pocket: The signature left-chest pocket kills any chance of a standard center-chest print but it does have the Carhartt label sewn on it. You are limited to pocket prints, back prints, or sleeve hits.
- Cost: The wholesale cost of a K87 is over five times that of a Gildan Hammer. If you are printing 500 shirts for a giveaway, the K87 will destroy your budget.
Carhartt did not make this tee for any other purpose other than as a work t-shirt. Not a lot of heavyweight t-shirts can beat the K87 when it comes to wearing it at physically-demanding workplaces.
We recommend using the K87 for construction crews, landscaping teams, and corporate gifts where brand recognition matters more than a complex graphic.
Head-to-Head Comparison: The "Hammer" vs. The CTK87
|
Feature |
Gildan Hammer (H000) |
Carhartt CTK87 |
|
Weight |
6.0 oz (Heavy) |
6.75 oz (Extra Heavy) |
|
Softness |
High (Ring-spun softness) |
Low (Sturdy, coarse feel) |
|
Fit |
Modern Classic (True to size) |
Loose (Runs 1 size large) |
|
Pocket? |
Available (H300), but rare |
Standard (Left Chest) |
|
Tag |
Tear-Away (Rebrand ready) |
Heat Sealed (Permanent) |
|
Best For |
Merch, Streetwear, DTG |
Uniforms, Manual Labor |
|
Wholesale Price Tier |
$ (Budget Friendly) |
$$$ (Premium) |
Choosing Between Hammer H000 Tee and Carhartt CTK87
It comes down to one question.
Are you selling a design, or are you equipping a worker?
Choose the Gildan Hammer if:
- You run a clothing brand. The tear-away tag allows you to screen print your own neck label, making the shirt fully yours. The ring-spun softness will get you fewer complaints about "scratchy" fabric.
- You need high-detail prints. If your design has complex halftones or you are using DTG, the smooth surface of the H000 is non-negotiable.
- You want the "Carhartt look" on a budget. The H300 (Gildan Hammer with Pocket) offers a similar visual aesthetic to the K87 but at a price point that allows you to resell it for $25 or more, and actually make a profit.
Choose the Carhartt K87 if:
- Durability is the only metric. If your guys are hauling lumber or welding, the extra 0.75 oz of fabric weight matters.
- Brand association is key. Sometimes, clients just want the "C" logo on the pocket. They are paying for the perceived value of the Carhartt name, not necessarily the printability of the shirt.
- You need "Big & Tall" sizing. Carhartt's loose fit is legendary for accommodating larger frames comfortably without clinging.
The "Hammer" is essentially a category-killer. It proves you don't need to spend a fortune to get a heavyweight, high-quality tee that takes prints really well. Get the Hammer tee from Gildan at the best wholesale prices from ShirtsBargain. And if you want it customized to perfection exactly the way you want, you can count on our decoration expertise. Request a quote from the product pages or drop your design on the Hammer tee via our free Custom Design Creator tool, and place the order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gildan Hammer tee made of?
The Gildan Hammer (H000) is made of 100% ring-spun cotton. Its tighter weave and high stitch density gives it a softer hand feel and a smooth print surface, compared to standard cotton t-shirts.
Is Gildan Hammer softer than regular Gildan?
Yes, significantly. The standard Gildan Ultra Cotton (G200) uses standard cotton, which can be soft. But the Hammer tee uses ring-spun cotton which is much softer against the skin, similar to a fashion brand tee.
Can you print on Carhartt CTK87 pocket tees?
Yes, but you have to work around the pocket. Most printers will print above the pocket or shift the design to the back. “On the Pocket” prints is not an option with the Carhartt label sewn on it. The coarser fabric of the CTK87 is better suited for bold screen prints rather than complex digital prints.
Hammer tee vs. Carhartt for uniforms?
If the uniform is for customer-facing staff (servers, event staff), go with the Gildan Hammer for comfort and sharper branding. If the uniform is for labor-intensive jobs (plumbers, electricians), the Carhartt CTK87 will survive the abuse better.
Where to buy Gildan Hammer wholesale?
You can stock up on the full Gildan Hammer line and more, including the H000 Tee, H400 Long Sleeve, and H300 Pocket Tee - right here at ShirtsBargain. We offer unbeatable wholesale pricing without MOQs. You can also use our expert decoration services to customize your choice of blank apparel at nominal costs.