What are the Different Types of Jackets: Features and Usages?

By: ShirtsBargain Posted on: Dec 15, 2025

When buying blank jackets wholesale for corporate uniforms or decoration projects, a one-size-fits-all option obviously won’t cut it. Going for a popular option in the market might not be the best idea either. Your choice of jackets not only represents your brand but also shapes the comfort of the wearer - whether at worksite or when participating in outdoor training sessions with the team.

The fabric, construction, and customizability of the jacket should be your top considerations. A few brands like Port Authority, and Sport-Tek got it right without compromising on budget-friendliness. Premium styles offer more style with substance, however.

Why Understanding Jacket Types Is Important

Jackets come in various forms and shapes, serving different purposes. A windbreaker jacket looks different as it’s designed to offer more warmth - often equivalent to an insulated puffer jacket, while also offering wind resistance. Similarly a shell jacket may not be suitable as a work jacket, as the latter is designed to be more durable. Jackets may often only be suitable for specific customization techniques and can last longer for use with proper care. For decorators and brand managers, material type determines whether embroidery, screen printing, or heat transfer vinyl will deliver best results.

For teams and corporate buyers, selecting the right jacket means balancing climate protection, comfort, budget, and branding impact.

Jackets fall into four main categories:

Performance Jackets: Built for outdoor activities and weather protection
Fashion Jackets: Designed for style and casual wear
Teamwear Jackets: Optimized for group identification and durability
Workwear Jackets: Engineered for industrial environments and heavy use

This blog can help you understand how each type of jacket in our wholesale apparel selection is different.

Core Jacket Types: Construction and Performance

Softshell Jackets:

These jackets are typically made of polyester or polyester-nylon blend with stretch fibers. They are lightweight and meant to move with the body offering reasonable warmth. Top-quality soft shell jackets like the J317 from Port Authority can also resist wind and water while remaining breathable. If you are interested to learn more about why the J317 consistently remains one of our bestselling soft shell jackets, we recommend checking out our review of it.

Shop Port Authority J317 Jackets Wholesale

Best for: Athletic teams,corporate staff uniforms, corporate events
Customization note: The smooth surface excels with embroidery and heat-transfer vinyl.

Trivia: Port Authority Softshell Jackets remain an industry-standard. You can buy them in bulk from ShirtsBargain at exceptional prices in multiple colors and sizes.

Fleece Jackets:

Fleece jackets are designed to feel very soft yet warm. Brushed polyester is typically the reason behind this. The jacket is not bulky but its insulation traps body heat, making this jacket a good choice when layering for warmth.

Best for: School teams, outdoor coordinators, layering needs
Customization note: Embroidery works beautifully on fleece. We recommend avoiding large direct-to-garment prints, as its textured surface interferes with ink absorption.

Trivia: Fleece jackets like Sport-Tek’s ST238 also doubles as a performance jacket and offers excellent durability.

Windbreakers:

These jackets are typically lightweight nylon or polyester shells with water-repellent finishes. This also allows many manufacturers to design packable, affordable windbreaker jackets, like Sport-Tek’s JST66 Anorak, for travel and outdoor events. They compress easily and resist light rain.

If packability is not a preference, you can get all-season windbreakers for year-round use, like the Port Authority J717 Active Soft Shell from our collection.

Shop Port Authority J717 Jackets Wholesale

Best for: Running clubs, outdoor events, travel gear, promotional merchandise
Customization note: Screen printing and DTF transfers work best, holding prints well through multiple washes.

Shop North Face NF0A3LGT Jackets Wholesale

Trivia: High-end windbreakers, despite being shell jackets, are generally richer in features, more durable, and even come made of sustainable fabrics. For example, the Apex Barrier Shell Jacket from The North Face

Insulated Jackets:

Insulated jackets typically feature polyester or down fill that provides thermal insulation in quilted compartments. These jackets serve cold-weather teams, winter workwear, and travel scenarios. Port Authority offers durable insulated jackets, like the J902 Collective Insulated Jacket, that are relatively more affordable than styles from other brands.

Shop Port Authority J902 Jackets Wholesale

There is more to winter-defying jackets than you think, but it all begins with good insulation.

Best for: Winter sports programs, outdoor crews, event staff in harsh climates
Customization note: Chest embroidery is more commonly preferred. Quilting restricts larger placements.

Trivia: The North Face Insulated Jackets are arguably the best when it comes to stylish cold-weather basics for outerwear retailers.

Rain Jackets and Waterproof Shells:

Rain jackets typically feature a multi-layered construction with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating, sealed seams, and waterproof membranes to deliver protection against heavy rainfall. These shells represent serious weather gear. Our best offerings come from Port Authority and Sport-Tek in this department.

Best for: Coaches, outdoor event coordinators, construction supervisors
Customization note: Patches are safer to decorate rain jackets.

Trivia: Embroidery needle holes can compromise waterproofing on unsealed shells.

Bomber Jackets:

Bomber jackets are jackets with a classic waist-length construction with ribbed cuffs and hems offering military heritage and modern street style. Bombers work in nylon, polyester, or faux leather for fashion-forward teams and merchandise. Stretchy, wind-resistant bomber jackets like the Port Authority J337 Soft Shell Bomber are built to be durable and customizable with high quality materials, yet still don’t cost above $30 in ShirtsBargain.

Shop Port Authority J337 Jackets Wholesale

Best for: Casual team uniforms, boutique resale, event merchandise
Customization note: Embroidery, patches, DTF, and satin appliqué perform well on bomber construction.

Trivia: Bomber jackets are descendants of flight jackets which were designed to be short, stopping at the waist, with fitted cuffs and waistbands. This design was meant to provide warmth without restricting the pilot's movement in the cramped cockpits.

Work Jackets:

Rugged jackets with heavy-duty cotton duck or canvas, designed for construction, logistics, and warehouse environments. ShirtsBargain has a superb collection of customizable work jackets from legendary brands like Carhartt, and more budget-friendly yet top-quality alternatives from CornerStone; all at really competitive wholesale prices.

Best for: Industrial teams, construction companies, outdoor maintenance crews
Customization note: Embroidery is the practical choice as the dense canvas can hold threads securely for years. Screen printing may not be ideal.

Trivia: Port Authority earned a reputation for their use of fade-proof fabrics, designed to stay fresh even after multiple washes and heavy use; particularly associated with uniforms and workwear.

Sleeveless Jackets and Vests:

Vests remove sleeve restriction while maintaining core warmth, which is great for high-movement activities. They make versatile layering pieces, easily styled over t-shirts, dress shirts, or under blazers to create different looks for various occasions. It makes sense why blank vests can also make catchy promotional tools because of the versatility. Smooth chest panels provide excellent decoration surfaces.

Best for: Coaches, golf teams, outdoor retail staff, event coordinators
Customization note: The flat chest area accepts embroidery and DTF perfectly, with no quilting interference.

Trivia: In the United Kingdom, a vest is an undershirt typically.

Hybrid Jackets:

Hybrid jackets, as the name suggests, features insulated bodies with stretchability. So the jackets basically offer warmth and mobility. For this, they have a mixed-fabric construction designed to offer insulation and stretch in areas where needed. Take the J787 Hybrid Soft Shell from Port Authority for an example of this. The style features a 100% polyester knit shell and 100% nylon woven overlays for warmth and stretchability.

Shop Port Authority J787 Jackets Wholesale

Best for: Cross-training teams, outdoor sports programs, active workforces
Customization note: Mixed fabrics may require different decoration techniques for different zones.

Trivia: These jackets were originally mostly developed for high-exertion outdoor activities like mountaineering and alpine climbing.

Fashion Jackets:

By fashion jackets, we mean denim, varsity, leather, and track styles that prioritize appearance. These pieces work for boutique resale, team merchandising, and lifestyle positioning year-round. Our top-sellers in this category include the Sport-Tek JST58 Varsity Jacket and the Port Authority J7620 Denim Jacket.

Best for: Premium team collections, branded merchandise, event souvenirs
Customization note: Embroidery, DTF, patches, and appliqué work depending on material. Denim's stable weave handles dense embroidery really well.

Trivia: Varsity jackets were originally worn only by athletes, with the jacket serving as a status symbol that has to be earned.

Parkas and Puffer Jackets:

Parkas and puffer jackets are actually two different types of jackets, as you may be aware. The custom-only and blank parkas in our wholesale collection are designed to go beyond the hip and offer excellent insulation for extreme cold. Puffer jackets look puffy and feel puffy, featuring quilted compartments for distributing the insulation while still being lighter and often packable. This also makes it a great choice for layering in winter. The budget-friendly Port Authority J850 Packable Puffer Jacket is a hit among our customers who want cost-effective blank puffer jackets.

Best for: Parkas for extreme-weather events, Puffers for packable travel gear
Customization note: Quilting of puffy jackets may restrict print placement. Port Authority circumvents limitations like this with their construction and focus on customizability.

Trivia: Eddie Bauer had a contract from the U.S. Air Force during World War II to make “Skyliner” down jackets for pilots; with puffy designs that kept them warm in high-altitude, cold conditions. This is widely claimed to be America’s first down jacket.

Technical Performance Features

Modern jackets make use of multiple technologies to enhance performance and improve customizability. Here are a few that you are most likely to see in ShirtsBargain’s wholesale jackets collection.

Waterproofing: DWR coatings (10-15 wash durability), taped seams, waterproof membranes
Wind resistance: Tightly woven shells and softshell laminates reduce air penetration
Breathability: Mesh panels and vented construction allow heat escape
Insulation: Down (premium, compressible), PrimaLoft (maintains warmth when wet), fleece lining (breathable, budget-friendly)
Stretch: Elastane/Spandex blends to enable unrestricted movement
Reflectivity:For better nighttime visibility (ANSI/ISEA 107 compliant workwear jackets)

Sustainability: Recycled polyester, organic cotton, and PFAS-free DWR coatings

Usage Applications Across Industries

Team Uniforms: Softshell jackets are the most preferred picks along with fleece jackets, with embroidery or screen printing on chest and back panels. Our Port Authority and Sport-Tek team solutions offer proven options for coaches, players, and staff.
Corporate and Workwear: Insulated or canvas jackets with embroidered logos can be excellent brand building tools that also deliver comfort. Heavy-use environments will need durable work jackets with enhanced visibility and more function from established brands like Carhartt or CornerStone.
Outdoor Events: Windbreakers and rain shells are go-to options to protect wearers while ensuring visibility.
Retail Merchandise: Bomber jackets and fashion pieces still drive sales through aesthetic appeal, and can also serve as premium giveaways due to their high perceived value.
Travel and Training Gear: Go for lightweight, packable jackets and vests that can fit in bags.

ShirtsBargain carries leading wholesale brands including Port Authority, Sport-Tek, and CornerStone, offering blank jackets ready for customization through our in-house decoration services. You can also get premium styles from top-tier brands like The North Face and Eddie Bauer at competitive wholesale prices from our collection.

Your jacket choice impacts comfort, performance, brand representation, and budget. Understanding the differences leads to getting the right jacket that fits your needs every time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of jacket is best for screen printing?

Windbreakers and lightweight polyester jackets typically have the right kind of surface to screen print on and get good results.

Can embroidery go on puffy jackets?

Yes, but we recommend embroidering small areas like the chest since large designs on quilted or puffed surfaces may not come out well every time.

Which jackets are most breathable for outdoor activities?

Softshell jackets and lightweight windbreakers.

Are softshell jackets waterproof?

Softshell jackets are usually wind- and water-resistant, and not fully waterproof. They can handle light rain but not sustained downpours.

What’s the difference between fleece and softshell?

Fleece in jackets is typically brushed polyester that provides warmth and comfort. Softshell is a lightweight, often stretchy fabric that offers reasonable wind and water protection.