How to order your sports performance shirts
- Choose model and cut — Tee Jays 7020 (men's performance T), 7050 (women's performance), StormTech ZQA Pulse (premium, durable), Spiro S253X (Quick-Dry, light), Result R182X (Cool Tee mesh inserts)
- Choose colour — white (standard for sublimation), black (good for transfer/DTF), royal blue, red, anthracite, neon yellow (running events)
- Choose print method — sublimation print (standard for white jerseys, full-face possible), transfer print (for dark performance fabrics), DTF print (multicolour on dark polyester shirts)
- Define finishing position — chest logo, back print (player name + number), sleeve embroidery (club logo discreet)
- Specify quantity — configurator shows live pricing including volume discount scale
- Print approval and shipping — 5 working days lead time for orders from 50 pieces, standard 7-9 working days DE
Which model for which use case?
Choosing the right performance shirt depends on sport, event duration and weather. An overview of the models in the ShirtStore range:
- Tee Jays 7020 Cooldry Performance T (men's) — the classic for running clubs. Tee Jays is a Danish brand since 1976 specialising in performance wear. Cooldry polyester is breathable, fast-drying, low self-weight. Ideal for half marathon, public run, training session.
- Tee Jays 7050 Cooldry Performance T women's — women's cut of the Tee Jays performance line. Tapered women's model with identical Cooldry material. For mixed running teams as parallel variant.
- StormTech ZQA Pulse Performance T — more robust performance variant from the StormTech line (Canadian performance wear since 1977). Higher fabric weight, longer lifespan, ideal for triathlon team with high training frequency and gym crew with daily use.
- Spiro S253X Quick-Dry — premium quick-dry shirt with particularly fast drying. Mesh inserts at chest and back for maximum breathability. First choice for marathon, triathlon run and summer run events at high temperatures.
- Result R182X Cool Tee — economical entry model with mesh inserts under the sleeves. Good price/performance ratio, ideal for school sports events, corporate run group (B2B) and club training sessions.
For club-specific jerseys (fully sublimated with crest, club name and sponsors) see our club jerseys by sport concept. For studio crew-wear (gym trainers, rehab therapists) see studio crew-wear.
Material specifications and performance properties
| Model | Material | Weight | Breathability | Fast-drying | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tee Jays 7020 | 100% polyester Cooldry | approx. 140 g/m² | high | yes | running club, public run, training |
| Tee Jays 7050 (women's) | 100% polyester Cooldry | approx. 140 g/m² | high | yes | women's running team |
| StormTech ZQA Pulse | 100% polyester high-tech | approx. 155 g/m² | high | yes | triathlon, gym, durable |
| Spiro S253X Quick-Dry | 100% polyester with mesh | approx. 135 g/m² | very high | yes, extra-fast | marathon, summer run, triathlon |
| Result R182X Cool Tee | 100% polyester with mesh | approx. 135 g/m² | high | yes | school sports, corporate run, club |
All fabrics are certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 — tested for harmful substances and cleared for direct skin contact under athletic strain. Pure polyester is the functionally optimal material: low self-weight, fast drying, high breathability due to tight fibre structure. Blends (50/50 cotton/polyester) are not recommended for intensive sports use because cotton binds sweat and becomes heavy when wet. For sustainability-oriented concepts we carry recycled polyester on request.
Print methods for performance shirts — why sublimation is the main method
Performance shirts in 100% polyester behave fundamentally differently from cotton t-shirts. Classical print methods (screen print, flex print) adhere less well to polyester because they must thermally penetrate the fibre but work against the low affinity of the polyester fibre there. Sublimation print is therefore the main method for sports performance shirts:
| Method | Suitability polyester | Minimum order | Cost per shirt | Wash resistance | Logo complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sublimation print | excellent on white and light | from 1 piece | €4.90-8.50 | very good, 100+ washes | full-face + multicolour |
| Transfer print | good on all colours | from 1 piece | €3.50-5.50 | good, 30-40 °C recommended | medium complexity |
| DTF print | good on all colours | from 1 piece | €4.50-7.50 | very good at 40-60 °C | very good detail depth |
| Screen print on polyester | limited, special inks | from 50 pieces | €3.50-5.50 | medium | good for poster prints |
| Flex print | limited | from 1 piece | €3.90-5.90 | medium, can come off | single-colour, simple |
Sublimation print recommendation: For white and light-coloured performance shirts, sublimation print is the clear no. 1. Advantages: full-face designs possible (player jersey with sponsor arrangement), multicolour logos without setup surcharge, print becomes part of the fibre (no overlay), breathability fully preserved, wash resistance over 100+ washes. Limitation: only works on light polyester backgrounds — on dark shirts sublimation is not possible because the sublimation pigment must show through.
Transfer print recommendation: For black, royal blue or red performance shirts (jersey home variant, black running team outfit), transfer print is the more economical solution. Removable on staff change — important for club jerseys with player changes between seasons.
DTF print recommendation: For multicolour detail logos on dark polyester shirts (sponsor logos with photo elements, multicolour club crests), DTF is the optimal solution. Withstands performance washing at 40-60 °C, good at 60 °C sports laundry.
Why not screen print: Classical screen print on polyester requires special plastisol or water-based inks and higher print temperatures. Wash resistance is medium, breathability is impaired. We recommend screen print on polyester only from 50 pieces for single-colour large-area advertising logos (e.g. corporate run sponsors).
Volume discount scale for sports performance shirts
Sports jersey and running shirt orders vary widely — a triathlon team with 8 athletes, a running club initial order with 25 members, a corporate marathon team with 80 runners, a large event order with 500 shirts for public run participants. Our cross-model volume discount scale:
| Quantity | Discount | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| from 3 pieces | 3% | triathlon team core, pilot order, training outfit |
| from 20 pieces | 10% | running club (10-50 pieces), gym crew, school sports team |
| from 50 pieces | 15% | medium club order, corporate sports group (B2B), small run event |
| from 100 pieces | 25% | corporate run team, full club collection, medium public run event |
| from 200 pieces | 30% | large club event, regional corporate run, triathlon large event |
| from 500 pieces | 32% | public run bulk order, marathon participant shirts, corporate sports event |
Cross-model: You combine Tee Jays 7020 (men's team) + 7050 (women's team) + Spiro S253X (running experts) + Result R182X (training shirts) in one order. Example: 30 Tee Jays 7020 + 15 Tee Jays 7050 + 5 Spiro S253X = 50 pieces with 15% discount. Combination with sport polos and training t-shirts also counts.
Pricing — what becomes economical at what quantity?
- Tee Jays 7020 / 7050 Performance: from €14.90 net per piece (without finishing), with sublimation chest + back print from €21.40 net at 25 pieces
- StormTech ZQA Pulse: from €17.90 net (premium performance wear)
- Spiro S253X Quick-Dry: from €13.50 net (mesh inserts)
- Result R182X Cool Tee: from €11.90 net (entry model)
- Sublimation print full-face (jersey design with sponsors): €6.50-12.50 per shirt from 1 piece, no setup
- Sublimation chest + back number: €4.90-7.50 per shirt
- Transfer print chest logo + back number + player name: €5.50-8.50 per shirt
- DTF multicolour logo on black shirt: €4.90-7.50 per shirt
Live pricing including volume discount scale is shown by the configurator — gross or net display. For orders from 50 pieces we recommend our bulk-order inquiry with individual calculation and multi-address shipping for run events.
Three real-world experience cases from sports
Case 1 — Running club 32 members (Bavaria)
Order: 22 × Tee Jays 7020 men's in royal blue + 10 × Tee Jays 7050 women's in royal blue with sublimation print. Chest left club logo 8 × 8 cm, back large club name „SV Lauffeuer" 24 × 10 cm, small sponsor logo bottom back. Sublimation economical because multicolour club logo without setup surcharge. Delivery in 8 working days. 10% volume discount at 32 pieces. Reorder after 12 months 8 additional shirts in 5 working days with stored print data.
Case 2 — Corporate marathon team 85 runners (Hamburg)
Order: 85 × Spiro S253X Quick-Dry in black with transfer print (because black background — sublimation not possible). Chest left company logo 9 × 6 cm, back large company name + marathon year 26 × 12 cm. 15% volume discount at 85 pieces. Delivery in 10 working days (5 working days lead time for 50+ order). Multi-address shipping to 3 Hamburg locations with packing list per location.
Case 3 — Triathlon team initial kit 12 athletes (NRW)
Order: 12 × StormTech ZQA Pulse in neon yellow (visibility during outdoor training) with sublimation print. Full-face jersey design with club logo chest, sponsor patch below logo, player name + back number bottom back (individualised per athlete). 12 different player names, no surcharge with sublimation. Premium model chosen due to triathlon high-strain use. Delivery in 9 working days. 3% volume discount at 12 pieces (just below the 20-piece threshold).
How to care for sports performance shirts correctly
Polyester performance shirts require different care than cotton t-shirts. With correct care you preserve breathability and print quality over several seasons:
- Wash at 30-40 °C — higher temperatures can deform polyester fibres and impair breathability. For intense sweat strain, 40 °C sports laundry programme.
- Wash inside out — protects sublimation and transfer print from mechanical strain.
- No fabric softener — softener deposits a wax film on the performance fibre and reduces breathability permanently.
- No dryer — air-dry performance shirts; dryer heat can damage the print and the polyester fibre. Polyester dries in 2-3 hours anyway.
- Sports detergent or mild sports detergent — special sports detergents remove sweat odour better than standard detergents.
Frequently asked questions about printed sports performance shirts (FAQ)
Which print method holds best on polyester performance shirts?
Sublimation print is no. 1 for white and light-coloured performance shirts — the print becomes part of the polyester fibre, not an overlay, so no impairment of breathability or wash resistance. Over 100+ washes without visible quality loss. On dark performance shirts (black, royal, red), sublimation does not work — there we recommend transfer print or DTF print with washing at 30-40 °C.
What does a jersey for a running club cost from 20 pieces?
Tee Jays 7020 in royal blue at 20 pieces: €14.90 net per shirt (without finishing) + sublimation chest logo + back club name €5.50-7.50 per shirt = approximately €20.40-22.40 net per shirt. At 20 pieces the 10% volume discount applies, final price approximately €18.40-20.20 net per jersey.
How breathable is Tee Jays 7020 vs. Spiro S253X?
Both are 100% polyester and highly breathable. Tee Jays 7020 (Cooldry fibre) has dense weave with high function under medium strain — ideal for running club, public run, training session. Spiro S253X has additional mesh inserts at chest and back for maximum breathability — best choice for marathon, triathlon run and summer run events at 28+ °C. Tee Jays more durable, Spiro lighter.
How do I care for performance sports shirts correctly?
Wash at 30-40 °C inside out, no softener, no dryer. Mild sports detergent instead of standard detergent — sports detergent removes sweat odour better. With correct care, performance shirts and print last 2-3 seasons.
Can we have jerseys printed with back numbers and player names?
Yes, standard. With sublimation print, each player name and back number is possible without surcharge — print is digital, no setup per variant. With transfer print and DTF, we can also lay out player names + back numbers individually, but with a minimal surcharge position per shirt (approx. €1.50-2.50 net per individualised shirt).
Does sublimation print survive a season on a club jersey?
Yes, much longer. Sublimation print is part of the polyester fibre (chemically bonded, not overlaid). Wash resistance over 100+ washes — typically 3-5 seasons in training and match operations. Prerequisite: washing at 30-40 °C, no softener. Excessively hot washing or mangle ironing can melt the polyester fibres.
What minimum order applies to club jersey orders with individual player names?
No minimum order. Sublimation print is digital — we produce from 1 piece with individual player name without surcharge. Economically sensible from 10 pieces (with first volume discount 3% from 3 pieces, then 10% from 20 pieces). For complete club collections we recommend 20+ pieces.
Are there sustainable sports shirts in recycled polyester?
Yes, on request. We carry recycled polyester (rPET from PET bottles) as a sustainable option for run events with sustainability communication. Available in several models from 30 pieces minimum order. Sublimation print works on rPET just as on conventional polyester.
What makes ShirtStore different
- Sublimation print as main method for white and light-coloured performance shirts — full-face, multicolour, no setup surcharge
- Premium brand selection — Tee Jays (Danish since 1976), StormTech (Canadian since 1977), Spiro, Result
- Women's and men's cuts in parallel in the same order (Tee Jays 7020 + 7050)
- Individual player names without surcharge with sublimation print
- Cross-model volume discount scale — Tee Jays + StormTech + Spiro + Result counted together
- Recycled polyester for sustainability-oriented run events
- Multi-address shipping for corporate marathon teams with packing list per location
Ready for your sports performance shirts?
Open configurator → · Request bulk order →