The quarter zip solved a problem most corporate apparel never figured out. A polo reads too formal for a Saturday. A hoodie reads too casual for a client meeting. The quarter zip works in both, which is why it has become the default garment for company apparel programs.
That range is the whole value proposition. As Staples Promotional Products notes in its overview of the category, quarter zips get worn in corporate offices, at the gym, and on weekend hikes, often all three by the same person in the same week. A garment that fits that many contexts stays in rotation, and apparel in rotation is apparel generating impressions.
Not every quarter zip earns that spot though. Fabric weight, fit, and how the material handles a stitched logo separate the pieces people reach for from the ones that sit in a closet. Here are the blanks worth knowing, and what each one does well.
Why Are Quarter Zips So Popular for Corporate Apparel?
Quarter zips work because they layer over what people already wear and adjust to temperature without a full change of clothes. The partial zip lets the wearer open it up in a warm office or close it for a cold morning, which extends the number of days the garment is useful.
The silhouette also reads neutral. A quarter zip over a collared shirt looks intentional in a professional setting, and the same piece over a tee looks normal at a hardware store. Neither context feels like a costume, which is the exact failure mode of most branded apparel.
Decoration favors the category too. The flat chest panel gives embroidery a clean, stable surface, and the standard left chest placement produces a logo that reads as a detail rather than an advertisement. That restraint is a large part of why these pieces get worn in public.
The tradeoff is unit cost. Quarter zips land well above a tee and generally above a hoodie, which is why they tend to show up in gifting programs, leadership apparel, and client appreciation rather than broad giveaways. For a fuller comparison of where hoodies fit against this category, our breakdown of the best hoodies for custom printing and embroidery covers the overlap.
1. Nike Dri-FIT Half Zip: The Performance Standard
Nike's Dri-FIT half zip is the most requested premium quarter zip in corporate programs, and the reason is brand recognition doing work before the logo lands. The 8.3 ounce polyester Dri-FIT fabric wicks moisture and holds its shape through repeated wear and washing.
The fabric is smooth and dense, which makes it an excellent embroidery surface. Stitching sits cleanly without the puckering that thinner performance knits can develop. The standard Nike swoosh already lives on the sleeve or back neck, so your logo goes left chest and the two marks coexist rather than compete.
This is the pick when perceived value matters more than unit cost: executive gifts, top client lists, and sales incentives. Recipients recognize what it is immediately, and Nike pieces tend to stay in wardrobes for years. We covered the broader Nike catalog in our guide to Nike custom apparel.
Best for: embroidery, executive and client gifts, golf programs, active teams.
2. The North Face Glacier Quarter Zip: The Outdoor Crossover
The North Face Glacier is a midweight fleece quarter zip that reads outdoor rather than corporate, which is exactly why it works for companies whose teams do not sit at desks. The recycled fleece construction delivers real warmth without bulk.
Fleece is a forgiving embroidery substrate at moderate stitch counts. Clean, bold logos hold well. Very fine detail can sink slightly into the pile, so simplified marks reproduce better than intricate ones on this fabric.
The brand carries weight with people who spend time outside, which makes it a strong choice for field teams, utilities, engineering firms, and any company where a technical outdoor brand fits the culture better than a golf brand.
Best for: embroidery, field and outdoor teams, cold weather programs, client gifts.
3. Port Authority Sweater Fleece: The Value Workhorse
Port Authority's sweater fleece quarter zip delivers most of the look of a premium pullover at a fraction of the cost, which makes it the practical choice for outfitting an entire staff rather than a short list. The sweater knit face gives it a more refined appearance than standard fleece.
It embroiders reliably and consistently, which matters on larger runs where every unit needs to match. The color range is broad enough to align with most brand palettes, and extended sizing is widely available.
This is the blank to specify when the order is company wide and the budget has to cover everyone. It will not carry the brand cachet of Nike or The North Face, but it looks considerably better than its price suggests.
Best for: embroidery, company wide rollouts, larger quantities, budget conscious programs.
4. TravisMathew Quarter Zip: The Golf and Client Pick
TravisMathew has become the brand of choice for golf outings and client entertainment, and its quarter zips carry the same relaxed premium feel as the rest of the line. The fabrics run soft with a bit of stretch, which reads more like retail apparel than corporate wear.
Embroidery performs well on the smoother knits in the line, though the softer fabrics benefit from moderate stitch counts and clean logo geometry. Left chest placement is standard, and tonal thread choices look particularly good on these pieces.
The audience matters here. TravisMathew resonates strongly in golf, real estate, finance, and client facing roles where recipients recognize and already buy the brand. It lands flat in environments where nobody knows the label.
Best for: embroidery, golf outings, client gifts, sales teams.
5. Cutter & Buck Quarter Zip: The Professional Layer
Cutter & Buck sits squarely in the corporate lane. The brand built its reputation on polished, office appropriate apparel, and its quarter zips deliver a clean, tailored look that works under a blazer or on its own in a meeting.
The fabrics tend toward smooth technical knits with wrinkle resistance, which holds a stitched logo crisply and travels well. For programs where employees fly to client sites, that durability is a practical advantage.
This is the choice for professional services, consulting, banking, and any setting where the apparel needs to read business first and casual second.
Best for: embroidery, professional services, client facing roles, travel heavy teams.
6. Carhartt Quarter Zip: The Jobsite Layer
For crews working outside, Carhartt is the only brand on this list that the wearers were likely already buying themselves. The heavier fabric weights and reinforced construction survive conditions that would end a corporate fleece in a season.
The dense material supports higher stitch count embroidery without distortion, which means logos stay sharp through industrial washing and daily abuse. That durability is the reason embroidery dominates workwear decoration in the first place.
The Carhartt name also signals something specific to a crew: the company spent money on gear that holds up rather than gear that looks good in a photo. That distinction registers with people who work with their hands.
Best for: embroidery, construction and trades, field crews, cold weather workwear.
7. Sport-Tek Sport-Wick Quarter Zip: The Athletic Budget Option
Sport-Tek's Sport-Wick quarter zip covers the performance category at a budget friendly price point. The moisture wicking polyester construction suits teams, gyms, youth programs, and any group that needs functional layers in volume.
The lighter fabric weight means embroidery works best with moderate stitch counts and proper backing to prevent puckering. For bolder or full color designs, screen printing is also viable on the smoother panels of these pieces.
This is the option when the program needs performance fabric across a large group and premium brand pricing does not fit the budget.
Best for: embroidery or screen printing, sports teams, gyms, large quantity performance programs.
What Fabric Weight Should You Choose for a Quarter Zip?
Fabric weight determines both warmth and how the garment handles decoration. Lighter performance knits in the 6 to 8 ounce range work as year round layers and travel well. Midweight fleece and sweater knits in the 9 to 12 ounce range deliver real warmth for fall and winter programs.
Heavier fabrics generally support higher stitch counts more comfortably. A dense fleece or canvas backed piece can carry a detailed logo without distortion, while a thin performance knit needs a simpler mark and proper stabilizer to avoid puckering.
Climate should drive the call as much as anything. In Ohio, a midweight fleece quarter zip covers roughly eight months of the year, while a lightweight performance version has a narrower window but layers under a jacket in deep winter.
The same weight logic applies across every garment category, and the fabric fundamentals are worth understanding before choosing any blank. Our breakdown of the best blank tees for custom printing covers how ounce weight and fabric content change the finished result.
Should Quarter Zips Be Embroidered or Screen Printed?
Embroidery is the standard for quarter zips and the right choice in nearly every case. The raised, stitched finish matches the premium positioning of the garment, survives repeated washing, and holds up on the textured fabrics common in this category.
Screen printing has narrow but real use cases here. Bold graphics, full color designs, and larger back prints on smoother panels can work, particularly on lighter performance knits. It is the exception rather than the default.
Placement conventions favor restraint. Left chest embroidery is standard. Sleeve hits and back neck marks serve as secondary placements. Oversized front decoration undercuts the versatility that makes the garment worth buying in the first place.
Which Quarter Zip Is Right for Your Program?
Match the blank to the audience and the setting. Nike and TravisMathew fit client facing and gifting programs where brand recognition adds perceived value. The North Face suits outdoor and field oriented cultures. Cutter & Buck fits professional services. Carhartt is the answer for crews working outside. Port Authority and Sport-Tek cover company wide distribution where volume drives the budget.
Fabric weight follows from climate and stitch count. Decoration is embroidery unless the design genuinely requires print. Placement stays proportional so the piece works outside of work hours.
The quarter zip earns its reputation by being the one branded garment that fits into a normal wardrobe. Choosing the right blank is what keeps it there.