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I recently ordered 40 shirts from a local screen printer and specifically asked him to order the "Heavyweight Mens Beefy Tee's 6.1 100% Cotton" shirts with style number 5180.
I read that these shirt run a little big for their size and are 'high quality'. He charged me $8 a shirt (one white ink on a black shirt) - telling me that these shirts cost $2.00 more than his 'average' selling brands.
Well, I just got the shirts today and they DO NOT run bigger than normal. In fact, they run SMALLER than normal.
I've purchased the 4XL taggless FOTL brand shirts that sell at walmart for $4.95 and they fit fine. They do get a bit shorter with a few washes, but at least they fit like a 4XL.
The Beefy 4XL fits like a 3XL!!!
I don't see what all the hype is about, honestly. I was sooooooo expecting a thick, oversized shirt - but what I got was a medium-grade thickness shirt that is way too short and snug to fit me! I'm afraid to see what happens after I wash it.
I'm left with two concerns now...
1. Did the printer order a 'different' style of Hanes Beefy Tee? Does Hanes make different varities of the Beefy line? By that, I mean specifically, mens - short sleeve - 100% cotton - no pocket - Beefy brand. Unfortunately, the tag doesnt have the style # on it. Instead, it has this:
RN# 15763 CA 21356 F.F.C.:SLK9712166P3 9Z 06E 243264 5184
Made in Dominican Republic 100% PRESHRUNK COTTON 4XL(58-60)
Hanes Beefy
or...
2. Was I mislead to believe that the Hanes Beefy #5180 shirt runs larger than people have suggested? When I go to Big & Tall / Casual Male and purchase a 4XL, it has more than enough shrink-room. This Beefy doesnt even compare to other 4XL shirts I've bought there.
If this Beefy is the real deal (style #5180) then I can safely say I wont be using them for larger sizes anymore. Which brings me to the next question, whats a comparable brand shirt that actually fits the way it should? I hear the Gildans run larger, but....
Ok.. i looked at my source that i normally get shirts at just make sure that i was thinking right.. and the only beefy T i see that is a normal t-shirt is the 6.1 size. they do make beefy t's in less weight that are raglon sleeved or with other color thread.. but those are really not any cheaper. I will tell you that size 4x shirts are very expensive even wholesale.. If not buying by the case in black the shirts would cost me 8 cents more than what you paid (8.00) from the distributer that i normally buy from. And at even the case price its hard to understand how he could sell you the t-shirts printed for 8.00.
I will say that we always buy gildan or hanes and have never had any problem with fit
The problem is "runs bigger" and "runs small" is all relative. What "runs big" for someone might be "just right" or "slim" for someone else.
The best way to know if a shirt is going to fit you is to check the sizing specs for that shirt and measure yourself to see if it fits you.
For a lot of people, the Hanes Beefy tee IS a quality heavyweight shirt. By most industry standards, a 6.1 ounce ringspun shirt is going to be considered a heavyweight shirt.
That's why we say so often in the forums here that it's very "relative" when it comes to shirt quality, since everyone has a different idea of what the "best" is.
The shirt you have should have a picture of a bull in the color tag. If it doesn't, it's possible that it's not the Hanes Beefy, but the other Hanes 6 ounce tee.
I definately see your point about sizes being relative, Rodney. Being a noob in the t-shirt business means that I often take peoples advise too quickly. I'll be sure and think about opinions before acting upon them so quickly - it's just that I'm eager to get my sales flowing and at some point I have to make a decision. Live and learn!
What threw me was that the FOTL 4XL shirts I buy at walmart for $4.95 fit me better than the Beefy did! For the extra money I shelled out for the Beefys, I really did expect them to (at least) fit like the FOTL.
Since the FOTL taggless shirts actually fit me, I think I'll be using them from now on. I've worn these shirts for years now and, outside of the length shrinkage over time, I've always liked them. For a cheap shirt, they feel great. I'm slapping myself in the head now for spending $8.00 on the Beefys when the FOTL would have worked perfectly.
Does anyone know the 'official' style name/number for these FOTL shirts? Is it the LOFTEEZ Style 20230R? They're taggless and don't have much information on them.
When I go to Big & Tall / Casual Male and purchase a 4XL, it has more than enough shrink-room. This Beefy doesnt even compare to other 4XL shirts I've bought there.
I have bought clothing for my husband from that store before and I know that their sizes run MUCH larger than the Big & Tall clothing I've found at other retailers. Usually around 1/2 to 1 size larger.
This is a trend I have noticed in stores that specialize in plus size apparel. They tend to make their clothes with a roomy, oversized, extra length cut. Regular 2x's and 3x's from other stores will not fit the same.
I have also noticed the same thing with some t-shirts from Wal-Mart. I think it's very possible that the "Beefy" sizing is more typical and that some stores just tend to make their sizes a little larger.
To me Hanes Beefys are the same sizing as other similar brands (FOTL, Gildan). Maybe ever so slightly smaller than FOTL where Gildan is a tiny bit larger. There's no question I'd wear the same size in all three though. The one brand I've found to be oversized is Jerico (or at least the one shirt I have in that brand is - sizes definitely vary from batch to batch, so it could be an abberation... as could your Hanes for that matter).
So what you're saying is, I'M REALLY A SIZE 6XL?!?!?
LOL.
I do agree with you, in that I've gotten used to Casual Males sizes being very big and roomy. The walmart brand FOTL are not 'as' roomy, but they do fit me - so you can imagine my surprise when a more expensive Beefy T (with it's beefy repuation and all) did not fit me.
Now, the Gildans have a nice price tag and run up to 5XL, however, I'm a bit squimish of ordering them after my Beefy incident. That's why I'm thinking about playing it safe with the FOTL... as long as my local printer can find the same ones that walmart sells. Which I have no idea what style they are....
I think it might be worth grabbing a couple of sample blanks online. Shouldn't cost too much, and that way you'll know exactly how different styles that you definitely have available to you fair.
Once the sizes start entering 4XL and above it's possible different brands jump by different increments (in other words sizing S-3XL is fairly standard between brands, but 4XL+ may not be as standard - I haven't really checked).
I used to buy Hanes Beefy Tees sizes, Small thru XL, for years. Last year I purchased 2X thru 4X premium colors, for a customer, and the collars were HUGE, they looked like someone had just pulled the collar to see how far It would stretch.
And not to mention, the t-shirt body shape went from rectangular @ S thru XL, to a complete square box, not even close to the fit and shape of the smaller sizes! the neck wasn't snug like the smaller sizes, It reminded me of a womens plunging neckline. I honestly don't think anyone in the world, that wears a 2X, 3X or 4X, has a neck that big, not even the biggest "PRO" football player.
My customers went bonkers! It seems that from Small thru X-Large the shirts fit fine.
I wont buy Beefy tees anymore. I contacted my distributor, and the Hanes headquarters and actually sent comparison pictures to the headquarters, and was made to feel like everyone else is fine with the construction of their garment, It was just me, after a few weeks of e-mails, and phone calls. They just gave me the run-around, no real recourse. I just lost that account because of It.
I guess that hanes is so big, losing one account really doesn't matter to tehem. I hope that none of my fellow garment decorators will never have to deal with what I had to deal with.
Anvils run large. The beefy Tee is more expensive because its ringspun cotton. The FOTL is a tagless Lofteez. I think you can get them at Walgreens for 5-$10.00 any size. I have seen them there up to at least 3xl and usually mixed with Gildens, Jerzees.
I like the beefy tees but I don't wear a 4XL so I can't speak to the sizing. I do think they start to get kind of square. But the key, like other people have said, is you have to try it on to see how a brand is going to fit. I find this to be true even with stuff like pants, where it's supposed to be a 34 inch waist! European cut 34s vs "loose fit" 34s? But back on topic, get a sample, wear it, and wash it a couple times the way you plan to wash it. That's how you know what brand is right for you.
__________________ I am not a woman. I am a man. It's just a nickname. Honest.
Hanes Beefy - not so beefy after all 
I am not a woman. I am a man. It's just a nickname. Honest.
