Comfort Wash vs Comfort Colors: What's the Difference for Custom Printing?

ComfortWash by Hanes and Comfort Colors are both popular garment-dyed T-shirts — but they are not the same brand, and they are not the same shirt.

If you have been trying to decide between the ComfortWash GDH100 and the Comfort Colors 1717 for a custom apparel project, this guide compares the two shirts on fabric weight, construction, fit, color selection, and custom printing considerations.

Are Comfort Wash and Comfort Colors the Same Brand?

No. This is one of the most common points of confusion when comparing these two shirts.

Comfort Colors is its own brand, known for garment-dyed apparel with a relaxed fit and a vintage-inspired aesthetic. The 1717 is its most widely recognized style.

ComfortWash is a line produced by Hanes. The GDH100 is ComfortWash's core garment-dyed T-shirt style.

The two shirts share a similar aesthetic category — both are garment-dyed, both use ring-spun cotton, and both are designed to produce a worn-in appearance. That overlap is why they are so frequently compared. But they come from different manufacturers and have different specifications.

ComfortWash by Hanes GDH100

The ComfortWash GDH100 is a garment-dyed T-shirt produced by ComfortWash, a line from Hanes.

• Brand: ComfortWash by Hanes
• Style: GDH100
• Fabric: 100% ring-spun cotton
• Weight: 5.5 oz/yd²
• Dyeing: Garment-dyed
• Construction: Twill neck tape, shoulder-to-shoulder taping, double-needle construction

The GDH100 is the lighter-weight of the two shirts in this comparison. It is used across a range of custom apparel decoration methods including DTF, DTG, screen printing, heat transfer, and embroidery.

Who Might Choose the ComfortWash GDH100?

• Customers looking for a lighter-weight garment-dyed shirt
• Projects where the garment-dyed aesthetic matters but a less substantial feel is preferred
• Custom apparel programs comparing garment-dyed options across different manufacturers

Comfort Colors 1717

The Comfort Colors 1717 is a garment-dyed T-shirt that has become a frequently used blank in custom apparel.

• Brand: Comfort Colors
• Style: 1717
• Fabric: 100% ring-spun cotton
• Weight: 6.1 oz/yd²
• Dyeing: Garment-dyed
• Fit: Relaxed
• Construction: The manufacturer describes the garment-dye and wash process as producing a lived-in feel with minimal shrinkage at home

The Comfort Colors 1717 is the heavier and more substantial of the two shirts. Its relaxed fit and garment-dyed appearance have made it a common choice for custom merchandise, lifestyle brands, sports apparel, and vintage-inspired designs.

Who Might Choose the Comfort Colors 1717?

• Customers who prefer a heavier, more substantial garment-dyed shirt
• Premium custom merchandise and branded apparel
• Lifestyle brands and vintage-inspired designs
• Customers who prefer a relaxed fit
• Sports apparel, family reunions, and event merchandise

Comfort Wash vs Comfort Colors: Side-by-Side Comparison

Fabric Weight and Feel

The most clearly verified difference between these two shirts is fabric weight.

The Comfort Colors 1717 weighs 6.1 oz/yd². The ComfortWash GDH100 weighs 5.5 oz/yd². That is a 0.6 oz difference — enough to be noticeable when comparing the two shirts in hand.

In general terms, a heavier fabric tends to feel more substantial. A lighter fabric tends to feel less bulky. Whether that difference matters for your project depends on how the shirts will be used, who will wear them, and what feel you are trying to achieve.

Both shirts share the garment-dyed construction that gives this category of apparel its characteristic worn-in appearance. That aesthetic similarity is one of the main reasons the two shirts are compared so frequently.

Fit and Everyday Wear

The Comfort Colors 1717 is described by the manufacturer as a relaxed fit. It has the roomier, casual appearance that many customers associate with premium lifestyle apparel and vintage-inspired designs.

For the ComfortWash GDH100, the available specification data provides finished garment measurements but does not assign a fit category. We are not labeling the GDH100 as relaxed, classic, or retail fit based on unverified information. If fit is a critical factor for your project, reviewing the published measurements or evaluating a sample garment before committing to a larger order is the most reliable approach.

Color Selection

Both the ComfortWash GDH100 and the Comfort Colors 1717 are available in a range of garment-dyed colors. Because both are garment-dyed, colors tend to have the variation and depth characteristic of that process rather than the uniformity of piece-dyed apparel.

Color assortments change over time and can vary by season and availability. We are not stating specific color counts for either line, as those figures can shift. When planning a custom apparel project, confirming current color availability for your preferred style is a practical first step — especially if your design or brand depends on a specific color match.

Which Is Better for Custom Printing?

Both shirts are 100% ring-spun cotton and garment-dyed, which places them in a similar category for custom decoration purposes.

The ComfortWash GDH100 is used with common custom apparel decoration methods including DTF, DTG, screen printing, heat transfer, and embroidery. The Comfort Colors 1717 is also used for custom apparel decoration across comparable methods. The appropriate decoration method for either shirt depends on the design, the garment color, the quantity, and the intended result — not on one shirt being inherently more print-compatible than the other based on weight alone.

If you are comparing these shirts for a specific custom project, our guide to choosing the best shirt for custom printing covers how garment choice and decoration method work together across a broader range of blank options.

Which One Should You Choose?

If the weight and feel of the shirt matters most, the Comfort Colors 1717 is the heavier, more substantial option. Its relaxed fit and garment-dyed appearance make it a common choice for premium merchandise, lifestyle brands, and designs where the shirt itself is part of the product.

If you are open to a lighter-weight garment-dyed option and want to compare alternatives to the 1717, the ComfortWash GDH100 is worth evaluating based on its construction details and how the weight difference fits your project.

Neither shirt is the right choice for every project. The best way to decide is to consider the weight preference, the intended use, the audience, and the decoration method — and to confirm garment availability when requesting a quote.

At South Bay Printworks, we help customers review garment options based on the needs of their project. Garment availability, including options like these, can be confirmed during the quote process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ComfortWash the same as Comfort Colors?

No. ComfortWash is a line produced by Hanes. Comfort Colors is a separate brand. Both produce garment-dyed T-shirts using ring-spun cotton, which is why they are frequently compared — but they are different products from different manufacturers.

Which shirt is heavier — ComfortWash GDH100 or Comfort Colors 1717?

The Comfort Colors 1717 is heavier at 6.1 oz/yd². The ComfortWash GDH100 is lighter at 5.5 oz/yd². That 0.6 oz difference is the most clearly verified physical distinction between the two shirts.

Is the ComfortWash GDH100 good for custom printing?

Yes. The GDH100 is used with common custom apparel decoration methods including DTF, DTG, screen printing, heat transfer, and embroidery. The appropriate method for a specific project depends on the design, garment color, and quantity.

What is the main difference between ComfortWash and Comfort Colors?

Both are garment-dyed, 100% ring-spun cotton T-shirts with a worn-in aesthetic. The most clearly verified difference is fabric weight: the Comfort Colors 1717 is heavier (6.1 oz/yd²) and has a manufacturer-described relaxed fit. The ComfortWash GDH100 is lighter (5.5 oz/yd²) and features twill neck tape, shoulder-to-shoulder taping, and double-needle construction.

Which is better for a custom apparel project: ComfortWash or Comfort Colors?

Neither shirt is universally better. The Comfort Colors 1717 is the heavier, more substantial option with a relaxed fit. The ComfortWash GDH100 is a lighter-weight garment-dyed alternative with its own construction details. The better choice depends on the weight preference, intended use, audience, and decoration method for your specific project. Garment availability can be confirmed during the quote process.