Custom football shorts: sublimated or basic
When matching sublimated shorts are worth it and when to go basic with crest and number.
The shorts are the piece that can save you the most budget (or add the most polish) in a kit. They're also the least thought about: chosen in thirty seconds after two weeks spent on the jersey. These are the two options for custom football shorts and how to choose wisely.
Sublimated shorts (matching)
They carry the same design as the jersey, sublimated across the whole fabric: same colours, same pattern, same visual continuity. It's the premium option for a fully coordinated kit. 17 €.
In favour:
- The team looks like a team, not a collection of parts.
- The ink goes into the fibre: it doesn't crack or peel, and it doesn't block breathability.
- You can carry the jersey's pattern down to the legs, with the crest on one and the number on the other.
Basic shorts (white or black)
These are plain, more affordable shorts to which we add crest and number using DTF (a heat-applied transfer that works on any fabric colour, black included). 9,90 €.
In favour:
- They trim the budget without giving up customisation: they still carry your crest and the player's number.
- Plain black or white goes with practically any jersey, even very busy designs.
- They're easier to restock and to match if a player loses theirs.
Against: the crest is slightly noticeable to the touch (it's a layer, not integrated) and there's no design continuity with the jersey.
Which do I choose
- Full matching look: sublimated. If the club cares about the photo and the identity, it's worth it.
- Tight budget: sublimated jersey + basic shorts. That's 7,10 € less per player, and the jersey — the part everyone looks at — stays untouched.
- Mix: you can combine however you like within the same order. Nothing forces the whole team to wear the same.
A note on youth football: shorts take more punishment than jerseys (artificial turf, falls, hot washes). If your budget is limited, investing in a sublimated jersey and basic shorts is, almost always, the most rational call.
What the real difference is between sublimation and DTF
In one sentence: sublimation puts the colour inside the fibre (it only works on polyester and a light base); DTF lays a layer on top (it works on any fabric and any colour, black included).
It's not that one is better than the other: they solve different things. That's why we use both. We explain it in depth in sublimation vs printing.
Shorts sizes aren't jersey sizes
Classic mistake: assuming that whoever wears an M jersey wears M shorts. Not always true. The basic shorts and the socks use their own chart in cm; check it separately in the size guide. More tips in how to take sizes without mistakes.
And the socks
They complete the kit and cost 3,90 €. They're plain, by colour (not sublimated): you pick the shade that goes with the jersey or the shorts. Bear in mind they're the piece that gets lost and replaced the most during the season, so it's worth ordering a spare pair or two.
How to order
In the customiser, under the "Complete your kit" section, add the shorts you prefer and each player picks their size. You'll see the total price update in real time, with no surprises at the end.
And remember: there's no minimum order. You can order a single pair of shorts to check the quality before committing to the team's eighteen. If you're after more ideas to trim the spend, we share them in affordable kits without losing quality.
