ATC3700 Essential Performance Tee Review

Overview

The ATC3700 Essential Performance Tee is designed for active use where moisture management matters. Whether you're outfitting a sports team, creating athletic promotional wear, or need shirts that perform in hot or active conditions, this tee delivers the technical features you need at an accessible price point.

In this comprehensive review, we'll break down everything you need to know about the ATC3700 - from its moisture-wicking technology and No Bleed Fabric to print performance and comparison with alternatives.

Fabric & Construction

The ATC3700 features a 6.4 oz (217 gsm) performance polyester interlock fabric. The interlock knit construction creates a smooth, two-sided fabric that's comfortable against the skin and provides an excellent printing surface.

Key Features

• 100% Performance Polyester - Durable, quick-drying, and shape-retaining
• Moisture-Wicking Technology - Pulls sweat away from the body for rapid evaporation
• No Bleed Fabric (NBF) - Cationic dye process prevents dye migration during heat printing
• Interlock Construction - Smooth surface ideal for screen printing and sublimation
• Set-in Sleeves - Classic construction for unrestricted movement
• Double-Needle Hem - Reinforced for durability
• Tear-Away Label - Easy to remove for custom relabeling

No Bleed Fabric Technology

One of the standout features of the ATC3700 is its No Bleed Fabric (NBF) technology. Standard polyester garments can experience "dye migration" or "sublimation ghosting" where the fabric dye bleeds through heat-applied prints, especially on darker colours.

NBF uses a unique cationic dye process that locks the dye into the fabric, preventing this migration. This makes the ATC3700 significantly easier to print on than standard polyester, especially with:

• Heat transfer vinyl
• DTF (Direct-to-Film) transfers
• Screen printing with proper polyester inks

For sublimation printing, the shirt works best on white or very light colours, as sublimation requires the base colour to show through the transparent inks.

Understanding NBF Technology

Traditional polyester fabrics are dyed with disperse dyes that can become mobile when exposed to heat. During heat pressing or sublimation, these dyes can migrate into your print, causing colour distortion or "bleeding." The NBF process uses cationic dyes that chemically bond more strongly to the polyester fibres, remaining stable even under high heat.

This technology is particularly valuable for:

• Coloured shirt sublimation - Reduces ghosting on light coloured shirts
• Heat transfer vinyl - Prevents bleeding around vinyl edges
• DTF transfers - Maintains crisp print edges and colour integrity
• Polyester screen printing - Reduces under-base requirements

Moisture-Wicking Performance

The moisture-wicking capability of the ATC3700 is engineered into the polyester fibres themselves. The interlock knit structure creates channels that allow moisture to move from the skin to the fabric surface where it can evaporate quickly.

How It Works

Moisture-wicking occurs through a combination of:

• Fibre structure - Polyester naturally repels water while allowing vapour transmission
• Capillary action - The interlock knit creates micro-channels that pull moisture away from skin
• Surface area - The smooth exterior surface maximises evaporation rate

In practical terms, this means wearers stay cooler and more comfortable during physical activity. The shirt doesn't become saturated with sweat like cotton would, maintaining its lightweight feel throughout extended use.

Fit & Sizing

The ATC3700 has a standard athletic fit that runs true to size. The polyester interlock has natural stretch, providing a comfortable fit without being too tight or too loose.

Sizing Recommendations

• For athletic fit: Order your normal size
• For looser fit: Size up one
• For layering under jerseys: Consider sizing down for a closer fit
• For women's fit: Consider sizing down 1-2 sizes depending on preferred fit
• For youth: ATC youth sizes available separately (ATC3700Y)

Body Type Considerations

The athletic fit is designed to follow the body's natural contours without being restrictive. Key fit characteristics include:

• Chest/bust: Fitted but not tight, allows for full range of motion
• Waist: Slightly tapered for modern silhouette
• Length: Hip length on most body types
• Sleeves: Set-in construction for comfortable arm movement

Colour Options Deep Dive

While the ATC3700 has a more limited colour palette than cotton alternatives, the available colours are chosen specifically for athletic and team applications:

Core Athletic Colours

• White - Ideal for sublimation, reflects heat, classic team colour
• Black - Versatile, hides stains, modern athletic look
• Navy - Professional, popular team colour, pairs with many accent colours
• Red - Bold team colour, high visibility, motivational
• Royal Blue - Bright team colour, excellent for screen printing

Extended Palette

• Forest Green - Nature-inspired, unique team colour
• Maroon - Rich, sophisticated team colour
• Orange - High visibility, safety applications, energetic
• Purple - Distinctive team colour, premium appearance
• Coal Grey - Modern neutral, sophisticated alternative to black

Colour Performance Notes

Each colour performs differently for various decoration methods:

• Sublimation: Best results on white, good on light colours
• Screen printing: All colours print well with appropriate inks
• Heat transfer: NBF technology ensures consistent results across all colours
• Embroidery: Darker colours show light thread well, light colours show dark thread

Pros & Cons

Print Performance

The ATC3700 excels as a printing blank for performance apparel. The smooth interlock surface and NBF technology make it one of the easier polyester shirts to decorate.

Sublimation Printing

Sublimation works beautifully on white and light-coloured ATC3700 shirts. The 100% polyester content allows for vibrant, permanent, all-over prints that won't crack, peel, or fade. This is the ideal decoration method for full-colour sports jerseys and performance graphics.

Sublimation Tips for ATC3700:

• Use 400°F for 60 seconds with medium pressure
• Pre-press to remove moisture
• Use protective paper to prevent scorching
• Cool completely before removing transfer
• White and light colours give best results

Screen Printing

Screen printing works well with proper polyester inks and low-bleed underbase when needed. The NBF technology helps prevent dye migration even under the heat of curing. Water-based and discharge inks are not recommended for polyester.

Screen Printing Recommendations:

• Use low-bleed or polyester-specific inks
• Consider grey underbase on dark colours
• Cure at proper temperature (300-320°F)
• Use smooth squeegee for best results
• Test cure times on sample pieces

DTF/Heat Transfer

DTF transfers adhere well to the smooth polyester surface. The NBF technology is particularly valuable here, as heat application can cause dye migration on standard polyester. You'll get cleaner results with the ATC3700.

DTF Application Guidelines:

• Use 300-310°F for 15 seconds
• Apply firm, even pressure
• Peel while hot for best adhesion
• NBF prevents colour bleeding
• Works on all available colours

Embroidery Considerations

While possible, embroidery on the ATC3700 requires some special considerations due to the smooth polyester surface:

• Use appropriate stabiliser (cutaway recommended)
• Reduce machine speed slightly
• Use sharp needles (75/11 ballpoint)
• Consider texture and density of design
• Test on sample pieces first

Best Uses

How It Compares

Here's how the ATC3700 stacks up against other performance and basic tees:

When to Choose Each Option

• Choose ATC3700 for athletic applications, sublimation printing, moisture management
• Choose ATC S350 for ultra-lightweight performance wear
• Choose Gildan 5000 for budget cotton basics with huge colour selection
• Choose PC55 for mid-range cotton alternative

Care Instructions

To maximize the life of your ATC3700 shirts and maintain moisture-wicking performance:

• Machine wash cold inside-out with like colours
• Tumble dry on low heat or hang dry
• Do not use fabric softener - it clogs the wicking fibres
• Do not bleach
• Do not iron directly on prints
• Wash promptly after heavy sweating to prevent odour buildup

Extended Care Tips

• For teams: Wash immediately after games/practices when possible
• Stain removal: Pre-treat stains before washing
• Storage: Ensure completely dry before storing
• Static reduction: Use dryer balls or lower heat settings
• Print care: Turn inside-out to protect decorations

Pricing & Value Analysis

At approximately $5.70 CAD per shirt, the ATC3700 represents excellent value in the performance tee category. Here's how the pricing breaks down:

Value Proposition

• Performance features typically add $2-4 to shirt cost
• NBF technology is exclusive to premium polyester shirts
• Canadian manufacturing/distribution reduces shipping costs
• Bulk pricing available for team orders

Cost Comparison (CAD)

• Basic cotton tee: $3.50-4.50
• Performance polyester: $5.70-8.00
• Premium athletic brands: $12.00-20.00
• Retail performance tees: $25.00-40.00

The ATC3700 sits in the sweet spot between basic and premium, offering professional performance features at an accessible price point perfect for sports teams and organizations.

Our Verdict

The ATC3700 Essential Performance Tee is an excellent choice for athletic and active-wear applications. The combination of moisture-wicking technology, No Bleed Fabric for easier printing, and affordable pricing makes it a standout in the performance tee category.

We recommend the ATC3700 for:

• Sports teams needing practice and warmup shirts
• Fitness centres and gyms
• Outdoor events and charity runs
• Summer promotional campaigns
• Sublimation printing projects (white/light colours)
• Active workwear environments
• Organizations needing durable, performance-oriented apparel
• Youth sports teams and leagues

Consider alternatives if:

• You need a soft cotton feel (try Gildan 5000)
• You need more colour options (try ATC1000)
• You're doing heavy embroidery (polyester can be slippery)
• Budget is the only concern (cotton basics are cheaper)
• You need fashion colours not available in athletic palette
• Your application doesn't require performance features

Final Rating Justification

Our 4.0/5 overall rating reflects the ATC3700's excellence in its intended category. It loses points only for limited colours and the inherent trade-offs of polyester versus cotton. For athletic and performance applications, it would rate even higher.