Bomber vs Varsity Jacket: Which for Your Team?

The main difference between a bomber and a varsity jacket is style and structure: a bomber is a clean, casual jacket with a ribbed collar, cuffs, and hem, while a varsity, also called a letterman, has a wool or fleece body with contrast sleeves and a classic team look. Both are waist-length and both make excellent branded team apparel, but they signal different things. This guide compares them side by side so you can pick the right one for your crew and put your design on it.

We decorate both styles for teams, schools, and businesses across the US and worldwide. If you already know which one you want, our collection of custom jackets with your logo lets you design it in a few minutes, with no minimum order.

Bomber vs Varsity Jacket at a Glance

A bomber is the modern, versatile choice; a varsity is the traditional, spirit-driven one. Both sit at the waist and both take a logo well, so the decision comes down to the look you want and the message you are sending.

The Bomber Jacket

A bomber is a lightweight, waist-length jacket with a smooth body and ribbed knit collar, cuffs, and hem, giving it a clean and modern silhouette. Originally military flight jackets, bombers have become an everyday staple because they look sharp, layer easily, and suit almost any setting from a coffee shop to a creative agency.

For branded apparel, the bomber is the versatile pick. Its smooth body gives embroidery a clean, flat surface, and the understated shape reads as smart-casual rather than sporty. That makes it a strong choice for staff uniforms, retail teams, product drops, and modern brands that want a jacket people will wear off the clock as well as on it.

The Varsity Jacket

A varsity jacket, or letterman, has a wool or fleece body with contrasting leather or knit sleeves and striped ribbed trim, giving it an instantly recognizable athletic and collegiate look. It is the jacket of school teams, clubs, and award programs, built to carry patches, lettering, and names.

The varsity is the heritage pick. Its two-tone body and contrast sleeves create a bold canvas for chenille letters, embroidered patches, and back lettering, so it works when you want to celebrate a team, mark an achievement, or build tradition. It is warmer and more substantial than a bomber, and it carries a sense of occasion that a plain jacket does not.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose a bomber for a modern, versatile branded jacket that people will wear anywhere; choose a varsity for team spirit, awards, and a classic collegiate statement. The table below maps the common cases.

How to Decorate Each One

Bombers are best decorated with embroidery on the left chest and back; varsity jackets suit chenille patches, applique lettering, and embroidery across the chest, back, and sleeves. Both hold decoration for years when it is done properly on the right surface.

On a bomber, keep the logo clean and modern: a left-chest embroidery, an optional back design, and a sleeve hit if you want a third placement. On a varsity, lean into the tradition: chenille letters on the chest, an embroidered patch or wordmark on the back, and names or years on the front.

We digitize your artwork at no charge and send a free digital proof of your exact jacket before we make anything, so you see the design on the real garment first. If you're weighing a third option too, see our what is softshell jacket guide.

What Each One Costs

Custom jackets at Arklavo start around $47.99 each with the design, digitizing, and a free proof included, and varsity jackets sit higher because of the wool body and patch work. Both carry no setup fees and no minimum, and quantity discounts apply automatically as an order grows.

Because there is no minimum, you can order a single bomber or varsity with your design to check the fit and finish before a full team run. Compare every style in our custom embroidered jackets collection, or request a quote. New customers can apply code FIRST15 for 15% off a first order, and orders over $150 ship free.

How We Make Your Jackets

Every bomber and varsity is decorated, digitized, and checked by hand before it ships. I built Arklavo around one promise: real embroidery and patch work, no minimums, and a free proof before anything is made, so a small club gets the same standard as a big school program.

You upload your design or send it to us, we turn it into a clean stitch or patch file at no charge, and we send a digital proof of your exact jacket before we run the order.

Once you approve it, we produce, check each piece, and ship with tracking. Because your design stays on file, reorders for new members are quick and carry no new fees. That is the whole reason teams switch to us from shops that set minimums and charge setup on every run.

Arklavo spokesperson.