Should I use foam or neoprene can coolers?

The answer depends on a few factors. Here is a table showing their differences to help you decide what's best for your next project.

The differences:

Foam (Polyfoam)

Neoprene
  • Softer (think of a soft sponge)
  • Less expensive
  • The seams are sewn using a blind stitch, hiding the thread from the outside of the can cooler
  • Firmer & more durable wetsuit material
  • More expensive
  • More elastic than foam
  • Sewn with an abutted seam, which shows the thread on the outside
  • Best for higher temperature transfers such as sublimation

 

foam vs neoprene can cooler sleeves

What they have in common:

Scuba knit polyester stretch fabric is laminated to the outside of both the foam and neoprene can coolers. This means that both types of coolers will accept Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV), sublimation, infusible ink and screen printing. However, when applying higher temperatures, such as those with sublimation, many prefer neoprene due to its greater durability.

TahoeBay polyfoam:

Polyfoam comes in a few different grades. One reason creators prefer TahoeBay Foam Can Coolers is that we use a higher grade polyfoam. This makes a difference in softness, keeping its shape during shipping, and holding up under a heat press.