The search for the holy Gi!
9 month(s) ago • 1139 views • 65 replies
I've also struggled to find gis that fit and feel good. I've tried Shoyoroll, Origin, Hypnotik, 93 Brand, Combat Corner, Flow, and several others that aren't coming to mind right now. I know I've got a few from Old Man Jiu Jitsu, but I don't know what brand they are. Same for one of our affiliates, Shah Mat BJJ. The ones from Shah Mat are some of my favorites. But what works for me does you no good. The best advice I can give is to search for sales and try to get a good deal on as many different brands as you can. Once you find something stick with it. Of the ones I mentioned above the Hypnotik are my favorite of the readily available gis and I discovered them because they had a sale. |
Good luck Richard. Took me 9 years to find my perfect Gi. I had to buy 20+ models from more than half different brands...no hemp ones so on that note I can't help. Sure, I had the added difficulty of wanting IT to be a female cut one as well...but still. Had many good competitors that were officially destined to men. It might help if you pointed out which brands/models you tried already and what didn't feel right... |
my favorite gi is Hyperfly Starlyte first version (not comp legal) that is only 250 gsm (lightest that i have ever seen). i have to stick to Hyperfly because they are the only company i know of that has shorter length gi. If anyone knows of a company that sells an A1S that is bathrobe comfy . please share! willing to spend any amount of money for a good quality product |
I have 14 gis right now, and several others over the years. I was a bug Atama user fir the first 7 years. I like the gis I have now (except my Hyperfly sadly). But I have to say my favorites are the Flow Alpine Pro (NOT IBBJF legal). I now own three. Light weight, diamond weaves that make it feel like I'm doing no gi lol. This from an old time who loved (still do!) A the heavy cotton that destroys people's fingers! How my rant helped! |
"Good luck Richard. Took me 9 years to find my perfect Gi. I had to buy 20+ models from more than half different brands...no hemp ones so on that note I can't help. Sure, I had the added difficulty of wanting IT to be a female cut one as well...but still. Had many good competitors that were officially destined to men. It might help if you pointed out which brands/models you tried already and what didn't feel right..." Hi, thanks for your input! I'm an A3 player and have tried the following Gi's. Rebelz Gi Gold Standard, Kingz The One and now I have three The Original V2 Gi from Tatami, all in A3 and all with different fits. The white has to wide pants, the blue has to short pants. The black is the best fit. |
"Hi, thanks for your input! I'm an A3 player and have tried the following Gi's. Rebelz Gi Gold Standard, Kingz The One and now I have three The Original V2 Gi from Tatami, all in A3 and all with different fits. The white has to wide pants, the blue has to short pants. The black is the best fit." I've tried several brands, Shoyoroll and Origin included. None fit me as well as Macaco Branco. It's a finnish brand manufacturing light and comfortable gis that fit me really well. Check them out https://www.macacobranco.com/sv |
I've owned a couple real hemp gis (Datsusara) as well as one fake hemp gi (anybody remember "hempgate" from like 15yrs ago? ). They're interesting gis, but have never really fit that well. I JUST got what I'm fully expecting to be my dream gi: for years I've been super frustrated that gi pants technology has barely advanced since their invention 100's of years ago. Why are we still using those silly draw strings? Why are kids gis the only ones with elastic waist bands? Wtf? I've always thought that shoyoroll gis are probably overpriced hype, so I've never owned one until they FINALLY just released one with an elastic waistband and normal drawstrings (comp standard 24.1). I paid almost $200 for this stupid thing, so I'm hoping it's a game-changer. Gonna wear it for the first time tonight. |
"I've owned a couple real hemp gis (Datsusara) as well as one fake hemp gi (anybody remember 'hempgate' from like 15yrs ago? ). They're interesting gis, but have never really fit that well. I JUST got what I'm fully expecting to be my dream gi: for years I've been super frustrated that gi pants technology has barely advanced since their invention 100's of years ago. Why are we still using those silly draw strings? Why are kids gis the only ones with elastic waist bands? Wtf? I've always thought that shoyoroll gis are probably overpriced hype, so I've never owned one until they FINALLY just released one with an elastic waistband and normal drawstrings (comp standard 24.1). I paid almost $200 for this stupid thing, so I'm hoping it's a game-changer. Gonna wear it for the first time tonight." let me know how you like it |
"I've always thought that shoyoroll gis are probably overpriced hype, " They are. I don't understand the infatuation with them. It's bad enough that they don't fit me well, but the fact that they don't last really sucks considering how much they cost. And I think they make a game out of seeing how ugly they can make something and still get people to buy it. |
"they don't fit me well, but the fact that they don't last really sucks considering how much they cost." That surprises me, since they have like a bazillion sizes to choose from. That being said, right out of the bag, my a1L is a bit long in the sleeves, even after an initial post-factory smell wash. Got a full evening of training tonight, so I'll let y'all know how it goes. |
"During my short bjj journey I have tried three different brands and models but none of them makes me happy. What brand and model do you use? I ran into an add for a Gi made of hemp. Has anyone tried hemp Gi? Pros and cons!? Cheers! Richard" I've gone through about 40+ gis over the last 20 years. My fave are from Fenom Kimonos: affordable, great fit (on me, at least), comfortable, the owner is cool too. I've got a few hemp gis. Mostly they are way too expensive and I'm dubious about some of the claims, but to be fair, my Datsusara have lasted pretty well (I had four, sold one), though I find the cut is a bit baggy. My fave hemp gi was The Green Gi (I have two), but sadly that company is no longer in business. Flow Kimonos do a decent hemp gi too, they worked closely with Datsusara on it. |
"That surprises me, since they have like a bazillion sizes to choose from. " Not really. They have a lot of specialty sizes, but their basic sizes are generally the same as everyone else. It's a bigger issue that their sizing is terribly inconsistent. I'm 5'11" and 265 lbs. I wear an A4 in pretty much everything. Shoyoroll says their A4 is for people 6'3"-6'5" or something like that and I think that's the size all of mine are. Some are too short and some are too long. I tried an A2H once because their chart said it was basically an A4 for shorter people. It was too small and way too short. I've got a Gray Skies that fits really well and an Autism Awareness that is OK, but a little short, and I wear those regularly. But the others are too long. |
I never forgave Shoyoroll for that gross collaboration they did with the infamously shady Terry Richardson, especially their tepid reaction to the criticism. https://web.archive.org/w[...]ichardson/ https://nypost.com/2013/1[...]e-pervert/ |
"During my short bjj journey I have tried three different brands and models but none of them makes me happy. What brand and model do you use? I ran into an add for a Gi made of hemp. Has anyone tried hemp Gi? Pros and cons!? Cheers! Richard" I've tried a bunch - I'm almost 6,2" and 175ish. No size chart has ever matched to my weird tall/slim frame except Flow. I tried 93brand, Sanabul, Gold, Lanky, and a few others. I've always had to have gis altered for a shorter arm length. But I got a few Flow Alpine Pros and they actually fit perfectly. Probably not an issue for most folks. |
Currently only wear about 5, own many more. I have 2 gym branded gi, one for teaching and one I keep nice for seminars, grading days, etc. Of the others, the brands I keep coming back to are Fuji and Tatami. Fuji are comfortable and reasonably priced, their All Round gi is just about the best value for money I've found. Tatami, when they're on sale, are excellent value. Their QC and durability are a bit hit and miss, but I don't think I've spent more than $100 on an individual gi from them in years. I've recently been looking for a high-end, super heavy GSM gi. I'm a bit torn between the Panda Armor and an Isami double weave. Both very expensive, and I'm hesitating to pull the trigger. |
"my favorite gi is Hyperfly Starlyte first version (not comp legal) that is only 250 gsm (lightest that i have ever seen). i have to stick to Hyperfly because they are the only company i know of that has shorter length gi. If anyone knows of a company that sells an A1S that is bathrobe comfy . please share! willing to spend any amount of money for a good quality product" What are your required measurements for the A1S? I could manufacture one to those specs, as I currently only have the A1 in our sizing. |
"let me know how you like it" So, I've worn this gi for a total of about 5 training sessions, and I'm about 90% sure that it is NOT the game-changer I had hoped. I find myself feeling for the side string tabs, that aren't there, every time I need to tighten my gi pants. While I attribute most of this to muscle memory, I also don't feel like they get a tight as your standard gi pants, although I haven't had the chance to really fire test the pants vs a berimbolo player who really loves that "crack grip". While the pants are pretty much perfect length, the top sleeves are still a bit long for my build, but I will continue to try and shrink it down a bit. Overall though, it's a really well-made gi, and it can easily pass the uniform inspection at ibjjf tournaments, once I get healthy enough for them again. |
I’m 5-8 210. (Fluffy). Overall my Flow kimonos are my fave overall. I have a few that are over 3 years old and going strong. I’ve been pleased. Fave size is A2H in Flow. I have 2 inverted pandas (bamboo) that I liked but they only lasted about a year and shrunk. But the granddaddy? The Cadillac? My favorite? Krugans Viking in A3  (Edited 8 month(s) ago) |
"Currently only wear about 5, own many more. I have 2 gym branded gi, one for teaching and one I keep nice for seminars, grading days, etc. Of the others, the brands I keep coming back to are Fuji and Tatami. Fuji are comfortable and reasonably priced, their All Round gi is just about the best value for money I've found. Tatami, when they're on sale, are excellent value. Their QC and durability are a bit hit and miss, but I don't think I've spent more than $100 on an individual gi from them in years. I've recently been looking for a high-end, super heavy GSM gi. I'm a bit torn between the Panda Armor and an Isami double weave. Both very expensive, and I'm hesitating to pull the trigger." One of my old Professor’s at BTT had an Isami he’d train in before comps. Thing was a tank. I moved about 10 years ago and I know he’s still using it. Heavy duty but man do they last |
