The Best BJJ Gi Choices in 2021
Welcome to my round-up of the best BJJ Gi’s you can buy in 2021.
Every year there seems to be a greater choice of Brands and types of Gi’s for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. The established brands are consistently updating their flagship products while new companies are emerging with innovative and cool new Gi’s.
The sheer number of options when selecting a Gi can be difficult to navigate and that is why I have decided to help you out by creating this best BJJ gi guide.
The problem with guides like this one is that it is hard to define exactly what “best” means as everyone has different needs. As a result, I have selected a number of gis including the best overall, most durable, and best value. Without further ado, here are my picks for the best BJJ gis in 2021…
Gold BJJ’s Aeroweave gi brings together the best aspects of an ultra durable heavy weave gi, and a competition friendly lightweight gi. They use a custom “aeroweave” that is 40% lighter than your standard Pearl Weave for their lightweight gi. Training in a lightweight gi helps prevent you from getting overheated or drenched in sweat.
This lightweight BJJ gi is reinforced in all areas, so despite it’s light weight it will stand up to even the toughest training partners trying to tear it apart. It’s a clean, minimalist design that looks great on the mats.
Hayabusa is a well-established martial arts brand that used to sponsor GSP and other big name UFC athletes. Rooted in Japanese tradition, Hayabusa have a wealth of experience developing gis and MMA products.
The Hayabusa Goorudo 3.0 is the third iteration of one of their most popular Gi’s. The Goorudo 3.0 is a tank of a Gi. It is heavy, hard wearing, and will stand up to lots of punishment. Despite being a bit heavier, it does not impede movement and does not slow you down.
The beautiful gold weave fabric and stitching gives this Gi a luxury feel. The lapels are thick and there is extra stitching and everywhere. The Hayabusa branding is stylish and the back of the Gi is adorned with traditional kanjis meaning “Courage”, “Strength”, “Pride” and “Respect”.
Although the Gi came pre-washed and pre-shrunk, there was still a bit of shrinkage in my Gi following the 1st couple of washes.
The only other complaint is that it would be nice to have some other L sizes available as well as the standard A0 – A4. As I have long legs I usually prefer to go for an A3L fit but I had to settle for an A3. The pants fit ok but with some shrinkage are now slightly on the small side.
In summary, the most durable Gi I have ever owned and reasonably priced considering the quality. A close contender for the overall best BJJ Gi title.
Pros
- Cool Design
- Very hard wearing and durable
Cons
- Quite a heavy Gi
- Some shrinkage experienced on pants after washing
- No additional L sizes available
Sanabul is one of the budget BJJ gi brands, and they offer uniforms are a variety of price points. While I wouldn’t recommend going with their lowest priced gi, their Highlights model is a good blend of quality and value. It’s hard to beat th
Pros
- Athletic fit, no baggy sleeves or pants (maybe not ideal if you’re on the husky side)
- Competition approved – this gi is legal in IBJJF events
- Worn by some top names in BJJ like Guilherme Bomba and John Danaher
Cons
- Only available in A0 to A4, no L or H sizes and no A5 available for larger athletes
No products found.
One of the first things you will notice is the stitching and extra detail inside the Gi. It is a really nice touch and gives the gi that premium feel. There are 7 color variations. The black on black option makes a welcome return and is my personal favorite. The attention to detail in terms of stitching and design are whats sets this Gi apart . Performance wise, the Estilo 6.0 feels great to wear and my movement never felt restricted.
In terms of durability the Gi performs excellently. After 6 months of regular use and washing there is no visible shrinkage and the Gi still feels great. Another thing that I really like about this gi is that in addition to being available in A0 – A6 they also offer S and L sizes in the A2 -A4 category which is great for those of us who do not have conventional body types.
You might also consider Tatami’s Estilo 6.0 gi, their longest running kimono and previous iterations have been favorably received by hobbyists and athletes alike – read my full Estilo 6.0 review here.
Pros
- Incredible attention to detail
- Excellent durability
- Stylish
- Extra sizes are very welcome
- Lots of color options
Cons
- Drawstring slightly too long but was easily fixed.
No products found.
No products found.
FUJI are a perennial Martial Arts sports brand that are consistently producing good quality affordable Gi’s. The brand was founded by former International Judo Federation Vice President Frank Hatashita.
The FUJI BJJ Uniform is perhaps their most popular Gi and is perfect for everyday use.
In terms of performance the Gi cannot be faulted. At 1.4kg the Gi falls into the midweight Gi category. The Gi has a Premium Cotton blend which makes it comfortable to wear and move in. The jacket is fitted and the pants are spacious enough to ensure they do not catch at the knee which allows ease of movement. The risk of ripping seems very low due to the quality stitching and reinforcement throughout the Gi.
The Gi will not win any style awards as the design is very plain (which people some may prefer). Shipping comes with additional patches that can be sewed on. The all around Gi is available in white, blue, Navy, Camo, and also Pink!
Whether you are an experienced hobbyist or a young competitor that needs another Gi, the All Around Gi is a solid choice. In summary, a very all around Gi that is perfect for everyday use.
Pros
- Great Value
- Good Quality materials and stitching
- Ease of movement
- Durable and hard wearing
Cons
- Very plain design
- Flat drawstrings are annoying and can become loose
No products found.
Scramble is the brain child of Matt Benyon and Ben Tong. The brand has a strong Japanese influence which can be seen in all the Gi’s that they produce.
The standard issue Gi is available in white, navy, and black and is relatively plain apart from two branded tags. Instead Scramble leaves the decision of branding and customization up to you. The Standard Issue Semi Custom Gi comes with 8 different woven Scramble patches that can be ironed or sewn onto the Gi. These patches feature the funky scramble branding including the trademark white and red logo.
Often many of the top BJJ companies offer Gi’s with heavy branding and too many logos so it is nice to see Scramble going in the other direction and offering a blank canvas to the consumer.
The Standard Issue Semi Custom Gi weighs less than 4lbs which puts it in the midweight range for Gi’s. It is made with a 450gsm pearl weave top and 230gsm cotton ripstop pants. The material has a nice premium feel. Good quality stitching and finishing ensures that the product will not rip easy.
The Gi trousers are a slim fit while the Jacket is light and comfortable without being too baggy. The Gi I received matched the sizing chart exactly. Extra ‘L’ sizes are also available for those of us with longer limbs.
Pros
- Great Value
- No heavy branding or logos
- Gi has a premium feel
- Cool sew on patches
Cons
- May cost extra to sew on patches
There can be a massive discrepancy in the weight of Gi’s. Some Gi’s can feel quite heavy whereas others feel like normal clothing. The choice of Gi is often down to personal preference and there is advantages in wearing a light/heavy Gi.
Many competitors prefer light weight Gi’s because it allows them to be closer to the weight limit for the competition. Others prefer lightweight Gi’s because they train in humid environments. The lightweight Gi allows them to move easier and does not adsorb as much sweat as heavier Gi’s
In terms of lightweight Gi’s the Hayabusa product is one of the best products on the market. Many companies scrimp on quality when making lightweight Gi’s in order to hit the target weight. As a result the Gi’s have short lifespans and frequently tear. This is not the case with the Hayabus lightweight Gi which comes with reinforced stress areas made using high quality cotton. The stitching quality is excellent and is obvious immediately.
The first thing I noticed about this Gi was the softness. I am not sure why the Gi feels so soft but it is a welcome feature when compared to many other popular Gi brands. I also love the color options which include a grey and a green option. The only negative comment I have is that the drawstring is made of an elastically material that I feel is not as functional as the other normal cotton strings that are normally used.
Pros
- Quality is similar to normal heavier BJJ Gi’s
- Excellent quality of materials
- Soft premium feel
- Great color options
Cons
- Overly flexible drawstring
What to Look for in a BJJ Gi
When it comes to finding the best BJJ gi for your training, in my opinion these are the most important factors:
- Weight
- Durability
- Style
- Price
Weight
Are you planning on competing? Then a lightweight gi will make it easier to make weight, as most competitions require you to wear your gi at weigh ins. On the other hand, I find that lightweight gis are a little easier for your opponent to establish grips on. This is especially true if you’re up against someone who likes to play a lapel-heavy game.
One of the determining factors of the weight of a gi is the type of weave used in the sewing. Most gis have traditionally used a pearl weave, which is on the light/medium side of weight (usually not too heavy). This BJJ gi guide from “The MMA Guru” has an in-depth breakdown of the different types of weaves used if you’re interested in learning more.
Durability
Lightweight gis of course have less material, and they are more prone to ripping unless they are reinforced with extra stitching. If you’re buying a gi from an established brand, most of them makes uniforms that will last. While beginners do overrate durability as a buying factor (all of the best BJJ gi brands are pretty solid these days), you don’t want to pick up a sketchy off brand gi that will quickly rip on you.
Style
Do you like gis that come preloaded with lots of branding, or do you want to add your own gi patches (or just go with a plain neutral aesthetic)? This is an important factor to consider, as some gi brands overload their uniforms with logos and embroidery. You never want to have to remove patches from your gi, doing so will negatively impact the durability. So when in doubt I would go with a kimono that is on the cleaner side of design.
Price
Like anything, you get what you pay for. There are absolutely some solid budget options out there, but in general the best BJJ gis are not the cheapest ones. Now I’m not saying you have to fork out hundreds of dollars for a solid gi, but I also would not recommend getting the absolute cheapest option. There are some ultra budget brands out there that just plain suck.
