JiuJitsu Gi Recommendations

BigBoyJiuJitsu

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After a few year hiatus, I'm going to be training again. Looking for quality gi's, nothing flashy just tough gi's to train. I've owned HCK, Machado, Atamas, Ouanos, etc. Not sure if these are still "good" brands. The Atamas have always served me well. Any other brands to look for? Again, nothing flashy, just something well built. Thanks
 
I have owned Atama Scramble Hck Fuji Gameness and Tatami my fav. is the Tatami
you should check out the Estilo 5.0 everyone who owns one raves about it. I will not buy anything else but tatami after owning one and would recommend it over the other brands I have owned.
 
Padilla & Sons
93 Brand
Fuji
Tatami
Inverted Gear
 
Padilla & Sons
93 Brand
Fuji
Tatami
Inverted Gear

So don't 93 brand, fuji, and tatami gi's almost exclusively come from the same base gi manufacturer in pakistan? I mean they're solid gi's but OP was asking for a higher end gi. Inverted is a good recommendation though as far as i've heard.

It's not like these are bad gi's, they're super solid, but do they really compete in the higher end gi market?
 
So don't 93 brand, fuji, and tatami gi's almost exclusively come from the same base gi manufacturer in pakistan? I mean they're solid gi's but OP was asking for a higher end gi. Inverted is a good recommendation though as far as i've heard.

It's not like these are bad gi's, they're super solid, but do they really compete in the higher end gi market?

He didn't ask for a "higher end gi".

He asked for "tough" and "well-built" gis.
 
So don't 93 brand, fuji, and tatami gi's almost exclusively come from the same base gi manufacturer in pakistan? I mean they're solid gi's but OP was asking for a higher end gi. Inverted is a good recommendation though as far as i've heard.

It's not like these are bad gi's, they're super solid, but do they really compete in the higher end gi market?
Tatami Estilo 5.0 is just as good as any shoyoroll I have seen
 
Tatami Estilo 5.0 is just as good as any shoyoroll I have seen

That's because if I recall correctly The Estilio fabric is core-produced in Pakistan with a lot of the other gi's. So when you get down to it, the reason that there are a ton of $90-$100 starter gi's like the nova, fuji's beginner gi etc, is that they're all sourced from the same place, and get charged the same amount, they might alter the gi's a bit. But those companies don't run their own looms making the weave / fabric themselves.

The ones that do are generally the more 'premium brands' you look at Origin Gi's for example. They come up with different weaves and they're paying the overhead for their looms which adds to the cost of your gi at the end of the day. I'm pretty sure shoyroll just commissions their stuff from the same place. And again, I could absolutely be wrong here. And they do modify them a bit, like they might put in a rashguard liner, or add embellishments, maybe reinforce stitching etc.

I'd love it if someone that really knew exactly how the gi market worked would jump in here and correct me if i'm wrong. But I don't think a lot of the big brands have much difference unless they are making their gi's with their own looms for their fabric, stitching it at their factories etc. Which very few gi-companies do. They might have a production line where they are doing whatever modifications to the gi that they do.

Again, not saying they're bad brands AT ALL, I personally a fuji, Tatami nova and estilo, great gi's. But based on the brands that OP was describing I was thinking it was looking at the higher end gi companies.

If he was just looking for a gi that will always do it's job I'd probably recommend even just like a tatami nova, I don't think the estilo is 'way' better or anything like that.
 
I had a nova and a guy in class had an estilo when I rolled with him I always hated that gi it was impossible to grab and get a proper grip no loose material anywhere and very slim fitting and also it felt like sandpaper on my face.....I hated that gi when someone else used it so I got one for myself. :)

I think it's only Origin that make their own weave and Isami also the made In Japan one is different than the rest other than that regardless of brand youre getting the same thing probably with different patches and graphics.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. Sorry for the confusion. Not looking for the most expensive necessarily. Looking for a rugged, tough, well built gi. One that I can add to the rotation and beat the crap out of it.
 
That's because if I recall correctly The Estilio fabric is core-produced in Pakistan with a lot of the other gi's. So when you get down to it, the reason that there are a ton of $90-$100 starter gi's like the nova, fuji's beginner gi etc, is that they're all sourced from the same place, and get charged the same amount, they might alter the gi's a bit. But those companies don't run their own looms making the weave / fabric themselves.

The ones that do are generally the more 'premium brands' you look at Origin Gi's for example. They come up with different weaves and they're paying the overhead for their looms which adds to the cost of your gi at the end of the day. I'm pretty sure shoyroll just commissions their stuff from the same place. And again, I could absolutely be wrong here. And they do modify them a bit, like they might put in a rashguard liner, or add embellishments, maybe reinforce stitching etc.

It's true, lots of gis that are mass produced in Pakistan are on the same street, in a row of "factories" and most gi companies share the same factories. Some companies jump from manufacturer to manufacturer due to inconsistencies of quality, but most stay with the same ones.

Origin gis are a premium priced product. Are they being innovative? Sure. Are they better than say a $150 Tatami or Inverted Gear? No. Not at all.

Do you know why?

Because they haven't been doing this very long. Pakistan is the leader because they've been doing this a long time. Sure you will have the occasional tearing of pants or a hole, but the company who you bought it from generally will correct the situation.

Over a few years Origin will produce a great and consistent product, but will always be a premium price.

I'd love it if someone that really knew exactly how the gi market worked would jump in here and correct me if i'm wrong. But I don't think a lot of the big brands have much difference unless they are making their gi's with their own looms for their fabric, stitching it at their factories etc. Which very few gi-companies do. They might have a production line where they are doing whatever modifications to the gi that they do.

There are slight differences in stitching, logos, and sizing. That's about it. You have to really nitpick a gi to see the small differences. The fabrics are all the same but with different names. Obviously a normal pearl weave is pearl across the board, the same with gold weave. When you start getting into the "super light pearl" or "hi-tech" weave, is when it starts getting an inferior product.

Again, not saying they're bad brands AT ALL, I personally a fuji, Tatami nova and estilo, great gi's. But based on the brands that OP was describing I was thinking it was looking at the higher end gi companies.

If he was just looking for a gi that will always do it's job I'd probably recommend even just like a tatami nova, I don't think the estilo is 'way' better or anything like that.

Last note, higher end gi companies don't always have the best product or the best customer service. A lot of bad CS gets swept under the rug from the most mainstream company because the fan boys don't want to say anything and and get the owners mad or have the cool kids gang up on them.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. Sorry for the confusion. Not looking for the most expensive necessarily. Looking for a rugged, tough, well built gi. One that I can add to the rotation and beat the crap out of it.

Tatami Estilo 5.0 is solid. So is the Scramble Athlete 2.0 if you don't mind ripstop pants.
 
Padilla & Sons
93 Brand

My two favorites.
I got the Padilla & Sons lightweight which at first I wasn't a fan of, but it's turned into one of those gis that the more I wear it, the more I like it. As for 93 Brand, I think the Hooks 2.0 is one of the best bang for the buck gis out there and recommend it to anyone new to BJJ that asks me what gi they should get first.
Anyways, welcome back to the mats!
 
  • Atama has always served me right too. The new ultralight is the bees knees. Make sure to run it through the wash first though. They come from the factory uber starched, especially the rip stop pants.
 
I like 93 Brand a lot. You can get the basic one in a few colors for under $100 and it will hold up very well.
 
I love doing business with small companies. But that site offers nothing. Only has 4 pictures of the gi, and 2 of them are blurry. No full photos of the gi either. It's like they're purposely trying to not show you the gi.

http://www.portlandgicompany.com/shop/gi


Ya, it's just a guy and his girlfriend doing it as a side thing. Only makes around 15-20 at a time. You're right though.... The website pictures are bad
 
Ya, it's just a guy and his girlfriend doing it as a side thing. Only makes around 15-20 at a time. You're right though.... The website pictures are bad

"Make" is the wrong term, order, put their patches on the gi. Is basically all they do. As do most of the major gi companies. The only real difference unless you're getting an origin gi or I think Shoyaroll makes a few of their own is like... rashguard made as part of the gi, maybe a few areas that are reinforced, but usually not even that. It's just they stock order gi's from factory row in pakistan and brand them in their own gi brand and act like they're some 'homemade' gi company.
 
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