This article is to review the Elite Sports IBJJF Ultra Light Gi…and to find out why it gets my pick as the best BJJ Gi for beginners.
But also:
If you’re not a beginner?
Whether it deserves the 4.7 stars it’s got from 1,197 Amazon reviews
Let’s find out.
My Review: Here’s my thoughts and opinions of the Elite Sports IBJJF Ultra Light Gi…
So why did I choose this Gi over others?
I needed a new, plain white Gi with no patches (for travel and drop-ins)
But, because I already have a few Gi’s, I wanted one that was good value for money.
After quite a bit of research it came down to 2 finalists: Sanabul vs Elite Gi: The Best BJJ Gi for the Money
[In the end I decided to get one of each]
I ordered the Elite Sports Gi first…
… and based on my experience so far, my next Gi will also be another one of these
Why is the Elite Sports IBJJF Ultra Light Gi the best Gi for beginners?
This is the criteria I used:
- Price and value for money
- Accurate sizing
- Material type
- Durability
Design & style: First impressions
When I pulled this out of the packaging, the first thing I though was:
“This isn’t as plain as I thought it’d be”
Good.
It has enough patches and color to break it up…
…but they’re in the right places so it’s still IBJJF legal
Sure, it’s not a limited edition Shoyoroll… but it’s good for me. And I always like to remember the rule:
“Make sure your gear isn’t better than your Jiu Jitsu”
Even though I bought White, the Elite Sports IBJJF Ultra Light Gi also comes in:
- Royal Blue
- Black
- Navy Blue
- Pink
- Grey
[It’s only the White, Royal Blue, and Black that are IBJJF legal]
Elite Sports IBJJF Ultra Light Gi: Sizing and fit
The Elite Sports sizing chart gives you options based on height and weight… and there’s an:
- L option for slightly taller people
- H option for slightly heavier people
On Amazon, this Gi’s rating is ‘fit as expected’
I was right on the edge of an A3 or an A3L. So I checked Amazon’s ‘Customer questions and answers’ about the Elite Gi:
The A3 fits perfect for my height and weight (6’1” and 90 kg or 200 lbs)
Click here for feedback on Amazon from people of different sizes who’ve bought this Gi
And:
No shrinkage
[It’s a pre-shrunk Gi]
Elite Sports IBJJF Ultra Light Gi Price: Here’s how I got mine cheap!
Elite Sports’ gear isn’t very expensive so you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s a cheap brand made just for Amazon…
…it’s actually Amazon’s 3rd best selling item for Martial Arts Clothing
But after a bit of Googling, I found the best place to get their gear is direct from their website
[Elite Sports were having a 12% off sale using Coupon Code SAVEMY12, click here to see if they still are]
My thoughts on its price:
It’s not just that it’s the cheapest Gi, but also that it’s approved for use in IBJJF competitions
This makes it a good Gi for both training and competition…
…saving me from buying another one
And if you’re a total beginner?
It comes with a free White Belt
But also, material type and washing:
If you plan on training more than once a week then you really only have 2 options:
- Buy more than one Gi, or
- Buy one Gi that dries quickly
Why?
A pre-shrunk Gi can still shrink several inches if you put it in the dryer so that’s not an option…
… and wearing the same Gi without washing it is DEFINITELY not an option
So this means:
- Because it’s pretty cheap you could afford to buy 2 and rotate them, or
- Because it’s quick drying you could get away with only having to buy one
[And not wear the dreaded damp Gi]
My results from using the Elite Sports IBJJF Ultra Light Gi
The material is very light and comfortable (unlike some other Gi’s that I cook in!)
In fact:
It’s the lightest Gi I own.
This makes it a good Gi for travel, and one that I’ll continue to use for summer training.
Winter?
I’m writing this in the middle of winter, and haven’t felt like it’s too thin (because I always wear a rash guard anyway)
Durability: How has it lasted?
I’ll be honest, I’ve only had it a few weeks
Being an ultra light single weave Gi it’s not likely to last as long as some other materials…
…but it’s shown no signs of wear and tear yet.
The stitching is all reinforced, so I’d expect that to be the case
But a couple of good things:
- It doesn’t stink (it’s Anti-Odor and Anti-Microbial)
- It hasn’t shrunk after several washes
Conclusion: Very happy with the Elite Sports IBJJF Ultra Light Gi
Overall, I’m really impressed with the Elite Sports IBJJF Ultra Light Gi.
I highly recommend it especially if you’re wanting a Gi that:
- Can be used for both training and IBJJF competitions
- Is fast drying
- Means you don’t need to buy two separate rashies, or
- Is cheap enought that you could buy 2 if you wanted to, and
- Still has an element of style
Click here to see if the Elite Sports Coupon Code SAVEMY12 still works
4.5
4.5
5