The Best Jiu Jitsu gi’s Of 2022, reviewed (training and competition gi’s)

You’re looking for the best BJJ gi, but stumbling across a gi clearance sales is a rare occasion, therefore you have to search online. The only problem is, there are over 260(!) on the market, and likely just a handful of those will be the right choice for you.

So many choices leaves you overwhelmed, and the chance of wasting your money on the wrong gi is high. We’ve rounded up top ten Jiu Jitsu Gis from the best brands here to help make your life easier.

We’ve chosen something for everyone – whether you need something for a specific body type, gender, or something that will last longer than you do.

First we’ll make sense of the typical jargon you see when buying a gi for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This helps in making the right choice.

Top 9: Best BJJ Gi Brands and models of 2022:

At the end of this article you’ll find gi terminology and the common questions you should ask yourself before buying one.

Which gi should you buy? which one is the best bjj gi for you?

Even after understanding the jargon and answering those questions, you still have way too many options. Fortunately, after hours of careful research perusing dozens of gis both online and in-person, we have identified the ten most loved BJJ gi’s.

No question about it, BJJ gis aren’t cheap. But these budget gis will give you the best price to quality ratios out there.

Coming in at a highly affordable price point, this single weave gi is the most recommended ‘value gi’ on the market. This is a great first gi if you’re just getting into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The price and design make this Gi a strong contendor for best bjj gi for many buyers.

Don’t mistake the affordable price for a lack of quality; the material might be only single weave and the design plain, but this gi is highly reinforced across all stress points.

The cuffs are triple stitched and taped with a strip of twill cotton. Each seam in the jacket is also reinforced with twill tape, something most other gis neglect. The base jacket hems and side vents are also similarly reinforced.

The pants are reinforced by a double layer covering the knee to ankle area. This is contrast to most reinforced gi pants in which only the knees are reinforced. When kneeling, the entire area from the knee to the ankle is in contact with the ground, making the entire area a stress point. The cuff of the pants is also reinforced with twill tape and triple stitched.

Finally, while this gi is not as light as you would think (~1.7 to 2kg), it is soft and comfortable for extended training. That being said, this gi is known to experience significant shrinkage, so consider ‘sizing up’ when buying this one.

Someone has finally done it! No more having to settle for an awkward fitting uni-sex gi that just never seems to fit perfectly. In our opinion, this is the best Bjj gi for women based on design and price intersection.

The Women’s Essential Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gi by Sanabul was quite obviously designed for the female Jiu Jitsuka and its surprising that nobody designed something like this earlier with the rate of growth of females in the space.

Sanabul took all their feedback and designed a unique size cut specifically for the typical female body. It has a tapered athletic cut and they have eliminated all that annoying bagginess that often comes in traditional Gi. On top of this, its engineered to be ultra-lightweight – perfect for beginners and experts alike.

Oh, and did we mention its also light on the wallet? You can’t argue with the price of this Gi. Phenomenal value!

Last but not least, no more shrinking! This happens to be the only lightweight female gi that comes pre-shrunk. Combine that with the specialized size chart, and you’re almost guaranteed to have a Gi that fits you perfectly.

Sanabul is a newer Bjj gi company that almost exclusively sells via Amazon. One of the lowest price gi’s on the market, period.

Despite this low price, the material isn’t single weave but rather an ultra-lightweight pearl weave. The lightweight weave brings the total weight of the gi in around the 1.5kg to 1.7kg range…yet it retains its toughness.

This Gi is reinforced in the typical areas in the jacket and the pants to compensate for the ultra-lightweight material. However, some users have noted that the bjj gi material is extremely easy to grip, which would be a plus for your opponent. Hence, this may not be the best gi to use for a competition. It is more suited for traveling and hot climates, however.

Sanabul advertises this gi as having a tapered and athletic cut with little to on bagginess. While this makes for a snazzy fit, it also means that this bjj gi tends to run a little small.

If you train in a hot climate or simply a gym with no air-conditioning, you’ll want a lightweight gi. And if you compete, a light Gi will help you make weight more easily.

The Zero G V3 is Tatami’s third incarnation of their popular Zero G line and by all accounts it’s the best one yet. The jacket is made out of 475gsm pearl weave with rip-stop cotton covering the collar and lapels. The areas under the armpits and behind the side vents are also reinforced.

The jacket uses contrast stitching, giving it a stylish look. The cuffs are also lined with folded seam tape bearing the Zero G logo, adding to the stylish look.

In the V3, Tatami has opted to make their bjj gi pants out of 11oz ripstop cotton instead of the standard twill cotton. The pants are also double reinforced.

Weight-wise, you should understand that 475gsm for the jacket and 11oz for the pants makes this slightly heavier than most lightweight gis. This is the slight trade-off you get for having such a sturdy and well-constructed gi. A minor tradeoff, but a tradeoff nonetheless. The gi weighs in the 1.5kg range.

As for fit, many have commented that the Tatami is a ‘roomier’ fit, which may or may not be to your liking. The skirt of the bjj gi is also a little longer than standard. One bonus however is that you can throw this bjj gi in the dryer and experience minimal shrinkage.

The Goruudo is one of Hayabusa’s signature gis and is now in its third incarnation. This is their premium gi, made from a 550gsm gold weave with 12oz twill cotton pants. This means that this is a heavy gi, and Hayabusa specifically markets it as a competition gi. In fact, this name is one of the best in the market.

As befits a competition gi, the Goruudo has reinforced stress points throughout the jacket and pants to resist pulling and tugging. The choice of gold weave over the more common pearl weave also gives the gi an element of extra durability, but also adds to its weight.

If you don’t like flashy gis, you won’t like this one. Other than the standard contrast stitching, the gi comes embroidered with bold kanji characters. The kanjis are the Japanese words for courage, strength, pride, and respect.

The Flow Kimonos Air BJJ gi may just be your secret weapon when training or competing in warm climates. It’s been dubbed as the ‘ultimate lightweight training Gi’ as its built with extremely soft yet breathable combed pearl weave cotton and reinforcement all over. For many reasons, we think this is the best bjj gi by flow kimonos.

While it may be on the light side at just 350GSM, features like the combed cotton pearl weave, 10oz ripstop cotton pants and global tonal stitching ensure that it will last years under heavy use. You’ve gotta be happy with that – light, breathable yet strong.

You’ll probably start to notice this GI a lot more when watching high level competitions. Its the Gi of choice of many obsessive competitors – probably becuase it does what its meant to do.

If you travel often and need something light; if you compete a lot, or just want something that keeps you a little cooler than a normal Gi – the Flow Kimonos air gi is solid choice.

Fuji consistently make quality gis at fair prices. So it’s no surprise to see another Fuji bjj gi in our top picks. The Suparaito (superlight in Japanese) gi is Fuji’s lightweight offering and is made from a pearl weave fabric that is about a 420gsm.

The jacket’s side vents are reinforced with both tape and ripstop material, while the collar is covered in ripstop cotton as well. The interior of the cuffs is also lined with tape with the Suparaito logo. The popular contrast stitching design applies here, giving the gi a sharp look although the overall aesthetic is quite minimalist.

The pants are ripstop cotton and are triple reinforced from the knee down. The crotch area is also reinforced.

Fit wise, this gi is very tapered. The skirt is definitely on the shorter side, which some competitors perceive as an advantage but may be a disadvantage depending on your body type. The gi also exhibits one of the least amount of shrinkage when compared to the market.

The material of the gi is also noted not to stretch when wet, making grip breaking much easier. It also allows the gi to maintain its tapered form during sweaty rolling sessions. However, some minor fraying at the seams has been mentioned by various users after some use, although this did not affect the functionality of the gi.

Hemp gis are relatively new on the gi market. But as the public becomes more and more aware of the beneficial properties of hemp, they are quickly gaining in popularity.

Datsusara is the pioneer in the market when it comes to hemp gis and they’ve only been improving their product offering since. By the way, Datsusara is Japanese for ‘to leave the corporate worker’s life’.

The gi itself is a 580gsm 100% hemp weave, so don’t expect a light gi. This is a sturdy construction that comes with reinforced areas at the front breast and the interior of the armpit. The stitching is hemp as well, meaning that this is one strong gi!

Due to the properties of hemp, this gi starts off on the rougher side. However, it actually gets softer and more comfortable with each wash, in contrast to cotton gis. The gi feels soft; it has been described as ‘heavy linen’. However, some training partners have complained about the rough feeling of rolling with someone with a hemp gi. This should go away after a few washes.

Being naturally anti-microbial, this gi will not stink as much as your cotton gi. That doesn’t mean you can just leave it in your car after a session, but you will probably find the smell a little more palatable if you do. In addition, this gi feels more breathable compared to a cotton gi of similar weight.

The Gameness Elite Gi has been the company’s premium offering for quite a few years now, and the 2015 version is its best yet. Make no mistake about it, this is a premium gi offered at a premium price. The jacket is a 550gsm pearl weave but it comes with a stylish inner rash guard lining which adds to its overall weight.

The inner rashguard lining, which covers the entire inner gi jacket up to the elbows, makes this gi stand out almost as a luxury gi. Not only does it help wick away sweat, it brings an extra level of comfort when rolling. The rashguard lining is also made to stretch alongside the gi and many users have reported rolling for years in the gi with no tears in the lining.

While this gi is not as heavily reinforced as some of the more premium gis on the market, the reinforcements are more than adequate. Durability is not an issue with this gi, it is ideal for both everyday training and competition.

The pants are also heavy; 12oz rip stop pants with stretch cord drawstring. The material is a cotton/polyester blend as polyester provides it with a higher resistance to shrinkage.

A great option for you if you want a Gi that will last the distance under heavy training.

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Deciphering BJJ Gi Brand Jargon

Here are 5 terms you need to understand when looking to purchase your Bjj gi. Pay close attention, especially if you’re a white belt as you don’t want to screw this up.

You may be tempted to skip this section, but you shouldn’t. Understanding exactly what you are buying when choosing a gi is important. If you don’t, the whole process will confuse you and you’ll probably make the wrong choice. 

Material: Cotton vs Bamboo vs Hemp

Your first bjj gi will be your most expensive item of your BJJ gear, so it makes sense to learn about what you’re buying. They can even be more expensive than a grappling dummy.

The three main materials you will find in gi construction are cotton, hemp, and bamboo.

Cotton was the original Bjj gi material and still remains the most popular gi material by far. Since it is such a commonly used material, it is the most cost effective. Further, cotton is also a strong and breathable material; very important factors when it comes to choosing the best bjj gi. That said, cotton has a tendency to shrink quite a bit and future shrinkage should always be kept in mind when buying a gi.

Bamboo and hemp gis have recently entered the market. These are said to be stronger, more durable, and more breathable compared to cotton with natural anti-microbial properties (1). The anti-microbial properties are a big selling point considering the risk of skin infections from grappling. However, these gis tend to occupy a very premium price point as well.

Weave Type

The weave of the gi refers to the method that the material threads are woven together.

Besides the single weave (the worst), here are the most common types of weaves that you will encounter are below in the table:

WEAVE	DESCRIPTION	BEST CHOICE FOR
SINGLE WEAVE	The Single weave is the cheapest and lightest weaves. Light? Yes. Durable? Not so much.	Great starter gis for those who aren’t sure if they will be training BJJ for the long term
DOUBLE WEAVE	Double wave = heaviest type of weave. This results in a thick and heavy gi, almost like a competition judo gi (there is a difference)	For long term use, heavy training, and cold climates. These Gi’s last forever.
GOLD WEAVE	The Gold weave is a cross between single and double weaves. Stronger and more durable than a single weave but not as heavy as a double weave.	A great all rounder gi for home use – will last longer than all other gi types, but is more expensive.
PEARL WEAVE	Most popular weave today. It makes for a lightweight, flexible, and breathable yet durable gi; perfect for training. Fast drying, and usually comes pre-shrunk, but costs more.	Great all rounder gi for home based training and hotter climates.
RIP STOP WEAVE	Specially interwoven nylon fabric – very resistant to tearing. Extremely lightweight and are thus ideal as a travel gi or training in very hot climates.	Great for hot climates, or for a travelling Gi. (NOTE: Not all ripstop gis are IBJJF legal as the weave gives the gi a very slippery feeling)

GSM (Grams per square meter)

GSM stands for Grams per Square Meter and gives you a gauge of just how heavy a Bjj gi is. And while this seems like something you can use to calculate a gi’s precise weight, that is not the case.

Use a gi’s GSM number as a general indicator, not a precise measurement. Often you will see gis with similar weaves but different GSM values.

Reinforcement

Some gis are reinforced at the points where tears commonly happen. The most common point of reinforcement is at the knees of the gi pants and the shoulder / neck area. However some gis may reinforce other areas such as the collar as well.

Cut

The best bjj gi companies offer different cuts for gis. The most common are slim, lanky, and husky; these will usually be denoted by a letter at the end of the gi size. For example A2L for lanky and A3H for husky.

5 Questions to Ask Yourself before Choosing a Gi​

A cool Bjj gi is not enough…you’ll likely spend lots of your life in this thing! Spend 5 minutes asking yourself the following questions before choosing the best bjj gi.

How Often Will I Train?

At most academies, you’ll have people who train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as little as once a week to the mat rats who hit seven or more training sessions a week.

If you lean toward the casual side, something a bit more lightweight and comfortable may be more up your alley.

On the other hand, if you are on the mats every day, or training something demanding like Judo, then a thicker and more durable gi that you can use multiple times per week may be more ideal. If you are planning on training many times per week you probably want to look into headgear to help prevent the chances of cauliflower ear.

What’s My Local Training Temperature?

Even the lightest gi is thicker than the average sweater. Adjust the type of your gi according to the local temperature.

In the summer or if you’re in a tropical climate, opt for lightweight gis, such as pearl weaves. This is important, especially as not all academies have air conditioning. If you’ve ever trained in a thick and heavy gi in a hot and humid climate, you know just how torturous it can be.

Jiu-jitsu is hard enough as is; no need to make it even more difficult!

What’s My Body Type?

Choosing the wrong cut of gi for your body type may result in sleeves and lapels that are too long for your body and pants that hang too high or low on your ankles.

In addition to simply making you look unfashionable, it may make your gi illegal for tournaments.

…Which brings us to our next point….

Will I Use This Gi for Tournaments?

Most BJJ athletes have designated ‘competition gis’ that they favor. Often, these competition gis are simply gis that have been patched up with the logos of their team and sponsors.

However, there are some things you have to be meticulous on when buying a competition gi; namely the length of sleeves and lapels.

Most tournaments perform gi checks before a match and the IBJJF is notorious for being strict in this area. Refer to their official gi guidelines here (1)

Are There Any Local Gym Rules That May Affect My Purchase?

While most BJJ academies are pretty lax when it comes to gi policy, many academies also have an official uniform policy. The strictest form of this is only allowing ‘official academy gis’ on the mat (a controversial policy as it is clearly a profit-based motive). Some academies also require you to wear a rash guard under your GI!

Looser forms also apply, for example, Gracie Humaita Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools only allow white and blue gis (2) while the Mendes brothers’ Art of Jiu-Jitsu academy only allows white ones (3).

Make sure you know your academy’s uniform policy, if any, before making a purchase.