Best BJJ Spats (2024): Bought & Tested On The Mats!

I’ve been training jiu-jitsu since 2014 and never gave BJJ spats a look. But I've come around. I wear them religiously in winter, especially on icy cold mats before wrestling. But they serve a greater purpose than keeping you warm.

They protect you from nasty skin infections like staph. So, I bought all of the popular BJJ spats brands and put them to the test. Here’s my list of best BJJ spats based on my experience.

Best BJJ Spats

XMartial BJJ Spats

I'm a big fan of XMartial gear, including their BJJ spats. They are made from moisture-wicking fabric, keeping you cool and dry. It's a blend of 87% polyester and 13% spandex providing enough stretch for comfort.

Further, flat-lock reinforced stitching ensures the seams don't come apart as the spats are stretched. The waistband is thick, which I like, and it doesn't sit too tight around the waist. Having rolled in these, they sit well during hard rolls.

They are the softest spats I've worn.

They don't roll or slip down, and the legs don't roll up. The bonus is the vast array of funky designs to show off at your gym.

Leopard print, skull and crossbones, and even unicorns can be on display next time you roll. If you're a minimalist, they also have you covered with simple designs with the XMartial logo.

I originally ordered these in XL, thinking I would be based on having a 34" waist. I'm usually a large, and the XL was too big for me. So, order your normal pants size when getting XMartial spats, as the large fit me perfectly.

The price ranges between $25 to $75, depending on the spats and current sales. Also, everything has a one year warranty and money back guarantee so it's risk free for you to try.

You'll often find epic sales every month, so check out XMartial and see what spats bargains you can snag!

Best Budget BJJ Spats

Hawk Compression Base Layer BJJ Spats

How spats can be this cheap is beyond me. You would think they'd be so thin you could see your butt hole through the material. But that's not the case! While the material is slightly thinner than XMartial, it feels secure through the compression.

It's a blend of 85% polyester and 15% spandex, giving it slightly more stretch than the XMartial spats.

It's not moisture-wicking fabric but does the job, protecting you from rubbing skin to skin with other BJJ players. The leggings do sit a little higher up the ankle compared to XMartial spats and other brands, but it's not something I'm worried about.

The stitching is well done with a flat lock design to prevent tearing. The waistband is much thinner, but it didn't bother me on the mats. Hawk BJJ spats fit true to size, so order your usual pants size.

If you're on a budget, you won't find a cheaper pair of BJJ spats than these and feels great when training.

Best Compression BJJ Spats

Venum G-Fit Spats

As far as compression spats go, Venum G-Fit spats are my favorite. I'll wear compression spats instead of my XMartial spats when I'm feeling sore, as I feel it gives me extra protection from muscle problems on the mat.

It gives a sense of security. They are a blend of 87% polyester and 13% elastane which is the same as the XMartial spats. However, the dimensions of these spats differ, making them feel tighter with the same stretch.

The Venun G-Fit spats feel very light with a comfortable fitting waistband. I've had no issues with the spats falling or rolling up my legs during hard rolls. The stitching is flat-locked, so it won't unravel with training.

They are much tighter around the ankle and have less stretch than the XMartial spats giving the compression feeling. I am a large, and the Venum G-Fit fits perfectly.

Best BJJ Spats For Women

XMartial Women’s BJJ Spats

XMartial appears twice on this list as they are one of the few brands that manufacture women's BJJ spats. Women have different anatomy than men, including a large Q angle, the angle from the hip to the knee.

This requires different cuts and is why most clothes have men's and women's versions. As with the XMartial men's BJJ spats, the women's spats have the same 87% polyester and 13% spandex blend, flat lock stitching, thick waistband, and fit true to size.

The women’s cut is great and removes the bulge present in men’s BJJ spats. As with the XMartial men's BJJ spats, you get one year warranty and a money back guarantee.

Other BJJ Spats Worth Mentioning

Gold BJJ Spats

The Gold BJJ spats are an excellent lightweight base layer for grappling. They are made from a blend of 88% polyester and 12% spandex, giving them a similar stretch to the other models on this list.

The waistband is the same as the Venum G-Fit, which I like as it reminds me of the original Skinz compression pants. Gold BJJ uses reinforced flat lock stitching so it doesn't come unraveled with use.

And the ankle is similar to the XMartial spats as it is not a compression legging. I'm a large, and the Gold BJJ spats fit me perfectly.

For the price, these are an excellent option to have in your BJJ wardrobe.

Revgear Bionic Compression Spats

I'll start by saying that even though Revgear calls these compression spats, they are too loose to be considered compression and don't sit as tightly as the Venum G-Fit, our pick for best compression BJJ spats.

But that doesn't take away from them as BJJ spats. They are made from 80% nylon and 20% spandex, making them the most stretchy on the list. The flat lock stitching is well done, and the sizing fits true to size.

The only problem I have with these is the drawstring inside the waistband. In my opinion, you don’t need a drawstring in spats since they already sit tightly around the waist with an elastic waistband.

The drawstring made the spats uncomfortable, as lying on my back and having my legs wrapped in the guard or sitting up put pressure against my lower back which was painful.

Sanabul Compression BJJ Spats

This is my second pick for the best BJJ spats on a budget. The only reason it didn't beat Hawk BJJ spats is that they are $5 more expensive. But, like with all spats in this price range, they are extremely thin, and you can feel it when wearing them.

You don't feel you have the security higher-end spats give you, like XMartial and Venum. But for the price, you can't expect the highest quality. Sanabul BJJ spats are made from 85% nylon and 15% spandex, but they have a little more stretch because they are thinner.

For budget spats, the flat-lock stitching, elastic waistband, and sizing are excellent. I'm a large, and these fit me perfectly. If price is a concern, grab these with the Hawk BJJ spats, and you've got the most inexpensive set of spats.

Elite Sports BJJ Spats

Elite Sports BJJ spats are the same price as the Sanabul BJJ spats and fit into this budget category. But the main difference is that Elite Sports is made from 92% polyester and 8% spandex, which doesn't stretch much.

This doesn't make them better or worse, but you may have a preference either way. They definitely feel much stiffer and slightly thicker when wearing them. Elite Sports has all the same features as the other budget BJJ spats, including an elastic waistband, flat lock stitching, and fitting true to size.

Fuji Baseline V2 BJJ Spats

If you're looking for BJJ spats in this moderate price range, Gold BJJ spats are much nicer, in my opinion. They are made with the standard blend of 88% polyester and 12% spandex, giving them a similar stretch to the other spats on this list.

They've done the same frustrating thing as Revgear having a drawstring inside the elastic waistband, which is less prominent but still noticeable when drilling and rolling. The waistband is thinner than other brands on this list.

Fuji Baseline V2 BJJ spats fit true to size. I'm a large, and these fit as they should. The stitching is flat-locked and well put-together.

What To Look For When Buying The Best BJJ Spats

Price

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Cost. Different price ranges give you varying quality. Here’s how the jiu-jitsu spats in this article are grouped based on price:

Depending on brand and design, you'll find spats ranging from $12 up to $75. However, always look for sales. XMartial runs sales constantly, so you can always pick up a bargain.

Quality

You can see quality corresponds with price on this list. But what do we mean by quality? Reinforced flat-lock stitching and thicker material. The lower-quality spats on this list have the same thing in common: a much thinner material.

It means they are more susceptible to tearing, especially if someone accidentally grabs a handful.

Comfort & Fit

There are some things you want to avoid with BJJ spats and comfort. The main one does not have a drawstring inside the waistband. These thick waistbands can be felt pressing against your back when lying down, and it's uncomfortable.

Designs

The only grappling spats on this list that have multiple designs is XMartial. They have become well known for their wacky eccentric designs and are constantly releasing new ones.

If you love various designs and patterns, shop at XMartial. They also offer minimalist designs like the other brands in this list.

Frequently Asked BJJ Spats Questions

Should You Wear Spats In BJJ?

It's not a requirement to wear spats at BJJ. But there are a couple of reasons you might consider it. BJJ spats will keep you warm if you are in a cold climate. You'll also protect your hair from being pulled and your skin from potential infections from other practitioners or sweaty mats.

However, they aren't necessary, and you don't have to if you don't like wearing them.

Are Spats The Same As Compression?

Spats are not the same as compression leggings. However, some BJJ spats double as compression. Some brands advertise their spats as compression but aren’t. The only brand and model I’ve found to be compression spats are the Venum G-Fit BJJ spats.

Most are skin-tight without the compression feeling. That’s good news if you don’t like overly tight clothing.

Do You Need Spats Under A Gi?

You don't need to wear spats under a Gi; you may overheat doing this. But wearing a light Gi can be an excellent way to keep warm if you're in cold weather. Further, if you have hairy legs, spats can stop your hair from being pulled when training partners grab your Gi pants.

There's nothing worse during warm-ups when you're cold than when your training partner grabs your Gi pants and a chunk full of leg hair.

How Do You Clean BJJ Spats?

You clean jiu-jitsu spats the same way you do your rash guards and shorts. Washing machine with cold water and then hanging dry to prevent shrinkage. Avoid the dryer, as the heat will damage the material over multiple cycles.

Summary

Finding the best BJJ spats can be hit-and-miss. You can't go wrong with XMartial's epic designs coupled with their quality. If you want compression, Venum G-Fit is your go-to. If budget is an issue, Hawk BJJ spats are the price of a fast food lunch meal.