So, you’re searching for your new Gi. Or maybe your first Gi. Elite Sports have paved their way into the combat sports equipment scene relatively quickly with their great prices and relatively high-quality gear.
I managed to get my hands on the Elite Sports Essential Lightweight BJJ Gi so I could review it for you. Is it a worthwhile Gi to invest in for your training? Let’s find out!
Design
The plain design is perfect for those who don’t want big brand names over their Gi and would rather keep them plain or add their own patches.
They come in six different colors. Black, white, gray, blue, navy, and green. Just remember when purchasing a Gi, that only black, white, and blue are allowed as part of the IBJJF rules.
Quality
This Elite Sports Gi is made from 350gsm Pearl Weave fabric made up of 60% cotton and 40% polyester. This combination has made it a soft, but high-quality material.
The material is antibacterial so you don’t need to worry (as much) about potential infections. That doesn’t mean you don’t need to shower after training!
For the price, I would say the quality far exceeds the price.
Durability
Being a thinner, more lightweight Gi, I would be worried about the how long this Gi would last if you trained regularly.
My other three Gi’s are heavy duty, and I’ve trained in one of them consistently twice a week or more for over a year. It shows no sign of wear and tear.
The Elite Sport’s Gi being lightweight and slightly thinner may not be able to withstand the same punishment. But as a first Gi, it serves its purpose very well and is well worth it.
Comfort & Fit
Let’s start with the fit and sizing. Firstly, I ordered an A3 size which is the same size as my other three Gi’s which are GR8 Fight Company brand. These all fit perfectly. However, the A3 from Elite Sports ran a lot smaller.
If you perform any type of resistance training and have slightly broader shoulders, back, or arms, you will need to get a size up from your normal size.
Currently, I weight around 90 kg at 5’8”. This A3 Gi fit my wife perfectly who is 64 kg and 5’4” so again, I would highly recommend getting a size up if you purchase this Gi.
As you can see, compared to my GR8 Gi, the sleeves are much thinner as well as the shoulders. Wearing this Gi, I can’t cross my arms in front without feeling restricted by the Gi being tight fitting.
In terms of comfort, lightweight would describe this Gi perfectly. It’s soft and feels thinner than my other Gi’s. If this fit like other A3 Gi’s, I’d be more than happy to train in this especially in summer.
The pants fit just like my other A3 Gi pants so no complaints there. They are slightly shorter but still well within IBJJF rules. The draw string is great and much easier to use than some of my other Gi pants.
It fits soft around the waist and doesn’t fall down easily.
Price
You can’t go wrong with the price of Elite Sports Gi’s. They are some of the cheapest on the market. It’s why it’s ranked the best BJJ gi on a budget. This particular model is priced at $51.99. As a first Gi, this would be perfect as it also comes with a free white belt.
As you train more and get hooked on BJJ, then you can look to invest in a more expensive Gi.
