A New 2013 Model Has Been Released!
Check out the new 2013 model review
Overview
I consider any Gi around $100 an entry level Gi. Perfect for students starting out that are still testing the waters to see if they will enjoy the art and sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. When my buddy purchased the Gameness Pearl in early 2011 it was around $110. This places it in that category, so I compared it to those other options. Is it a perfect Gi? No, but honestly most aren't. Does it have good qualities? Sure does! I certainly think if you can snag this Gi for around $100 I would still go with it. If you are newer to the Bjj sport or are looking for another cheap training Gi, the Gameness Pearl is worth a second look.
The Fit
The Gi top fits like it should for the most part. Sleeves are not to long and the jacket itself is not super long. Shrinking didn't seem to be an issue and everything came out normal after the first couple washes and hang dries. The pants however are not my cup of tea. They are rip stop, but feel really waxy and also fit incredibly big. If I were you, I would purchase this Gi and use the pants as a backup pair.
Durability
Pearl weave Gis always seem to be pretty rugged, and I think this Gi is no different. The stitching in the jacket seems to be ok for a $100 Gi and I really think that it would hold up just fine over time. The pants however I just don't have a lot of faith in. They are rip stop, but I have seen plenty of rip stop end up ripping. I could be wrong on this one though because they fit so big and don't see a lot of use. The only other ding to this Gi model besides the pants is the collar. I'm going to put it under durability for the lack of anywhere else to put it. The collar is just not firm enough for me. If you watch the video review you can see me squeeze and manipulate it with just two fingers. The good news is Gameness has contacted me and let me know that they will be looking into both the pants and the collar issue I talked about. Now that's a good company!
The Cool Factor
I've said it a few times, I'm not a huge fan of white Gi's. That isn't really an issue since it also comes in blue and black! That said though, for a white Gi it actually looks cool enough for me. The big patch on the lapel really helps it out in my opinion. Also the trim along the bottom of the jacket really helps it pop some. Everything else is pretty standard. Again remember we are talking entry level here and not comparing it to a Lucky or something along those lines.
Deals
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