Complete buyer’s guide: The top 7 lightweight BJJ gis for summer 2024
Check out Grappling Insider’s recommendations for the top 7 lightweight BJJ gis on the market for summer 2024.
With summer rapidly approaching and temperatures rising all over the Northern Hemisphere, countless BJJ practitioners are dreading the season of sweat-soaked gis ahead.
Any seasoned grappler knows that a quality, well-fitting, and lightweight gi is key to enjoying long training sessions during the summer months. While we’re always fans of premium, old-school, ultra-heavy gis, we also know that the feeling of carrying around a Honda Civic that’s drenched in your own sweat just isn’t ideal.
With that in mind, we searched for the best lightweight BJJ gis on the market today.
Before we dive into that list, here are several things to consider when purchasing a lightweight BJJ gi.
Size still matters
Just because you’ve found an ultra-light gi that falls within your budget, don’t rush to buy it until you’ve carefully checked the manufacturer’s sizing chart. We can’t stress enough that when you’re shopping for a new gi, proper fit is paramount – no matter the weight of the gi.
Every gi manufacturer should have a sizing chart that includes height and weight, as well as specific measurements of the garment. You can also search popular internet forums such as BJJ Reddit for discussions about how specific gis might fit.
For reference, here’s a simple sizing chart from Revgear, one of the most respected martial arts brands in the game today:
In a pinch, you can always size slightly up, then plan on shrinking your new gi in the wash. This isn’t ideal, and you can certainly end up over-shrinking your gi, but we’ve done this before with mixed results.
How light is a lightweight BJJ gi?
While there’s no official guideline as to what qualifies as a “lightweight” gi, you should expect your gi to weigh no more than 4 pounds (about 1.8 kilograms).
With that in mind, you might assume that the lighter the gi the better. That might be true if you’re looking to save every possible ounce to make weight for an IBJJF tournament, but we’d caution against purchasing a gi that weighs much less than three pounds. A gi that’s so light in weight might feel great the first couple of times you train in it, but the materials and stitching are unlikely to hold up after multiple sessions.
What’s the downside to lightweight gis?
At this point, you might be wondering why you shouldn’t only wear lightweight gis. After all, they’re comfortable and tend to be lower in price than heavier gis.
There are a couple of downsides to lightweight BJJ gis. First, because they are lower in weight, the materials are often less durable than thicker, heavier gis. This means your lightweight gi will likely wear out sooner than a more traditional gi.
Secondly, lightweight gis are easier for your opponents to grip. Think of it this way: Is it easier to grab a handful of a t-shirt or a thick layer of canvas? This factor could present a problem in a competition where every little advantage makes a difference.
GSM – What is it?
Gi manufacturers often refer to the grams per square meter, or “GSM,” of a gi’s material. As the name suggests, this measurement indicates the weight of the gi material. The higher the number, the heavier the gi. Heavier gis will have a GSM of around 450 or higher, while the vast majority of lightweight gis will have a GSM of 350 or lower.
Even if you’re looking for an ultra-light gi, we recommend not going any lower than 250 GSM – anything lighter and the gi won’t hold up for very long.
Pants: Ripstop or not?
Ripstop pants are interwoven pants, typically made of nylon or some sort of nylon blend, that – as the name suggests – are very resistant to ripping.
When it comes to ripstop pants on gis, the BJJ community seems to be divided.
On one hand, these pants tend to be ultra-durable and generally lighter in weight than traditional cotton pants. This makes them the optimal choice for many lightweight gis. However, some BJJ practitioners find ripstop pants to be over-logged with sweat during long training sessions in the summer.
We don’t have a strong preference when it comes to ripstop pants. We find the durability and light weight of the pants to be ideal for lightweight gis, but we also understand if some grapplers might find them uncomfortable.
7 lightweight BJJ gis for summer 2024
Keeping those factors in mind, let’s dive into our top picks for lightweight gis. We considered a variety of elements, including price, fit, quality of materials, and aesthetics.
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#1 Top overall – Hayabusa Ultra-Lightweight
Coming in at our top spot is the Hayabusa Ultra-Lightweight Jiu-Jitsu Gi, which strikes the perfect balance between lightweight materials, sturdy construction, and clean design features.
At 350 GSM, this gi certainly isn’t the lightest gi on this list, but after trying it out for a few sessions, we can confirm that it has all the breathability and low weight of any lightweight gi on the market. And because it’s 350 GSM, this gi is sure to hold up for a long time – just like you’d expect from a non-lightweight gi.
The pants are 8-ounce cotton-polyester ripstop, which brings down the overall weight of the gi without compromising quality or durability. Lapels, knees, and other high-stress areas are reinforced with double stitching, ensuring this gi will hold up for the long run.
Like all Hayabusa products, this gi has excellent design features. Simply put, this gi is sharp. The simple, embroidered logos on the jacket are just the right amount of eye-catching, but certainly not distracting. We tried out the white gi and received no less than three “woah, nice gi!” compliments in our first class.
What we liked:
- Light feeling but durable, 350 GSM jacket
- Excellent design features
- Fits true to size and has not shrunk at all after several wears and washes
- Reinforced at stress areas to ensure long-term durability
- Very lightweight pants
What we didn’t like:
- Limited sizing options
- Sleeves might be too baggy for some users
Shop for the Hayabusa Ultra-Lightweight Jiu Jitsu Gi on Hayabusa’s website.
#2 Editor’s choice – Revgear El Matador Competition Gi
We love Revgear’s El Matador Competition Gi for its clean design, incredibly light weight, and durable construction.
When we first saw that this gi top is 250 GSM and weighs in at just 2.6 pounds (1.2 kg) total, we were concerned this gi would be too light and flimsy. But after several long training sessions in the heat, we were pleasantly surprised to find this gi holding up well and hasn’t even started to show signs of wear and tear. The thick, reinforced collar makes gripping difficult – even for a lightweight gi.
Because the gi is so incredibly light, it’s incredibly comfortable to roll in. What’s more, the stitching accents and high-quality embroidery make the gi look much more expensive than it actually is.
If you’re looking for one of the lightest gis on the market – but still looks and feels like a premium product – we recommend the El Matador.
What we liked:
- Extremely light in weight (250 GSM, 8-ounce ripstop pants, about 2.6 pounds for an A2)
- Design makes the gi look more expensive than it is
- Thick, reinforced collar to make gripping more difficult
- No shrinkage after several washes
- Price (under $120)
What we didn’t like:
- Limited sizing options – just standard A0 – A6 sizes
- Fits a little baggy around the torso
Shop for the Revgear El Matador Competition Gi on Revgear’s website and use promo code INSIDER10 for 10% off any purchase
#3 Best value – Tatami Elements Superlite
For the best bang for your buck, we like the Tatami Elements Superlite. Coming in at just under $90, this 300 GSM gi is ideal for the grappler on the budget.
Available in the three traditional colors of white, black, and blue, the Elements Superlite has an understated, simple design that certainly won’t go out of style. And, as one of the longest-standing brands in BJJ, you can trust that Tatami will deliver a quality, well-made product each time out.
While this gi isn’t quite the lightest on the list, the 300 GSM jacket and 8-ounce ripstop pants make for a very light garment perfect for the summer months.
On the downside, the gi is prone to significant shrinkage, so you may want to order up a size. Also, we found the gi to show some fraying around the stitching after several wears – but that’s to be expected at such a low price tag.
What we liked:
- Phenomenal value
- Trusted Tatami brand
- Subtle design details enhance the look
- Available in a wide range of custom sizes and five different colors
What we didn’t like:
- Fits baggy around the torso and legs
- Subject to a good deal of shrinkage
- Not the most durable product
Shop for the Tatami Elements Superlite Gi on Amazon
#4 Gold BJJ Aeroweave
What we liked:
- 275 GSM jacket and 10-ounce ripstop pants makes the gi quite light yet durable
- Options: five different colors, available in kids and women’s sizes
- Pre-shrunk
- Very durable, quality stitching
What we didn’t like:
- Relatively high price tag for a lightweight gi
- Sizing is off – tends to be too large, especially in the pants
Shop for the Gold BJJ Aeroweave Gi on Amazon
#5 Fuji Summerweight
What we liked:
- Pre-shrunk
- Perhaps the most durable gi on this list
- Thick, hard-to-grip rubber collar that resists mildew
- Cotton twill pants – not ripstop
What we didn’t like:
- 450 GSM jacket and at just under 4 pounds for an A2, this is the heaviest gi on this list
- Cotton/polyester blend jacket sacrifices comfort
- Pants run big and jacket runs small
Shop for the Fuji Summerweight Gi on Amazon
#6 Progress Jiu-Jitsu Academy Gi
What we liked:
- Comes with a free white belt
- Classic aesthetics with nice design touches
- 375 GSM jacket and 8-ounce ripstop pants – perfect blend of lightweight and durability
- Phenomenal price
What we didn’t like:
- Significant shrinkage
- Lacks long-term durability
Shop for the Progress Academy Gi on Amazon
#7 Kingz The One BJJ Gi
What we liked:
- Free white belt included
- 100 percent cotton pants
- Ranks very high for durability and quality of materials – an ideal long-term daily gi
What we didn’t like:
- One of the heavier gis on this list
- Sizing tends to run small
Shop for the Kingz The One BJJ Gi on Amazon
