Introduction
(Pics to follow, blame the snow 
)
I was sent this Gi to review by the folks at Tatami who I must also say have been a pleasure to deal with at all points, the Gi is available to purchase HERE
How I review
There are other more technical reviews out there on the market or meerkat (some of which you will see linked below) and I do not intend to re invent the wheel, as I have said earlier I will be looking at this from the big man point of view. How does it fit, how is it when you jog, run, sprawl and roll in it? Does it stay a good fit, does my extra bulk and torque damage the Gi and also how do my training partners feel?
I stand six foot three inches tall and am 300lbs I am wearing an A5 Gi.
Initial Thoughts
This is sold as a super light competition Gi and one of the lightest on the world which it undoubtedly is. Now I admit I had a worry with this Gi, the jacket feels very strong yet very light but the trousers did worry me they felt very light and I was worried they may pop stitching or perhaps not live up to the abuse they would get.
The Science Part
The make up of the Gi is as follows:
The cost is £68 plus post and packaging
For a discount code Join my facebook group HERE
Made from 450gsm pearl weave reinforced GI canvas which has stood up very well to the rigours of rolling, a rubberised collar to stop moisture absorbtion during training and competition. Single piece jacket, 8oz heavy cotton stitching on ALL areas of the jacket and pants, 8oz double reinforced drill pants.
The trousers also have a 4 Drawstring loop system and a bungee style cord for fastening which works as well as any Gi trousers I have ever worn and the cord fasteners I can now state are far superior to some other brands.
A big draw for some taller and slimmer fighters is that all Estilio Gi comes with mix and match pants option as well when ordering.
This is of course not me
Washing
As you can see the Gi shrank very little indeed during washing which was great as it came very well fitting and comfortable indeed, so order the size you are expect to wear when you are ordering and allow for a small amount of shrinkage.
Rolling, Sparring, Training, Fit and Feedback
The important point how does it look, feel and most of all how does it hold together when rolling.
While it does not look as good as the amazing estilo this Gi still looks very good indeed the black version that I wore has very impressive looking blue feature panels and the same excellent Tatami patch panel.
The jacket fit is excellent as good as any I have worn, the trousers are very comfortable, long in the reach (from the top of point G to the waist band) which is often an issue for the taller and wider fighter. However for my liking they are just long enough and no more, I perversely like a longer trouser which is hard as I have a 34 inch inside leg. However they are easily comp legal and for most fighters will be the perfect length. The zero G does not have the extra padding on the knee which does make a small difference and does of course help with the main area of wear and tear but you would add weight so I can see why it is not there.
The jacket is a great fit all over with the sleeves a perfect length and the cuffs nice and wide so that it is good for both myself and the person I am rolling with, which when training is important. There are no extra tags round the cuffs as I have seen on other Gis and which provide a tailor made hand hold for opponents which is also a good thing.
Rolling in it feel easy and light and while the weave stays very light and is also quite cool importantly it does not fall out of shape or start to look ragged and twisted.
My sparring partners who I asked for feedback Gregg and Chaz also pointed out that the Gi has good hand holds and feels good to roll against but the collar does not loop or bag out which would make getting a choke too easy. I also noticed that unlike some Gi’s the collar is not too sharp at the start of wearing it as this can also cause issues.
I went very hard for in this Gi especially in a roll with ,Sheffield’s own GSP, Chaz, and the Gi held up brilliantly, it did not lose shape or end up with pull marks all over it. I admit there were a couple of scuffs in the trousers but these washed out and it looked almost as good as new.
In Conclusion
Well simply I was wrong, the Gi has held up well to some extreme punishment and the trousers which scared me so, admittedly they creaked a little more than that of the estilo and do not return to quite box fresh state but they are astoundingly strong for a light Gi.
It is probably not a Gi I would put into my every day rotation as the real strength and robust nature of the likes of the estilo and my old faithful Keiko Raca means they are going to be my every day use Gi’s. However for a competition Gi it is fantastic, it is light so if you have to make weight, apparently some people do , it is ideal. Also it will stay cool, dries quickly and is durable and strong.
If you are looking for a second Gi or a comp Gi I would definitely add it to your armory and at the price it is a very attractive prospect.
I will keep wearing it and revisit in a few months to see how it has continued to hold up.
For another view on this Gi see
MMAgearguide
Or my mate Seymour Meerkatsu
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