Premium vs Budget BJJ Gis: Complete Price Comparison

Walk into any UK BJJ retailer — online or in person — and you will find gis ranging from £27 to over £250. That is a staggering price range for what is essentially a cotton jacket and trousers. The natural question is: does spending more actually get you a better gi?

The short answer is yes, up to a point. But that point arrives sooner than premium brands would like you to believe. The relationship between price and quality follows a curve of diminishing returns, and understanding where that curve flattens out is the key to getting the best value for your money. For a deeper analysis of the premium end specifically, see our guide on whether expensive gis are truly worth it.

The UK BJJ gi market breaks down into four distinct tiers. Here is what you can expect from each, based on current pricing from retailers like Made4Fighters, Tatami, Kingz, and Scramble:

The relationship between price and quality in BJJ gis is not linear. Here is how the quality improvements break down as you move up in price:

• £30 to £80: Massive improvement. Better materials (100% cotton vs blends), stronger construction (double/triple stitching vs single), more durable fabric (380-450 GSM vs 300-350 GSM), stiffer collars, and reinforced knee panels. This is the single biggest quality jump in the entire price spectrum.
• £80 to £130: Noticeable improvement. Higher GSM fabrics, more refined tailoring, better finishing details, premium embroidery, and competition-specific cuts. The improvement is real but less dramatic than the previous tier.
• £130 to £200+: Marginal improvement. You are paying for the finest materials and construction details, but also for brand positioning, design exclusivity, manufacturing location, and limited production runs. The functional difference on the mat between a £120 gi and a £180 gi is minimal for most practitioners.

The sweet spot for most practitioners is £80-£120. This is where you get the best balance of quality and price — gis that are well-constructed, comfortable, durable, and IBJJF-legal without paying a premium for brand cachet. Beyond £130-£150, you are paying for premium aesthetics, manufacturing ethics, and brand association rather than meaningful functional improvements.

Understanding what you sacrifice at the budget level helps you make an informed decision about whether spending more is worthwhile for you.

What you get: A functional gi that meets basic training requirements. Single or basic pearl weave construction, adequate stitching, a basic collar, and a cut that is generally IBJJF-compliant. You can train in a budget gi without issue — it does the job.

What you sacrifice: Collar durability (budget collars lose stiffness faster), knee reinforcement quality (minimal or single-layer), stitching density (single or double vs triple), fabric feel (rougher against the skin), and longevity. Budget gis are also more prone to inconsistent sizing between batches.

Expected lifespan: 6-12 months with regular training (3-4 sessions per week), or roughly 100-150 sessions. Collars losing stiffness and knee panels fraying are typically the first signs of wear.

When budget makes sense: Testing whether you enjoy BJJ before committing financially, tight finances where even £30 matters, buying a backup gi for emergencies, or purchasing for children who will outgrow the gi within a year.

Premium gis deliver genuine value in specific circumstances:

• Training 5+ times per week. Premium gis last proportionally longer under heavy use. A £150 gi lasting 30 months at daily training frequency offers better cost-per-session than a £80 gi lasting 15 months.
• Competing regularly. Premium construction means more reliable fit, consistent IBJJF compliance, and a stiffer collar that is harder for opponents to grip. See our competition gi recommendations.
• Comfort matters to you. Premium gis feel noticeably better against the skin. Softer, higher-quality cotton retains its feel after repeated washing, and better tailoring produces a more flattering, comfortable cut.
• Supporting ethical manufacturing. Some premium brands manufacture domestically with better working conditions and environmental standards. If this matters to you, the premium is partly an ethical investment.
• Long-term cost analysis. A £150 gi that lasts 2+ years can be cheaper than three £50 gis in the same period, once you factor in the time and hassle of repeated purchases.
• You have the budget. If you enjoy having quality equipment and can afford it without financial strain, premium gis are a genuine upgrade to your training experience.

If you have decided premium is right for you, these are the strongest options currently available in the UK:

1. Tatami Estilo Gold Label — from £109. The pinnacle of Tatami's decade-long Estilo line development. 550 GSM pearl weave jacket with 280 GSM ripstop trousers, IBJJF 2024 compliant, and comes with a ripstop drawstring bag. Available directly from Tatami with UK delivery. Read our full Tatami review.
2. Hyperfly ProComp Lyte Void — £139.99. Hyperfly's flagship competition gi with premium construction throughout. Available from hyperfly.uk with domestic DPD Express shipping for £4.99. A favourite among competitive grapplers. See our Hyperfly review.
3. Origin Axiom — £145-£165 (before customs). Made in Maine, USA from American-grown cotton. The ethical choice for practitioners who value domestic manufacturing. Available via IWA Active (iwa.co.uk) for UK buyers, or directly from originmaine.com with international shipping.

The £80-£120 bracket is where most experienced BJJ practitioners settle after trying gis at both extremes. These gis offer 80-90% of the performance of premium gis at 50-60% of the price — and the missing 10-20% is rarely noticeable during training.

1. Tatami Estilo Black Label — £110-£130. A 550 GSM pearl weave jacket with 12oz canvas trousers and Y-Vent technology. Over a decade of development has produced one of the finest gis in this price range. IBJJF approved and available in multiple colourways.
2. Progress M6 — £120. A 450 GSM weave with multiple reinforced stress points, competition cut with slimmer trousers and sleeves, and high-density embroidery. Comes with a ripstop gi bag. IBJJF legal. See our Progress review.
3. Kingz Comp 450 V6 — £91-£104. From Made4Fighters with UK delivery. Pearl weave at 450 GSM with excellent reinforcement and a competition-oriented cut. Strong value at this price point.

This is where most experienced practitioners find their long-term gis. The combination of quality construction, comfortable fabrics, and reasonable pricing makes these gis the most sensible choice for the largest number of BJJ practitioners. For our full list of UK recommendations, see the best BJJ gis in the UK.

The sticker price of a gi tells only part of the story. Here is the total cost over two years for a practitioner training three times per week, assuming each gi is used until it needs replacing:

The analysis often shows similar or even lower total cost for mid-range and premium gis over a two-year period. Budget gis are not cheap when you factor in replacement frequency.

Beyond the direct cost, factor in the time spent shopping for replacements, breaking in new gis, and dealing with inconsistent sizing between batches. Premium and mid-range gis also maintain their fit and feel for longer, which means a more consistent training experience.

However, this analysis assumes single-gi ownership. Most practitioners rotate 2-3 gis, which extends each gi's lifespan proportionally. With a rotation, a set of three mid-range gis at £80 each (£240 total) could easily last 3-4 years — making mid-range the clear winner on long-term value for most people. For more on how long you can expect your gi to last, see our gi lifespan guide.