Aesthetic Aurora IV Review GiCritic 12:14 PM

Intro

We’ve been intrigued by Aesthetic since it first came out. Clean, simple and stylish, those were the impressions that this brand made to us. This isn’t the first time that we mentioned the brand to our readers here on Gi Critic. We also mentioned Aesthetic in our list of top small brands months back. This time around though, we are going to make a review for the Aurora IV.

For a small brand, it surprised us how they have the “No pre-orders, no reissue” strategy. It is a bold move for a small company to come up with fresh designs every now and then.

I had the pleasure to know Andy Chan, the co owner of Aesthetic. According to him, he and his brother Jon started the brand in 2012. We already contacted them in the past about making a possible review of their previous designs, but unfortunately, the supplies ran out quite fast.

Jacket

I opened the box and found the brand new Aurora IV, a clean white gi trimmed with yellow gold accent.
They made use of 425gsm pearl weave fabric on the jacket making this gi perfect for competition and for day to day training.

In terms of the design, the Japanese kanji for Aesthetic easily caught my attention. It is located in front of the left skirt and another one located at the back.

On the right shoulder portion, as well as on the left chest area of the jacket, you’ll see embroidered designs of the brand’s logos and type font.

Of course, just like all the Aurora series, Aesthetic included the signature asymmetrical sunrise stitch coming from the left edge of the jacket all the way to the right side.

 

The jacket feels just like any other 450gsm pearl weave jacket that has the rough exterior. However, it was extremely soft on the inside.

When it comes to the lapel, Aesthetic used EVA foam collar covered with ripstop fabric.

Inspecting the inside of the jacket, I was impressed with the inner tapes located on the sleeves and on the edge of the gi. The areas where the inside tapes were located had reinforced layers of ripstop fabric.

As for the tape, it really never bothered me while rolling. It wasn’t scratchy, and I never noticed it. So yes, forget about me bitching about the “scratchy sleeve tape”.

 Pants

For the pants, you have an option to have another pair for less than £10. Aesthetic made it possible for their customers to choose between cotton twill or Rip stop pants. In fact, why not just get both?

As for the design of the pants, with a small embroidered Aesthetic font on the shin and a kanji on the right leg, Aesthetic rocked with a minimalist approach.

The Aurora IV used bungee rope tied to six loops, and for me, this didn’t give me a hard time during the sparring rounds. It is also easy to take off.

I also like the fact that they provided knee reinforcement (from thighs to ankle).

If there is something I’d recommend for the next Aesthetic gis, hopefully they could add a pearl weave groin gusset to both rip stop and cotton twill pants. For the Aurora IV, you have pearl weave groin gusset reinforcement for the cotton twill pants.

Rolling Impressions

I really love the fit of this new Aurora IV, except for the sleeves. I find it a bit long for my taste which allowed more teammates to grip on my sleeve. I like the fact that the jacket is soft on the inside which made rolling comfortable. Also, it is light which never hampered my mobility regardless if passing or playing guard.

As I mentioned on previous the Mata Leon review, I never wash my gis with hot water. I also don’t put them on dryer. In terms of shrinkage, the jacket’s sleeve shrunk an inch give or take. For the pants, it stayed the same even after 4 consecutive washes.

There was also no sign of discoloration or wear and tear on the embroideries.

PROS

-Very soft inner jacket.
-Very comfy while rolling.
-Extra thick collar EVA foam.
-Outstanding design.
-Possibility of getting an extra pair of pants.

CONS

-Long sleeves for an A2 size.
-No re-runs

Where to buy it?

You can get the Aesthetic Aurora IV for £109.99 (185$) plus shipping. Though it is a bit pricey, I’d stick to this over most premium gis.

European customers can buy this gi in www.fightaesthetic.com
US customers can also buy it in www.martialartssupplies.com or www.rollmore.com

Review by Alejandro Molina, blue belt from Cia Paulista Team Spain. 

Manto "X" Gi Review GiCritic 7:54 AM

BJJ lifestyle is like a disease that makes you think about the gentle art24/7, 365 days a week, and perhaps this just might be the inspiration for the Manto X  Gi.

I bought this gi around late December 2013 and it came with a neat bag with the 24/7 365 print on it. The gi comes with rip stop pants and 450 gsm lightweight pearl weave top. I like this composition of jacket and pats pretty much with any other gi I purchased, since I compete regularly. It isn’t too heavy or too flimsy either for the day to day torture of rigorous training. And yeah, this gi helped me a lot during the weigh ins.
 

Overall Look

Aesthetics wise this is the type of gi that can rock the gym. I personally like the fact that Manto, played well with embroidery on the shoulder and print on the inside of the gi. The words “MANTO” and the logo “24/7-365” are embroidered on the shoulder and sleeve area respectively.

 The inside of the top as well as the pants contain a woven label which reads “24/7/365/ALL DAY/EVERYDAY”. Purple and white color scheme looks unusually great, despite me not being a fan of color purple. The best part I liked about it is the big screen printed 24/7 x 365 design inside the gi. They simply nailed it in the aesthetics department.

Review Proper

 

This gi made use of 450 gsm pearl weave top and 10oz ripstop pants. Both top and pants contained woven label which reads 24/7, 365, All Day, Every Day. The woven label on the pants in my opinion would’ve been better without it. Located in the waist and ankle cuffs, it is constantly irritating, at least for me.

The whole gi comes with purple contrast stitching. The pants come with cotton drawstring for the along with 4 purple belt loops. It also comes with a small purple circular patch with the 24/7 logo on the pants. Additional material for support on the knee area is minimal, but enough on my standards. It is another layer of ripstop fabric sewn on the inside to maintain durability without compromising the weight of the gi.

Right after buying the Manto X Pro Light gi, I shrunk it down using the dryer. The Manto X Pro Light gi didn't shrink as much. Even after washing it with steaming water and putting it in the drier, it just pretty much held its own shrinking maybe less than an inch on the sleeve tops. As a 5'5 guy with a stocky wrestler built, I wanted to have a sort of slim fitting gi.

The arm and skirt length fit just right. As for the shoulder and chest width that didn't shrink much, it is a bit off, but still within the size I want. As for the pants, I concentrated on shrinking just the pants but I found out that it is quite baggy for my taste. It is cut straight but still too baggy on both pelvic and thigh area (to maximize leg and hip movement maybe?).

Fading

Additional problems I saw included the fading of the screen printed 24/7 x 365 found inside the gi top. I take care of my gis but this happened only after a few sessions of rolling (maybe after 4 training sessions).

The Verdict

I'm really happy with this gi, given the cons. Maybe it's just my body type, but I don't regret spending $155 on this gi. I love rolling in it and I do suggest it to grapplers with taller frame. Overall, it has a classy design that was constructed well by Manto’s factory.

CTRL Industries Gigante Review GiCritic 9:38 AM

CTRL Industries Gigante will be reviewed by the hard to please, always angry, and brutally honest Mr. Chow. 

 The CTRL Industries Gigante, over the last months, became part of my typical gi rotation. CTRL Industries lately has been making a lot of noise with their designs. A few months ago, CTRL made the Gigante as their limited edition gi. It is a tribute to the San Francisco Giants. According to the company, they just settled for a small 200 gi production. When the gi was released, a number of BJJ fans noticed striking similarities with the Shoyoroll 7^th Son. Both came out rocking the San Francisco theme, and both were released almost around the same time. 

 

Initial Impressions

The price for this gi runs around $170 plus the shipping cost, it fell right at $195. If you are looking for a mid priced gi, this is definitely not the first option for you. The product comes with a sling bag. According to the manufacturer, the gi is 95% preshrunk. The top was made of 420 gsm pearl weave fabric while the pants were made of rip stop material. The construction of the jacket met my expectations. 

I owned a couple of Shoyorolls, and in comparison with the Gigante, I do believe that they are neck and neck with the top dog today in terms of durability and overall construction. Comfort-wise, I do love the feel of the pearl weave jacket. It was comfortable, and the cut fits my 5’6” 160 pound Asian frame. The collar was made of eva foam. 

The pants are also good, though they could've added two more loops. The fit was what I was looking for. It wasn't too tight on my ass or anything.

  

Check the Size Chart

Design

Colored black with an orange contrast stitch, it is just not something that sits well with my preference. I am not at all pleased with the “No Bammer Gi” taping by the skirt. Why did I buy it then? I did love the fact that they made a tribute to the San Francisco Giants. Growing up watching baseball, it has that novelty appeal in you. What I do like about the design is the skyline print that you see by the back. This unique print provides the San Francisco reference. Also, you see embroideries that are really clean and high quality. 

How Did It Do After a Few Months?

Mr. Chow is hard to please. I don’t usually like gis that are not well made. After a few months, the Gigante is still intact. For a $170, I’d have to say that it lived up to the hype. I now understand how BJJ gi hoarders are now saying that this brand could probably be the next in line for Shoyoroll’s throne. There is no significant fading on the gi’s color. I use it around once or twice a week for the past few months now. I bought it around June of 2013 during their pre-selling, and after seven months or so, it is still a great gi to use.  

Fuji All Around BJJ Gi Review GiCritic 8:27 AM

Credits to martialartssupplies.com

Before all the bling and trends in the gi industry, one brand proved for so long how it is possible to stay simple, and survive through the years. If you are starting in BJJ and you are after function, way more than the crazy aesthetics like a Dragon Ball or a Star Wars gi perhaps, then Fuji is the right brand for you. For $94, the Fuji All Around BJJ Gi is a sweet deal as it can be. Rarely do you get to see a gi that goes below the $100 tag.

For starters,  I have a Fuji All Around BJJ A2 Gi in rotation over the past 2 years, and it hasn't showed any sign of wear and tear. This is the most suggested gi for those who are starting BJJ. Why? For starters, it is $94. In terms of durability, this can last for years! If you find BJJ not a perfect fit for you, you don't end up paying for a $200 Shoyoroll! 

What Is The Gi Composed Of?

Considered a mid weight gi, it is made of single weave material for the top while cotton drill fabric for the trousers. Unlike the common practice of using pearl weave top and rip stop pants, Fuji managed to keep the prices low by choosing single weave for top. However, in contrast to other gis, this is also the reason why it is a bit heavier. 

Another thing that makes the Fuji Single Weave different from the other newer gis is its collar. Often times, we see collars that are lined with either EVA foam or rubber. Personally though, Fuji All Around Gi's collar is too thick. It may be quite hard to grip compared to other softer variants, but this may not be a that comfortable to roll with.  

The pants isn't the best to tell you honestly. Made of cotton drill material, it can get heavy after a hard roll since it tends to get more sweat. As for the loop system, it simply has two while utilizing a drawstring. 

Shrinkage

The gi has been washed, tumble dried and hang dried for so many times over the course of two years. Unlike the Fuji Summerweave Gi, the Fuji All Around BJJ gi never showed significant amount of shrinkage. 

Aesthetics 

In terms of the aesthetics, nothing flashy can be seen on this gi. Embroidery of the Fuji logo on the shoulders and shoulders. That's it. The rest, feel free to fill the gi up! 

Overall Performance and Sizing

Whether for the beginner or the long time grappler, Fuji All Around Gi never fails to deliver. It makes the cut for a day to day gi. The problem with this gi is the weight. If you are planning to compete with this, you better make sure that you lose more weight. For the fit, the gi is quite baggy. I'm 5'7" around 150, supposedly I should be an A2. However, it seems that I could go down to an A1. 

Gi Critic Verdict

Judging by the pros and cons, from the price to performance, the gi is a highly recommended for serious BJJ enthusiasts who love the no bull shit approach in BJJ apparel.