Intro
I’m starting this review with a slight tangent. I started reviewing gis almost 5 years ago. The main reason that I began reviewing is that it took entirely too much effort for me to find a gi that actually fit.
At 6’4” and 200 pounds very few gis fit me correctly. A3s came down to my forearms and A4s were big enough to cover two people. Jiu jitsu is hard enough when you’re just starting. Having a gi that fits like a muumuu wasn’t helping. I knew I wasn’t the only one having this problem so I started to research companies that made gis with different cuts to review.
Five years later I rarely write gi reviews. To be perfectly honest, I hate to do them. They’re tedious work and take quite a bit of time to do correctly. I’ll let you in on another secret. The only thing that I really care about for my gis is fit. That’s it. I’m perfectly happy with a plain gi that fits great. I’ll wear a gi with patches and embroidery all over it too. Everything else is secondary and other than cut (and material) most gis are manufactured the same way (usually in the same plant). Speaking of manufacturing, I haven’t seen a poorly produced gi in a very long time, the competition is too stiff. Companies that make crappy gis go out of business quickly.
If you’re still reading you’re probably wondering why the hell am I reviewing a gi if I hate doing it so much? Simple, I’ve wanted a Lanky gi since they first came out over 2 years ago.
When they came onto the market they focused exclusively on athletes that are long and lean. A few others had tall/slim sizes but no one build their brand around those athletes. At the time of this review they have 17 different sizes for their gis. The even have 2 different versions for each size of the tall/slim gi. When I saw a Facebook post requesting testers I asked if I could be included and was fortunate enough that John chose me to test their new PRO 550 v2 in black (they also have blue and white).
Construction
The jacket of the PRO 550 v2 is constructed of 550g pearl weave with pants constructed of 10oz ripstop. Knee reinforcements that start at the upper thigh and continue to the cuffs.
The pearl weave is very rough on the exterior of the jacket, similar to the sandpaper-eque weaves of older Atamas. I had no discomfort wearing the gi, though I do wear a rashguard. There’s been a trend towards lighter and lighter gis and the heavier weight of the jacket was a welcome change. The gi wasn’t noticeably hot during summer rolling even while wearing a rashguard under the jacket.
I mentioned earlier that virtually all jiu jitsu gis are well made and the PRO 550 v2 maintains that level of quality. The stitches are straight, even and tight throughout the jacket and pants. Grey contrast stitching is used, red is use strategically as a design element, stress points have triple stitching and seam tape improves comfort.
The lapel is covered in ripstop to make grip breaks easier. There are 6 loops on the pants for the cord drawstring.
Speaking of drawstings. The drawstring is probably the shortest one that I’ve ever used. It’s long enough to get the job done but I wonder if it might come out of the pants in wash (hasn’t
happened yet).
Performance/Fit
Out of the box the pants fit me very well and the jacket was just a little bit too long, which is exactly what I requested. When life permits I train twice a day and the only way I can keep in clean is by putting them in the dryer (on low heat) after washing them. At the time these pics were taken I’ve worn the gi at least a dozen times. If the gi is clean and dry I wear it. I have 20+ hours of mat time while wearing it.
The gi fits me very, very well and will stay in my gi rotation. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this as my competition gi if I ever compete again. It’s worth mentioning that the sizing chart is comprehensive and accurate. If you’re not sure what size to get start there and be sure to contact John directly if you have any questions.
Wrap Up
It can be a real challenge for leaner athletes to find a gi that fits well enough to be suitable for competition training. John over at Lanky recognized this need a few years ago and has stepped into the niche very nicely. The Pro 550 v2 is heavy enough to stand up to a lot of abuse, will last for a long time and fits as well as any competition gi that I’ve ever worn. The Pro 550 v2 has been a staple in my rotation for the last few months and it’s not going anywhere. At $150, available in black, blue and white, the Pro 550 v2 is competitively priced within the market. The next time that you’re in the market for a new gi be sure to check out their website, Facebook and Twitter for sales.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Many thanks to Matt Corley-- writer at Jiu Jitsu Magazine-- for his guest post reviewing the Lanky FG gi!
No comments:
Post a Comment