That is an interesting title, is not it? Valor has two BJJ gis which have good quality. The first gi on this list, which is Valor Bravura and it is quite popular however the second one, which is Valor Prime 2.0, is not so much but it deserves more attention so I decided to review it.
Table of Contents
Valor Bravura Gi Review
Durability: 9.1 / 10.0
Comfort: 8.7 / 10.0
Cost Efficiency: 8.0 / 10.0
Exclusive Features
- Single Weave
- Reinforced cotton pants
- Rubber collar
- Durable
- Rope drawstring
- Comes with a free white belt
It has 400 gsm single weave. The fit is regular and I think that if you are just starting out or in the early stages of your jiu-jitsu journey, this fit should be preferred as it is classic and as you progress, you can prefer other fit types.
The pants don’t have extra room after you wear them and do not have extra fabric to hold. So it will be harder for the opponents to make a strong grip.
Considering my experiences and research, canvas pants are the most durable gi pants by far. This one is made of canvas and has stitching for extra durability. The pants are quite durable yet it has a drawback. When you are using your legs during grappling, it feels stiffer than usual and considering the construction of the pants, that is completely normal. However, after doing a couple of grappling sessions, it will feel softer.
The jacket is reinforced at stress points. These basically have extra stitching at these points. These points include shoulder and elbows.
Obviously, this is a good way to improve durability without using extra materials. Thanks to that, Valor Bravura is a light gi and this does not affect the price much as well.
What about the durability? Well, we know that canvas will go strong for years and overall durability of the gi is around 2 years.
The rubber collar is quite good at wicking the moisture and thanks to the construction, your neck will not be irritated, will not have rashes after a session.
The pants don’t feel comfy and canvas doesn’t allow much air circulation or wick the moisture well as other pant types. But it is durable. In that case, you get some and give some.
It has a classic rope drawstring which allows you to fasten quickly and you can adjust it according to your preference.
The durability, training quality, materials are above average and in addition that, this gi comes with a classic white belt. It is really not bad for the price as many other same quality jiu-jitsu gis have more expensive price tags and generally don’t come with a BJJ belt.
This gi has a lot of different color selections. If you are bored of same colors gis, you can have a look at the orange color of Valor Bravura on Amazon.
As a final note, it is hard to mess up the fit of the classic design. So as you can expect, the fitting feedback is quite good.
Valor Prime 2.0 Premium BJJ Gi Review
Durability: 9.4 / 10.0
Comfort: 6.9 / 10.0
Cost Efficiency: 8.0 / 10.0
Exclusive Features
- 450 GSM pearl weave
- Tailored cut
- Extra stitching
- Durable light pants
- Canvas pants
- Patches look nice
- Rubber Collar
- Durable
Cons
- Less air circulation
This one has a tailored cut. But it is a bit looser than other tapered kimonos. So what does this mean? The gi has a slightly tapered design and gives a bit room for chest and the sides than the other tapered gis. Prime 2.0 can be an option if you find the other designs too tight. It is not everyone’s cup of tea but it can be a great fit for some.
Canvas Pants are 8 oz. and the pants are even lighter than Valor Bravura Gi’s, which is the gi above, pants. But the jacket has pearl weave and it is heavier.
Pearl weave gi and canvas seem to be the best combination for the longevity and you can do chokes with this gi around 2-3 years.
As a side note, Prime 2.0 has “V” type stitching. The stitching pattern is the shape of “V” letter. I was not sure what it brings to the table so I made research. But as it seems that no one knows. So it can be concluded that it is not different than the regular contrast stitching. It just improves the durability of the jacket and pants without being heavy.
With that being said, this combination is below average for the comfort. Even though it wicks sweat at a fast rate, the gi does not allow much air in and out. So this is something to keep in mind.
It has nice looking patches on several compartments and Valor Prime 2.0 also comes with different color selections like orange.
Guys, as some of you may know I don’t normally review unpopular gis and Prime 2.0 is definitely one of them. However, my friend in a martial arts gym has good experiences with it while escaping and doing maneuvers which you may not be comfortable all the time with some kimonos. And the fit is just better for him to move better than the gis which have slim fit cut.
So if you don’t find tapered and classic fit good, I suggest you check out Valor Prime 2.0.
I have not included Valor VLR or Victory models. Before you ask why I will tell you the reason. The fitting and design generally get bad reviews and many people don’t seem to like it. Both of these have pearl weave and more tapered design than the Prime 2.0. But people mention that some of the compartments inhibit freedom of movement and it is a huge issue. So if you are interested in this gi type (tapered), which are for more seasoned practitioners, check out Hayabusa Shinju 3.0 Gi as it is in the same class and it has an awesome design which fits perfectly and has pearl weave as well.
Maintaining of Valor Gis
There are a few things which you need to know about the caring of the jiu-jitsu kimonos above as these need some special caring.
For example, you need to iron these when the gi is inside out as the construction of patches can get deformations if you don’t. These can change shape, melt; the colors can fade etc. So it is best to minimize the contact between the patches and iron. The second thing is that you need to iron these gis at low degrees as these gis shrink more than usual however you can avoid it with low degree ironing.
Valor Gis always shrink more than usual after the first wash as well. But it is a slight difference. For example, sleeves can shorten extra 1 mm. Basically, it is nothing. With that being said, the shrinkage is different for every gi and if you decide to buy one, definitely check out the feedback for it.
Valor Gis need to be washed frequently for the colors to stay vibrant. With that being said, the company suggests that you always wash your gis at low temperatures and the gi should be inside out while washing.
Also, it is best to hang these gis to a hanger at the balcony so these can dry naturally. The other methods (heating etc.) can cause issues such as uneven sleeves.
So there are the rules that you should follow for longer durability, vibrant colors… And as I stated if you are not a person who doesn’t want to do all the stuff above, you should prefer another gi. If that is you, Ultra Light Vulkan BJJ Gi is more suitable for you. That is not to say you can be reckless with Ultra Light Vulkan but maintaining the gi will be easier.
About the Brand
This brand is based in Wessex, England. This company has above average quality gis which are a bit more affordable than the gis which has the same quality. Well, I think it is a small niche but hey what do I know? Maybe they are making a good profit of off the kimonos. But the drawback is that this approach definitely limits the selection.
The company sponsors various practitioners which are different belts. I particularly like this approach as the company does not support only famous athletes. Trust me there are only a few brands who do this. They basically encourage the less successful practitioners and in my opinion, it helps this martial art to become even greater. The company sponsors the British Army and RAF BJJ teams, which are well-known, and UK BJJ Youth Team who are just starting their BJJ journey.
In addition to that, this brand has a lot of fans in Europe. I think the fitting of jacket especially chest compartment is a reason for that. Thanks to a classic fit, single weave, and long durability, Valor Bravura can be a great a gi for beginners and more advanced practitioners.
Related Article: Benefits of jiu-jitsu
Guys, have you rolled on the mats with Valor Kimonos? How was your experience? Feel free to share these and your questions about Valor Bravura Gi below.
