Fenom Kimonos Gi Review: When it’s time to upgrade your gi game to a womens gi that fits (and isn’t pink)

One of my training partners graciously gifted me her old Fenom Crystal Weave and I have been wearing it nearly every practice.  Though I still love my Fuji All Around gi, I’ve become a big fan of Fenom.  

I had always been a bit wary of gis that were marketed for women as they seemed to be the same as the mens gi, only pink.  But when I put on the Fenom Crystal Weave, I felt a marked difference in fit and comfort.  Plus, it helps that it’s in black, so I get to feel a little badass :)

Fenom Crystal Weave Gi Review

According to Fenom’s blog, the Crystal Weave is their most popular gi.  And for good reason – it’s a lightweight gi that’s strong yet soft, keeping you comfortable and fast.  

Durable and lightweight

I’ve rolled in gis made of a variety of weaves, but the Crystal Weave definitely has a unique softness that doesn’t compromise its durability.  It’s gentle on the skin, which means you’ll never have to worry about gi burns but also infinitely durable, so you also don’t have to worry about it falling apart after just two training sessions.  Case in point – I was given this gi after it had been used for 2 years; I’m now 3 months into using it twice a week and it has no hint of damage. 

Phenomenal fit

The slim tailoring of the shoulders and torso provides a wonderful fit without being bulky.  The pants were definitely cut with the female form in mind, giving room for certain assets without adding length, allowing you full range of movement without worrying about tripping over your own pants (which I may or may not have done while wearing other gis…)

Mix and match

And probably the most unique about Fenom Kimonos is that you can shop gi tops and pants separately, so you can have the combination that’s right for you.

Here’s their size chart from the Crystal Weave:

  • A0 4’10” – 5’1” 85-115 lbs
  • A1 5’2” – 5’5” 115-130 lbs
  • A1 Curvy 5’3” – 5’5” up to 155 lbs
  • A1 Tall 5’6”- 5’9” 115-130 lbs
  • A2 5’6” – 5’9” 130-165 lbs
  • A2 Tall 5’9” – 5’11” 140-160 lbs
  • A2 Curvy 5’6” – 5’9” up to 180 lbs
  • A3 5’10” – 6’1” 165-190 lbs
  • A4 5’6″ – 5’9″ 190-220 lbs

(For tips on getting a gi that fits, check out my post: Tips for buying a womens BJJ gi as a small player

More details:

  • Single Piece 550 grams Crystal Weave Top
  • 100% Cotton Rip Stop Pants with Flat Drawstring
  • Embroidered logos

 

So there you have it!  I’ll try to do more product reviews like this in the future – if you have a certain product you’d like me to take a look at, feel free to leave a comment or drop me a line.

Weekly roundup 1/21/17 – 1/27/17

Here are some videos and articles that I thought were interesting this week:

Articles

Which New Techniques Can You Learn the Fastest? @ Grapplearts.com

Stephan always has a practical mindset when it comes to training and this article was exactly what I needed as I’ve been flitting around from technique to technique.  Focusing on one certain style and going for depth is a much better way to go when you’ve been training for a bit.

(If you don’t have a style, just pick one!  If after a couple months it doesn’t feel right, you can branch off into something else.)

Tim Ferriss Podcast ep. 2 Transcript – Tim Ferriss & Josh Waitzkin @ JoelAlain.com

I’ve been having some technical trouble listening to podcasts lately, but I knew I couldn’t let that stop me from finding out about this episode since I’d heard that it was super helpful for BJJ.  I’m now really glad for the transcript because it’s saved me from writing all of my notes!

There’s a lot of great nuggets of wisdom that can be applied to training, especially being more in tune with your internal self and practicing quality.  There’s really a ton in there so highly recommend reading (and re-reading!) or listening at the fourhourworkweek.com/podcast

Videos

The Proper Way to Knee Cut @ Great Grappling

Absolutely mindblowing concept of driving the hips instead of the knee down to the floor.

 

Mount escape – Bridge and roll when your opponent has a deep collar grip @ DraculinoTeam

Basic, yes, but Draculino’s way of explaining is amazing here!