11 Best BJJ Shorts Reviewed & Compared

Training No-Gi BJJ is lots of fun – it is dynamic, requires quick thinking and there’s hardly any stalling. 

Much of this is due to the gear used for gripping without a Gi, which oftentimes comes down to just a pair of shorts. 

But you can’t just wear any shorts – you need Jiu-Jitsu shorts for optimal performance… 

This is why we put together this ultimate guide to the best BJJ shorts currently available. 

Best Shorts for No Gi BJJ At a Glance

• Durable – ELITE Sports BJJ Shorts
• Stretchy – Gold BJJ IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Shorts 
• Best affordable BJJ shorts– Sanabul Essential BJJ Shorts
• Top Compression/ Vale Tudo shorts – RevGear No Gi BJJ Shorts

Best BJJ Shorts

While picking out BJJ shorts is fairly simple compared to picking a Gi, there are a few tips and tricks you need to be aware of. 

Before going into selection criteria, however, let’s see what the top options are in the realm of grappling shorts.

Gold BJJ IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Shorts

Gold BJJ is a brand I personally like because they don’t have an endless supply line of products, but rather a few, very well-select ones in each category of combat sports gear, including everything Jiu-Jitsu related. 

Their IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Shorts are a great example. They feature an athletic cut with 4-way stretching properties. They’re very lightweight and comfortable, allowing for an unrestricted range of motion.

In order to align the shorts with IBJJF regulations, Gold’s shorts have no pockets. Apart from making the shorts eligible for tournament use, it also means nothing gets in the way when you’re training.  

The shorts are available in 7 different sizes, and 1 color (black). They’re made out of 100% Polyester which makes them breathable and allows for maximum swat-wicking. The drawstring is stitched into the waistband, making the shorts very practical for BJJ.

Elite Sports Fight Shorts

Elite’s Jiu-Jitsu gear is reliable, affordable, and has a certain minimalist aesthetic that gives them a recognizable flare. 

Their shorts are ultra-soft and as lightweight as shorts can get  (150gsm). I personally own a pair and can attest to their comfort and feeling of complete freedom of movement.

Another important feature is that the material is tear-resistant, which means the shorts will withstand the rigors of grappling practice for a long period of time.  

The Elite Sports Fight Shorts are available in 6 sizes, and 2 colors. The material is 100% microfiber fabric. There is an elastic waistband reinforced with a drawstring to ensure the shorts stay in place. 

IBJJF legal, which is always a nice feature with BJJ shorts. 

Progress Jiu Jitsu BJJ Shorts

The focus of Progress Jiu-JItsu as a brand is to deliver complete products with optimal performance being the highest priority. 

Small side slits on each side paired with 4-way stretch properties of the fabric give these shorts a feel of lightness and comfort. 

Every bit of the design is fully sublimated. In other words, the colors won’t fade, crack, or peel away with time. There’s no point in making high-performance shorts that are not durable, and this pair of shorts is one that lasts. 

The shorts are available in 6 sizes and 2 colors. They are made from 80% polyester and 20% spandex and feature a pull-on closure. 

XMartial Fight Shorts

Gold BJJ is firmly the claim for the best BJJ shorts with yet another product in our list. Once again, comfort and range of motion are the key features these shorts offer, this time in more colorful design variations. 

Gold BJJ’s Pacific Shorts offer an enhanced range of movement through a specialized signature cut, inner thigh stretch panels, and lightweight material. 

The hidden internal drawstring and lack of pockets are again key features, preventing slippage during training and making them IBJJF legal. The elastic waistband also ensures a comfortable and secure fit when no gi training. 

The shorts are available in 4 plain color shorts and 1 camo design option. They also come in 7 different sizes.

Regrettably, only the black-colored design is approved by the IBJJF.

Sanabul Essentials Fight Shorts

Sanabul quickly caught the BJJ public’s eye with very durable, highly specialized gear for combat sports with an emphasis on performance rather than color-filled designs, and their Essential BJJ shorts are no exception. 

Reinforced stitching and protection over the seams guarantee the shorts will last long without tearing or ripping. 

These shorts are form-fitting, which means less bagginess, reducing the danger of tangles during grappling exchanges.  

A unique design feature is that these shorts display the belt-rank color at the waistband, for example, brown side slits for a brown belt. 

There are 8 colors available, all of them on the waistband, while the base of all shorts is black. In addition, there are 5 different sizes available. Only the ranked colors are IBJJF-approved. 

Fuji Baseline Grappling Shorts

Fuji is one of the oldest and most trusted combat gear brands specializing in grappling gear for Judo and BJJ athletes. 

The Fuji Baseline grappling shorts are a powerful piece of gear, designed to last. They contain special 360-degree panels and a built-in saddle gusset to ensure 3D elasticity which not only provides comfort but also durability. 

Fuji’s board shorts are ultra-lightweight, with a very elegant, simple design that leaves them open for customization.

There are 7 different sizes and 5 colors available. The closure is via a hook and loop system involving an inside drawstring and velcro. IBJJF approved. 

These BJJ fight shorts are perfect for customization with club logos and/or sponsors.

Artibus BJJ Shorts

Atribus is a Colorado-based brand that aims to provide ultra-durable gear to combat athletes. 

Their BJJ shorts are very lightweight, with a modern cut that is short and free of any hardware like pockets or zippers. 

The shorts stay comfortably in place thanks to the silicone grip that accompanies the drawstring in the waistband, preventing lippage and ensuring a comfortable fit. 

Flexibility is a given with these shorts, thanks to their 4-way stretch material and inner thigh stretch panels. 

Available in 4 sizes and  1 color these shorts contain a high-flex crotch for enhanced durability, The sublimated dye is not going to crack or fade, and they are IBJJF legal. 

Flowhold Grappling Shorts

Rounding off our list of best no gi shorts are Flowhold’s multipurpose, mat-tested shorts. 

These shorts offer a balance between performance (lightweight, 4-way stretch fabric) and durability (updated reinforced seams) ideal for grappling. 

A lot of effort has gone into the fit. You get the feeling of wearing comfortable board shorts but with all the performance qualities of the best BJJ shorts. The only difference from regular boardshorts is the absence of pockets. 

Available in 5 sizes and two designs (black and dark camo), these 100% Polyester shorts are IBJJF-approved.

RevGear Compression Shorts

RevGear offers one of the most unique designs in our list of Best shorts for BJJ. The brand has been operating for almost 30 years and collaborates with the world’s premiere coaches and fighters to provide some of the best gear around.  

Revgear Compression Shorts are anatomically optimized for maximum performance. The compression they provide increases blood flow, improving performance and decreasing the risk of injuries.

The most unique feature of these shorts is the built-in invisible cup pocket. It allows you to insert a crotch protector for added safety while retaining all the comfort during practice.   

RevGear’s shorts are available in 5 sizes and 1 color, (black). They’re made out of moisture-wicking, ComfortDry fabric (Polyester) and are machine washable. 

The shorts come with a cup, but you can also opt to insert your own.

Gold BJJ Compression Shorts

The third (and final) pair of Gold BJJ Shorts on our list is a pair of compression shorts, providing RevGear with stern competition for the mantle of best BJJ compression shorts. 

A big caveat about these Gold BJJ shorts is that they offer skin protection against matburn, cuts, and dirt.

Essentially, they are short spats, but on steroids, very breathable, flexible, and comfortable.

There are 7 different sizes available, and  1 color (black). 

A nice detail is that they come with a full money-back guarantee by Godl BJJ, in case you’re not satisfied with the product. 

How to Choose No Gi BJJ Shorts

Picking out the best BJJ shorts for you is not as easy as choosing from a myriad of different designs out there. There are plenty of factors to consider, like style, cut, fit, material, certain distinctive features of grappling shorts, etc. 

We did most of the hard work sifting through the informational abyss and categorized the best shorts for BJJ above. However, it is always important to understand how something works, just like in Jiu-JItsu, so if you want to learn more about the selection criteria, read on: 

Style of Shorts

There are two main styles of shorts for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: compression and board shorts. This, in addition to design, is an area where people seem to have strong preferences leaning one way or the other. 

It’s worth mentioning that there really is no right or wrong here, the best BJJ shorts for you will come down to what makes you feel and perform the best while on the mats. 

Compression BJJ Shorts

Compression shorts are, in essence, short spats that finish above the knees. They offer great skin protection on account of the tight fit, as well as providing compression which aids training through improved blood flow. 

These types of BJJ shorts are also great for temperature regulation, keeping you dry, but still helping you retain heat.  

Board/ Baggy Style BJJ Shorts

Baggy shorts are a version of regular board shorts that includes several key additions, like side slits, stretch panels, and specialized gussets to prevent them from tearing during grappling exchanges. 

These tend to be the preferred option amongst BJJ practitioners as they leave a bit less to the imagination and are often more comfortable and cooling.

Cut & Length

The length of no Gi BJJ shorts varies primarily in terms of the style of shorts. Compression shorts are usually shorter than board shorts, but both have to end above the knees, as per IBJJF regulations. 

There are different cuts available, but the most common one is an athletic cut. It provides a tight fit which prevents tangles during rolling, but also offers a maximal range of motion. 

4-Way Stretch Fabric

Jiu Jitsu training can often require a lot of dexterity and flexibility of the body. Given this, it’s important to wear no gi shorts that will not hinder your ability to move as effectively as possible.

For that reason, an important feature of Jiu-Jitsu shorts is the ability to withstand force in each direction, which is where the stretch fabric comes in. The material built into BJJ shorts allows them to stretch 360 degrees, but instantly return to their original shape once the force is no longer present. 

The best BJJ shorts will always be made from a stretchy material with an inner thigh stretch panel, as this offers high levels of both comfort and durability. 

Velcro and Drawstring

While there are many variations in terms of waistband design and closure, This double-trouble combination ensures that the shorts stay firmly in place, and at the same time hides the drawstring so that it does not interfere with training. 

A silicone strap on the inside of the waistband sometimes accompanies this type of closure. 

Flatlock Stitching & Reinforced Stitching

The seams are an aspect of grappling shorts that is often overlooked but falls under the essentials category. 

The seams have to be able to hold the lightweight, stretchable material in place without tearing it, but at the same time have to be resilient enough not to give way under the rigors of combat sports. 

Reinforced stitching comes in many forms on BJJ shorts, but flatlock stitching is usually the standard, for both styles of shorts. 

Stretchy Gusset

The gusset is a piece of material sewn into the shorts to improve their strength and endurance. With shorts for BJJ, the gusset is a triangle-shaped piece made out of resistant, stretchy fabric, that enforces the crotch area, which is prone to tearing given the demands of BJJ. 

Sublimated Printing

While sublimation is not a key factor, nobody likes to have the color of their brand-new shorts fade and crack after a couple of weeks.  

Sublimated printing is a standard in most cases, guaranteeing that the design, whether it is just a logo, or a more elaborate one, does not change its appearance over time. 

Internal Pocket

Completely optional but some people find it useful, mostly for stashing their mouthguard away in between rounds or matches. An internal pocket is legal in competition shorts as long as it is hidden from view.  

Side Slits

The side slits are a unique feature of fight shorts, giving them their recognizable look. They are only present in baggy shorts since they are of no use in compression shorts. 

Their goal is to allow unrestricted freedom of movement while creating space in strategic places to reduce the pressure on the seams in one of the most common stress areas in shorts. 

IBJJF Approved

The stamp of approval by the IBJJF means that a pair of BJJ shorts meets their somewhat strict requirements in regard to length, fit, color, and design. 

Many brands take this into account when designing their Jiu-Jitsu shorts. You’ll likely have noticed this when shopping around, as a lot of brands state that their gear is “IBJJF approved”.  

You can see all the requirements in detail here.

FAQs

Let’s go even further and answer a few more things you might be wondering about no-gi BJJ shorts. 

Can You Use Regular Sports Shorts for BJJ Training?

Yes, you can, but for training only. Keep in mind that the absence of inner thigh stretch panels and side slits will mean that regular shorts restrict motion somewhat and are not as durable as specialized BJJ shorts. 

Can You Wear Compression Shorts Under No-Gi Shorts?

Yes, but once again, only for training. In IBJJF competition you can only wear baggy shorts that are approved and nothing but undergarments beneath. 

However, if you get a pair of really short compression shorts you could pull them off in IBJJF tournaments. The ref won’t look that closely.  

What Shorts Should I Wear for Competitions?

In IBJJF competitions, you’ll need to stick to the standards they require in terms of design, length, fit, and color for the shorts.

Different promotions have different requirements, but if you fulfill the IBJJF ones, you’re good to go at any tournament. 

Some tournaments, like the ADCC, allow a lot more freedom in terms of the choice of shorts.

Can You Wear Gi Pants to No Gi Jiu Jitsu? 

Yes, you certainly can. You will definitely be at somewhat of a disadvantage when rolling, given that you’ll likely have more material for your opponent to grab a hold of (although if they’re respectful they won’t). 

Honestly, no-gi BJJ shorts are pretty affordable, and given that it’s no-gi training, wearing the right attire is always good. 

What Other No Gi Gear Do I Need?

One of the best aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, is that there really isn’t much gear involved, which is especially true for no gi BJJ training. All you really need is a rash guard, a pair of fight shorts, and potentially a mouth guard. 

There are some additional pieces of gear that more seasoned BJJ practitioners find helpful/ more comfortable, such as ear guards, knee pads, and ankle braces.

How to Clean My BJJ Shorts? 

When it comes to keeping your shorts clean and hygienic, it’s always best to follow the care instructions provided by the company. That said, I usually use a machine wash cold setting and never really have any issues. Using a warmer setting will run the risk of shrinking them.

Top BJJ Final Thoughts 

The quest for the best BJJ shorts is a long one. I myself have quite the collection at home, and while I have my favorites, based on 12+ years of everyday experience, I am aware that there are new and improved models coming out every day. 

Our list features the best BJJ shorts available today, including all the latest models and designs. 

Time to make your (informed) pick!