Not all basic gis were created equal. Indeed, there is a lot of variation between the "entry level" gis put out by brands throughout the jiu jitsu market. With some, you certainly get what you paid for... with others, however, you will be pleasantly surprised by the quality offered at such an economical price. 

You can be sure to count the Maeda Red Label gi - available in both a men's and women's cut - among the latter group. 

As gi connoisseurs, nothing peeves us more than when a "basic" gi looks basic, or when it starts to fall apart after only a few uses. Yeah, you are paying the bare minimum price, but we believe that a brand should put out a quality product, whether it's their premium model or their entry-level model. 

Maeda Brand outdid themselves in this respect. 

Take the construction, for example. The jacket is made from a lightweight 350 GSM Super Fine Pearl Weave cotton fabric, reinforced in all stress areas. The pants are made from durable, yet lightweight, 8 oz drill cotton. Compare that to their highly-popular. ultra-lightweight, all-cotton gi, the Fujin. There's not a lot of difference. Now remember, the lighter the fabric, the less durable it is over the long-term... so make sure you take proper care of it - and any of your gis, really - to ensure it lasts. 

In order to keep the price low, Maeda Brand limited the amount of decoration they put on the Red Label gi. However, it is far from looking too bare. Sporting their iconic "stamp" logo embroidered on the left shoulder and back of the jacket, and small fabric patches sewn on the other shoulder and left pant leg in bright pops of red, the Red Label looks really ridiculously sharp. We can't stress enough that this gi does not look like a basic gi. 

Still not convinced? Take a chance and try it out. At such a low price, your wallet is not going to take a beating if you do, and we're pretty sure you won't be disappointed by what you find. 

Train on. Oss.