I mentioned these a while back on Facebook and finally got a pair for Christmas.  I’ve worn the Gi-Flex Pants by Sprawl for several workouts since then.  Sprawl says, “we have brought the same engineering and innovation that has driven our fight short designs since 2002 to create the new SPRAWL Gi-Flex gi pants. The Gi-Flex has all the best features we introduced to the MMA world in our shorts designs.”  I’m not sure how complex they are, but they certainly are an advancement over the traditional drawstring pants that I can’t manage to keep on my ass no matter how many times I tie them.   Here’s a brief review.

Appearance  5/10: Call me old school, but I prefer my gi with as few adornments as possible.  These are kinda gaudy.  There’s a huge black SPRAWL logo embroidered onto the leg that prohibits me from ever wearing these in the dojo.  On the mats they look fine, but the black crotch patch receives a little undue attention.  Maybe I’m just flattering myself, or maybe I’m a little self conscious about rocking a codpiece in a room full of sweaty dudes.  Either way, I wish Gi-Flex came in blue, too.

Durability 8/10: When compared to traditional gi pants, these pants are very light.  They feel like they could tear if caught on an object or in a fierce grip.  They have held up just fine though and just take some getting used to.  On the other hand, the waistband and Velcro fly system are solid–just like grappling shorts.  The material on the hips feels a little thicker.  They are 100% cotton and wash well, remaining white.

Comfort 10/10:  Other than the secure fit, comfort should be your number one priority when wearing these pants.  The roomy waistband has a tie inside, and the stretchy crotch allows for plenty of movement–even when wearing a cup.  They’re great pants for intense workouts and for extended rounds of guard practice.  They are pretty baggy though, even after following the shrinking procedures described on the company website.  They do mention that some people might need them hemmed.  The sure thing is that Gi-Flex will NOT untie or fall off.  If they do, you might be engaged in the wrong type of grappling.

Overall 9/10*: Despite the price of $75, I like these pants a lot because of their comfort and performance.  My classmates like them because they aren’t being flashed while rolling.  They’re nice pants, but you’ll pay a premium until competitors start imitating the style and functionality developed by Sprawl.

If you’ve tried them, let us know what you think!  Do you find them worth the investment?

* (Don’t expect me to corroborate this score by summing the above numbers.  I’m being completely subjective about the user experience here.)