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Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a craft and an art form like no other. As a practitioner of BJJ, you know the significance of gaining a new belt level. Each belt is a symbol of the hours of dedication and commitment exerted. They are the tangible representation of the grueling hours you devoted to self-improvement and regular training sessions.
Getting a new and nice belt should feel like an accomplishment, and the quality of the belt should reflect the quality of the work you put in to get it. As jiu-jitsu is a martial art based on grappling, your bed needs to be as resilient as you are. A good belt stays tied during rigorous training and doesn’t wear out over time.
Just as there are endless BJJ gi brands, brand options for BJJ belts are just as limitless. To find the best BJJ belt brands, you need to consider several aspects first. You need to know what makes a BJJ belt better than others and consider all the best options before picking one.
So, how do you know what makes a good BJJ belt? What type are you looking for, what brands should you consider, and why is one better than the other?
What Makes a Good Belt?
As with anything, product quality varies from brand to brand. You can’t buy a belt just because it looks good or it’s cheap. That’s how you end up with an ill-fitted belt that comes undone at the first opportunity. You need to consider all the aspects of belt design from a practical standpoint before picking one.
Of course, there are personal opinions to consider when buying a belt; with plenty of sizes, you need the right fit, it should be a comfortable thickness for you, and it should be the correct color for your rank. These are all points to consider before purchasing a belt, but they do not determine belt or brand quality.
There are four major specifications you need to take into account when assessing the quality of a BJJ belt; material, craftsmanship, grip, and price. Find a belt that meets all of these criteria, and you’ll have your perfect BJJ belt.
Material
As with a gi, the ideal material for a belt is cotton. It is breathable, softens with wear but remains durable, is easy to clean, feels good, and stays tied. Cotton does tend to shrink with the first wash, but this can be easily compensated by buying a slightly larger size.
One of the bonuses to cotton products is that with washing and wear, they will become softer. This does not mean they are any weaker than when they were new, but it does mean that they will become more comfortable over time. Not only that but, regardless of the thickness of the belt, cotton will not overheat you.
Craftsmanship
A key area to check for quality is the stitching; frayed belts are no fun. High-quality stitching is a sign of true craftsmanship. If a belt has many rows of durable dual stitching, it is more likely to withstand the strains of BJJ. A well-crafted belt with double stitching should last for years with minimal signs of wear.
Grip
There is nothing more annoying than having to stop during grueling training sessions to re-tie a belt. When buying a BJJ belt, it is vital to find one with a good grip. A thick, textured material is ideal for improving the grip of a belt. Be cautious; however, a belt that is too thick or stiff will not tie well.
Price
As with all quality products, you should not be putting yourself in the poor house to buy it. The good news is most BJJ belts are actually relatively cheap and will only run you $10-$20. High-end products and expensive belts do exist, but a single decent belt doesn’t need to be much more than $20. When you compare that to the price of buying equipment for other sports, it seems almost unfairly cheap.
The Best BJJ Belt Brands
Now that you know what makes a BJJ belt good quality, it’s time to compare the top brands. You’ve probably heard of Elite Sports or Ronin Brand, but these BJJ belt brands are also well established and recognized the world over for their quality. Each is uniquely made and would be a perfect choice for BJJ.
Sanabul
Sanabul BJJ belts are well known to be sturdy and resilient. Each belt is made of 100% cotton core and comes in a wide range of sizes. Their BJJ offerings are quite thick and very durable. If you prefer your belt on the thicker side, then Sanabul is an excellent choice.
Brilliant dye emphasizes the belt colors (especially important for purple belt and blue belt martial artists) and will not fade. Sanabul belts tend to run a little longer than other belt brands, ensuring that they will still fit if they shrink at all when washed. The product is guaranteed to last for years. You won’t have to worry about them wearing out.
Each belt has a sleeve bar for ranking stripes. These are known to stay tied quite well and can withstand almost anything. Additionally, we recommend Sanabul belts for people on a budget. They tend to be some of the most affordable BJJ belts you can find but still boast high-quality construction, with eight rows of heavy stitching.
Sanabul BJJ belts are the best option if you are looking for vibrant and durable wear at affordable prices.
Hayabusa
Hayabusa products are very well-liked by MMA practitioners, and their BJJ belts are no exception. Each belt is lined with eight rows of double, robust stitching and is designed with 550-gm gold spec-weave material and 12oz twill cotton. This feature makes the belts extremely durable.
The belts include a sleeve bar for ranking strips and traditional branded patch detailing. These are designed to be lightweight and flexible and are therefore not as thick as Sanabul belts. They look akin to karate style options in overall thickness. Hayabusa belts are pretty comfortable and flexible to enable a full range of movement in the wearer.
The only downside to Hayabusa BJJ belts is that there can be issues with the sizing. Some customers reported the belts being on the shorter side, while others reported being sent the wrong belt sizes or mislabelled sizes.
Overall these sizing issues are generally not remarkable enough to prevent the belt from fitting but should be kept in mind when choosing a size.
Hayabusa BJJ belts are a good choice if you want a medium-sized, durable belt on the softer side.
Fuji
Fuji brand BJJ belts are another top pick if you are looking for a cheap, high-quality belt. They are crafted from a woven heavyweight cotton blend that helps with durability and breathability and are lined with nine rows of stitching.
You can find a Fuji BJJ belt in a vibrant range of colors, both standard BJJ rankings and kids’ and training mid-rank colors. You can find a black belt, brown belt, or of course, white belts plus everything in between.
Each Fuji belt has a sleeve bar for ranking strips. These are on the thinner side – not limp-noodle thin, but not stiff belts. They hold secure knots quite well and rarely come undone. Upon close inspection, they may not look that high quality, but they have held up in Olympic competitions.
The sizes tend to run small like most BJJ belt brands seem to, but that can be easily rectified by just buying a larger size. Fuji belts are small but mighty. They are soft, thin, stay tied, and inexpensive. Overall, a great belt brand for BJJ.
Fuji is a good choice if you prioritize comfort, superior durability, and style.
Hypnotik
Hypnotik belts are crafted from a pearl weave fabric, giving them a much different texture and appearance to most other BJJ styles. Each belt is lined with eight rows of stitching, but it is barely visible in the fabric. A bonus of this fabric type is that it maintains both its shape and color much longer than most other martial arts gear.
The gi material that comprises this belt is highly durable and holds a knot better than any other belt. Hypnotik’s BJJ belts are the second thickest on this list and are insanely durable. They are also probably the most stylish on this list. If looking good while doing BJJ is a concern, then Hypnotik’s belt has got you covered.
The standard colors are bright, the material looks and feels nice, and the belt is thick and durable. The labels can be sewn on a little crooked, but that is not uncommon to any of the belts on this list.
They are high quality, but they are also on the cheaper end of BJJ belts. Like the other selections, Hypnotik belts can have sizing issues, though less frequently than the other belt companies’ options.
Hypnotik offers a solid belt that is one the most stylish options on this list. This belt option is also thick, durable, and long-lasting.
Venum
The last entry on this list is Venum. Venum BJJ belts are 100% cotton fabric and reinforced with six rows of stitching. Each belt has a sleeve bar for ranking strips, and though they appear to be relatively thin in the photos, most reviews comment on how thick they are. They are quite stiff, though they do soften with wear.
Venum BJJ belts are top quality and competition ready, and they’re made to last. They will be with you for as long as you need them. Of all the products on this list, these ones come undone the most easily. That is not to say they do not stay tied well, but they are the most likely to undo. Using a different knot tightness or style can resolve this issue.
These belts tend to run on the slightly larger side of sizing, which prevents too much shrinkage. Venum is the most expensive on this list, depending on which you are buying. The price differs with sizing, but not consistently, and not by any substantial amount.
Venum belts are a good option for anyone looking for a top-quality, tough belt on the stiffer side.
The Ideal Belt
When it comes to selecting the best BJJ belt, there is no one-size-fits-all. Each belt varies slightly, and the choice ultimately comes down to what you are most comfortable with. A good belt is essential to BJJ as it will undergo a lot of wear and tear.
For a belt to last the longest it can, it must be thick and structurally sound. Thinner belts will last well too, but a thicker belt has more room before showing signs of wear.
Though the vibrancy of the color of a belt might not matter to some, the ideal belt would be able to maintain its color through years of washing (including in the washing machine) and wear.
These brands are on this list not only because they are durable but because they stay new-looking even through years of use. With as much time as you spend rubbing it on the floor, you’ll be pleased to see that these belts stay clean and bright, whether you’re a student in training or a black belt holder.
The ideal belt is made of ultra-high quality cotton to allow for breathability and movement and is constructed with the finest craftsmanship. The weave of the tough material and frequency of stitching changes the belt’s ability to stay tied. A belt is no good if it falls off, especially in BJJ.
Final Thoughts
BJJ is a rough-and-tumble contact sport that puts your body through a lot of physical exertion. You need quality gear (with distinct color options) at an economic price.
As we all now know, the key elements that make up a good quality belt are the material, craftsmanship, grip, and price. Ideally, high-quality belts feature cotton, are well made, don’t untie, and are affordable. These top five BJJ belt brands are all that and more.
The final choice comes down to personal preference. However, if you are looking for the best BJJ belt brands, the five aforementioned are the place to start. If you want a thick and stylish belt with a lot of grip, the Sanabul and Hypnotik belts are the way to go.
If you prefer a thinner, softer belt, the Hayabusa or Fuji is your best bet. If you are looking for the belt that stays tied the best for a tournament or maintaining the defensive aspects of your gi, the Fuji or Hypnotik is the best.