Valor is a British company with a great selection of BJJ Gis at truly excellent prices. They sent us their newest Gi, the “Carioca” to try out. I already own the Valor Victory Gi and it ranks among my all time favorite Gis.
I wore this Gi non stop for 4 weeks. The first thing that impressed was the really cool design with the orange stitching and embroidery as well as the light weight of the Gi. The Carioca comes in white and royal blue.
Sizing:
| Height | Weight | Size |
| 5’2-5’8 | 55-70 Kilo | A1 |
| 5’9-5’11 | 71-86 Kilo | A2 |
| 6’0-6’2 | 87-102 Kilo | A3 |
| 6’2-6’3 | 103-120 Kilo | A4 |
Specs:
550 Gram Carioca Weave Jacket
Rip Stop Covered Rubberised Lapel
Contrast Stitching
Tailored Cut for a better fit
10oz Cotton Trousers
4 Drawstring Loops to keep the drawstring in the correct position and to stop it moving around
Thick Rope Drawstring
Sizing and shrinking:
I’m 1m86 and 90 kilos and the A3 fit me almost perfectly out of the box. The gi has natural shrinkage rate of approx. 3-5% after washing in warm/hot water.Washing in hot water can be used to shrink the GI and adjust it to your body type. Wash cold only if you are satisfied with the fit. I washed the gi at 30 degrees everyday for the 4 week period and it shrunk just a little by becoming tighter. The sleeves stayed the same which is important for passing IBJJF regulations.
Jacket & pants:
The GI jacket is has a tailored cut so it fits closer to the body giving it a better fit than most standard GIs. It features contrast stitching, stylish Valor patches and embroideries and a Rip Stop covered rubberised lapel.
The Pants are made from 10oz cotton and feature contrast stitching, drawstring loops and Drawstring. The Drawstring is rope type. Its twice as thick as most other drawstrings and has a thick elasticated inner core. These are the best drawstrings on any GI we have seen!
Look:
The design is really cool. There are just enough embroideries and patches. The round arm embroideries remind me a bit of the Shoyoroll .The contrast orange stitching is original and refreshing. The design is really a big plus of this gi.
Feeling when rolling:
The Valor Carioca is really comfortable to train in. The gi is a perfect compromise between light and solid.
In Conclusion
The Valor Carioca gi retails for 79,99 GBP or 95 € on Valorfightwear.com which makes it a great bargain for such a well made gi. I have seen Gis of the same quality priced at up to 200 euros…One of the best Gis I’ve ever worn for sure.
9,5/10
