Karate gi recommendation

I am planning to get a new gi and am wanting suggestions/feedback on quality karate gi. I am particularly interested in brands such as Kamikaze, Shureido, Tokaido, etc.

I bought one about 3 years ago from a local MA supply dealer. It was a ASE brand I believe made in Pakistan.

It has worn very well, despite Karate, Ju-jitsu, Hapkido and Judo classes.

From what I hear, Tokaido's are always good, if you want to shell out the money. Personally, I've never had the money.

I like my kamikaze (America), and the other styles of Kamikaze look OK too. However, the pant legs are a bit narrower than I'd like them, and it causes some problem with kicking.

A friend just got a Shureido this weekend. I tried it on, and it was excellent! So light I couldn't tell that I was wearing a gi, and the pant legs seemed about one and a half times as wide as the kamikaze. Very nice. Now I think I'll have to shell out some money for one of those. <sigh>

=)

I've only bought Gi pants. I like Century and Pro Force heavy weight canvas(12oz. and above).

I have a tokaido heavyweight gi and Love it..however if you are in a warm area you might want to think about it...being heavyweight means you'll sweat that much more.

I agree, I have a 12oz. uniform and when it gets warm in KC it gets really warm in the dojo.

Yeah, but in my experience (~28 years worth) the heavyweights don't stick to your skin as much so you tend to get better airflow. I find heavyweights more comfortable in pretty much any climate. It's basically a matter of personal taste, I suppose.

My understanding is that Tokaido has licensed their name to other manufacturers recently and that some of the gis made by those third- parties are not up to the old Tokaido standards. If that's true, it's a damned shame.

I really like the Shureido heavyweights. Alas, the ones I bought in the factory store in Okinawa in 1990 (for ~$85/each) have long since gone to the Great Dojo in the Sky

Heavy weight gi accept 10 lb. test fishing line as 'thread' better then foo-foo lightweight gi.

I thought I was the only person who had ever done that.

Just out of curiosity:: since when is 12oz fabric a 'heavyweight'?

I had gi with so much fishing line in them that Capt. Quinn would ask to borrow a reel.

Pffft! Might as well wear PJs!