Fuji vs Sanabul is a comparison of two gi brands that both sell adult BJJ gis for under $100. Here we compare two of those gis side by side: the Fuji Baseline 2.0 and the Sanabul Essential.
My own first gi was a Fuji. I started jiu-jitsu in April 2017, and the academy simply handed me one. I remember it as very soft and light, and I was comfortable training in it. I have never worn a Sanabul, so everything below about Sanabul comes from the brand's own pages. We sell neither brand.
Slava Rybalka training in a Fuji gi (view this post on Instagram)
All prices and specs were checked on the brands' websites on October 3, 2026. They change, so check the product page before you buy.
Key insights
- Sanabul Essential is the cheaper entry point: $69.99 against $99.95 for the Fuji Baseline 2.0.
- Sanabul Essential has the heavier jacket on paper: 380 gsm against 350 gsm.
- Fuji Baseline 2.0 has an athletic, tapered cut and ripstop pants. Sanabul Essential is pre-shrunk 100% cotton.
- Fuji gives you more time to return an unused gi: 90 days against 30.
- For competition, Sanabul states that its White, Royal Blue and Black Essential gis are IBJJF approved. Fuji's Baseline 2.0 page does not mention IBJJF.
Fuji vs Sanabul comparison chart
| Feature | Fuji Baseline 2.0 | Sanabul Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.95 | $69.99 |
| Jacket weight | 350 gsm | 380 gsm |
| Fabric | 350 gsm jacket, ripstop pants | 100% cotton, pre-shrunk |
| Cut | Athletic, tapered | Not stated by the brand |
| Adult sizes | A0 to A5, with long and heavy variants | A0 to A4 |
| Kids model | Kids Baseline 2.0, $79.95 | Future Legend, $41.99 |
| Returns | 90 days, unworn and unwashed, you pay return shipping | 30 days, refund minus shipping or store credit |
Fabric and build
Fuji describes the Baseline 2.0 jacket as 350 gsm, built to be durable while staying light, with sturdy ripstop pants. That matches my memory of my first Fuji: soft, light and comfortable from the first class.
Sanabul lists the Essential at 380 gsm and 100% cotton. The brand says it uses no polyester blend, so the gi does not stretch during training and breathes better.
Fit and sizing
Fuji cuts the Baseline 2.0 slim. Fuji itself suggests sizing up if you want more room in the chest or the midsection, and recommends a cold wash and hang drying.
Sanabul says the Essential is pre-shrunk: if it fits out of the bag, wash it cold and hang it to dry. If you want it smaller, Sanabul says a hot wash and the dryer will shrink it further.
Whichever brand you choose, check that brand's own size chart before you order. Fuji runs from A0 to A5, with long and heavy variants in some sizes; the Sanabul Essential runs from A0 to A4.
Competition rules
The IBJJF uniform rules ask for a gi of a single colour: white, royal blue or black, with the top, the pants and the collar all the same colour. The fabric must be cotton or a cotton-like woven fabric.
Sanabul says its White, Royal Blue and Black Essential gis are IBJJF approved because of their single-colour pants and 380 gsm fabric. Fuji's Baseline 2.0 page does not mention IBJJF, and Fuji names several Baseline colourways with two colours, such as White Blue and Black Mint. Check the colour and the trim against the IBJJF rules before you register.
Price and value
At $69.99 the Sanabul Essential is about $30 cheaper than the Fuji Baseline 2.0. Fuji's lowest-priced adult gi on its site is the Flow-Tech at $89.95, with mesh panels in the armpits and gusset.
I think the most important thing in a first gi is that it is comfortable. You do not need an expensive gi right away, because you do not know yet how long you will train jiu-jitsu. You may take a few classes, realise it is not for you, and then have to sell an expensive gi on eBay.
Returns and support
Fuji gives you 90 days to request a return. The gi has to be unworn, unwashed, unused in training, with its tags and in its original packaging, and you pay the return shipping.
Sanabul takes returns within 30 days of purchase and gives you a store credit or a refund to your original payment method, minus shipping.
Before you buy either one
The best start is to train in the gi your academy lends you. If you can, take a trial for a few classes.
When you decide to commit, ask the academy about its gi rules. Many academies sell their own branded gi. At Gracie Barra, for example, the academy's own gi is required, and many other academies do the same.
Final verdict
If you are on a tight budget or buying for a child, the Sanabul Essential ($69.99) and the Sanabul Future Legend kids gi ($41.99) cost the least of the models compared here, and Sanabul says which colourways are IBJJF approved.
If you want a slimmer, athletic cut and a longer return window, the Fuji Baseline 2.0 is the one to look at. My first gi was a Fuji, and it was comfortable from day one.
Either way, check your academy's rules first. If you like to train in a rash guard under the gi, we make those. And if you want to remember your first classes, keep a BJJ training journal.
