Take a look around the rashguards products available online or in the sports section of your local store and you’ll be amazed at the high price tags attached to them. And while you can still find generic rashguards that wouldn’t cost you more than $20 or $30, these cheap ones won’t be of much help in your BJJ training. Your teacher and classmate would most likely advise you against using them. So why are rashguards so expensive?
First and foremost it’s the quality of the material that drives the price of rashguards. Secondly, the design. A high-quality rashguard fits snugly and doesn’t come in your way as you practice or execute your techniques. This is why you’d want to invest in a good rashguard as they play a major role in your progress.
Of course, you could always try to wear a tee-shirt and hope for the best. Why waste so much money on a branded rashguard when you can use a $5 T-shirt? It’s right there in the name. The rashguard protects your body and doesn’t sag the way tee-shirts do when they are soaked with sweat. But do you really need that pricey rashguard, though? Let’s find out.
The Need for Rashguards
Whether to go with a rashguard or just any good old tee-shirt or some similar item of clothing shouldn’t be decided based on finances alone. It’s true that rashguards are expensive. But there’s a good reason for that. The expensive rashguards, I’m talking the ones that cost $100 and more, come with some qualities that help with your training. They have an added agility and stretch across your body without being weighed down with sweat.
Rashguards do more than just protect your skin against the rough mat or the accidental nail of the opponent digging into your own skin. And yes they do prevent rash which let’s face it is not the most pleasant thing in the world. Think about it, would you rather face an opponent on the mat with a sweaty attire or one that is well ventilated and keeps you cool when the heat of the competition increases?
To be fair, the protection the rashguard offers is something that the Gi itself will not offer. In other words, the Gi or no-Gi question should not touch the need for rashguards. Whether you don’t leave home with the Gi or you would never go to training with one, this has nothing to do with rashguards. You still need the rashguard. Just think of all those germs that land on your body as you make contact with the mat and the other opponent.
Speaking of your opponent. Did you know that your sweat could cause them a fungal infection? When you wear a rashguard during training or sparring, that sweat gets absorbed and rather than gets sprayed all over the mat and the opponent when you take the rival down, it stays safely under your rashguard. Of course, this works both ways. When every one of your classmates is wearing a rashguard, you feel safer sparring and grappling with them all day. So besides the hygiene, you also get the reassurance that the class is a safe place to train without the fear of catching something nasty.
Finally, you need to consider your Gi as well. Without the rashguard, all that sweat pours directly into the fabric of your Gi. This means your Gi won’t last long with this rough treatment. It also means you feel hot and bothered as soon as you start grappling or sparring. In turn, this impacts your performance. In short, the rashguard is a must for every BJJ player whether they take their practice seriously or not.
What to Look for in a Rashguard
Now that we have established the absolute need for you to wear a rashguard and protect yourself and others from flying germs and droplets of sweat, let’s look for the qualities you need to ensure your rashguard has maximum protection and the type of performance enhancements you desire.
The first thing that gets your attention of course is the quality of the material. A cheap material will probably be no better than your average tee-shirt. This is why you’d want to invest a little more in a pricey rashguard. A cheap rashguard will probably not last as long as you’d hope for and might have flaws either in the seams or the design that make it a hindrance rather than an enhancement.
The other thing to look for is whether the rashguard is a good fit or not. A loose rashguard defeats the purpose. It will not offer the right protection to your body and will sag like a wet shirt on your back. If it’s too tight or one size too small, that makes it uncomfortable and comes in the way of your movement. Less mobility is the last thing you want when sparring or grappling against an opponent. Your rashguard needs to be comfortable and fits snugly without limiting your movement or making it hard for you to execute a technique.
Last but not least, the style. Your rashguard makes a statement. It says a lot about you and whether you use a Gi or not, your rashguard still makes a splash on the mat. I’m not saying that a scary rashguard with graphic patterns will put fear in the heart of your opponent and make them turn around and run away. But a rashguard that really fits your style and conforms to your thinking and values will go a long way in preparing you for your game.
How Many Rashguards do you Need?
A rashguard is more than just an accessory. As you browse the various products you’ll find that each rashguard has some enhancement to offer. Some offer more flexibility while others have more endurance. And of course, there’s the design and style to think about. Come to think of it, investing in a rashguard shouldn’t be something you do in a hurry. You need to take your time, look for the best options, and choose one that gives you a bang for your buck.
So the question here is, how many rashguards do you actually need? It’s not a question to get a subjective answer easily. For one thing, it boils down to your personal preference. Some BJJ players prefer to have more than a couple of rashguards. Even go as far as own half a dozen to change through them. That’s fine of course as long as you can afford it.
Others would find a rashguard they feel comfortable in and stick to it. They’ll wear it for every class or competition. They can’t get on the mat without it. It becomes part of who they are. More like a ritual. After each class they go home, wash the rashguard, and the next day they’re ready. It’s just who they are. You might think of it as odd. But for them, it’s more about comfort and establishing a rhythm. Their favorite rashguard is part of who they are.
So between those two extremes, is there a middle ground? What if you don’t like the idea of having just one rashguard? And what if you don’t have the means to get half a dozen and keep changing through them like Jay Z in a concert? From my experience, I’d recommend you have anything between 2 to 3 rashguards at one time. Why is that?
Longevity should be the first concern. As you wear, wash, dry your rashguard the signs of wear and tear start to show. It will become less flexible and agile. The material loses its protection and after a short while you find that you have to buy a new one since this one is just too old. Not to mention that when you buy in bulk you can land a good deal and save yourself some cash.
Brand or no Brand?
So let’s say you have some cash to splurge on your rashguard or rashguards if you choose to buy more than one. Now the question is, should I go for a designer brand or just look for a run of the mill one that doesn’t have the famous logo emblazoned all over it? It’s a trade-off really. There are pros and cons to each type.
A branded rashguard not only says a lot about you but also makes you stand out in the crowd. If you like to show off, then a designer rashguard is what you’re looking for. This doesn’t mean that branded rashguards have no redeeming qualities besides the logo. They usually have good qualities and improve your performance. But they tend to be more expensive.
A no-brand rashguard will cost you considerably less. You’re not investing in a logo but in the quality of the rashguard. You can find a good quality rashguard at half the price of the branded ones. So it all comes down to your budget and whether you prefer to have a famous logo across your rashguard or not.