|
Keiko Raca Limited (Blue) Review--TON of pics, with measurements
I'll be writing the full review soon. For now I'm uploading the pictures. FYI, I'm 5'11, 165 lbs. The gi is an A3 (however the sizing chart says I SHOULD be an A2--as you can see from the pics there's no way an A2 would fit me). I've had it for about six months and roll with it 2-4 days per week, washing in cold and hang drying after every use. I shrunk the gi an inch or two after getting it.
EDIT: Here's the full review:
I got this gi for Christmas. I've worn it 2 to 4 days per week, washing in cold and hang drying after every use.
Fit/Cut
I'm 5'11, 165 lbs. I have a thiner build and long arms (see pictures). Although the size chart says I should be an A2 (5'9 – 6'0, 141 – 176 lbs) I opted to go with an A3 (5'10 – 6'3, 176 – 209 lbs). Out of the box the gi was slightly large with the sleeves extending an inch or so past my wrists; after about ten minutes in the drier the gi fit perfectly. I'm not sure that even an unshrunk A2 would have fit me properly.
As has been mentioned many times on these boards, the Keiko is designed for people with slimmer builds (maybe I'm just not slim enough, which is why I had to go with an A3?). The jacket is tight, and the lapel curves nicely around the body so it doesn't stick out. The lapel also crosses around mid-chest, which is nice since the lapels don't end up in my face while doing crunches or getting stacked, as can happen with other gis where the lapel closes higher (such as my Atama). I think this also helps defend against some chokes, since the lapel is farther away from my neck.
Although the torso is slimming, the sleeves certainly aren't. The sleeves are quite roomy (baggy), almost as much as my judo gis. While this makes Ezekiels easier, it may make it somewhat easier for your opponent to control you (more fabric means more to grab on to, but it also means you have more room to move once they do grab on). This may be an issue depending on your style—for me it really isn't.
The pants are again fairly roomy. I'd say a bit less so than my Atama Mundial #5, and definitely less so than my judo gis.
Material/Color
The manufacturer claims this is a double weave, but is actually very light weight and thin. The material is thinner some single weaves, and much thinner than my Atama #5 (gold weave) or even Fushida Tournament (heavy single weave). The entire gi weighs around 4 to 4.2 lbs, and the jacket weighs around 3 lbs (my scale keeps changing its mind). This makes it a very good choice for warmer climates, but I can see where durability could be an issue (several people here have said their Keikos didn't last much more than a year). The fabric is textured, like you would expect from a double or gold weave, but pretty soft. The thickness, texture, and tightness feel similar to my Koral Classic, although not nearly as stiff (the Koral can feel like sandpaper after being washed—the Keiko doesn't).
The color has faded a good amount. Although personally like the look for blue gis, I don't care for it on black gis. Also, I'm not sure how well it shows up in the pictures, but the pants and jacket are different shades of blue. I can't remember if that's how it came or if that's how it faded.
Lapel
The lapel is very thick and fairly stiff—pretty similar to my Atama #5, although a little stiffer. I mentioned earlier that the lapels cross lower than some other gis, which I like. The neck is also wide, so I never feel like I'm getting choked by my own gi.
Durability/Construction
As I mentioned earlier, I've used this gi 2 to 4 days a week for the last six months. So far very few frayed threads have appeared. The trim I think helps the durability some as it gives an added layer of protection around the sleeve cuffs. It does feel, however, like the fabric in some areas is getting worn down, though I could be crazy. The jacket has a standard amount of reinforcement, and is pretty heavily reinforced around the shoulder area.
The pants are holding up well. They lack reinforcement in the gusset (a feature I've only seen on a few gis, such as my Fushida). The knees have good reinforcement, however, with a double layer of cloth extending to mid-thigh.
The pants use a rope drawstring, which I personally like. I feel that they stay tied better than the thin cloth drawstrings that are the norm. They also don't need frequent re-adjustment as one side becomes longer than the other. In six months I have yet to re-string the pants—something I've had to do several times with my other gis.
Conclusion
Overall I'm very happy with the jacket. Although I question the durability given how thin the gi is compared to other double weaves, I still think it should last as long as a single weave. I personally don't mind having to buy a new gi every year or so if it means that I'll have a gi that is light weight and fits well. The pants are pretty standard, and there are probably better ones out there, although I do like the rope drawstring over the traditional drawstring.
Last edited by akdms; 05-14-2009 at 12:45 PM.
|
