SSF Grappling Shorts

MIDMOBOX · 12:20 AM

A few weeks the fever caught up to me again and I decided I needed new gear. Last time it was gloves and a sprawl long sleeve rashie. This time I was looking for shorts and another rash guard. I thought about the xfgear white long sleeve with the American flag on the back but since they are still in the process of restruturing, I went straight to my normal source for clothing www.ssfgear.com.

A quick couple of mouse clicks and I found what I wanted. A set of black split leg grappling shorts and nogi long sleeve rash guard. As I was looking for a review of these items here on shrdog, I hit upon some glowing reviews for the Mantos brand and got distracted looking at www.rdfc.tv. After talking with Chris at Red Dragon via PM here on Sherdog I was about to place an order till I saw the exposed drawstring on the Mantos shorts, which for me is a deal breaker. So back to Ron I went, he was temporarily out of the black split leg shorts in 34 so I ended up with his newer Black and gray “grappling shorts”.

http://ssfgear.com/shopsite_sc/product10.html

I placed the order and 2 days later I received them via the reliable US post office.

These shorts feature the same closure system as SSF’s split leg shorts consisting of inter-locking Velcro panels, a drawstring and elastic. In the year I have had my split seams this combo has yet to fail. Never forcing me to run ashamed from the mat as my Care Bears underwear was revealed. But instead of flex panels on the inside of the leg and split seams on the outside these have flex panels both inside and out. These panels are in gray, which contrasts nicely with the black body of the shorts. I was hoping that the vertical lines would provide camo for my middle age self. Another difference I noticed is that the logo on the leg has a white background and brighter letters making it stand out more compared to his older series of shorts. I had originally wanted the split seams but I think I might like these even better. No longer will I worry about my pasty white butt hanging out of my jock while I roll around being dominated by other men in my guard.

My other SSF branded shorts are 34s and that is the size I ended up ordering. Upon trying them on however I found that although the waist was a tad tight the hips were more than a tad on the tight side. The seams were pulling against fabric, but tanks to the stretch panels they were still super comfy. After a quick trip to the scale to confirm I hadn’t gained a few pounds. I voted to go head and send them back for the net size up.

I did this will full confidence that SSF would promptly ship me my shorts back quickly, having ordered from them before. During this Ron confirmed that some of the grappling shorts ran a hair tight through the hips. Since I have trouble fitting jeans through the hips I’m sort of use to this. So my shorts went back in the mail and head back to TN.

Next Update SSF Grappling shorts in a bigger size

and the NOGI rashgaurd thread

hamilton · 10-04-2007, 11:03 AM

this thread is worthless without pictures!

CFMC04 · 10-04-2007, 12:43 PM

I'd like to see some pics other than ones from the website as most of the time they don't do the gear justice.

MIDMOBOX · 10-06-2007, 04:27 AM

I sent them back to get the correct size before I took any. When I get them back I'll try to get some pictures of the closeure and brighter logo.

Punishment1320 · 10-12-2007, 02:43 PM

Here are some pics as I have these shorts also

I really like these shorts however if you are in between sizes order a size up. They are still a little snug even with the elastic waist.

Muscleshart · 10-12-2007, 03:19 PM

They are sold out of 40s. I placed an order and got the email a few days later. Sucks cause I was really looking forward to trying SSFgear since they seem like nice guys. I guess my fat ass needs to lose weight.

MIDMOBOX · 11-09-2007, 03:51 AM

Well this process has lasted a little longer than I wanted but SSF has kept me up to date with what was going on via email. as the size of shorts I needed were stuck in customs for awhile.

I was given the option of a refund or other item replacement but I figured I'd just wait. So 2 days ago I got my notification they shipped and history has told me that it takes about 3 days to get here from SSF.

I'm actually not sure which shorts I'm getting at this point other than they'll be black. I talked to ron about the split seams and the sizing issues of the Grappling shorts. He was more then ahppy to listen to what I say.I guess we'll find out when they get here. To be honest I really don't care which pair he sends, I have other pairs of Splits and love them and the grapppling shorts were super nice for the money as well.

I'm still very happy with SSF and the products they provide even after waiting to get these shorts. Thats why I keep doing business with them they take care of the customer.

Although I have a new problem now in visisting the website I noticed the new SSF Primetime style and Mauy Thai gloves. Well at least Christmas is not that far away. How to tell Santa I need even more gloves, I havent' been that good.

MIDMOBOX · 11-10-2007, 10:59 PM

Well in Friday's mail I had a package and it was from SSF. My shorts had arrived. After gleefully ripping the package open then opening the protective inner wrapper I found my shorts. Like I had said before I didn't know which ones I was getting and what I got surprised me.

Instead of the black splits or the black and grey grappling shorts I got a pair of all black grappling shorts. Now the apperance of them is just like the silver and black only with solid black flex panels on the inside and outside of the leg. A quick test fit and I was in business.

These fit, my ssf splits were 34" and these were 36" but they fit about the same. The leg openings are a tad larger on the Grappling shorts compaired to the splits. The legs came in just above the knees on my 6' frame. The hips were just right which was the problem with the 34" I had orginally purchasesd. After a short dance around the house in celebration of my new shorts I did the mandatory pose down in front of the mirror. They looked right. Other than the slight muffin top on the sides were my love handles are(my fault not the shorts) The logo was crisp and sharp and is the one photoed above.

The closure system remained the same as previous models however the velcro was more "aggresive" than my other pairs. I would think you need to be extra careful to close the fly prior to washing to avoid snags. You should also be extra careful to close the fly before going out in public.

This mourning I wore them to the gym. It was saturday get hit in the head time so I thought I would try them out. I pushed through a bunch of rounds boxing, kickboxing and doing some modified mauy thai. At no time did the shorts become a question. they stayed put on my hips, didn't sag or come off the waist and were comfortable. Not did they impend in any way movement including high kicks, knees or spinnng kicks or the falling down which normally follows my spinning kick attempts. While laying there after falling down repeatedly they didn't show my butt so that was a good thing for everyone there. I did have to stop looking at them in the mirrors on several occasions in order to avoid being beaten senseless.

Other than me needing to lose weight and get a tan(ghostly white legs, black shorts not the best combo) I couldn't be happier with these shorts. I feel that I got a decent product for a great price and dealing with Ron was as always easy and trouble free.

I'm sending them off for some logo work and will post pictures after they come back. These shorts beg to have advertising space sold on them as there's plenty of room for sponsors and gym logos.

1PunchKO · 11-10-2007, 11:51 PM

post pictures of you wearing them as well, i would like to see how they fit compared to other shorts.

MIDMOBOX · 11-12-2007, 11:39 PM

Well they got dropped off at the printers today. The flex panels actually might cause a probelm with getting the fabric tight enough to embrodier(sp) but my guy is going to use a new heat transfer process he's been playing with to do the lettering. Plus unlike screen printing no expensive set up fee.

He showed me some shirts that he had done and they felt great, alot like screen printing. But softer not like the old heat transfer process. ANyway he's giving me a money back gaurentee on the printing so we'll see. I've had this same shop do work for me before and they normally do a great job so I have no probelms with what they suggest.

Should have them back by Thursday. So we'll see about pics after that.