NHL Adidas/Fanatics jerseys- what to get?

[johnnysama]

I made a post like this last year, but it got buried with a lot of others, so I thought I'd give it a stand-alone post for more people to decide.

 

Last year, Fanatics took over making the replica NHL jerseys, but Adidas themselves makes the authentic 'on-ice' jerseys.

 

I have two Qs:

1) Has anybody had a chance to get either one?

2) Quality-wise, how do the two jersey brands compare?

 

Just asking, in case I should try and get such a jersey in the future.

[M4One]

The best thing to do is actually go to a store and compare the two and see for yourself.  The Fanatics one will be inferior in terms of quality on the logos for sure.  It's up to you if you are willing to pay the extra money for the authentic jersey.  Personally, I wouldn't be buying a Fanatics Jersey and would only buy the Adidas version if it were deeply discounted.  I'd just get a t-shirt to show my team pride.

[AnPheitseog]

I own a Sabres winter classic fanatics jersey.

 

Only reason i bought it:

 

1. The crests on these jerseys was identical (NOT the case on regular jerseys)

2. The Sabres store did the customization, which means full proper double layer tackle twill.

 

 

If not for these two things, I would NEVER have bought one. and still, will NEVER buy another.

[Bmac]

I say if you're going to spend $100+ you may as well spend a little bit more and buy the Adidas version. I have purchased both the Adidas and Fanatics versions. They Adidas version is far better quality for the price.

[bowld]

Fanatics fit a bit slimmer and are made of a more comfortable material. If only fanatics used the same crest as the adidas

[oddball]

I think it depends on which team you are thinking of getting. For a team like the Kings, I don't see much difference visually. My wife has a Fanatics one and I compare it to my Reebok replicas and it holds up, and even in store it looks very similar. Yet, I've seen the difference in grey color on the Vegas jerseys. For someone not wanting to spend $200, a Fanatic jersey is a good deal. I will say the Adidas authentics appear to be nice in quality.

[wildwing64]

What's the fit like for both compared to the Reebok Edge replicas?

 

I'm not really in a position where I can just go and try a jersey on, but I can comfortably wear a Small or a Medium Edge replica. I want to get a new Ducks third but the NHL International Shop only sells the Fanatics version. I'm not terribly keen on spending £100 for a jersey with a cheap plastic printed logo, but importing an Adidas will set me back at least £200+.

[Still MIGHTY]

Quality-wise, I really don't think there's a comparison between the Fanatics replica and the Adidas authentic. I also think the whole thing is a step down from Reebok.

 

Adidas is the higher quality fabric, stitched crests, the thicker shoulders. Yes, it has a fight strap, and yes, it has the authentic cut (bigger in the shoulders, slimmer through the body. it's recommended you get one size up from what you'd normally wear, especially if you're a bigger guy). However, outside of those two things (strap/cut) and stitched shoulder patches, I find the adidas "authentics" to be the same quality as Reebok replicas. You cannot purchase on-ice authentics of Adidas as you could with Reebok, so this is what you've got. A fan authentic which is equivalent to old replicas at a higher price.

 

Fanatics is basically casual wear. Lower quality fabric, plastic/flexible one-patch crests (no layers of any sort, just one big sublimated patch) and patches, and a casual cut (more true-to-size). It's like halfway between the old Reebok replicas and a sweatshirt. I'd say its a lower quality than the previous Reebok replicas.

 

I know the price difference is hard, and I really do hate how they (Adidas/Fanatics/NHL) have manipulated the market on these things. But if you can afford it, I recommend going with Adidas authentic over Fanatics replica. Especially @wildwing64 with the Mighty Ducks alternate, the difference in the flat/one-patch plasticy crest of the replica and the puffy/layered fabric crest on the authentic is night and day.

 

Again, I know the price difference sucks, and I hate this is what we're stuck with for the time being, but if you can make it work, chose the Adidas authentic over the Fanatics replica.

 

 

[charger77]

I have both a Fanatics and Adidas Leafs jersey. I have the Adidas because I want an authentic... I like the fit of the Fanatics which I got BNWT on eBay for $40.

 

Unless its a jersey I really, really  want, I'd go with the Fanatics. When Whalers jersey come out I'm planning on getting it as a Fanatics. I have a home Adidas Vegas, I'm scouring eBay for a cheap Fanatics road. 

[LETSGOBLUEBEATMSU]

I really like my Adidas one. Quality is really good and it’s really light compared to my other hockey jerseys. Can’t say anything about the fanatics branded jerseys because I don’t have one but I’m starting to get really pissed with all the Fanatics branded crap they come out with now. It’s almost like adidas only makes the jerseys and then everything else is fanatics. Not a huge selection this season on Adidas gear I see mostly fanatics for sale. 

[Proc]

I've got 3 of the Adidas.  Home and road Red Wingsand home Golden Knights. Very well made.  Word of advice.  Subscribe to Dick's Sporting Goods email list.  I got the Wings jerseys for $135 ($90 off normal price) during a short sale they had right after the season ended.   

[Sodboy13]

I've been up-close with both, and I wouldn't recommend buying the Fanatics jersey unless you're paying less than US$80 for it. You'll have screened shoulder patches and a mostly-screened front crest with embroidered detailing, plus the dumber-than-ever jock tag on the front on a shirt that feels flimsier than the Reebok replicas did. 

 

SportsK.com currently has many Adidas fauxthentics, including a number of the new 3rd jerseys, for US$120 to US$135, If they have the one you're looking for, go that route instead of Fanatics.

[jdavidev]

On 10/23/2018 at 2:10 AM, Still MIGHTY said:

Quality-wise, I really don't think there's a comparison between the Fanatics replica and the Adidas authentic. I also think the whole thing is a step down from Reebok.

 

Adidas is the higher quality fabric, stitched crests, the thicker shoulders. Yes, it has a fight strap, and yes, it has the authentic cut (bigger in the shoulders, slimmer through the body. it's recommended you get one size up from what you'd normally wear, especially if you're a bigger guy). However, outside of those two things (strap/cut) and stitched shoulder patches, I find the adidas "authentics" to be the same quality as Reebok replicas. You cannot purchase on-ice authentics of Adidas as you could with Reebok, so this is what you've got. A fan authentic which is equivalent to old replicas at a higher price.

 

Fanatics is basically casual wear. Lower quality fabric, plastic/flexible one-patch crests (no layers of any sort, just one big sublimated patch) and patches, and a casual cut (more true-to-size). It's like halfway between the old Reebok replicas and a sweatshirt. I'd say its a lower quality than the previous Reebok replicas.

 

I know the price difference is hard, and I really do hate how they (Adidas/Fanatics/NHL) have manipulated the market on these things. But if you can afford it, I recommend going with Adidas authentic over Fanatics replica. Especially @wildwing64 with the Mighty Ducks alternate, the difference in the flat/one-patch plasticy crest of the replica and the puffy/layered fabric crest on the authentic is night and day.

 

Again, I know the price difference sucks, and I hate this is what we're stuck with for the time being, but if you can make it work, chose the Adidas authentic over the Fanatics replica.

 

 

The Reebok replicas took a huge hit at the end of their run though.  I got an earlier one, and it had stitched numbers, embroidered chest and patches, but lighter fabric.  I got another one in their last year on sale when Adidas was announced, and it was all screened-printed, glued-on numbers, logos and patches.

[Mingjai]

On 10/23/2018 at 4:10 AM, Still MIGHTY said:

* * *

However, outside of those two things (strap/cut) and stitched shoulder patches, I find the adidas "authentics" to be the same quality as Reebok replicas. You cannot purchase on-ice authentics of Adidas as you could with Reebok, so this is what you've got. A fan authentic which is equivalent to old replicas at a higher price.

* * *

But if you can afford it, I recommend going with Adidas authentic over Fanatics replica. Especially @wildwing64 with the Mighty Ducks alternate, the difference in the flat/one-patch plasticy crest of the replica and the puffy/layered fabric crest on the authentic is night and day.

 

 

I agree with the assessment that outside of the shoulder patches, the new Adidas authentic jerseys and the standard Reebok replicas are similar in quality.

 

Also, the Blackhawks are another specific instance where "authentic" of any type--whether Adidas, Reebok (Edge, Edge 2.0, or Indo-Edge), or even CCM (6100 Ultrafil)--are going to be a substantial upgrade over the replicas because you'll get the chain-stitched crest and shoulder patches.

 

[umlegend1980]

Gotta go with the real deal.  If you wash it regularly, the Fanatics jersey logo will start to deteriorate as they are typically a different material.  Buy to last so buy authentic.

[FiddySicks]

I was in a sports store in the mall the other day and they had the sharks Fanatic jerseys selling blank for $140(!). They looked like complete and total trash. 

 

Y’all are stupid if you’re spending that kinda cash on that garbage 

[umlegend1980]

On 10/27/2018 at 1:24 PM, Bucfan56 said:

I was in a sports store in the mall the other day and they had the sharks Fanatic jerseys selling blank for $140(!). They looked like complete and total trash. 

 

Y’all are stupid if you’re spending that kinda cash on that garbage 

 

Yes!  And if the casual fan can even identify something is off when just looking at if for a split second then it is garbage.  Might as well by your jersey at Walmart.  Neither it nor the Fanatics jersey are the real deal and the one from Walmart is way cheaper.  

[WSU151]

On 10/27/2018 at 10:51 AM, umlegend1980 said:

Gotta go with the real deal.  If you wash it regularly, the Fanatics jersey logo will start to deteriorate as they are typically a different material.  Buy to last so buy authentic.

 

I don't think I've ever washed a jersey "regularly". Once...maybe twice...if that.

 

 

 

 

I did buy a Rangers WC Fanatics jersey over the summer (discounted), and I was pleased with the fuzzy letters, but wished they put the NY patch on the upper chest. Also bought an Avs one too, and was pretty pleased with it because the front crest wasn't 100% screened. 

 

Unpopular opinion, I guess, and perhaps it's a case of "I don't know what I don't know" but I wasn't horribly upset at the Fanatics quality.

 

Paying full price for a Fanatics hockey jersey is just as dumb as paying full price for a Nike swingman NBA jersey. Screened tackle twill is not fancy stuff.

[Still MIGHTY]

2 hours ago, WSU151 said:

I did buy a Rangers WC Fanatics jersey over the summer (discounted), and I was pleased with the fuzzy letters, but wished they put the NY patch on the upper chest. Also bought an Avs one too, and was pretty pleased with it because the front crest wasn't 100% screened. 

 

Unpopular opinion, I guess, and perhaps it's a case of "I don't know what I don't know" but I wasn't horribly upset at the Fanatics quality.

 

Paying full price for a Fanatics hockey jersey is just as dumb as paying full price for a Nike swingman NBA jersey. Screened tackle twill is not fancy stuff.

 

Most reports have said those WC jerseys, whether it was a Rangers or Sabres jersey, have said that even those are much higher quality than the regular Fanatics replicas. Seems like they put the extra effort into the event jerseys, but not the everyday higher quantity ones.

[Michael Bolton]

Someone mentioned that the Fanatics jersey fit more true-to-size, but I’m wondering if they run larger or smaller. For example, in t-shirts I’m typically a large but in NFL/NBA jerseys I wear medium and even those are a little loose on me. Size large SWIM on me. I bought a size large Reebok Lightning jersey on eBay and the damn thing is ginormous, probably more like an XXL. Can anyone comment on the fanatics sizing compared to adidas jerseys or just shirts in general?