Forty Thieves Fight Shorts

Tale of the Tape

Company: Forty Thieves
Genre: No-gi and casual wear
Price: Shorts are $42.95-$47.95

My Sprawl shorts bit the dust, so I went hunting for a new pair. Sprawl no longer stocked the style of shorts I wanted, and the new designs either didn't fit my tastes or were too expensive. I was forced to look for a new a brand of fight shorts that met my criteria, which were:

1. Affordable. I didn't want to spend $60 on a pair of shorts.
2. Stylish yet respectable. To me, too many fight shorts sport obnoxious designs and slogans.
3. Split seam. I don't kick box, but I like having a split seam for comfort and mobility.

Forty Thieves met all of these criteria and in a big way. Their board short designs are unique but not "in your face" like some brands. Most of the shorts are patterned with stripes, checkers, or plaid. Some designs "pop" more than others, but they're all sleek and efficient--no over the top logos or images. Forty Thieves is content to enhance the fabric pattern with a Forty Thieves patch on the back (no bigger than a credit card) and an elegantly embroidered "Forty Thieves" down the leg, both of which are simple and subtle additions that don't overpower the simplicity of the short design.

Note: the newer shorts feature the embroidery along the back of the waist and a patch on the side, still maintaining the respectability of the other designs.

I ordered a pair of Capones (pictured above) and was very pleased when they arrived. The photos on the site do not due the shorts justice. Functionally, the shorts are amazing: the Velcro enclosure is uses an overlapping design that makes it extremely secure, making the drawstring almost unnecessary.

The inner mouth guard pocket is a nice touch and succeeds were similar mouth guard pockets fail: Forty Thieves included an easy access finger loop in their design, making it easier for you to retrieve your mouth guard, so you're not fumbling around inside your shorts for 10 minutes trying to pull the mouth guard out.

The split seam is the perfect length for grapplers. It's just long enough to allow for extra mobility and comfort, but not so long that your training partners are accidentally stepping on an open flap of fabric while rolling or complaining about about seeing too much of your pasty upper thigh.

My favorite part about my shorts: they are so comfortable. The fabric has a silk feel to it and is lightweight. I wear my shorts around the house and even around town.

Bonus: Since Forty Thieves is a small company, the customer service is quick, easy, and direct. I contacted the owner about wanting to purchase an out of stock beanie, and he tracked one down for me within a week.

I highly recommend Forty Thieves products.