Review: Sprawl V-Flex CS Standard Shorts

Sprawl is the creator of the first “loose” short for grappling and MMA – a fact they proudly share in their their company history. Sprawl takes pride in its products – and based on my experience with their V-Flex CS Standard Short – they have good reason to.

Sprawl explains the V-Flex series are

“constructed of a heavy duty stretch fabric and incorporate the super stretch double layered flex panel…[and] are the first MMA short to incorporate varying degrees of stretch for unparalleled comfort and function”

Below is my review of the Sprawl V-Flex CS Standard short.

Overview

I have no complaints regarding their fit, material, or reliability. I am pleased and recommend the Sprawl V-FLex CS to anyone looking for a good grappling short.

Materials

Like most shorts from Sprawl, the garment has a great, light feel to the touch. They are quick to dry – and while the tag says they are overwhelmingly polyester, they do not feel like “traditional” mesh workout shorts. Sweat evaporates almost instantly for me, and they even feel virtually dry when I take them out of the washer.

There are two main “regions” of material on the exterior of the short – which seems fairly standard for many shorts from Sprawl: an “exterior” region – which covers most of the short – and an “interior” region that lies between the thighs and groin. The exterior fabric has less stretch and shine compared to the interior material. I was initially skeptical that the external material had enough stretch to it – but after wearing them over and over, it was clear to me the material is just about perfect for the garment.

Fit

I have a size 32 waist – and a size 32 in this short fits me perfectly. The short also has a great closure system, featuring both velcro and a drawstring. Once I have these on I feel like they are not going to slide around, even in the most intense grappling session. The shorts look and feel good with or without a cup.

The length of the shorts are a good compromise between being long enough to look good and not impeding movement. I have never felt encumbered in my leg movements during grappling or stand-up fighting.

Reliability

These shorts have been my de-facto short for non-gi workout sessions and seem to take a beating well. There are some frayed threads in the stitching along the exterior of the legs but I suspect it is normal wear and tear. I don’t expect them to unravel anytime soon, either on the mat or in the washing machine.

Other Notes

Make sure to note the care instructions say not to tumble dry the garment -  if you are a person who is used to throwing everything in the dryer when doing laundry, recognize that these shorts should probably be hang-dried.

I am happy to answer any questions about these shorts or my experience with them in the comments of this post.