Finding The Right Wrestling Singlet For You

For wrestlers, wearing a singlet is professional attire, so choosing the right one for you is extremely important. There are numerous sizes, fits, and styles you can pick from, which means understanding what suits you best is crucial. Here is a guide to helping you sort out what it is you want before you make your decision:

Size is the most important factor when you're choosing a singlet. You want your singlet to be big enough that you and your body parts have some room to breath, but it ought to be tight enough that there are no loose sections of the garment. Should you have any loose fabric about, your opponent will be able to grab hold of you easier and make life difficult on the mat!

Typically, sizes will roughly go according to these weight ranges:

XS: 55-75 lbsS: 75-119 lbsM: 120-139 lbsL: 140-169 lbsXL: 170-199 lbsXXL: 200+ lbs

For your singlet, you want something that's comfortable on your skin but also stretchy and flexible. A combination of nylon and elastic is your best bet, typically in the 80% nylon, 20% elastic range. This is a good ratio to get a fabric that will retain its original shape, but also expand with your movement as you compete at a high intensity.

The material will usually be made of a mixture of spandex or lycra and nylon.

There are three major styles of cuts that you can choose from for a wrestling singlet. These are categorized as the "Full Cut," the "FILA Cut," and the "Low Cut."

High Cut: The high cut singlet is the traditional uniform and is what you will see at the international and World Championships level. It looks like a tank top, with some exposed area underneath the arms and under the neck. The fabric goes almost up to the armpits on the side, hence why it is called the high cut.

FILA Cut: Very similar to the high cut, but more exposed skin on the sides, as it does not ride up as high up to the armpits as the high cut.

Low Cut: The low cut singlet is the most exposed, with big openings in the front, on the sides, and in the back. These effectively look like tight underwear attached to stretchy suspenders. Low cuts are not permitted to be worn at the Olympic, international, or high school levels.

When choosing the best color for you, think about following the guidelines your team or school has laid out in place. Odds are you will need to pick a singlet that matches the colors of your school if you're wrestling for a school team, and a red or blue one for mostly any other competition.

Every body type is different, so no singlet is one-size-fits-all. Find out what you like, try on different sizes, cuts, and materials, and determine what it is that's going to help you be at your best on the mats.

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Aug 30, 2023

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High Cut: FILA Cut: Low Cut: