Like the title says, I really wanna get a vikings jersey I just can't really afford to drop $100

I’d like the right shade of yellow but am willing to wait and not spend $200.

Thanks!

Steeler nation on a budget!

I want to buy a jersey but am a bit lost. When I was younger I used to buy them on eBay because I could get them cheap and they were stitched. There are a lot of options on which jersey to buy on fanatics. I want one that is stitched. Which one is the best to get for stitched name and numbers and logos?

Is there anywhere I can get a nice jersey (stitched letters and numbers) that's legit but not as pricey as NFL shop?

Hey yall I’m wanting to get a hester jersey but not interested in paying $120 for it. I know a lot of people know of some knockoff sites that have actually good quality for the like $40-$60 range, where would you guys recommend I shop / do you have personal experience with it and how was the quality?

i know ebay is a decent option for cheap jerseys, but im looking for a certain player (kendrick bourne) and all the ones of him on ebay (that ive seen) are 75+. is there a reliable website that has cheap jerseys for every player?

You know I ain’t paying $200 for a legit one.

I have a Mahomes t-shirt, but I wanted to get a couple of jerseys. I've been hearing that the overpriced ones are still bad quality, so might as well get a couple of knockoffs. Wanted to try and get them before the playoffs. Any reliable sources with decent quality? TIA!

I'm looking for a couple New York Jets jerseys, but all i can find are sites from china and I don't know which site to trust, or if their are better options.

Looking to grab a couple of jerseys for this season. Thanks in advance go bills!

Is fanatics really the best option? Everything I have read about them is bad.

Hey everyone! Ravens fan here living in KC. I recently got tickets for the season opener at Arrowhead and I'm in the market to buy a new jersey. I was wanting to know from you guys whats the best place to buy cheap knock off (decent quality) jerseys at these days? I use to use DHgate years ago but when I visit the website today, there isn't alot advertised for ravens jerseys. Any advice would be appreciated

Hey Everyone, new to mlb merchandise, love the sport and going to the stadiums. lately ive been buying my hats in places like Ross, Burlington and TJ Maxx, but the jerseys are another story, anyone knows where to get some quality cheap shirts? ive been looking into DH Gate as well but i dont want to get scammed

Cheapest jerseys are like $130 a piece, with maybe it being $90 on sale. But then some people have like 5+

Jobs yes lol but like it seems so much.

Fake jerseys also aren't too bad

I want a packers jersey that looks real, but that doesn't cost me jersey money. They're crazy expensive

I just want something to wear around the house on game day

I have seen a lot of posts talking about jerseys of late and wanted to share some basic info with other fans. I have been collecting jerseys for the past 20 years and have owned at least 500 jerseys in my time doing this. I currently have around 40. I have learned quite a bit about the ins-and-outs. I hope you find this useful.

First up, lets talk vocabulary.

• Chassis of a jersey refers to the material and cut of a jersey, sans the numbers.

• Fanatics is an online monopoly in the retail jersey world. They have been producing all officially-licensed retail jerseys with a Nike or Fanatics branding for the NFL since 2020. Fanatics owned sites include Fanatics, Fansedge, NFLShop, Lids, Sports memorabilia, JC Penny, and others. They are inevitable.

• Legitimate is used synonymously with licensed with respect to determining authenticity of a jersey.

• Heat Press is using heat to apply vinyl numbers to a material.

• Heat Seal is using heat to melt and fuse the edges of plastic materials to create a seal.

• Sublimation refers to the process of 'ink printing' onto a jersey. This is achieved by printing onto a transfer sheet and then transferring the ink printing to a jersey via heat. For NFL fan jerseys, this is exclusively a thin polyester material.

• Tackle Twill is traditionally a polyester blend with a diagonal rib weave pattern. It is commonly used for jersey numbers.

Lets talk about the types of jerseys that can be had. Generally speaking, there are 8 "tiers" of jerseys that span 3 categories. These tiers can be loosely classified as Discount Store, Sublimated, Vinyl Print/Heat Pressed, T-Shirt Stitched, Retail Authentic, Autograph, Player Issued/Used, and Counterfeit. The 3 categories are Retail, For Player Use, and Counterfeit.

Discount Store Jerseys: Retail

These are jerseys that are typically sold in stores such as Wal-Mart, target, or other big-box stores. They often have the same base template for all 32 teams and are primarily nylon mesh with heat sealed numbers. Their price tag is typically $25-50 and are typically marketed to kids. Here is an example of a Discount Store Jersey.

My Opinion: Good for kids who are growing fast but ultimately these look, feel, and are extremely cheaply made. The print will quickly crack. Grade: D

Sublimated: Retail

Known as a Nike Legend jersey, these jerseys are a thin polyester Dry-Fit type material. All colors are sublimated onto the jersey. Their price tag is currently $100. Here is an example of a Nike Legend jersey with sublimated coloring and numbers.

My opinion: These jerseys are very light and comfortable but will snag incredibly easily, A cat, Velcro, sharp counter, or seatbelt rubbing will cause irreparable snags and light to heavy wear spots. Stains do not come out of these. They are worthwhile if you only intend for a few uses or can be had for far below retail. Grade: D+

Vinyl Print/Heat Press: Retail

These jerseys are referred to by Fanatics as "Nike Game." They are 100% Polyester Tricot shirts with a chassis resembling a T-Shirt. They have vinyl decals and stripes with heat pressed numbers. These are the most commonly purchased jerseys and can be found at any sports store or pro shop. Their price tag is currently $130 ($180 for customized). Here is an example of a Nike Game jersey with heat pressed numbers.

My Opinion: They are harder to snag than the sublimated jerseys but do not resist stains well. Their vinyl numbers and decals are prone to cracking with washes (always wash cold with no fabric softener and hang dry!). They will last for a few years of Sunday wearing before the break down. They are not realistically repairable. Grade: C

T-Shirt Stitched: Retail

Known as "Nike Limited," these jerseys used the same chassis and the vinyl print jerseys above for the first few years of their existence (2012-2015/16). Their decals and stripes are printed while the numbers are made of a material similar to a thick plastic bag. Nike Limited chassis have ranged from Speed Machine to Vapor to Fuse but largely have remained the same in material with the bulk of changes being aesthetic. These jerseys are typically only released for select players and restocked near the beginning of the season. Their price tag is currently $175. Here is an example of a Nike Limited FUSE jersey with stitched on, plastic-bag like numbers.

Edit: as of 2024 all Nike Limited jersey are no longer stitched with twill. Instead, they are heat pressed onto the FUSE chassis. The only difference between a "Game" and a "Limited" is now the chassis.

My opinion: these are the best "bang for your buck" retail jerseys in terms of aesthetic and durability. The numbers will last longer than the vinyl numbers of the heat pressed jerseys but do have a tendency to bubble in heat and can look very old if the numbers obtain hard creases. These creases are nearly impossible to remove from the twill. Without spending 2 Benjamíns, these look much better than the previous. I do miss the days when they were $130 and far more worth it at the time. Grade: B

Retail Authentic: Retail

Known as "Nike Elite," these are marketed as "the closest thing to what the players wear that you can get in stores." They feature cuffed sleeves and a slimmer fit. They are made of Nylon and Spandex and stretch, unlike others. Patches and decals are embroidered on and stripes may be fabric or printed. Elites have had a few different chassis, beginning in 2012 with an Elite 51, then to the Speed machine in 2016 and 2017, Vapor in 2017 and 2018, and FUSE in 2023. The twill used on these jerseys is different from the limited, being thinner and more pliable. The sizes of Elites is measured, not in SML, but with chest measurements instead (Listed as 40, 44, 48, and so on). Their neck tag will be embroidered on. Their price tag is currently $350 ($335 for older models, $385 for personalized elites). Here is an example of a Nike Elite FUSE jersey.

My opinion: They are the best retail jersey you can buy but the Fanatics price is not worth it. The number quality of these is poor for the cost. I personally recommend buying blank templates of these on various resale sites or used elites and stripping the numbers off. Blank elites may run anywhere from $50 to $300. These jerseys can then be sent to tailors for number customizations. This typically runs $120 to $200 depending on the team, need to strip, and other factors. I personally recommend the Seattle Seahawks team tailor, STT Sports Lettering Co, as they use team authentic twill on all jerseys they customize. Here is an example of a Nike Vapor Elite that STT customized for me. Grade: C (Fanatics), B+ (tailored)

Autograph: Retail

These jerseys are often referred to as "customs" and are typically unlicensed. They are made primaily for autograph signings and not to wear. Many may come with odd chassis to be easier to frame. Quality and materials vary widely. Here is an example of an Autograph "custom" jersey.

My opinion: I am not a fan though some do look good in frames. To each their own. Grade: (it depends)

Player Issued/Game Used: For Player Use

These are jerseys created specifically for in-game use and are not directly available for fans to buy. These jerseys use much more durable polyester blend than any retail jersey. They use much thicker and pliable twill than a retail jersey. These jerseys are designed to be beat up. Each jersey issued to a player is cut to their liking. The sleeves, waistline, and neckline may be altered, among many other additions. These jerseys can be purchased via occasional team sales, through team or NFL related auction houses, and on various resale websites. Their prices vary largely on player, team, and whether or not they were used in game. The cheapest can typically be purchased for around $100 for an issued, non-game used while the most expensive can be had for tens of to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Here is an example of a game used FUSE jersey.

My opinion: These are 2nd to none but their price is not attainable for many. Lesser known players can be purchased for less than most retails and wearing these always gets a few comments. Grade: (it depends)

Counterfeit

These jerseys are based upon a Nike Elite. Many fans will incorrectly compare them to vinyl print jerseys. They often use inferior materials and their chassis can vary vastly in fit. The materials used are not consistent. Most can be had directly from wholesale sites for under $30. eBay resellers will often try to pass these off as legitimate to unsuspecting buyers at large markups. Here is an example of a counterfeit jersey.

My opinion: I think counterfeit jerseys are always obvious. They look very cheap and often are incorrect. If you are on a budget or just want a jersey to wear without worry of stains, then maybe these are for you, though I would recommend a used legitimate jersey over a counterfeit. Grade: F

Now that you know what types of jersey are what, lets talk about how to spot the difference between a legitimate jersey and a counterfeit. I would recommend that you watch this video to learn about the differences between legitimate and counterfeit jerseys. I am happy to answer any other question in the comments!

So, what should you buy? That largely depends on your budget. In general, I believe in going used if I can. I am a collector of game used and issued jerseys and most of my retails were purchased secondhand and tailored. Please feel free to comment with any link and I will happily help you discern whether a jersey is legitimate or counterfeit, as well as what tier it falls into and what it is likely worth.

Thanks for reading!

prices for jerseys are absolutely ridiculous. I don't want to spend 150-200 on a jersey I'm only gonna wear a couple times a year. and being a guardians fan I want a personalized one since Jose is they only player worth buying that will be on the team for more than a couple years. so with that being said where can I find cheaper jerseys. I would prefer authentic or at the very least not blatantly fake

Hi all,

Up until last year I was using Aimee Smiths store which was recommended to me by a post on here a few years ago. I have recently found out they have shutdown and am looking for an alternative reliable shop to provide Jerseys.

If anyone could point me in the direction of what online sites they use that would be great.

I'm based in the UK so would have to ship over the pond.

Edit Thanks for all the responses!

I've been looking for cheap jerseys but can't find any legit sites. About 10 years ago my dad ordered some from a Chinese site and they were surprisingly decent quality for around $30 each. Anybody have any info? Thank you in advance!

HereWeGo