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How much does a soccer jersey weigh? Well, soccer jerseys are made of 100% polyester. Therefore, they are lightweight, flexible, and comfortable, allowing for maximum mobility on the field.
The average measurement for a medium-sized soccer jersey is 160 grams per square meter (gsm).
The weight may vary based on the:
- Size
- Manufacturer
- Fit
- Shrinkage
So, you could expect a soccer jersey to be even lighter than the figure above. Many jerseys can also be as light as 130 grams overall, depending on where you buy them from.
Also, soccer jerseys are considerably lighter than sports jerseys. A Major League Baseball jersey weighs around 280 grams on average.
This article will explore the following:
- Factors that contribute to the weight of a soccer jersey
- The three essential materials that are used to create a soccer jersey
- Why it is vital to keep a soccer jersey lightweight
Make more informed decisions about your choice of soccer jersey by learning what its weight is and what affects it.
What Are the Factors That Contribute to the Weight of a Soccer Jersey?
While it can help to know how much a soccer jersey weighs, you should understand that there are factors that can affect the weight. Here’s an overview of each of them.
The Size of the Soccer Jersey
The most obvious factor that affects the weight of a soccer jersey is the size. So, the small size will be significantly lighter than an extra-large size jersey.
This is because the larger jersey will have more fabric, increasing the weight in the process. You won’t have much choice with this factor because you’ll need to get the right size.
However, you do have some choice in the following factors.
The Manufacturer of the Soccer Jersey
Soccer jerseys can vary greatly among manufacturers. Some of them incorporate elastane in the shirts, and some don’t.
Other than that, they may have different measurements for some parts of the jersey. These factors can affect the total weight of the jersey.
If you’re concerned about the weight, you could do some research about different manufacturers’ jerseys.
In addition to reading the officially published content, you should read online consumer reviews.
Honest reviews from consumers can give you a more accurate representation of what the jersey is like to wear.
The Fit of the Soccer Jersey
The fit of a soccer jersey affects the weight because baggier shirts will contain more fabric, increasing the weight in the process.
The fit does vary from one manufacturer to another. For example, you may find that soccer jerseys created by Adidas are relatively slimmer than other brands such as Nike or Puma.
In addition to that, Nike generally has a consistent fit among all of its soccer jerseys. However, this is not the case with all jersey manufacturers, as some may have different fits to suit players’ bodies snuggly.
It’s in your best interest to wear a well-fit shirt. Loose shirts can come in the way, and they help other players tug on your clothing with greater ease.
Shrinkage of the Soccer Jersey
You may not have considered this, but your soccer jerseys can shrink when you wash them. This also tends to occur even if you follow the wash instructions exactly. In that case, the weight of the piece of fabric may change.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to reduce the chances of shrinkage. In addition to that, you could also look up reviews by customers to determine if this is a problem for the specific jersey you’re looking to buy.
Other than a weight change, shrinkage is bad because it can affect the overall fit of your jersey.
What Materials Are Used to Make Soccer Jerseys?
Now that you have an answer to the question, “How much does a soccer jersey weigh?” you should know the materials that are used to make it.
It is true that that the fabric is 100% polyester. However, there are other parts that are made of elastane and polyurethane.
Therefore, you can learn about each material and why it’s used below. These materials also play a significant part in keeping the weight of the jersey so that it’s comfortable for players.
Polyester
Soccer jerseys are made of polyester because the material is non-absorbent and water-resistant. Therefore, it allows your sweat to slide down the shirt instead of getting absorbed.
At the same time, it’s a breathable material. So, you’ll be able to cool down quickly during play and reduce overall sweating—which affects a shirt’s weight.
How Water-Resistance Keeps the Weight Unchanged
So, its weight will remain unchanged because it won’t get wet—a wet shirt can become heavy and affect your performance.
You’ll tire faster if you have to run with more weight than you’re used to. Soccer jerseys are not made from cotton, as they used to before, because cotton can absorb water and increase its weight by 7%.
Even this slight change in weight can make the sportswear feel heavy and tiring to run in.
Why Jersey Manufacturers Add Polyester Fibers in Some Parts of the Jerseys
Jersey manufacturers also add bits of polyester fibers in certain parts of the jersey, such as the chest, armpits, and so on.
These fibers are on the inside of the jersey so that it offers even better sweat resistance in those areas when it comes into contact with the skin.
The additional fibers, therefore, allow the high sweat content to slide right off and onto the ground. In addition, it allows the sweat to spread to a greater surface area, allowing it to evaporate quickly.
How Polyester Offers Great Durability
In addition to being water-resistant, this material offers great durability so that it doesn’t rip when you fall to the ground. Soccer is a timed game.
So, if you need to replace a damaged jersey mid-game, you’ll be wasting precious playtime.
Therefore, manufacturers build jerseys of polyester so that they can withstand slides, falls, and scrapes without even a slight tear.
Elastane
Some parts of soccer jerseys, i.e., the shoulders, sleeves, and collars, are made of elastane. Elastane is also commonly called spandex.
So, this material has high elasticity, allowing it to stretch to 600% of its length before tearing. Elastane is used for the parts of the jersey mentioned above because you’ll need maximum flexibility in those areas.
Your jersey shouldn’t be restrictive or tear when you’re trying to perform a header.
How Elastane Keeps the Shirt’s Fit Unchanged
The high elasticity also ensures that the cloth returns back to its original shape and fit.
This way, you can prevent the shirt from feeling loose in some areas, which could come in the way of your movement.
Snuggly fit shirts also reduce the chances of other players pulling on your shirt during play.
Why Elastane Is Not Used for the Entire Jersey – Not a Breathable Fabric
Elastane is used in moderation in a soccer jersey. This is because it’s not a breathable fabric. So, it would cause players to feel hot during play, which, in turn, would result in more sweating.
Therefore, other than feeling discomfort during play, the shirt would get wet faster, even if it’s water-resistant.
As a result, the weight would increase slightly faster than otherwise. That is why polyester is the primary jersey material.
Polyurethane
There is only a small portion of polyurethane on a soccer jersey. This material is used only for the sponsorship material printed onto the shirt. Therefore, this material is heat-sealed onto the shirt.
It is the same material used to create soccer balls. The material is relatively lightweight, and because it’s water-resistant, it prevents changes in the overall jersey weight during play.
Moreover, there’s very little of it, so it doesn’t add to much of the total weight anyway.
So, if you want to know how much a soccer jersey weighs, you should know the materials responsible for its weight.
What’s also incredible about its creation is how these materials contribute to keeping the weight relatively unchanged during play.
Why Is a Lightweight Jersey Essential for Soccer?
Soccer is a 90 minutes game at a minimum, and it can exceed due to overtime in some cases.
During that time, players run across different ends of the field, kick the ball, dribble the ball, defend their own goal, and more.
So, doing all of that continuously for that long (with only a short break in between) can become exhausting.
That is why it is essential that soccer jerseys help conserve the players’ stamina and energy throughout the entirety of the game.
This way, the players can still perform at their even toward the end of the game. This will be made possible if there are minimal hindrances in the player’s movements.
A lightweight shirt doesn’t force players to use more force to move across the field.
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.