This is an Adidas Authentic NHL jersey review. Before we start, if you are looking for quick jersey advice, I own and review all 3 types of NHL jerseys. Quickly, here’s what you need to know:
- Adidas Authentic Jersey – Official Authentic Jersey. This is the closest you can get as a fan to wearing what the players wear on the ice. Stitched graphics. Loose fit, but I ordered my regular sizing. Click here to view the Adidas Authentic Jerseys at Adidas.com (affiliate link takes you to Adidas.com).
- Fanatics Breakaway Jersey – This is the official replica jersey of the NHL. Still has nice quality even though it isn’t authentic. Stitched graphics. Loose fit also, but sleeves are a bit slimmer than the Adidas jerseys. More affordable than the authentic jerseys. Click here to view the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys at NHLShop.com (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com).
- Adidas Practice Jersey – Alternate Adidas option. More affordable than Adidas Authentics. Practice themed jersey so it has a bit of a different look than the standard jerseys. This jersey also has a loose fit, but I ordered my regular sizing. Click here to view the Adidas Practice jerseys at NHLShop.com (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com).
For most fans, I recommend the Fanatics Breakaway jersey because it is more affordable than the Adidas Authentic jerseys, but still has a quality design that includes stitched graphics. This is the current price of the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com).
For serious fans and jersey collectors, the small differences between the replica and authentic jerseys may matter a lot. But for common fans just looking for a cool way to rep their favorite player and team, the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys are an awesome option.
For those types of fans, it is hard for me to recommend buying the Adidas Authentic jerseys over the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys when the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys are so very similar in style and quality. And especially once you also factor in price, the Fanatics Breakaway replica jersey is my easy choice for best NHL fan jersey.
This is where you can check out the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys at NHLShop.com (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com which is the official online shop of the NHL).
But for more serious fans, the Adidas Authentic jerseys will be best. These are the most premium type of NHL fan jersey. In this article I am going to focus nearly all of my time reviewing the Adidas Authentic jerseys so you can decide what type of jersey is best for you.
The Adidas Authentic jerseys are the closest you can get as a fan to wearing what the players wear on the ice. If you are wanting the most premium piece of NHL fan apparel, then the Adidas Authentic jerseys are it.
Even though for most fans I recommend going with the Fanatics Breakaway because it is similar and more affordable, there is no doubt that if you are looking for the best of the best regardless of price, then it is the Adidas Authentic jersey.
In this article I will discuss:
- Adidas Authentic NHL Jersey Cost
- Adidas Authentic NHL Jersey Sizing
- Adidas Authentic NHL Jersey Features
- Best Place to Buy Adidas Authentic Jerseys
Here is a look at my Adidas Authentic:
Adidas Authentic NHL Jersey Cost
The Adidas Authentic jerseys are the most expensive NHL fan jersey you can buy because they are almost identical matches to what the players wear on the ice during games.
This is the current price of the Adidas Authentic jerseys at NHLShop.com (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com). NHLShop.com is the official NHL online store and has the largest selection of NHL licensed merchandise.
Adidas Authentic NHL Jersey Review: Sizing
The Adidas Authentic jerseys use a numerical sizing system which is different than the standard small-medium-large sizing that is more common for clothing.
Size Chart
This is where you can access the official size chart for the Adidas Authentic jerseys (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com). The link takes to the the Adidas Authentic product page at NHLShop.com where the official size chart is linked just above the available sizes.
This is how the sizing works for the Adidas Authentic jerseys per their official size chart:
- 42 = XXS
- 44 = XS
- 46 = S
- 50 = M
- 52 = L
- 54 = XL
- 56 = XXL
- 60 = 3XL
I ordered and own a size 50 because I normally wear a size medium in shirts. This is my size 50 Adidas Authentic (medium equivalent) compared to a size medium Hanes undershirt straight out of the package:
As you can see, the size 50 Adidas Authentic jersey is much larger and longer than a size medium Hanes t-shirt. This, of course, is not shocking since NHL jerseys are made with extra room built in so that they can be layered.
How do Adidas Authentic NHL jerseys fit?
Just like all NHL fan jerseys, the adidas Authentic jerseys have a loose, baggy fit. If you prefer a tighter fit, you will need to size down at least one size. They are sized so that you have room to layer underneath.
I like to compare the sizing of NHL jerseys to a pullover jacket. There is room built-in to the sizing anticipating clothes being layered underneath. Many fans like to layer jerseys over their normal clothes at NHL arenas to help take the chill out of the arena.
This is how NHLShop.com describes the fit of the Adidas Authentic jerseys:
“Fit: Men’s adidas Authentic Jerseys are made to layer underneath. For a tighter fit, we recommend ordering one size smaller than your normally wear.”
I would just add also that the Adidas Authentic jerseys have plenty of length built in. Again, here is the size 50 on me – I am 6’3″ 200 pounds:
For reference, here I am wearing a medium t-shirt:
To read more about how all NHL jerseys fit, visit our NHL Jersey Sizing Guide.
Adidas Authentic NHL Jersey Review: Features
The Adidas Authentic jersey has the most premium finishes out of any of the NHL fan jerseys available. It has sewn-on graphics, NHL and adidas official logos, the authentic fight strap, and is made with the lightweight, breathable ADIZERO technology that gives the jersey a comfortable, yet durable, feel (source).
Here is a look at the features of the Adidas Authentic jersey that I own:
As you can see, the Adidas Authentic jerseys have the premium sewn-on graphics and the material is made with Adidas’s adizero Clima® technology that gives it a lightweight, breathable feel.
Again, I like to compare the sizing to a pullover jacket, but it is important to understand that it isn’t heavy like a jacket. Think of it as a lightweight jacket if you are looking to layer it. It adds warmth but doesn’t make me feel overheated, which is nice.
The collar on the Adidas Authentic jerseys is well-made and I don’t foresee stretching as an issue unless you overdo it.
Adidas Authentic vs other NHL Jerseys
As I said at the top of the article, I highly recommend the Fanatics Breakaway jersey as the best fan jersey if you are a bit undecided. But for some serious fans, perhaps you are truly shopping for the best, most expensive jersey. If so, then you will need to stick with the Adidas Authentic jerseys.
If you are simply a fan looking for a cool way to rep your favorite team and player, the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys are replica jerseys that yes, are not authentic versions of what the players wear, but they are very similar.
Again, take a look at how my Fanatics Breakaway and Adidas Authentic compare:
(adidas – on right)
The Fanatics Breakaway jerseys are the official replica jerseys of the NHL. Adidas has the contract to make the authentic jerseys, Fanatics has the contract to make the replica jerseys.
If you are a fan looking for a cool jersey to wear to the games or to wear on gamedays, the Fanatics Breakaway replica jerseys will be more than enough to cover your needs, and they also are more affordable than the Adidas authentic jerseys.
Again, I am in no way trying to tear down the Adidas authentic jerseys – they are awesome quality and the only authentic jersey on the market. But for many fans, the Fanatics Breakaway jersey (in my opinion) just makes more sense because it is a nice looking jersey and budget-friendly.
This is where you can browse the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys at NHLShop.com to look at team styles and available players (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com). To read more about the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys, visit our Fanatics Breakaway Jersey Review.
Adidas also makes a second, more affordable tier of jerseys, but remember, Fanatics has the contract to make replica jerseys, not Adidas. So although Adidas does make a more affordable option, it is not a replica of the official team jersey.
The more-affordable Adidas jersey is called the Adidas Practice jersey, and it is a cool alternate take on a fan jersey. I always tell people that if they want a jersey that will stand out from the other fan jerseys, then consider the Adidas Practice jerseys.
Here is a look at my Adidas Practice jersey:
It has a much different appearance than the standard team jerseys do. This is where you can browse the Adidas Practice jerseys at NHLShop.com to see what they look like for your favorite team (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com). To read more, visit our Adidas Practice Jersey Review.
To read more about how all NHL jerseys fit, visit our NHL Hockey Jersey Sizing Guide.
Where to Buy Adidas Authentic Jerseys?
Because there are fake jerseys on the re-sale market, I recommend buying your Adidas Authentic jerseys from a reputable source like NHLShop.com, which is the official NHL online store and has the largest selection of NHL licensed merchandise. This is where you can browse the entire selection of Adidas Authentic jerseys at NHLShop.com to see what styles and players they have available.