If you are shopping for NHL fan jerseys, you might be wondering about fit. How are NHL jerseys supposed to fit? Are hockey jerseys supposed to be big?
Yes, generally most fans prefer hockey jerseys to fit big. Many NHL fans use jerseys to layer over their normal clothes to help take away the chill of the arena.
I own all 3 types of NHL fan jerseys – this is the type of jersey I recommend as best fan jersey due to its combination of price, comfort, fit, and style (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com).
In this article we will discuss the sizing and fit of the 3 main types of NHL fan jerseys, which are:
- Adidas Authentic
- Adidas Practice
- Fanatics Breakaway
How Big Should Hockey Jerseys Be?
How you prefer to wear your NHL jersey is, of course, entirely up to you. Many fans prefer jerseys to be bigger than their normal clothes so that they can simply layer over their normal clothes when they get to an arena.
Many NHL arenas are a bit chilly (imagine it like the office that has the AC on too high). Hockey jerseys are referred to as “sweaters” in many parts of the world, a reminder that hockey is a cold-weather sport, rooted in winter and (of course) ice.
Using the jerseys as an extra layer is a way of staying warm. But before you go and size up, don’t. The sizing of NHL fan jerseys has plenty of extra space built-in, perhaps even too much.
For example, here is my size medium Fanatics Breakaway jersey compared to a size medium Hanes undershirt straight out of the package:
As you can see, the medium jersey is much larger and longer than the medium t-shirt. Let’s discuss how NHL jerseys fit so you know what size might work best for you.
How do NHL Jerseys Fit?
All NHL jerseys have a loose, baggy fit. If you prefer a tighter fit, you will need to size down. My recommendation is to expect NHL jerseys to be sized much like a pullover jacket. They are sized larger than normal clothes so that you can layer them over the top of other clothes.
Again, there are 3 types of NHL fan jerseys for you to consider:
- Adidas Authentic
- Adidas Practice
- Fanatics Breakaway
Let’s discuss how these 3 types of jerseys fit, and I will use photos of the jerseys I own.
Adidas Authentic
In 2017, Adidas became the NHL’s official outfitter for on-ice uniforms and other licensed apparel. Adidas offers two types of NHL fan jerseys: Authentic and Practice.
If you want to dress like the pros, you will need to buy an Adidas Authentic jersey. But because they have the authentic finishes, you will pay more compared to other jerseys.
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.
The Adidas Authentic jerseys have the largest fit out of the 3 fan jerseys that I own. I ordered a size 50, which is a medium equivalent per their size chart.
I expected it to have enough room to layer underneath, and it did. It was almost too much room, and I almost sized down, but ultimately I stuck with the size 50. If you are in between sizes, I would recommend sizing down.
Here is a look at the size 50 Adidas Authentic I own (medium equivalent per the size chart) compared to a medium Hanes undershirt straight out of the package:
And here I am wearing the Adidas Authentic size 50 with a sweathsirt layered underneath (6’3″ 200 pounds):
As you can see, it has plenty of room to layer underneath and also has plenty of length. Size down if you are in between sizes or if you prefer a tighter fit.
The Adidas Authentic jerseys have premium finishes like sewn-on graphics and that are made with adizero technology which has a breathable feel to it. I like the breathable feel so that when I layer it, I do not get overheated.
This is where you can browse the Adidas Authentic jerseys at NHLShop.com to check out the styles available (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com). Again, it runs bigger than normal clothing. To read more, visit our Adidas Authentic Jersey Review.
Adidas Practice
Adidas offers a second tier of NHL fan jerseys called the Adidas Practice jerseys, which are not replicas of the players’ jerseys, but do offer fans an alternate style to rep their favorite team with, and also offer a lower price point than the Adidas Authentic jerseys.
This is the current price of the Adidas Practice jerseys at NHLShop.com (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com).
These jerseys run large just like the Adidas Authentic jerseys do, and give you plenty of room to layer underneath. I ordered a size 50, which is supposed to be a medium equivalent. Here is my size 50 compared to a medium Hanes undershirt straight out of the package:
Again, think of it like a pullover sweater or jacket. If you want it to fit a bit smaller, then size down for sure. Here is a look at my size 50 on me with a sweatshirt layered underneath (6’3″ 200 pounds):
As you can see, it has a loose fit and plenty of length. If you are in between sizes, it would be best to size down.
The Practice jersey is a cool way to get an Adidas NHL jersey at a more budget-friendly price point than the Authentic jerseys. Like I said previously, it also gives you a way to stand out a bit from everyone else who is wearing the standard team jersey since the Adidas Practice jerseys have a different design in comparison to the team jerseys.
This is where you can browse the entire selection of Adidas Practice jerseys at NHLShop.com to take a look at the different team styles available (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com). To read more, visit our NHL Practice Jersey Review.
Fanatics Breakaway
The Fanatics Breakaway jersey is my recommendation for best NHL fan jersey due to its combination of price, style, and comfort.
Fanatics is an online retailer of sportswear and merchandise and currently runs the e-commerce platform for the NHL, which is NHLShop.com. As we discussed earlier, Adidas is the official NHL outfitter for on-ice uniforms and other licensed apparel.
But it is important to understand this: under the current NHL apparel agreement, Adidas only manufactures Authentic jerseys (and the Practice jerseys) – they do not manufacture replica jerseys. Replica jerseys are, of course, not authentic. They appear very similar to Authentic jerseys, but have a few less premium finishes, which helps keep the cost down and gives fans a second tier of NHL jerseys at a more affordable price point than the Authentics.
For the NHL, the manufacturer of replica jerseys is not Adidas, it is Fanatics. The Fanatics Breakaway jersey is the NHL’s replica jersey, so if you are in the market for a replica jersey, you will need to look for a Fanatics Breakaway jersey.
Again, the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys are are made in a way that allows them to be offered at a more affordable price point in comparison to authentic jerseys.
- This is the current price of the Fanatics Breakaway replica jerseys at NHLShop.com (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com).
The Fanatics Breakaway jersey have a loose, baggy fit just like the other NHL fan jerseys on the market. Overall, they do fit a bit smaller than the Adidas jerseys, but understand that they are still baggy. If you want a tight fit size down.
Here is my size medium Fanatics Breakaway jersey (top) compared to my size 50 Adidas Authentic jerseys (bottom):
As you can see, the Fanatics Breakaway jersey (on top) is a bit slimmer near the waist, and has less length (but still is plenty long). It also has slimmer sleeves, but understand that the sleeves are still relatively baggy. Overall, I like the fit of the Fanatics Breakaway better than any other NHL fan jersey.
Fanatics Breakaway jerseys are my recommendation because even though they are not Authentic jerseys, they still are well-made (including some sewn-on graphics), and they come in at a much more affordable price point.
This is where you can browse through the Fanatics Breakaway jerseys at NHLShop.com to see current team styles (affiliate link takes you to NHLShop.com). To read more, visit our Fanatics Breakaway Jersey Review.