This is a Nike Elite Jersey review. There are actually 5 main types of NFL Jerseys. Quickly, here’s what you need to know about those 5 jersey types (affiliate links take you to NFLShop.com):
- Nike Legend – The Nike Legend is unique compared to other NFL jerseys. It fits almost like a standard t-shirt, and is more affordable than other jerseys. I was a bit shocked how much I liked the fit. True to size. Lightweight, and easy to wear. Click here to view the Nike Legend jerseys at NFLShop.com. NFLShop.com is the official online shop of the NFL.
- Nike Game – The Nike Game jerseys are popular fan jerseys due to price point. They have the true look of a jersey, but are replicas, which means they are a bit more affordable than premium jerseys. Relaxed fit, but true to size. These jerseys are a good option if you are looking for a Nike jersey on a tight budget. Click here to view the Nike Game jerseys at NFLShop.com.
- Nike Limited – The Nike Limited Vapor jerseys are my favorite jersey. Vapor style has clean front with seams converging in back. Sits flat against body. This jersey has stitched numbers and graphics. Awesome jersey, with a great fit and some premium finishes. More affordable than the Elite authentic jerseys. True to size. Click here to view the Nike Limited jerseys at NFLShop.com
- Nike Elite – These are the authentic NFL jerseys, and the closest you can get as a fan to wearing what the players wear on the field. The fit will be slimmer than other jerseys, mimicking the athletic fit of the players’ jerseys. The Elite jerseys have all the premium finishes, including stitched graphics and authentic paneling. Click here to view the Nike Elite jerseys at NFLShop.com.
- NFL Pro Line Jersey – The NFL Pro Line Jersey is not made by Nike. It is a more affordable replica jersey, which might be a nice option if you are on a tight budget. This jersey has a baggy, loose fit, and you may need to size it down. Click here to view Pro Line jerseys at NFLShop.com.
I actually own and review 6 different types of NFL jerseys. This is the jersey type from NFLShop.com that I recommend as best fan jersey – in my opinion it has the best combination of fit, comfort, style, and price (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com).
Even though the Nike Elite jerseys aren’t my top choice, they still carry a lot of value and are quite popular. These are authentic jerseys, which means they are the closest you can get as a fan to wearing what the players wear on the field.
The main drawback with Elite jerseys is price. Because they are authentic, they aren’t cheap. This is the current price of the Nike Elite jerseys at NFLShop.com (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com).
If you are on the verge of buying a Nike Elite jersey, you are probably looking for a size and fit guide to help you understand whether or not you will need to size up or size down. In this Nike Elite jersey review I will review the sizing, fit, and features of the Nike Elite jersey that I own.
It’s also important to understand that there are two versions of the Nike Elite jerseys: regular and vapor untouchable. This article is a Nike Elite jersey review, but we also have a Nike Elite Vapor Jersey Review.
In this Nike Elite jersey review, let’s start by discussing the authentic design features of this jersey.
Nike Elite Jersey Review: Features
The Nike Elite jerseys are the authentic jerseys, so they have all the premium design features. They are “designed with the exact specifications of the jerseys your favorite players wear on the field.”
- Material: 91% Nylon/9% Spandex – Body; 88% Nylon/12% Spandex – Mesh (Material may vary depending on jersey)
- Water-Repellent Fabric
- Fabric is ventilated to help you stay cool
- Authentic on-field jersey of the pros
- Laser-cut satin twill woven jock tag
- Zone stretch fabric
- Machine washable
- Chest paneling to mimic on-field jersey
- Mesh side for breathability
- Tagless collar with NFL shield at front
- Stitched tackle twill name, letters, and numbers
Nike Elite Jersey Review: Sizing and Fit
The Nike Elite jersey is, in my opinion, the hardest jersey to truly describe in regards to what you are up against when it comes to sizing and fit (mainly because it is unlike anything else you will ever wear).
Since the Nike Elite jersey is a true authentic version of what the players wear on the field, this means it also has the true authentic paneling that the on-field jerseys have. Here is a look at the paneling on my jersey:
The chest paneling can cause the jersey to fit a little bit loose through the chest. But the reason it’s tough to describe as far as fit, is the rest of the jersey has more of an athletic fit.
The jersey tends to fit a bit snug near the waist. But the paneling in the chest gives it a looser fit through the chest area.
My suggestion is this: if you want to buy this jersey because it is the true on-field replica of what the players wear, make sure you are okay with it fitting a bit loose through the chest.
As you can see in the photos below, my Nike Elite will push away from my chest slightly due to the authentic panel in the middle-front of the jersey. Note: I am 6’3″ tall and weigh 200 pounds – here I am wearing my Nike elite jersey size 40 (which is comparable to a medium).
The truth is, the fit through the chest (at least for me) is not as smooth as, for example, the Nike Limited Vapor.
As I mentioned earlier, if you are set on buying the Nike Elite because you want to add it to your fan collection, layering it is a good way to solve the loose fit through the chest due to the paneling.
As you can see in the photo above, the fit on the backside of the jersey is very nice. Also, just to be clear, on the Nike Elite jersey product page at NFLShop.com, in the details sections the fit is described as “Fit: Men’s Nike Elite Jerseys have an athletic cut that fits snug in the chest and shoulders.”
I wanted to make sure I included that – but I definitely do disagree a little bit in regards to how it fit me personally. Again, in my opinion, the chest does fit a bit loose due to the paneling pushing the jersey slightly away from the body.
The middle of the back does have a pretty snug fit as you can see in the layered photo above. Overall, this jersey did not hug by chest in any type of way that I would describe as “snug”.
But I say all of this while still saying this regarding the Nike Elite: If you are looking for the most premium fan jersey on the market as far as features, then this jersey is it.
You won’t find a better jersey type than the Nike Elite as far as premium finishes. Because of that, it makes the Nike Elite an awesome addition to a fan collection.
I actually prefer the Nike Limited Vapor jerseys as my favorite NFL fan jersey, in large part due to fit. The Limited Vapor sits against the chest and stomach much flatter because it does not have the paneling up through the chest like the Elite does.
For comparison, here is a size 40 (comparable to medium) Nike Elite vs a medium Nike Limited Vapor. Again, I am 6’3″ and weigh 200 pounds:
Nike Elite Jersey Sizing
The Nike Elite jersey is sized using a numerical system – I own a size 40, which per the official size chart listed on NFLShop.com is the equivalent of a size medium through the chest and waist.
For the most part, I feel like the Nike Elite does fit true to size – meaning that the size 40 is comparable to a medium, but as I’ve mentioned above, the paneling and cut of the jersey makes it a bit loose through the chest.
Although the sizing is true, I would not expect it to lay clean and flat like a normal medium cotton t-shirt. The paneling may bubble slightly and push away from the chest a bit, creating that loose feeling I describe.
One thing to understand also is that the Nike Elite jersey does run a bit longer than the other Nike NFL jerseys (by my estimation about an inch longer, depending on jersey and size).
Nike Elite Jersey Review: Pictures
Here are some pictures of the Nike Elite jersey I own. As a reminder, the jersey is a size 40 (equivalent to a medium in the chest and waist) and I am 6’3″ and weigh 200 pounds.
Front
On the front here you can see the different paneling of the jerseys (more photos of that below).
Back
The back features much of the same paneling and also has the sewn-on name plate.
Collar
Collar has the flywire to help avoid stretching. Collar is tagless and has the NFL shield at the front. You can see how the chest paneling feeds all the way up to the collar.
Good look at the flywire in the collar to avoid stretching.
Paneling
As I’ve mentioned several times throughout the Nike Elite jersey review, the paneling specific to the Elite jersey can make the fit a bit loose through the chest area. The paneling is meant to match the on-field jersey of the players.
Numbers
A close-up look at the sewn-on numbers on the chest of the jersey. Very clean style.
A close-up look at the sewn-on numbers on the shoulders of the jersey.
Close-up to compare the sewn-on numbers of the Nike Elite vs the screen-printed numbers of the Nike Game.
Name Plate
The name plate of the Nike Elite jersey is sewn on and also features sewn-on letters.
Here is a comparison of the Nike Elite name plate vs the Nike Game nameplate. As you can see, both name plates are sewn on, but the Nike Game has screen-printed letters and the Nike Elite has sewn-on letters.
Inside-Out
This gives you an idea of all the seams on the inside of the Nike Elite jersey. There is a lot of paneling so subsequently, there are a lot of seams. These seams did not really bother me, but if you are sensitive to stuff like this, you may need to at least wear an undershirt.
Fit
Here are some additional shots of how the size 40 Elite jersey fits on me (I am 6’3″ and 200 pounds). One shot with no layer, another shot with a thin layer, then a final shot with a hoodie layer. Also, here I am wearing a medium t-shirt for comparison:
Comparison
Here is a look at the size medium Nike Limited Vapor (Mahomes) jersey on top of the size 40 Nike Elite jersey. As you can see, the Nike Elite is an inch or two longer. The two jerseys have fairly comparable sleeve lengths. The Nike Limited Vapor jersey (the one on top) is a bit slimmer through the stomach and chest.
Closer look at the difference in length between the medium Limited Vapor (top) and the size 40 Elite (bottom). The Nike Elite is about two inches longer.
Here is a look at the size 40 Nike Elite on top of a size medium Nike Game jersey that I own. Of note, the sleeves of the Nike Elite are much slimmer and shorter. The overall length of the two jerseys is similar. The Nike Elite is a slight bit slimmer through he chest and stomach.
Nike Elite Jersey Review: 3 Takeaways
Here are my 3 main takeaways from owning and reviewing the Nike Elite jersey:
- Fit – Expect the fit to be loose through the chest. The authentic paneling causes the chest area to push away from the body in certain spots. To read more about how this jersey fits, visit our article: Nike Elite Jersey Sizing.
- Features – The Nike Elite is an authentic on-field replica of what the players wear. If you are looking to buy the fan jersey that has the most premium finishes, the Nike Elite is the jersey for you.
- Price – Because the Nike Elite jersey has all the premium finishes to make it an authentic replica of what the players wear on the field, it is not cheap. But of course, the higher price does reflect the higher quality of the jersey. Hopefully this review helps you decide if it is right for you.
Nike Elite Jersey vs Other Jerseys
We have several pictures already posted throughout the review comparing the Nike Elite to other NFL jerseys. But in this section I will briefly compare the Nike Elite to each of these other types of NFL fan jerseys:
- NFL Pro Line
- Nike Game
- Nike Limited
- Nike Elite Vapor Untouchable
Nike Elite vs NFL Pro Line
NFL Pro Line is not made by Nike. The Pro Line jerseys are one of the cheapest fan jerseys on the market. The Pro Line jersey runs much baggier than the Elite (easily one full size bigger) and does not have the premium finishes that the Nike Elite jersey has.
These two jerseys are about as far away on the fan jersey spectrum as you can get. The Nike Elite is a higher quality jersey and is true-to-size whereas the NFL Pro Line does not have the premium finishes, runs at the very least a full size too big (so size down), but does offer a budget-friendly option to support your team.
Nike Elite vs Nike Game
The Nike Game is the one of the most budget-friendly jersey options made by Nike. The Nike Game jersey is has a looser fit than the Nike Elite, and has much longer and baggier sleeves. The Nike Elite jersey has the more premium finishes.
The Nike Game is good for someone looking to save a bit, but still own a Nike brand NFL jersey that has a little extra room in it, possibly for cold-weather layering. I am able to layer under the Nike Elite also, but the Nike Game jersey has much more room for layering.
The Nike Game jersey isn’t so big that I would 100% recommend sizing down, but if you do not like a loose fit, you would possibly need to size down the Nike Game jersey. To read more, visit our article Nike Elite vs Game.
Nike Elite vs Nike Limited
There are two types of Nike Limited jerseys: the regular Nike Limited and the Nike Limited Vapor. The Nike Limited Vapor is our choice for best NFL fan jersey.
The Limited Vapor has the truest fit and has comfortable Dri-Fit material that for the most part is free of any paneling so it sits comfortably and cleanly against your chest and shoulders. The Nike Elite runs about an inch or two longer than the Nike Limited Vapor (depending on size).
The Nike Elite will have more premium finishes to make it an authentic replica of what the players wear on the field (like paneling and stretch fabric etc), but the Limited Vapor jersey is still a very well-made jersey that features sewn-on numbers and letters. It has my full recommendation.
To read more, visit our article Nike Elite vs Limited.
Nike Elite vs Nike Elite Vapor Untouchable
Comparing the two versions of the Nike Elite, the regular version (which I am reviewing in this article) has longer sleeves and has chest paneling. The Nike Elite Vapor Jersey has shorter, fitted sleeves and does not have the paneling that causes the regular Elite version to fit loose through the chest.
To read all of our review and comparison article for football fan jerseys, you can visit our jersey resource page by clicking on this link.
Where to Buy NFL Jerseys?
NFLShop.com is the official online shop of the NFL. I always recommend buying from a reputable source when searching for NFL jerseys, especially if you are wanting to pay up for an authentic Elite jersey.
If you can’t shop locally, buying from NFLShop.com is a nice solution. You can buy from them with confidence knowing you aren’t getting scammed. Click here to shop for NFL jerseys at NFLShop.com (affiliate link takes you to NFLShop.com).