What's the difference between replica and authentic jerseys? How can you tell? Is it worth it to get an authentic?

9/14/2007 2:27:38 PM

authentic pretty much means the exact same game day jerseys that the players wear

most of the time...the authentic jerseys are much more durable and in general just made better and look nicer

9/14/2007 2:33:42 PM

do you know the defintions of authentic and replica?

9/14/2007 2:48:32 PM

This is a replica Jersey:



This is an authentic Jersey:






[Edited on September 14, 2007 at 2:54 PM. Reason : ]

9/14/2007 2:54:11 PM

^ lol

9/14/2007 3:03:21 PM

it varies sport to sport and league to league but here are a few general basics:

- authentic jerseys have sewn letters and numbers, replica jerseys have screenprinted numbers and letters (there are some exceptions...some authentic jerseys like the 1980s Seattle Sonics jerseys have sewn numbers and heat pressed letters)
- the font and size of the numbers and letters on an authentic jersey is just like what the pros wear, sometimes on replica jerseys the numbers are skinnier or the font is very slightly different
- sometimes authentic jerseys will have v-necks while the replicas are round necks
- also authentic BBALL jerseys are often made of mesh with holes in it, and replicas are often made of more of a shiny satin material...this isnt always true though as bobcats authentic jerseys are the shiny material...football usually has the non-holed mesh

the best way to see is to go to a panthers or bobcats games and look at them side by side...theres a big difference

here's an AUTHENTIC aaron kampman jersey jersey...you can tell its sewn http://bustabenefit.org/system/files/aaronkampman.JPG

here's a REPLICA arnaz battle jersey http://www.prosportsmemorabilia.com/Images/Product/31-77/31-77496-F.jpg in this case you can easily tell the numbes are screen printed...but it is the holed mesh as well

also if you REALLY REALLY want the REAL authentic jerseys, they have what are called pro-cut jerseys..in basketball this basically means instead of a 48 / XL that you or i might buy, they have a 48 + 3 or a 48 + 4 jersey...extra length since they are tall...any legit gameworn jersey you get will be pro-cut

9/14/2007 3:26:43 PM

I wanted to plug ebay here. There are tons of great deals on authentic jerseys there. I got at Rivers Powder Blue Chargers jersey for ~50 bucks. Just read up on the feedback and you'll see who has the real deal

9/14/2007 5:30:48 PM

would that be from an authentic jersey? I thought that the whole name is sewn onto the shirt, instead of individual letter.

9/14/2007 6:15:11 PM

^that definitely looks authentic

i have 4 authentic smith jerseys (white, black, blue, probowl)...all of them basically look like that as far as the lettering...in regards to letter-by-letter or whole name, what you cant see in that picture is that each letter is actually sewn on a black rectangle which is then sewn into the jersey

9/14/2007 6:43:03 PM

I'll chime in with information that probably no one else cares about:

Both authentic and replica hockey jerseys have stitched numbers and letters. Some places will do screenprinting or heat-press twill, but official league practice is to stitch on twill for both types of jerseys. Replicas and authentics both use the same type of fabric, but the authentics are thicker and have doubled elbows. Authentics also have fight straps. The new Nike SWIFT and Reebok EDGE hockey jerseys differ a bit more between replica and authentic, but the fact remains that hockey doesn't really follow the standard of basketball/football.

Authentic soccer jerseys are usually dual-layered, whereas replicas are just a plain shirt. Authentics usually have screenprinted badges and artwork to cut down on weight and chafing, while replicas have embroidered badges. Authentics jerseys also generally have more mesh panels, often to the point where they would be semi-inappropriate clothing in public wear. The replica is more like an actual shirt. Since authentic soccer jerseys are built to be light and pliable, some people have even gone as far as saying that they actually feel much cheaper than a replica.

9/14/2007 8:30:07 PM

To add to the discussion, for baseball it's fairly easy to pick up on the replica vs. authentic differences with the newer jerseys. Not sure about the old throwbacks.

First and foremost, Majestic puts its name and MLB seal on the lower-left corner of the jersey's front. It'll say on there Authentic if it's authentic, otherwise it's a replica.

Depending on the team, if they have an alternate logo, it usually is on the sleeve (Cubs, Mariners, and Brewers first come to mind) of the authentics, but it (often) won't appear on a replica jersey.

Often the authentic will have better details on it, such as borders around the lettering and numbers. Such as the following with the Cubs home jerseys. The left is an authentic, while the right is a replica.



[Edited on September 14, 2007 at 9:46 PM. Reason : img]

9/14/2007 9:44:21 PM

TreeTwista10 is absolutely correct about the football jerseys

as for eBay, I bought an Orange Rudi Johnson jersey on eBay advertised as "Authentic," but the numbers are meshed, it's definitely replica. I didn't complain though because it was $20, and I have no problem wearing replicas


[Edited on September 14, 2007 at 10:14 PM. Reason : d]

9/14/2007 10:13:28 PM

What about those jerseys that look and feel authentic that you get on ebay (stitched, v-neck, nice material, they even have the reebok logo and a hologram on the tag) but are so cheap you think they have to be replica?

Got this for like $40 on ebay.





[Edited on September 14, 2007 at 10:16 PM. Reason : And a Peppers jersey for like $50]

9/14/2007 10:15:22 PM

I like the Rivers jersey. I think my brother did the same thing for a Peppers jersey he got me & a Urlacher Bears jersey for another gift during Christmas

I did that with a Cubs Authentic BP Coolbase jersey on eBay for like $20. They probably buy them in bulk or get them with a discount, then sell them for some profit on eBay.

9/14/2007 10:21:46 PM

There's also a big grey market for jerseys...pieces that are made in the same factories as the real deals but are smuggled out and then sold through semi-legal channels without the licensing built into the price.

9/14/2007 10:30:23 PM