I don’t know about you, but when I hear or read “replica tee,” an image of relative cheapness is conjured in my brain. I see the kind of shirt that you play beer league softball in or mow the lawn in every Saturday; it’s the kind of shirt that has fading numbers and logos after only four or five washes. However, Adidas definitely skewed this image towards quality with the Mexico Away Jersey Replica Tee.
I’m sitting here with the replica tee and the Mexico jersey side by side, and there are certainly some differences between the two. Perhaps the biggest difference in construction is that the tee is sans ClimaCool and is made of 40% polyester and 60% cotton while the jersey is 100% polyester. Because of its polyester/cotton makeup, the replica tee will keep you a little warmer than the jersey, but it’s also going to be a tad softer. The jersey also has the mesh underarm vents that the tee doesn’t, but what can you do? Oh, and make sure you watch the tee in the wash; you know, all that shrinking and what not with cotton.
ANYWAY, the other notable differences reside in the visual design. On the shoulders, rather than the red 3-stripes of the jersey, the replica tee displays 3 gold stripes; the tee’s stripes extend all the way to the cuff while the jersey’s stripes extend to the mid-shoulder and the cuff has its own gold band. Though different, I still like the shoulder design of the replica tee. There’s just something about those classic stripes on the shoulders that gets me every time, and I know you know what I’m talking about. The other design difference is a minor detail on the collar—rather than having a gold/black/gold setup in the V of the collar, the tee is a simple black V-neck. Yeah, the jersey’s collar looks a little better, but it isn’t the kind of difference one would dub a “deal breaker.” In any case, the replica tee still has the stitched in Mexico team crest and a stitched Adidas logo, so you won’t need to worry about those peeling or fading with multiple uses.
As far as fit goes, the shirt is most definitely comfortable. It’s a tad bit rigid on the first wear or so because of the thickness, but that won’t be an issue after a couple of washes. It’s the kind of shirt that will be among your most comfortable once you break it in. The sleeves are cropped a little close to the body on the underside, so make sure you’re aware of that when trying one on. Other than that, the shirt is a true size fit—you won’t need to worry about a medium actually being a large or vice versa. The replica tee retails at $40, which is a solid price for the quality. Personally, I find it hard to shell out the $80 for a soccer jersey on my budget, so a $40 replica is right up my alley. If you’re in the same boat, I’d say give the replica tee a try because of its versatility; you can wear it to games, to watch games, to play pick up games, or to do anything your heart desires that requires a shirt.
Written by: Kris Dyer, soccerprose.com, house magician.
