Buying a shinai bag (questions)

[g-kendo]

Hello everyone,

I've just started Kendo and I currently have one shinai.

It occured to me that it may be a good investment to buy one bag (that holds about 3 shinais).

If i buy a shinai bag, what type do you recommend?

Is certain material better than others?

Should I buy a bag the holds more than one shinai (for later in my kendo career)?


I've looked at some on the e-bogu.com website but I wasn't sure which one was really the best. Please share your advice. :cool:

[Big One]

If you can get the one holding 5 shinai from e-bogu, it'll help you in the long run. There is nothing good about going to the tournament far away and not have enough shinai.

[un hartim]

I'd like to join this discussion and asking about a good waterproof shinai bag. I use my bike to join Kendo and where I'm staying, raining is a full time issue. Any suggestion??

[Neil Gendzwill]

g-kendo, get a bag that holds at least 3 shinai. You need to have a spare shinai in case one breaks, and maybe you'll want to carry a bokken too.

un hartim, you can get nylon bags but I doubt they're waterproof. Airports here in Canada have clear plastic bags used to wrap long luggage like skis - maybe one of those would help? You could stick your normal bag inside it for rainy days.

[Rularn]

if you are artistic and/or poor, make your own bag or a cover for your bag that you can wash or something. it is very simple to make a shinai bag with straps and everything.

[Dervish]

g-kendo, get a bag that holds at least 3 shinai. You need to have a spare shinai in case one breaks, and maybe you'll want to carry a bokken too.

I actually want to buy such a shinai bag. Can anyone recommend a good one? Not too cheap (unless it's really good), not too expensive.

[Neil Gendzwill]

I like the FN bags (http://www.bogubag.com/Bags/Shinai_bags/shinai_bags.html), model 21-215 on that page.

ETA: I normally carry 3 shinai and my bokken daisho in the FN bag, even though it says it fits 3. My bokken are slimmer than usual though. I can fit 4 shinai if I take the bokken out.

[Ignatz]

I have the canvas model (2 shinai) and it is almost 20 years old. I would have gotten the 3 shinai model if I had to do it over.

[Paikea]

I have one of these (http://www.e-bogu.com/Versatile_5_hold_Shinai_Bag_p/jur-bag-shi-5hold--.htm) that is doing well. Only complaint is that the zipper around the top is a bit difficult at times due to the small radius the zipper is bent around. It would work just as well to open only on one side with half the zippered opening it has now.

[Dervish]

Thanks for the link Neil, I think that looks good. Yeah, I'd like to get a 3 shinai bag. Can you put a bokuto in the 3rd slot, or does the description specifically have to mention bokuto?

EDIT: Paikea, that one looks good as well :)

[R Stroud]

Thanks for the link Neil, I think that looks good. Yeah, I'd like to get a 3 shinai bag. Can you put a bokuto in the 3rd slot, or does the description specifically have to mention bokuto?


Bokutoh can go inside if you take the tsuba off, or if you want to left the tsuba in place insert the bokutoh through the two outer straps.

Also, most 3-shinai bags will actually hold 4 3.9 shinai, just turn two tsuka up and two tsuka down.

Personally, I started using the 10 shinai bag, and I still tend to fill it up with "stuff".

[un hartim]

Thanks Neil, I'll check it out. Now, I remember I have seen "some kind" of spray in a mountain shop to make your stuff waterproof. Maybe it works over nylon.

About these bags in the airports you are talking about, I have seen nothing like that, but I could find something similar. The idea is there.

Thanks anyway.

Bike+bogu+shinai+rider+rain= Not always the best combination ;)

[supergray]

What do you guys think of the cotton/fabric ones? (They are so pretty, some of them)

[hl1978]

if you have the cash, get one from bujin design. they will do custom orders (or at least they used to).

https://bujindesign.com/index.php?cPath=33_54&osCsid=041f210240842c03f928221ff8194594

The bags are made of codura, some have closed cell foam in them if you plan on using one bag to hold iaito as well as bokken and shinai.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Can you put a bokuto in the 3rd slot, or does the description specifically have to mention bokuto?There's no "slot", it's just a fabric tube. There's a pocket to put tsuba in, as you'll have to remove tsuba from shinai or bokken to get more than one weapon inside the bag.

Supergray, the cotton ones are OK, but they tend to wear more. I'm also not a big fan of the fold-over tsuba pocket design. But as Rularn pointed out, they are dead easy to make if you have access to a sewing machine.

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

Ilike this ones... I have one that my sensei gave to me, I think it was bought at japan, anyway, it´s basically the same system,it´s simple, you can put various shinais inside and it´s not expensive either, also, many models to pick, good luck.

PS: oops ! link: http://www.e-bogu.com/Kendo_Shinai_Bags_Heijoushin_Series_s/122.htm

[Alison2805]

If you can get the one holding 5 shinai from e-bogu, it'll help you in the long run. There is nothing good about going to the tournament far away and not have enough shinai.

I got that one, overall its great. Unfortunatley after 6 months of use some of the stitching around the pocket is coming undone, but when I get off my butt I can easily fix that in 5 minutes. The little straps around it are good for travelling on a plane - you can tighten them so nothing moves around and shinai are a little less likely to break. I got the bogu bag with it, very groovy.

They both seem to repell light rain quite well. You can also spray waterproofing stuff for shoes on them.

[JCM]

I'd like to join this discussion and asking about a good waterproof shinai bag. I use my bike to join Kendo and where I'm staying, raining is a full time issue. Any suggestion??


Un hartim,

I ride a motorbike to training, I use the deluxe nylon model in nine circles is not 100% waterproof but is good enough to keep them reasonably dry:

http://www.ninecircles.co.uk/product_details.asp?ProdID=116&CatID=33

Avoid wearing the bag on your body while riding, if you come of you'll break a few ribs (or worse). Try to strap it on the bike using bungees (I use the pillion peg and the handle)

[lucy]

I have one similar to 21-145 (link (http://www.bogubag.com/Bags/Shinai_bags/shinai_bags.html)), it holds two shinai and I can strap the bokuto on it. Next time I'll buy a larger one... :)

[mark]

I got that one, overall its great. Unfortunatley after 6 months of use some of the stitching around the pocket is coming undone, but when I get off my butt I can easily fix that in 5 minutes. The little straps around it are good for travelling on a plane - you can tighten them so nothing moves around and shinai are a little less likely to break. I got the bogu bag with it, very groovy.

They both seem to repell light rain quite well. You can also spray waterproofing stuff for shoes on them.

I have found that they are both look great and have all the bells and whistles but don't last very long. The zippers fall apart quite quickly (2 yrs) and the waterproofing on the underside of the nylon wears through a little later (3yrs). Its too bad, they are great bags.

[Manuka]

if you have the cash, get one from bujin design. they will do custom orders (or at least they used to).

https://bujindesign.com/index.php?cPath=33_54&osCsid=041f210240842c03f928221ff8194594

The bags are made of cordura, some have closed cell foam in them if you plan on using one bag to hold iaito as well as bokken and shinai.

I have the Bujin Design also. Holds up to 4 shinai, plus Bokuto if all tsubas are off. It has a tsuba pocket for storage.

I use a hard sided plastic rifle case if I am carrying an Iaito.

[Alison2805]

I have found that they are both look great and have all the bells and whistles but don't last very long. The zippers fall apart quite quickly (2 yrs) and the waterproofing on the underside of the nylon wears through a little later (3yrs). Its too bad, they are great bags.

Yeah that seems to be the case. Luckily they are quite cheap. When this one falls apart Ill just get another one :D.

[Inner_Silence]

;247396']Ilike this ones... I have one that my sensei gave to me, I think it was bought at japan, anyway, it´s basically the same system,it´s simple, you can put various shinais inside and it´s not expensive either, also, many models to pick, good luck.

PS: oops ! link: http://www.e-bogu.com/Kendo_Shinai_Bags_Heijoushin_Series_s/122.htm

you meant THIS (http://www.e-bogu.com/photos/HIR-BAG-SHI-HEIJOU-PINK--2.jpg) one??

joke :D:D:D

[mark]

Yeah that seems to be the case. Luckily they are quite cheap. When this one falls apart Ill just get another one :D.

Exactly! I am on my third:)

[The Rose Knight]

My sons and I practice sport fencing (foil and epee) as well as kendo. We use a Triplette Competition Arms cylinder bag for all of our gear. It's long enough for a 39aa shinai and will hold probably fifteen to twenty if that was all you wanted to put in. I can fit my bogu and five shinai into it comfortably. The bag was about forty dollars from TCA.

I also use a smaller TCA bag for myself, but the 39 is a bit tight. Also, a base guitar gig bag works pretty darn well too.

Daniel

[ZtefaNNN[K]]

you meant THIS (http://www.e-bogu.com/photos/HIR-BAG-SHI-HEIJOU-PINK--2.jpg) one??

joke :D:D:D
hahaha that´s the one I use with "friends"

[mark]

My sons and I practice sport fencing (foil and epee) as well as kendo. We use a Triplette Competition Arms cylinder bag for all of our gear. It's long enough for a 39aa shinai and will hold probably fifteen to twenty if that was all you wanted to put in. I can fit my bogu and five shinai into it comfortably. The bag was about forty dollars from TCA.

I also use a smaller TCA bag for myself, but the 39 is a bit tight. Also, a base guitar gig bag works pretty darn well too.

Daniel

I went to their site http://www.tcafencing.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=40&osCsid=af33973408e07f27203514f76a247d81
and I am not sure which one you use. Is it the BG-4431 (best guess), A-619, the BG-928, or the A-622. The A-622 looks great do you happen to know if they are very heavy?

[The Rose Knight]

I've got two. The very useful cylinder bag is great. It's pretty heavy duty, and has done me well. It's the BG4431. Here's the link:
http://www.tcafencing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=231

The A619 bag is the one I use for just myself. It's nice, but a 39 is a tight fit end to end.

Daniel

[mark]

I've got two. The very useful cylinder bag is great. It's pretty heavy duty, and has done me well. It's the BG4431. Here's the link:
http://www.tcafencing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=40&products_id=231

The A619 bag is the one I use for just myself. It's nice, but a 39 is a tight fit end to end.

Daniel

Thanks for the info!

[bullet08]

i have old canvas shiani bag with buckle closure, and loop for the bokken. it served me well so far. my previous sensei used to have same one, but in full leather. that one looks like it could hold 4 shinai without problem. mine holds 3. however, last time my sensei came back from japan, he had new shinai bag. one of those pretty print one. and so did other kendoka who went to japan.

i still think one of the shanai bag with buckle cloure in leather are the better looking ones. tho.. i don't know how they will hold up in rain. my leather bogu bag stays home when it rains outside. when it rains, i carry by bogu in huge duffle bag that i used to use for tkd.

pete

[neko]

bullet08....just FYI...your leather bogu bag shouldn't be affected by the rain. in fact, it is better for your bogu that you use the leather bag in the rain, because it will prevent water from leaking in. unless of course your bag is suede, then it could spot when it gets wet. even then it may just look bad, but it will not ruin it.

is you bag real leather or is it vinyl? either way, both are good for repelling water.

[bullet08]

bullet08....just FYI...your leather bogu bag shouldn't be affected by the rain. in fact, it is better for your bogu that you use the leather bag in the rain, because it will prevent water from leaking in. unless of course your bag is suede, then it could spot when it gets wet. even then it may just look bad, but it will not ruin it.

is you bag real leather or is it vinyl? either way, both are good for repelling water.

real leather. i was always told never get leather wet.. other than shoes.. tho i wear my leather jacket in the rain all the time. but didn't want to get the bogu bag soaked in the rain.

pete

[The Rose Knight]

Real leather and copious amounts of water are not a good mix. There are things you can put on it to protect it for just going from the car to the dojo. Any place that sells high end cowboy boots sells the stuff. I don't remember what it's called (the cleaner was called saddle soap), but it had some western sounding name. My boots have lasted me for over fifteen years, but I've retired them, as they're beginning to look a bit rough.

Daniel