onlinekendo.com and Cow leather on kote?

[tango]

#1 --- anybody have experience with onlinekendo.com bogu?

#2 --- Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with how cow leather suffices on kote?

I just don't know anything about the stuff, but someone in our club is considering bogu from onlinekendo.com and the description in part (for 4mm) states:

Men -- Aluminium (Fence), Indigo Cow Leather(edge), Japanese Fabric (Buton)
Kote-- Smoked Deer Leather (palm), Indigo Cow Leather (head), Japanese Fabric (Buton)
Indigo Material --#6,000

BTW... what the heck does #6000 for "indigo material" signify? (I've never understood that, so might as well as now)...

Thanks for any replies

[JSchmidt]

Indigo material #6000 refers to the cotton futon. It's indigo-dyed and has a thread thickness/density of '6000'.
While higher is better, it will vary depending on manufacturer.
Good description here. (http://www.chibabogu.com/catalog/information.php?info_id=30&osCsid=6d0867428113ca251c085ae8697c0438)

Cow leather is cheaper, heavier and doesn't last as long. And, in my opinion, smells like sh*t. While this example refers to the leather used on the kashira, I dont' think it's worth cheaping out on the kote.

[tango]

yeah, that's what I was thinking, too...

I just didn't know if there were issues like "it tends to harden up and crack, unlike deerskin kote heads"....

oh wait... I just remember having seen cowskin kote heads...
yeah... ok, thanks..

[eisenfaust]

Avoid cow leather palms on kote as much as possible.

[dwez]

Avoid cow leather palms on kote as much as possible.

Well the palms of my kote are probably cow leather. They're white and look like leather, they certainly don't look like any deer leather I've seen but I've only ever seen one and that was on a wallet not kote.

As it stands they're stood the test of time, I must have used my kote for 2 years once a week and they've been in storage for nine and then used for the last nine months. They're supple still, little wear, a few creases but the flatten out and these are a really cheap pair.

They're not evil so I wouldn't cross the street to avoid, but get the best quality you can, as they say. Although there's the alternative view of pay enough to just be in bogu and then get better when you've won the lottery.

[eisenfaust]

Of course, if you practice once a week they can hold up for quite "long" time. It also depends on your technique and holding the shinai...

I had cow leather palms on my previous kote and they were devastated in a practice frequency of 3-4 times per week within two years. I put some pathces made from top quality smoked deerskin and after another year or so it is like heaven and earth difference. Deerskin is hardly damaged while the rest of palm continues tearing apart.

My choice: deerskin and then maybe clarino although I have no experience with that one.

[gir]

Subygal just purchased a set of bogu from onlinekendo for me. Deerskin Palm.

The bogu seems solid, though you never know until it dies and then its a case of looking at how much it was put through but it seems soundly put together.

As for cow leather palms forget it. Use Clarino or Deerskin. Its not worth opening the Clarino Vs Deerskin Can of worms - Both are far superior to Cowskin.

As for onlinekendo itself. Mike has been great to deal with. Have been to his place a few times now. I have to say, the Quality is damn good when you look at what you get for your money. Have no problems recommending him.

[dwez]

Of course, if you practice once a week they can hold up for quite "long" time.

Yeah us 'part timers' get an easy ride so we can afford to have cheap fugly bogu that get's us through. I'm quietly confident I'm going to get another twelve months out of it at the very least. Whatever I can't really afford to replace it so it better had!