Do I NEED a #10000 Hakama?

[MrTremere]

I got some money burning a hole in my pocket, do I NEED this gear? I usually like to get the better quality stuff. However I'm trying not to over do it.
Whatever I do get I'm partial to the Indigo dyed uniforms.

[Nishi]

I have an #8000 grade hakama, and my Wife has a #10000 grade hakama...after two years hers is stiff and obviously heavy...she says she would get an #8000 next time due to it being softer, lighter, easier to care for and fold, and of course cheaper.

As for me, i have no complaints...its still a high quality hakama...i would say get an #8000.

[Rularn]

Actually, unless you just have to have a #10000 or even a #8000, I think a simple tetron hakama would do fine. I have both a simple one and a #8000. I wear the #8000 to tournaments and whatever to look nice for sensei and to represent my dojo but if you are just going to do regular practice in it, the tetron is probably the easier to go with... less hassle, no wrinkles, light, and soft.

Of course, the better something is, the less likely you would want to ruin it, etc etc.

[Shazzanzzz]

I have a 7000 hakama and and cheap polyester one. I switch between them very often, it doesn't really make a difference, except the polyester is lighter and A LOT EASIER to wash, i just throw it in the washer and dryer with the rest of my laundry, you can't do that with the indigo dyed hakama or gi.

I always wear my white gi with the polyester hakama too, which makes it completely machine washable. Bad thing is, i've noticed my polyester hakama has shrunk signifcantly after i dried it in the dryer a few times, and it's actually a better fit now, but i've stoped using the dryer to dry it.

I would say, the 7000 one is good though, it's nice and soft compared to 10000 ones, and looks great if you keep folding it like you're supposed to.

So money really isn't the issue here. It's how lazy you are when it comes to washing your hakama and gi.

[JSchmidt]

You don't need it, but if you can afford it, why not?:D
Do, however, make sure that you very quickly learn how to fold and maintain it correctly. Once a heavy-duty hakama gets out of shape, it's a pain to recover the pleats.
Personally, I would start with a cheaper one (#5000) until you get the hang of maintaining it.

Jakob

[MrTremere]

However, just wearing out for Halloween seemed to knock out my pleats. I'll iron it once I buy an iron. [Single Guy] But it is really nice quality. Yea everything turned blue...everything. Glad I spent the $200

[JSchmidt]

However, just wearing out for Halloween seemed to knock out my pleats. I'll iron it once I buy an iron. [Single Guy] But it is really nice quality. Yea everything turned blue...everything. Glad I spent the $200

You dont need to iron it, you just need to fold it correctly and the pleats will return.

Jakob

[ALI G]

However, just wearing out for Halloween seemed to knock out my pleats. I'll iron it once I buy an iron. [Single Guy] But it is really nice quality. Yea everything turned blue...everything. Glad I spent the $200

Maybez havingz one pleatz out mitez bea goodz 4 youz....youz can count dem pleatz 2 keep count of da # of drinkz youz orderz when youz wear itz 2 da clubz againz...

Since itz anoda repraceable itemz 2 yaz.....I don't tink youz carez dat da meaningz of da pleatz 'gorin-gojo' meanz anyting 2 youz...Mercyz, Etiquettez, Righteousnezz, Intellinegenze, Truzt.......

[Pokie]

i zee.....