Irresolute

[Charger]

Hi!
I'm having trouble deciding which Bogu to buy.
Can someone with some experience on this help me?

I've been looking at 2 from E-bogu, the one at 499 $ and the one at 599 $:
http://www.e-bogu.com/newlowpric.html
and this one from kendoshop:
http://kendoshop.com/eshop/index.php?mode=subdetail&num=16&flag=catedetail
Which would You say is the best? (i.e. best protection, best durabillity etc.)

[Hai_hai]

For best protection, they are all similar. For best durability, they are all similar with the exception of kote wear.
If you've learned anything about kendo, it's not how strong you are, it's how good you look. So with that said, you are going to have to spend over 225,000 Japanese yen, or over $2000 US dollars, to get the best protection, best durability and most important of all, best looks. Check out http://www.kanagawahakkodo.co.jp, http://www.moribudo.co.jp, http://www.bogubag.com, and http://www.eguchi.net
then take out a loan and buy it because there's only one way to 8th dan and it's not with a $400 bogu set.

If you want the best value, get the GZ-17 from www.bogubag.com for $350. Save your money.

[Ross]

Hi!
I've been looking at 2 from E-bogu, the one at 499 $ and the one at 599 $:
http://www.e-bogu.com/newlowpric.html

I ordered the 599 set last week and it should ship today according to the tracking number so if you can wait a week or so I can let you know what the bogu is like when I get it.

From what I have heard and read, the e-bogu bogu is very good value for money and everybody I have asked are very happy with their gear.

Ross

[Charger]

Yeah, that's what i heard too. But I don't know anything about kendoshop.
If their Bogu are as good as E-bogu's the 2 mm handmade would be a better deal (plus, they don't rip you off with the shipping cost). total for me buying the one at 599, would be 725 $ (shipping included) the one from kendoshop would be 600 $ (shipping included)

Thanks, sure I can wait a week, I'm not gonna buy anything until may.

[Charger]

Thanks hai hai, but in my world a totally black bogu would be the best looking,
and I only seen one.. (tetron fabric on the inside of men, pretty nasty).
And I'm having a hard time imagening that th GZ-17 would be a better bogu
than a 2 mm.. It just can't be that big difference between two brands.

[KendokaJim]

Thanks hai hai, but in my world a totally black bogu would be the best looking,
and I only seen one.. (tetron fabric on the inside of men, pretty nasty).
And I'm having a hard time imagening that th GZ-17 would be a better bogu
than a 2 mm.. It just can't be that big difference between two brands.

I don't know if this matters to you or not, but from what I've heard, the Koei bogu offered on BoguBag.com is the only bogu actually made in Japan. e-bogu's and eguchi's I believe are only put together in Japan. I've also been told that Japanese bogu, even with bigger stitching, may be better than Korean bogu with closer stitching... these are only things I've heard and may be totally unfounded... just a thought.

[jfluh9]

I am pretty sure that Eguchi's stuff is all Japan made. Someone tell me if im wrong. :wink:

[slidercrank]

I don't know if this matters to you or not, but from what I've heard, the Koei bogu offered on BoguBag.com is the only bogu actually made in Japan. e-bogu's and eguchi's I believe are only put together in Japan. I've also been told that Japanese bogu, even with bigger stitching, may be better than Korean bogu with closer stitching... these are only things I've heard and may be totally unfounded... just a thought.
Koei (through bogubag.com) and Eguchi are both Japanese bogu companies. I have no doubt that their high end (maybe even the mid-level) stuff is made in Japan. But in this day and age, I'm sure their low end stuff is sourced from overseas (Korea or China) in order to remain competitive.

If it matters to you and you are in doubt, just ask eguchi or bogubag where the stuff you're interested comes from. They are both very reputable company and I trust both of them to give me straight answers.

[KendokaJim]

Koei (through bogubag.com) and Eguchi are both Japanese bogu companies. I have no doubt that their high end (maybe even the mid-level) stuff is made in Japan. But in this day and age, I'm sure their low end stuff is sourced from overseas (Korea or China) in order to remain competitive.

If it matters to you and you are in doubt, just ask eguchi or bogubag where the stuff you're interested comes from. They are both very reputable company and I trust both of them to give me straight answers.

I e-mailed Robert Stroud at BoguBag and he assured me that all their bogu was made in Japan... he also said that he knows that e-bogu has their bogu made in Korea, and then assembled in Japan. As far as eguchi is concerned, I believe he said that he said that he was pretty sure that it was Korean made, and Japanese assembled... I'm pretty sure. But again, I may be totally off-base with all of that.

[Dan Shea]

Eguchi's hand made bogu are made in Japan.
I have no idea about machine made items.

I hope that helps.

[jfluh9]

:wink: Ill be able to settle the Eguchi question this weekend when I see Lisa from Eguchi at a taikai. Then I will tell you guys......if anybody still cares......but really though.....is there a huge difference in the quality of bogu based on where it was made? :wink:

[Charger]

Exactlly, It just can't be that big difference between japan made and korean made.. I've heard that one can compare a korean 3 mm with a japanese 4 mm or something like that, but a 2 mm with a 5 mm??? If this is tha case, maybee they should think of another way to describe the stitching...
More or less i've made up my mind. Think it will be a 3 mm from E-bogu

[KendokaJim]

Exactlly, It just can't be that big difference between japan made and korean made.. I've heard that one can compare a korean 3 mm with a japanese 4 mm or something like that, but a 2 mm with a 5 mm??? If this is tha case, maybee they should think of another way to describe the stitching...
More or less i've made up my mind. Think it will be a 3 mm from E-bogu

Whoops! I wasn't trying to give anyone the impression that a 5mm Japanese set would be comparable to a 2mm Korean... I'm just relaying things I've heard, not my own personal opinion. Sorry for the confusion!

[Ross]

Hi Charger

My Bogu arrived toady. I have not had a lot of time here at work to look at in detail, but from what I have looked at it is very well made, the design is sweet and all in all it is a very nice set.

When I was thinking of buying Bogu I looked at all the guys and gals in our Dojo. All of them apart from our Sensei got their bogu from Kendoshop. Wihtout being nasty or putting their stuff down, the e-bogu set is much better quality and has such nice finishing off touches.

I will compair directly tomorrow night at practice.

If you would like some pics of the set (the e-bogu pics don't show much) I will be glad to take a few shots and let you have them.

Just one thing, the deer skin kote stink. man that smell is foul.

Ross

[m_french]

Just one thing, the deer skin kote stink. man that smell is foul.

Ross
The Smell of new Kote is a beautiful thing, compared to what you'll smell after a year or two of practice. :beard: