The Definative Beginner Bogu Thread!

[ben spain]

OK. Here is the plan.

This thread is a guide for beginners (like me) who want to buy their first set of Bogu. I know there are loads of threads on this one - but I want to have just one thread for opinions on Bogu that are around the US$500 mark.

From searching this forum there are two main contenders:
E-Kendos Standard 3mm Bogu ($450 with postage) and BoguBags GZ-17 combo ($427 with postage). One is 5mm but has deer leather and one is 3mm but has cow leather. One is from Korea and one (at least pretends to be) from Japan.
This is hugely confusing - Stitching distance or quality of materials? Japan or Korea? And the very short descriptions on the web sites do not help!

These have to be very popular Bogu - so please everyone who has contact with US$500 Bogu please post your opinion here!

[Washington]

I have the 5/2.5 mm set from E-Bogu and I love it :) $395

http://www.e-bogu.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=WOO%2DKEN%2DBOG%2DHP5 25MMSET%2D%2D

Picture of it on

http://www.geocities.com/seasonintonight/kendo1.html

[taganahan]

i got a 3mm set with a 2.5mm kote for around $420...that's together with the shipping. pictures at

http://community.webshots.com/user/taganahan (http://community.webshots.com/user/taganahan)

@ben spain: how come it's 450? maybe you,ve miscalculated it.

~taganahan

[Paikea]

Koei is not pretend, it's made in Japan. I have their S-17 set and like it.

[ben spain]

Thanks for all the replies so far! I hope there are many more to come!

Taganahan: The website price for 3mm Bogu is $360 and $90 postage to the UK - making it $450. E-Kendo have offered me a good discount though - so it is very possible that you can reduce this price down.

Paikea: It is difficult to say 'this brand of Bogu is made in Japan' as many are assembled in Japan - but manufactured in Korea, China or somewhere else where the labour is far cheaper. I believe you are correct with Koei Bogu being 100% Japanese though.
No one out there with a set of GZ-17 Bogu?

[Commander]

How did you manage to get a discount?


Regards
Sarah :)

[Neil Gendzwill]

No one out there with a set of GZ-17 Bogu?
We've got two sets in our club. They're very good value for the money, especially at the current sale prices.

[Paikea]

Paikea: It is difficult to say 'this brand of Bogu is made in Japan' as many are assembled in Japan - but manufactured in Korea, China or somewhere else where the labour is far cheaper. I believe you are correct with Koei Bogu being 100% Japanese though.
No one out there with a set of GZ-17 Bogu?True enough...I drive a Ford truck assembled in Canada from parts made in Japan, Korea, Mexico and China.

[billyboy]

hi be have you taken into account improting into the uk. you could be hit by import charges and will have to pay the vat on your bogu 17.5% of its cost.sorry to be boring but alot of people dont think about it.
as your in the uk have you tried ninecircles or are you looking for something different.

[ben spain]

Billyboy: yes I do know about import duty - however this is not such a huge problem on £250 Bogu (and many companies will reduce the commercial invoice if asked!). Nine circles are very good for Shinai etc. but I feel their Bogu is very much over priced. As they source it from kendoshop - I feel that £376.75 for standard 3mm Bogu is just too expensive. This is reinforced by the fact that kendoshop itself is so much cheaper (but refuse to ship to the UK and ignore my emails when I ask them why).

Commander: Just email e-kendo. I get an e-mail the next day every time (due to the time difference!). I just asked how much what I wanted was and they replied with a discounted price.

[LNGUYEN]

I am using GZ-17 right now. As in Bogubag indicated, the material made in Japan, but not said bogu made in Japan. In fact, I couldn't find anywhere in the bogu tag "Made in Japan". However, rest asure, it is quite good and protective.

[ben spain]

I am worried about the lack of protection that a 5mm Bogu set would give you. Does anyone know the difference between the impact felt with a 3mm set and a 5mm set of bogu? I am still very much torn between the two (but it has to be said leaning towards perhaps the 2.5mm from e-kendo now......or maybe still the 3mm........or.........)

[Neil Gendzwill]

You can't directly compare 5 mm and 3 mm between different suppliers. One supplier's 5 mm may be just as good as another's 3 mm.

[ben spain]

Which I guess if half my problem. Koei 5mm or E-Kendo 3mm (or maybe 2.5mm). I will prob go with E-Kendo as they have been awesome at responding to my innane and constant e-mails. Very nice people!

[Commander]

Ben spain how did you manage to get a discount?


Regards

Sarah :)

[ben spain]

Commander: Read post #10. Just email them with what you want to order and they will give you a price.

[ben spain]

Anyone out there got one of the kendoshop bogu sets that cost around $500??