Synthetic Hakama vs. Cotton

[nothing]

I find that no matter how hard I try to keep my creases, I just cant... and I find that when sitting in Seiza for long periods of time, I end up with wrinkled and faded knees. At my dojo, the senior students and sensei wear Synthetic (Tetron) Hakama, and they don't seem to fade or wrinkle much. I am practicing 4 hours a week or so. Does anyone recommend I buy myself a Tetron Hakama?
Anyone have any negative experience with the synthetic?

I jsut feel so sloppy some times.

[fighting mochi]

i've had positve experience with mine.

[Pan-Chan]

I find tetron much less comfortable than cotton, and it was really difficult for me to keep the himo flat; I had to iron them before each use. But other than that I don't mind tetron hakama.

I'm not sure what you've tried with your cotton hakama, so I don't know if this is on the list, but if you neatly fold it up after every practice and put it under something heavy (your matress for instance) I find that the pleats stay crisp very nicely. And there is always ironing, but personally I find it difficult for me, so I stick with the folding, heh.

Well I hope that helps some.

[DarQik]

Being new and cheap, naturally I have one... ($20 - kendoshop.net)

It doesn't breathe like cotton, or at all; but it doesn't collect sweat or change weight. I also do a rather poor job folding or packing it sometimes, and it's fared pretty well so far.

Given that you can get a cheap one for $20-40, it might be an affordable experiment depending on your circumstances.

[Paikea]

Anyone have any negative experience with the synthetic?
I just feel so sloppy some times.Can't stand polyester - feels like wearing a plastic bag. If you take the time when you wash it to lay it out, fix the pleats and smooth it all down to dry, then fold it up properly after every practice the cotton looks good for weeks at a time.

[Veren]

Well, if you like the feel of cotton, but hate having to iron, you can always cheat just a little:

http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_quality_Shoaizome_Kendo_Hakama_8_000_Size_ALL_ p/tak-ken-hak-tq8-navy-all.htm

E-Bogu has this #8000 cotton hakama that has the pleats stitched so that they don't lose the creases. I haven't actually tried one of these (yet!) but apparently, from what little I have heard, it keeps the pleats neat so there's little need to iron it.

Of course, that being said, I would still make a habit of folding the hakama properly, to keep the non-pleated parts nice and smooth too. :)

[JSchmidt]

Tetron looks awful and I personally think that cotton, if it doesnt have the right creases, looks much better.

Jakob

[Yiu Fai]

I own a tetron hakama and although it's not the best looking hakama in the world, it's not entirely uncomfortable and it's easy to maintain. I'm still working on my folding technique (I can fold it, but the advanced students do it much better than me) but my pleats are still well defined, even after 6 months of twice a week use and once a week wash.

[daniel_ung]

Tetron hakama is easy to take care of, not expensive, and c'mon, it is just for practice, what else do you need?!

[Pauly]

Well, if you like the feel of cotton, but hate having to iron, you can always cheat just a little:

http://www.e-bogu.com/Top_quality_Shoaizome_Kendo_Hakama_8_000_Size_ALL_ p/tak-ken-hak-tq8-navy-all.htm

E-Bogu has this #8000 cotton hakama that has the pleats stitched so that they don't lose the creases. I haven't actually tried one of these (yet!) but apparently, from what little I have heard, it keeps the pleats neat so there's little need to iron it.

Of course, that being said, I would still make a habit of folding the hakama properly, to keep the non-pleated parts nice and smooth too. :)
Hey, that's just like mine! Didn't get it at e-bogu, though.

As the advert says, the stitching is on the inner folds. You still need to fold the hakama neatly after practice to crease the front pleats but with inner stitching, folding takes less than 2 minutes.

Place it under a textbook, an hour later you have a nicely pleated hakama.

[JSchmidt]

Part of kendo is learning to maintain yourself and your gear. This includes learning how to fold a hakama.

Jakob

[Fai]

I have found that if you get a decent quality 100% thikc cotton hakama its easier to keep the creases.

I have had my hakama for over 3 years now and I have never once need to iron it after washing.

I just hand wash it and let it drip dry (I tend to make sure that the hakama is straighten up when leaving it to dry) and just before its completely dry I fold it and the creases are retained.

[Banza Joe]

Hmmm.... you guys seem to have positive thoughts on the tetron haks. Maybe they are different to the polyester/rayon cheapies ninecircles sell. Cos they are diabolical to say the least. Himo are crap, the shape is crap. If anything this is just an opinion or advice not to buy the cheapest hak from above mentioned site. Buy a cotton one and learn to take care of it. Mine is due for another wash as its getting salt build ups around the koshiita, but as long as you fold it neatly straight after keiko (if its damp from sweat it should fold better and stay creased), but don't leave it too long folded and damp as it might get a little fusty.

Just my experience with cheap crap v cotton decency.

[shred_lord]

Maybe they are different to the polyester/rayon cheapies ninecircles sell. Cos they are diabolical to say the least....

...the shape is crap.

Amen to that. They're so narrow that my big arse means that the pleats are always "open" even when I stand with my legs together, the pleats are expanded almost all the way.

[Anime12478]

I like my tetron hakama...mostly because it's the only one I have. The pleats are easy to take care of since I am a beginner.

Until I do a better job with folding my hakama, I will stick with it. At that point, I shall gladly buy a cotton one

[Berugijin]

Like a senpai of mine once said when I asked him about tetron vs cotton:

Tetron is for amatures.

I kid you not! :)

[akumalkenshi]

My hakama is made out of heavy cotton.

The pull from the fabric weight, keeps the cleats defined.

I've had others, with polyester in them, but they wrinkle beyond reconition.

[piggy]

ive never tried tetron but i know deep down in my heart, that cotton is better. as long as you know how to fold a hakama, there should be no problem.

if your knees fade, de-dye them.

[Halcyon]

On days that I have iaido practice before kendo, I use my tetron hakama. I prefer not to create faded knees on my nice cotton hakama, which I use on days when I have only kendo practice. Tetron is fine if you're on a budget. It gets the job done perfectly well. Of course, nothing beats the feel, look and hang of a nice, thick, cotton hakama, but you can always treat yourself to one later when your budget allows.

[emitbrownne]

Like a senpai of mine once said when I asked him about tetron vs cotton:

Tetron is for amatures.

I kid you not! :)

Amateur me up real bad baby.. I love my Tetron/polyester hakama(s).

I have 3, the dye has not run, the shape is maintained and I look fantastic (thats an actual quote by the guy I see in the mirror every day).

The only dodgy thing about them I have found is --- that if you fall you get a nice plasticised patch where the friction has melted the blend.

But hey ho.

[nothing]

I have the heavy 1000# cotton from e-bogu, and I really enjoy it. I have just noticed a good deal of sensei and senior students wearing what I thought to be a tetron hakama. I was under the impression that these were of a high cost and quality, rather than less. I did actually see someone (a beginner) wearing low quality black hakama.. of possibly a poly blend and a white judo gi. I assume he went to local karate store and bought these. Is there possibly a cotton/poly blend that gives the best of both worlds? I guess I'll have to ask sensei tonight.

[Yiu Fai]

I did actually see someone (a beginner) wearing low quality black hakama.. of possibly a poly blend

Thats what a tetron hakama is, isnt it? *confused*

[Berugijin]

Amateur me up real bad baby.. I love my Tetron/polyester hakama(s).

I have 3, the dye has not run, the shape is maintained and I look fantastic (thats an actual quote by the guy I see in the mirror every day).

The only dodgy thing about them I have found is --- that if you fall you get a nice plasticised patch where the friction has melted the blend.

But hey ho.

Nothing beats the smell of indigo dye mixed up with sweat!

[DarQik]

Hmmm.... you guys seem to have positive thoughts on the tetron haks. Maybe they are different to the polyester/rayon cheapies ninecircles sell. Cos they are diabolical to say the least. Himo are crap, the shape is crap. If anything this is just an opinion or advice not to buy the cheapest hak from above mentioned site. Buy a cotton one and learn to take care of it. I tend pretty much follow the "You get what you pay for" adage. I'm not sure how the expensive Tetron differs from the cheap poly/rayon blend, but I'm going to do some searching... I am actually a little nervous to drop my "cost-effective" hakama in the washing machine--I'm not sure the koshita will remain firm. The strings were also a bit short for me (it 39" all that huge around the middle :().

I'm actually thinking about going to a lightweight cotton next summer. I picked the cheap option expecting it would take some time to learn to fold it properly.
...

My searching finds that Tetron is actually a plastic polymer, made by Toray and wrapped into all kinds of applications, fabrics being one of them. Per a Toray R&D site, the Mishima Plant was completed in 1958 and began producing Tetron polyester fiber.

Background:

Two chemists named Rex Whinfield and James Dickson, working at a small English company with the quaint name of the "Calico Printer's Association" in Manchester, developed "polyethylene terephthalate" (PET or PETE) in 1941, and it would be used for synthetic fibers in the postwar era, with names such as "polyester", "dacron", and "terylene".

PET is more impermeable than other low-cost plastics and so is a popular material for making bottles for Coca-Cola and other "fizzy drinks", since carbonation tends to attack other plastics, and for acidic drinks such as fruit or vegetable juices. PET is also strong and abrasion resistant, and is used for making mechanical parts, food trays, and other items that have to endure abuse. PET films, tradenamed "Mylar", are used to make recording tape.
R-PET is based on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin employed in the familiar PET bottle.

This resin was originally famous as the synthetic fiber Tetron, but recently, it has become more famous as a beverage container material.

1948 ICI starts production of PET for use in fibers under the brand name TERYLENE.

1952 DuPont starts production of PET film under the brand name Mylar, and PET for use in fibers under the brand name DACRON.

1959 Teijin and Toray license technology from ICI and start marketing under the common brand name of Tetron.
Given all that, I would expect some of the more expensive Tetron hakamas to be completely different from the average poly/rayon blend, as well as from cotton and cotton blends. (Oh, and I would expect ironing plastic would be a bad thing... Rayon doesn't like heat either.)

I've been told by some folks they prefer non-cotton for practice because it is easier to care for and it doesn't soak up water when you sweat a lot. The same folks also use nice cotton hakamas for gradings and such, if I recall the conversations correctly...

Would anyone who has used all the different types, care to comment with good first hand comparisions?

[Halcyon]

I am actually a little nervous to drop my "cost-effective" hakama in the washing machine--I'm not sure the koshita will remain firm.
This shouldn't be a problem, at least from my own experience doing this. The stiff material inside the koshita tends to be made of some kind of plastic (don't ask me what kind) rather than cardboard, which would turn to mush. However, if you do plan to wash your hakama in a washing machine, I WOULD recommend putting it in a mesh bag that's used for delicates, such as sweaters. It will prevent the edges of the koshita from fraying after repeated washings.