[NarunapyCalry]

Flashman, that's a Japanese made set?
Do you know which company in Japan made it?

[amannddo]

OK, first bogu was from my sensei so I don't know who made it. Except that I always thought it was 3-4 mm machine made bogu with simulated fiberglass do that fit me perfectly and the day I got it I passed 4 kyu promotion with it. Obviously there were no problems breaking in.
Everything was OK except Kote palm worn out pretty quick and kote protection wasn't so great. So I ordered 2 mm kote from Kendoshop.com - this stuff is made of steel - you feel no pain at all, it was a bit big on me and palm deer leather wasn't as nice as I wanted but it lasted longer.
After 6 years of 1-2 times a week use, my do had some cracks where everyone hit and my men flap was showing inside stuff so I promised myself to get a nice hand made bogu if I ever get to 3 dan ( in my dojo I get to sit in the sensei row starting 3 dan and up ). So I reserched many and end up buying 1.2 bu hand made bogu from Kumdoshop.com ( Korean only site ) for under $1,200 if you believe me( BTW, they also have fabulous shinai under $25 ). It's not the exotic bogu but it has Titanium mengane and 60-piece bamboo do. Oh by the way, while I was comparing my old do with new one I found out my old do was also 40-piece bamboo not fiberglass as I previously believed.

I'm still breaking in my men after 5 month, next time ( if there is one ), I'll go for nice Japanese made 1.5 bu so I don't have to break them in so long but for now I don't have any complaints.

Center only..

[car.insur]

After a while, I expect more people putting in more reviews. The funny thing is we have so many members but not a lot of reviews to help the beginners like me. First, thank You for those members who put in reviews. Second, I would like to have more review please. Don't let us, beginners, step into your own mistakes when shopping for bogu. Gracie.

[Acalsenunse]

2.5mm set from Seyhun...set me back about US$700, but is probably cheaper now due to exchange rate. Quite happy with, although it's a tad on the heavy side. Recently replaced the kote with a special deal through a friend in Japan with a 1.0bu kote, which are absolutly stunning and fit like a..well..glove!. (And aren't too stiff at all!). They're lighter and offer better protection than my old ones, so I'll probably replace my men at the end of the year through the same guy.

Jakob

[Zesavenue]

I bought my 2mm machine stitched bogu from E-Bogu. It is a really nice set. I only had one complaint. The men did not fit correctly, so I ordered a 1.5 hand stiched men. Other than my first men not fitting well my armour is nice.

I am getting tired of catching shinais with my chest, right above my do. So I will order a new bamboo do in hopefully a month or so.

[Sttim]

Got my first set form 9 Circles (Kendo Shop)

It's 2.5mm Machine Stiched

its really nice, coloured Do, Etc.

Comfortable, Pricy though.

i am not really in a position to give a detailed review on a set of Bogu, so i won't. But making the transition from club armour to 2.5mm was incredible. i would reccomend any person buying firs bogu to spend the few extra quid and buy a decent set that lasts.

[TimoDass]

BOGU-
SEYHUN 1.2 hand stitched, titanium men, Yamato fibre doh to bring cost down. Very stiff kit, i sold the kote because i was tired of waiting over a year for them to break in. Everything else has been great. I think it will last 12-15 years easily, although i get bored quickly and will buy a new kit after another 5 years. This is to contribute to stocking the world of second hand bogu.

BOGUS-
I go cruising with HAI_HAI in his ferrari on weekends, he drives i count cash.

[Siuchingach]

Heres a breakdown of my bogu..

First set all purchased from Eguchi 3.5 yrs ago. I think it was the 4.5mm set that cost ~800 bucks American.

Men - My first men was pretty painful to wear. My ears hurt, then became bloody from it rubbing against the fabric. I was also wearing glasses in my men at the time so that could have some effect. I had to take it off during one practice because it hurt so much. Take care of it by drying it off after each practice. My first one became so bad that the outer bindings around the mengane started to become bloated from the moisture and just broke apart when it dried. Got a new 3mm one with chitan (from Eguchi) and I know what to do with this one at least. This one was SOOOOO comfortable it was unbelievable. I was wearing it for practice 2 days after i bought it and later that week was in a taikai with it. It was THAT comfortable. Oh ya.. Men himo. Have an extra set handy. I have gone through 3 sets of men himo since people with screwed up shinais hit it and they start to fray.

Kote: I have 2 pairs. both had to be repaired once. The holes usually form in the palms.The first pair is VERY tight.. Can barely move. The second pair is VERY comfortable. Same stitching too. Sometimes if the padding is thick, your wrists feel like they are cemented in place.

Dou - Still the original. The strings and everything. They should last a long time no matter who you buy it from. Hongsermeier uses Mothers car wax to polish it. I tried it and it works pretty well.

Tare - Still going after more than 3 years, although I might need to have the strings replaced soon. They start to fray after a while.


My 0.02,

Tim

[Blelidupgerie]

I got a 4 mm bogu from e-bogu for about $500 including a bag. Its a decent bogu, but I'm wearing through one of my kotei's already and I've only had the set for about 6-7 months. Its a small hole on the thumb and it isnt much of a problem. Also, when Ii went to the shop, they were moving, so they only had a larger size Do for me, so its wider than is necissary. That aside, its a good set I think.

[tetMitshisk]

Hello to all, this is my first post and I just want to start something useful for myself and others.

About bogu, so far, every one stated only what is a good bogu like and nobody compare bogus between two different companies because we don't have a chance to compare them.

I would like every one, if you can, put in a short review of your bogu, where did you get it, the pros and cons, how long do you have it, and recommended or not. If we all put it together, we will have an excellent source for a beginner like myself and others too.

Thank You in great deal.

[Iphone]

Mine is a second hand 2.5mm which was originally purchased from Kendoshop.com......can't complain abt size since it is second hand....but is pretty good...

[hhynmtrxcp]

Well, I'm waiting for my 2.5 mil Bogu from Nine Circles here in UK. Soon as I get it I'll let you know what it's like.

I'm really going to miss the club armour I have at the moment.....Not! :lol:

[Pszinygv]

I'm still in my first bogu. I've only had mine for 2 years, but I'm very happy with it. I have the A4 set from Eguchi. It's held up very well so far. I average about 3 practices a week since I got it. As m_french can verify, it has taken quite a beating.

[parurorges]

No responses because many people have not had bogu for a long time. It's my understanding that the quality of a bogu will be apparent over the long haul, 10 or more years.

However, because I'm a loudmouth I'll still give you bogu impressions.

Bought in mid-march 2003 from Sehyun Kumdo, model #250 (replaced the standard men with a machine-stiched titanium one in set no.210), 2.5/3.0 mm. I practice about 2-3 times a week.

Men: Fits perfectly, no complaints.
Kote: Fit perfectly, nice stif leather. Don't know how long the deer leather will last... time will tell.
Tare: Seems okay, how does one judge tare??? (i.e. I didn't care too much about the tare)
Dou: My dou (fake bamboo) actually has colour to it: A very dark blue that is so dark as to be almost black (D-27 if you're curious.. although they list it as "green" ). If you don't look at it directly it looks black. Anyway, I have noticed that the paint is chipping off a bit in some places (strangely enough around the stomach area and not the typical "hit spot"). No gigantic paint chips falling off, just small spots. This just reveals a black base under the paint. There have been no cracks so far.
I'd recommend going for a straight black dou at any rate (although it is nice to have a range of choices). That's the only problem really... although I sort of like the "worn in"/"old warrior" look (no relation to Old Warrior the board member).

I'm hoping this set lasts a couple of years. Ask me again if it's a good set of bogu in 5 years, I should know by then.

[RobsShow]

You gotta be patient, you will get responses, just give it time.

and I don't have bogu, so I can't respond to you, as many people who are looking for bogu but don't have it are probably most of those views with no response.

Patience is a virtue

[JohnMitchel]

How do you know my armpit smell?
Anyway, any one want to get back to the course?

[samanthalueus]

heh heh is this you??
http://www.e-bogu.com/unemsenaandd.html

[vRmy0Fzg]

Fine.

My first set was a 5mm from e-bogu.com, years ago. It was good enough for a beginner, but looked ugly and the futon (padding) in the kote leaved much to be desired. Also, It did not hevae lather reinforcements in the target areas ( top of men and part of kote-futon ). The Do was also very thin.

Years after I bought a 2mm set, again from e-bogu.com. The padding is thin, but hard as a shell. It's the set I use to this day, the tare looks nice, the Do is fiber but has that inner bamboo-like reinforcement and three lines on the sides, which means that I don't get hit in the torso above the target area (Do) too much. The Men is very nice and light, and shows little signs of wearing out. The kote, however, provided excellent protection but the palm worn out real soon. That I solved by buying a pair of musyobou Kote from Mori Budogu ( Japan), which are fabulous. Stuff of legends, really.

Att

- Alexandre

[Svatudjw]

Come on pals, 33 view and only 1 respond!

[ashleyjoseph]

Originally posted by dorkusxmaximus
my friend says that kendo sweat is clean sweat, but i don't think it's true. sweat is sweat and it stinks! All sweat is clean sweat. However, when bacteria consume sweat, they let off an odor. In a condition where sweat is trapped in moist conditions, this bacteria will thrive. Why does your armpit smell nasty and your forearm doesn't even though you are sweating in both places?