Affordable Hakama...
 

I'm looking for a place to get a good, affordable hakama, black or navy blue, preferably. The best I got so far is e-bogu.com, with a $29 cotton Navy hakama, but the shipping and tax is over $11, so I'm stuck over $40. If that's the best deal I can get, I'll take it. Does anyone have any better suggestions?

Doomo Arigato Gozaimasu

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

It takes many yards of fabric to make a hakama (all those pleats) and it is labor intensive to measure, fold and set them. I cannot imagine less than $29, and have to assume the folks making them are being paid chicken feed. If you find $29 too high a price, make your own (if you can find 5 yards of fabric at that price) or, better, ask around your dojo for a second hand one.

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

Yeah, $29's not too expensive, but $40 is. I think my sensei may have an older on that he never uses, but nobody around here's as tall as me, so it would probably be short on me. :drool:

Thanks for the input! ^_^

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

Rob:
Actually, I have made 3 hakama and they each cost me about $80 in materials and many hours of work, so I'd say you can't beat $40.
e ya later
Jill

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

Wow, $40 is extremely reasonable to me.. but only because it translates into something like £22, and in pounds if I was to buy one it would be about £50 or so :-p Maybe you could get a friend in the UK to buy it, depending on the postage, and then send it to you?

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

If you've found a hakama for $40.00 you've found the cheapest one. Be mindful of a few things....
1st Kendo hakamas are more abundant and generally cheaper but are not cut the same way as Aikido hakamas. Aikido hakamas generally have deeper pleats then your average kendo hakama. My wife makes hakamas and it is not an easy process. It took several attempts to make the pleats look right. The deeper pleats make the folding of the hakama work. Some Kendo folks don't even bother to fold their hakama.
2nd, if you buy the cheapest hakama available your going to get the "cheapest hakama" available.
Understanding that not everyone can afford the indigo dyed 100% hand-woven hakama (around $300), it might be in your best interest to save a little money and purchase a quality one....joe

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

My first hakama was a cheap one £25. Id never buy a cheap one again.

The problem with cheap ones is the quality of the material used and the length of the straps.

You will find the pleats drop out straight away, and the straps are too short, so you have to tie it up at the back instead of the front, It is impossible to tie it tightly when the knot is behind you because you cant see what you are doing!


If this is your first hakama sure buy a cheap one, but dont expect it to last too long. Youll be in the market again in 12 months after a replacement.

My current hakama was about £70 ($100ish) and that was bought about 1997. Its split slightly where the straps join the front of the hakama, and it may be time to replace, but Ive had 6 years out of it, so far.... :)

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

hi there,
i just had my first one from tozando (the basic tetron version) for 6200 yen. including personalized embroidery and shippin it was about 65 euros (but i ordered together with a friend so if you have to pay the shipping on your own it will be about 70 euros. it is a very nice one though, also the embroidery.
and it has a aikikai sign on the inside of the back.

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

You get what you pay for:

I bought a Century hakama for $50. Complete waste of money. Period.
I have an Iwata one my sensei gave me: apples and ThermoNuclear-Oranges. Yeah, probably 3 times the price.

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

Hi all,

Most aikido-ka (particularly, the Aikikai ones) who have been to Japan would end up buying the Iwata hakama. IMO, in term of value for money, the aikido hakama by Fuji Daruma are worth considering.

The pleats are deep and the straps are long and thick - easy to tie and untie.

I bought mine at Shobudo (a MA shop near the Tokyo Dome). Anyone knows where I can order them online?

Regards

David

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

30 seconds on Google

= http://www.budoshop.at/artikel02.php...me=Kendo%0D%0A

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

www.bogubag.com has tetron perma press hakama for around $45.00. Its a little more expensive than what your looking at but the service and shipping time is the best and is well worth the extra money.

William Gibson

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

Well $40.00 us Translates to $approx $50.00 australian... My last hakama cost me $120.00 au ($95.00us) but for me i wouldn't buy a hakama on price quality is what i buy on

Re: Affordable Hakama...
 

Check the 'clearance rack' at bu jin
www.bujindesign.com - but it will still cost you $55...