5 comments about Rikio Lace Up Jikatabi (Outdoor Tabi).

1. Tabi fit form to your foot. Sole is more durable than other tabi but not as durable as an athletic shoe sole. The best thing about the sole are their soft of stealthing is really easy.
   
   Only thing I wish was better: They came in 1/2 sizes, and the laces are a bit too long.



2. I love these shoes. I wear a 5 and 1/2 in womens. I usually wear converse shoes and these remind me of them. They fit like a glove, perfect! I can't stand flip flops and I have no problem with the split toes. I'm going to order a back up pair and get the calf boots by the same company. I also ordered these right around Christmas and I got them really quick. I recommend these shoes and company 100%!!!! Doomo!



3. I haven't had these for very long but I can certainly tell a quality shoe when I see it. Although the sole is sturdy it is quite flexible as well. The shoe itself is just like the Converse canvas, and it hugs my feet so well. These shoes (though they may not look like it) are actually very light. Let me also say that the service I received from Ippon was top notch. The shoes actually came about 4 days early than expected (the earlier the better, right?). I have had a great experience with this shoe and I know you will too!



4. Before you buy, check the sizing. I have several pairs of tabi, so I was confident I knew what size I was, but it turns out that these run a little small, and they do not run in 1/2 sizes. I had to return the first pair for one size up, but the new ones fit perfectly and are very comfortable.
   
   Now the good stuff:
   The shoes fit very well and are extremely comfortable. Out of all my tabi, these are definitely the most comfortable. They are slightly heavier than some of the Velcro or Tab-closure tabi, but they are also more rugged and seem like they will be pretty durable.
   
   These shoes look great. They look a little like boots in some of the pictures, and the soles are similar to boots; however, the overall look and feel of the shoes is closer to Converse Allstars, than boots. They look very similar to black on black Chucks if you're not really looking closely at them.
   
   If you're not used to wearing tabi, you will get a lot of looks if people notice you wearing these and a lot of questions too. "Yes they are kinda' like the shoes Ninja wear." "Yes they are Japanese in origin." "No, they are not part of my pajamas" "Yes, I could kick your mom in the face"...You know, the general stuff from people who have not seem them before.
   
   I think these are well worth it for the price, if you wear tabi a lot, you are probably used to the premium mark up we pay to get them in the US, and the price for these is no exception. But they are unique, put together well and overall a very nice pair of shoes.



5. I ordered a pair of these and the Jikatabi fighter boots from Ippon supplies. Their service is great, I ordered a size too large and sent them back to get a smaller pair with no problems. The delivery was very fast, even quicker than was specified by Amazon. As for the tabi, they are comfortable to wear and very quiet. They have a rubber squeak on certain surfaces before you break them, but once they are walking normally barely makes any noise. They are cloth, so drafty on cold days and I wouldn't suggest walking through snow/puddles with them. You're feet will get wet relatively easily. They are also a little difficult to slip off without unlacing them quite a bit because you're heel will get stuck in the shape of the shoe. So easier to put on than tabi with tabs, but takes a little more time to take them off. Just a trade off. Overall, a great pair of tabi. I can't tell you how many compliments from people that have noticed me wearing them.. One such one was that they look like converse with a ninja turtle twist :)

2 comments about Cold Steel - Hand-And-A-Half Sword, Leather/Wood Scabbard.

1. I can't believe there's a list price of $655 for this sword when Coldsteel.com lists the price at $399.99.
   
   I've had my Cold Steel hand and a half sword for a while, and I like it. Today however mine snapped after accidently hitting a tree branch on the ground while clearing out some weeds and getting some sword practice in. I believe this is an isolated case however with the tempering, as watching the Cold Steel Sword Proof DVD, it would have been clear that if it was the same problem for all the hand and a half, that the blade would have snapped in their 90° bend test with a vise.
   
   I only hope that their customer support will be as good as their swords are, and will post a review about Cold Steel's customer support if Amazon.com will allow me to post it on here.



2. This was not my first cold steel product and once again they have proving to be a great company. Great balance and durabilaty when I hold it I feel like I could go into combat and come out a winner.

No comments about Otomix M/F4444 Ultimate Trainer Body Building Shoe.

No comments about 30 " Wakizashi Wooden Bokken Practice Samurai Sword DG.

5 comments about Bokken.

1. This is a very nice bokken! Nice weight, shape, size and it's very sturdy.
   My training focus is in MMA and grappling. I bought this sword to have FUN and add some variety to my workouts (I purchased the Forza Samurai workout book along with it). I don't plan on sparring or hitting any trees or rocks so I expect my bokken to last me a long, long time.
   I've heard that the white rubber stopper that goes over the handguard is hard to slip in place--my solution: Vaseline (it works great!).



2. I am 14.
   Well to start my review is that i do not know martial arts and I was using these to swordfight with my brother. These are very strong wood and they smell nice too. They are strong and durable but the second one we ordered(we ordred them for swordfighing) snapped after our 4th fight becuase it had a wood knot and a soft spot in it. Mine didnt have any problems and was fully solid. They can replace it which we are gona do so if you order them, you should if you are a kid like me and wana swordfight. Remember if you do order it makesure you look for any knots or softspots or have your parent do that before you fight.
   
   The handguard was easy to get on (with some spit) and if you use some bat tape to keep the handgoard down and for some grip it helps alot. By the way they are as shiny as they look.
   
   Remember im just a kid who ordered these for some fun sword fighting



3. i do VERY hard training with mine, been doing so for 15 years and i have used mine that i have had from day one of my training and still do, i have yes bought others, and made some as well, it really dose not matter one bit if it is cheep over a expensive one it is how you take care of it that matters i have had a $50 dollar Japanese White Oak Bokken shatter on me when training that was made to take the abuse and was hand selected and made, free of knots and well balanced and made by a company that has been making bokkens since before world war one, and my sensei even says as well that it really dose not matter how cheep or how expensive the bokken is but a matter of the woods quality to begin with, sanding the whole thing helps yes but is not needed, merphies oil/soap once every 4 weeks and let dry for one week is all that is needed, keeps the wood from warping and drying out and you dont have to sand all of it except the handle and even then it is not fully needed, the one i have had since the start of my training has been used and abused IN TRAINING and never broken splintered or cracked, we use live blades that have broken long before training was done in cutting exorcizer's of SIMPLE THINGS LIKE BAMBOO, IF your really worried about anything happening to your bokken or afraid of the quality of the wood AT ALL BEFORE YOU BUY IT then GET A COLD STEEL BOKKEN, and they hold up to even their own live blades with minor scratches if any, they mimic the shape of a bokken and the feel of one almost exact and you DO NOT have to treat them in any way. BUT if it was me then i would prefer to be able to look at mine in person if i could before i ever bought it to make sure that it was free of knots and dose not warp in any way. If any one thinks they know it all about swords and bokkens at all your wrong cause no one knows everything about them or anything, i know i do not know all there is myself all i know is what i have been tough from the start of my training, and that is a SWORD ( or a bokken )IS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR BODY AND SHOULD ONLY BE USED AS IT WAS MADE TO BE USED, and it is a matter of what feels right to you no one else, in then end what i am saying is what works for me might not work for some one else, buying it offline is yes great for those that do not have the ability to get them in there area, but it dose not really help you choose, it is more chosen for you and might not have the feel of what you really want it to feel like, and this is true of even swords and knives that are bought, i give this a 4 out of 5 cause i know nothing is perfect and nothing should be perfect, feel it out and know in the end it dose not matter it is more how it feels to you when using it and also what your doing with it as well, hard training, or beating things up that it was never meant to be used on, and i do and will admit A BOKKEN IS NOT A TOY they can cause serious injury EVEN DEATH to any living thing and should not be put in the hands of a child as a toy at any time OR ANY ONE THAT IS NOT WANTING TO LEARN HOW TO USE THEM CORRECTLY AND THAT IS OF SOUND MIND, if any one wants to learn how to use a sword then know that there are schools and dojos that do teach them how to use them, but most do not take children under the age of 18.



4. Good quality wood for practice. It is a bit thicker, but that would makes it quite strong enough to withstand a few hard clashes. The only minor problem is that of the plastic/rubber hand guard at the handle which tends to come off loose, but its a minor inconvenience which I have seen in other similar ones too. Overall, good to practice around with, and learn new tricks as well. Feels quite comfortable in hands, and also gives u the feel of an old style way of practicing.



5. I only use this bokken for practicing at home by myself, so it doesn't matter how it stands up against harder woods. It seems rather well made for the price, but I do have one complaint: it's about half the weight of bokkens we use in aikido at the dojo I practice at. Part of the point (for me) to practice at home was to increase my forearm and grip strength. I would say it is better to find a store where you can try one out first, or if you are a member of a dojo, order it through them (unless it's too expensive). Overall though, this isn't bad and will probably suffice for a while.

2 comments about Icingdeath and Twinkle Scimitar Drizzt Dourden Sword Set.

1. The description said new, but it was chipped all over the hilt, jewels were not intact and it was rusted and tarnished all over. I asked to return it, but I can't afford the shipping. I suggest buying from somewhere else.



2. I will say these are two very nice looking swords. They are great for wall hanging purposes only.
   
   The problem with these swords is that they are cheaply made. The leather grips don't stay stationary, they turn in your hand because they are so loose around the hilt. Also the swords sounds like they were cheaply constructed, probably from a rat tail tang (a skinny piece of threaded metal that has been welded to connect the hilt and sword). I would highly suggest that no one try swinging either of these swords, especially with the purpose of actually hitting something. Both of the swords I received have a rattle to them that sound like a bell ringing when even moderately shaken. I wouldn't be surprised if these things broke, if someone was crazy enough to ever try and hit anything with one of them.
   
   Remember though, these are great looking swords. If you want them only for wall hanging purposes like myself then you will be happily satisfied with them. However, if you want them to take out in your backyard and hit water bottles, rolled up tatami mats, or even pieces of fruit, don't say I didn't warn you if your sword or swords end up breaking.

1 comments about Golden Bird Bowie Knife.

1. This knife is truly amazing, not just for the price but because of the quality. It's sharp, beautifuly detailed, hefty, and even comes with a quality sheath. bottom line, shipping was fast, it's a great hefty knife, and because of the price the words "why not" should be going through your mind.

1 comments about Cloth ankle guard / pads - Shock Wave.

1. I bought these for my son, who had requested some type of ankle support for sports related use. The ankle padding was a little too thick for what he needed, but my wife tried them on; she loves them and is using them for kickboxing and exercising! They give a tremendous amount of support for the achilles area, and are very well constructed.

No comments about Century Body Shield.

5 comments about Cold Steel Knives Skull Head City Stick, Fiberglass Handle, 37.63 In..

1. I recently purchased the skull City Stick..I had no real reason to buy this other than because it was a neat item, but I am impressed.. I remember reading about these canes when they first came out and one complaint was that the fiberglass shaft was hollow and the finish was supposedly too glossy and could have blemishes. Well Cold Steel must have listened to the complaints because this thing is redesigned and both issues are fixed. The finish is a very nice primer black color and mine was perfect. I even pulled off the rubber tip and the shaft appears to have been filled in with epoxy..I know in a past review a owner mentioned inserting a wood dowel in the shaft, but it appears Cold Steel now seals it with epoxy. Even the top section that the head screws onto looks different than the one in the ColdSteel webpage..It appears in the past that it was a steel sleeve that fit over the shaft..Now the sleeve is inserted securely into the shaft AND has a pin thru-and-thru to ensure it does not spin loose when tightening the head and it is strong and secure. The fiberglass was well finished and very cleanly cut. The skull is pretty cool looking and the weight distribution was better than I expected.. It is obviously head heavy, but I was afraid it would be overly light in the cane area,not too bad actually ...The shaft is nice and solid feeling..The complaint about the tip being kinda hard plastic is true, but this is not really a medical cane anyway. If I really needed a cane and wanted this style design I would pick the lighter micarta head or smaller steel head anyway..
   
   I do wish it were possible to purchase the different heads individually since the Micarta head would probably balance this perfectly, but the skull is just too darn cool not to own..If I ever sprain my ankle I am gonna bust this bad boy out at the first chance..
   
   Overall I am very happy and impressed with the product



2. I recently purchased the skull City Stick..I had no real reason to buy this other than because it was a neat item, but I am impressed.. I remember reading about these canes when they first came out and one complaint was that the fiberglass shaft was hollow and the finish was supposedly too glossy and could have blemishes. Well Cold Steel must have listened to the complaints because this thing appears redesigned and both issues are fixed. The finish is a very nice primer black color and mine was perfect. I even pulled off the rubber tip and the shaft appears to be filled in with epoxy..I know in a past review a owner mentioned inserting a wood dowel in the shaft, but it appears Cold Steel now seals it with epoxy. Even the top section that the head screws onto looks different than the one in the ColdSteel webpage..In that picture it was a steel sleeve that fit over the shaft..On mine the sleeve is inserted securely into the shaft AND has a pin thru-and-thru to ensure it does not spin loose when tightening the head and it is very strong and secure. The fiberglass was well finished and very cleanly cut and finished, to the point that I was impressed since it would not even be seen unless you removed the head. The skull is pretty cool looking and the weight distribution was better than I expected.. It is obviously head heavy, but I was afraid it would be overly light in the cane area,not too bad actually ...The shaft is nice and solid feeling..The complaint about the tip being kinda hard plastic is true, but this is not really a medical cane anyway. If I really needed a cane and wanted this style design I would put on a real rubber tip and switch out the skull for the lighter micarta head or the smaller steel head..
   
   I do wish it were possible to purchase the different heads individually since the Micarta head would probably balance this perfectly, but the skull is just too darn cool not to own..If I ever sprain my ankle I am gonna bust this bad boy out at the first chance..
   
   Overall I am very happy and impressed with the product and based on my evaluation this thing would easily handle cane use of a very heavy poundage person without fear of breaking.. People love the skull head and the cane really looks so much less intrusive and obvious than the typical "old man cane" and no one can see the skull when your walking with it... just FYI,,Due to the skull and the heavy head weight you might get a bit more scrutiny at airports/high security areas than the old wood cane, but you will look pretty darn cool with it..



3. elegant and beautifully made and VERY solid. Sticks end piece could be better - I had to buy a proper one from the pharmacy. Great product.



4. Over time, the outer layer chips off rather badly and yes, you need proper rubber cane tip, but it is useful as a weight-bearing cane if neccessary (i.e. you need a cane to walk with either for weakness or maintaining your balance. Luckily, the length is just right for me at 37.5" with the new rubber tip. You can shorten it to the desired length, with a hack saw. And that is why it's no big deal to buy your own rubber tip, if it had one permantly attached you would very likely saw it off. Inspect the tip often and if it wears out, replace it, to prevent slipping.
   If when you walk with it, you see your shoulder rising and falling, with the motion of the stick, it's too long. If you are tilted a bit, to the cane side, its too short. Turn it up side down, and have a friend hold the cane next to your arm. Wear your regular shoes for this, and at the crease in your wrist, have your friend mark it for length, with the new rubber tip, allow about an eigth of an inch if the cane cut off point won't allow the tip to remain in place. If you often wear shoes that are substantially different heights, you'll need another cane, adjust that one for a particular shoe. If you are worried abot cutting the city stick too short, buy an adjustable cane at the drugstore and get that right first. you may prefer a lighter cane. Strong, agile people can use a longer cane particularly going down a stair. If that describes you and you have a staircase you go up and down, cut the cane longer. It is boring to say so, but it is true, you can cut more off if you left it a bit long but you can't put it back.
   Far more serious than a cane tip is a need for a cane leash, a loop of leather or nylon to hold the stick when you need to use the hand holding the cane. The standard is a loop of nylon with a stretch loop at the cane end, but this cane has a lot of taper, so it may be too big at the top. I used leather, and cut holes through it, so I could make a loop, that is tight enough to stay up,when you are not holding it. Maybe if you are more flexible than I am you can reach down and grab a loop at the bottom, but in my current state, I cannot.
   I am toying with filling in the surface and repainting mine. If you want to lean it against a wall or table, it's better to place it head down so it will have less chance of falling (and damaging a floor tile when it hits). Waiters and waitresses seem to find a cane confusing and difficult, I got tired of them tipping over it and knocking it down, so I often stand it in the corner of the booth or hang it by the loop of an empty seat at the table.
   Makes a useful "formal" cane, but not quite formal enough for Fred Astaire, in a Top Hat and tails. Good luck, and be careful.



5. When I fractured my left foot in November, 2007, my orthopaedist recommended that I use a cane to keep excessive pressure off of my foot until it healed. I decided to go all out and purchase a City Stick, and I am sure glad I did. The 11-layer fiberglass, along with the steel grip and durable rubber end cap sure helped me out a lot when I had to go up the stairs in my house, or walk from my car to my office. I am grateful to have made a full recovery, and of course I would rather not need a cane at all, but when I did, Cold Steel supplied me with a great, durable product. I used it for 6 weeks, and it never faltered under my 265 pound frame. The price was good too, considering the no-compromise quality of this product. Needless to say, I am a satisfied customer, and will surely do business with Cold Steel again if I can ever make use of any of the other product they offer.