I ordered this on Sunday, and got it that Wednesday (with standard shipping)! Now that's fast. The entire transaction, from ordering to tracking to receiving, went smoothly and I couldn't ask for more. It even came with shipping labels in case I wanted to return it. I actually am going to keep the cardboard cylinder it came in as it makes for a nice carrying case for them.

I ordered two 6-footers. The staff itself is good for the price: well-weighted, slides easily in the hands, and it feels pretty strong (haven't pounded on any heavy bags or anything yet, though). Neither of the two that I ordered are perfectly straight (if you look down them, they look a little crooked, and they won't roll on a flat surface), but they definitely look straight if you're not inspecting them closely, and it in no way hinders the useability (it actually seems more authentic that way).

I sparred with them today, and they felt good. They actually felt more lively than I thought they would, but I could still definitely see how a man could put some power behind blows with these. There were some nicks afterward, (probably from the blunt swords we were also using), but I sanded them down, and oiled them with some Minwax Tung Oil Finish (which I hear will give me moderate protection, not the best, but it's all I had around at the moment so I went with it). When I oiled them, the stain seemed to mix with the oil so that the sanded part looks just like the rest of it now, which I thought was nice (I hope that's not bad, I'm no woodworker). I'm not sure I trust the finish it comes with 'cause it seems to scratch off, so you might be well-off protecting it somehow, as red oak is known for being very porous and therefore it's important to protect it from water. If you do oil it, the porous nature of the wood may bleed back some of the oil with the first few coats, so be aware of that. If I could do it over again, I'd probably go with Waterlox Sealer varnish, which I hear offers really good protection for red oak, but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Overall, I'm glad to have ordered from karatedepot.com and will definitely keep them in mind if I need any other items. If the karatedepot guys are reading this, I would like to say that what set you guys apart initially was your price and your shipping, so I hope you continue to offer good deals. I'm definitely going to put these items through a lot of punishment, but I've got high hopes for them.  Permalink