Do you buy your MA gear on price or quality

Millionaire

Hi

I was wondering do most of you buy your MA gear on a price basis (as in what can you afford) or quality (as in spend an extra few euro for a better brand). Now this can apply to boxing gloves, sparring gear, wraps, Karate Gis, rash guards, BJJ suits, muay thai shorts, even punch bags, and more bigger gear.

Rason I ask, was I was down in boxing stadium in Pattaya the other day, Fairtex now own the stadium, and they have an shop there for Muay Thai and MMA gear (I noticed they are now pluggin the MMA gear big time) and Philip Wong you owns Fairtex, he is usually at the fights, and is a sharp business man, knows MMA is hot property now.

To be honest I was shocked at the price they wanted to charge me for a pair of Muay Thai shorts with "Gerry" embroided on the leg, and a pair of 16 oz Fairtex leather velcro gloves. Cannot remember price, but for thailand it was crazy...and on their web site like 85 american dollars.

So I went else where and got me gloves Windy brand for half the price. since I train 4 or 5 usually times a week, I reckon they will be wrecked in a year anyway. Usually I used to get 2 years if that out of leather kickboxing 16oz high quality back in dublin...50 punt a go then I think.

So I am trying to figure out....

Is it best to buy on price...as in buy cheaper...and think "feck it" they will be wrecked in 6 months, and I ll have to buy again.

or I am a penny strapped student a UCD and want beer money so I will buy the cheapest MMA grappling gloves I can find.

Or you might think...no...I went a high quality brand, that might last longer, fits better, maybe safer, looks better, and got the designer labels. and pay an extra expensive premium price.

I seen people on here before unhappy with prices of seminars etc, saying too expensive, sorry got no extra cash to go.... etc...so I was wondering.

So whats the general consensus?

After almost a year in thailand, I near faint when I see Irish prices on the web etc...

So do we buy the cheapie stuff or do we go designer and deck out from head to toe in Fairtex gear!

paddyc

quality every time gerry, especially for gloves, twins windy or thaismai.... your gonna need your knuckles after you stop training so best look after them

good gum shield and a "metal" groin guard are essential for ovbious reasons...

paddy

Nothingcompares

I got a 14oz pair of Windy gloves, some shorts, ankle supports, wrist straps for about 25euro in Thailand. Glad to hear windy are a reputable brand.

paddyc

Its only my opinion but i'd say windy are the best for gloves by far

thai smai best for shin pads and belly pads

and twins best for pads


dirt cheap out there same we got to pay customs

yomchi

Good thread Mill,

I've just bought some 14 ounce gloves and bag mits off Fightlord.com

Most comfortable set of gloves i've ever worn. Any else get stuff from them?

Nothingcompares

gerry if you're a millionaire why are bothered with a few euro?

Dyr

the classic answer: "Because that's why he's a millionaire"

Millionaire

Nothingcompares wrote:

gerry if you're a millionaire why are bothered with a few euro?

Thats how I became a millionaire! LOL.... watch the few euros, invest the difference.....amongst other things of course.

Like live in thailand cheapo, and make money in the west from business! work like a mad man, train like a man mad, and stay out of the bars, where the only rich man is the fella who owns the bar. and there zillions of girlies on the beach so you do not need to go to the bars! :eek:

Pay cash for all. and do not buy new cars on HP!

I got Windy 16oz yesterdays so I am looking forward to trying them out tomorrow, I like to mix btwn 10 oz and 16 oz gloves on different days.

actually truth be told I was a millionaire at 29 (started a biz from zero that was worth a mill in 12 months later)...but being young and an ejit lost alot on bad ideas.... (stashed bit though)....had to start from scratch again.... I am defo a multi millionaire....in Thailand! ha ha....but that does not convince my bank manger in ireland! LOL!

anyway this got nothing to do with the poll, so back to topic...I only answered that since you asked.

Read a book called "Start Late, Finish Rich".... I highly recommend it...

Roper

Tell me you spent it all on copious amounts of hard drugs Gerry, I'd prefer that to just some bad investments;)

Anyway,
Best gloves I've ever owned is my current pair of Twins, 14oz, blue with a slick silver dragon design on them. I had a pair of Everlast that cost me a bomb and the thumb strap tore on them spilling the filling out after about 4 months, poxy yokes. I've heard that a bit about Everlast gear as they now tend to focus a lot of their efforts on the fitness market and not fighters anymore. Next best gear I've owned after that was Top Ten from Deutcshland (uber alles don't you know).

I tend to shop for quality first, but I always try to get a decent price, you can pay too much for gold y'know!

Nothingcompares

fair enough gerry. I'm not all that interested in being rich I'm more interested in being famous.

Millionaire

Roper wrote:

Tell me you spent it all on copious amounts of hard drugs Gerry, I'd prefer that to just some bad investments;)

Anyway,
Best gloves I've ever owned is my current pair of Twins, 14oz, blue with a slick silver dragon design on them. I had a pair of Everlast that cost me a bomb and the thumb strap tore on them spilling the filling out after about 4 months, poxy yokes. I've heard that a bit about Everlast gear as they now tend to focus a lot of their efforts on the fitness market and not fighters anymore. Next best gear I've owned after that was Top Ten from Deutcshland (uber alles don't you know).

I tend to shop for quality first, but I always try to get a decent price, you can pay too much for gold y'know!

Yes, Barry, sad but true, its all true! both! bad property investments i got screwed on as I was green in biz and just 27 and though i knew something. You can imagine what happed after that...lets say I am in AA now and do not dirnk no more!
;-) the other half went up my nose! (RIP George Best) LOL! it was hell on earth at the end...hell. never missed training once over it! Stay away from white lines kiddies....it will creep up on you very fast! I mean that from the heart, and you life will be F'ed big time! I got off the problem myself.(social lesson from Gerry over for today). Ireland is in for massive problems in coming years with the booze and chaz going down.

Down load the song White Line my Grandmaster Flash and Melle and Mel and listen to the lyrics....lesson in there.

Thats suprising Everlast turned out to be ****e...was Ali not an every last man!! what a let down.

what happened Lonsdale...in the 80s, you were a nerd if you did not have a Lonsdale T Shirt...(i had an iron maiden one!)

Nothingcompares....as long as your rich in heart and soul and health thats the best rich to be! thats what I aim for....serenity!

As for fame, I though I d make it in a Thrash metal band to be as big as U2 in the 90s...even though I was a crap bass player and cannot sing! LOL!!!

BlackBeltJones

I recommend www.pad-up.com .... great selection

FiannaGym.com

Do you consider both Price and Quality together?

I'll pay what ever the right gear costs.

I rate fairtex MMA gloves as the best going hands down assuming,
1) They're not your "jack-of-all-trade-I'll-use-them-hitting-pads gloves", for that use harbs.
2) Your going to TAPE your hands when fighting in them (not WRAP your hands, but who would anyway?)
3) Your gonna TAPE them closed as the binding system comes loose. When it's on and taped its the best but does open if not stuck down.

I will be taking Paddy's advice when I pick up my thaismai shin guards.

If your not wearing a metal cup you are crazy. Wearing a plastic cup would feel like not wearing one to me. I mean "plastic", who thought that was a good idea? Bizzare if you ask me.

Peace

Fiona Cronin

Do you buy from the most convient, nearest place, and not give a damn about price or quality?

I buy my Gear off of another sensei within our clubs. i thinks it is important to support or own! plus its easy to get any problems i have with the gear sorted!

Clive

I'm fond of a few quid so if it's just for training I but cheap stuff. If it's for competing I'll pay the money to buy a brand I like. Pretty much the only thing I pay lots for are gloves - Harbingers I pay for, I haven't found any others I think are worth the money.

Black Swan

Quality is the first consideration, but I plan ahead and look for sales (seasonal, online, volume discounts through dojang, etc.), unless it's something simple like a lost mouthpiece at a tournament.