Sparring Gear - which is better: Macho or Century?

[kahasham]

I am looking to get sparring gear for TKD and was wondering which manufacturer is better - Macho or Century. I got Century's catalog and they have Century Classic Gear and Macho Dyna Gear listed - both are the same price so I am just trying to determine better in terms of quality and longevity.

 

Also, I found sets online that are around $60 (head, hands, feet). Should I be worried about the quality of that gear? Here are the links:

 

http://www.martialmart.com/macspargears.html

 

http://www.karate-mart.com/macsparset.html

[JaseP]

They are all about the same anymore. If you asked the question 20 years ago, it might be different, but all manufacturers these days use the same proceedure to make their stuff. All the vinyl stuff will rip eventually. The cloth pads will experience a "crush" effect eventually. Most people I know get at least 5 years out of a set of protective gear. I don't wear mine very often any more,... so I might get 10-15 years out of them...

[isshinryu5toforever]

Are you sure you're getting the right gear for TKD? Shouldn't you be looking for a hogu, some shin and instep pads, some forearm pads, and head gear? If you are looking for TKD gear that is for Olympic style sparring, then Adidas and Tekno Q21 gear are the two types I have heard good things about. From the ones I've worn the Adidas ones feel lighter, the Tekno ones are thicker. I would guess this would mean if you are looking for a mainly offensive hogu and can evade well Adidas is your choice. If you like a little more padding Tekno is the way to go. Putting together a set of Adidas or Tekno equipment might get a little more costly than the other stuff, but it's what I've seen a lot more of the good players wearing.

[krzychicano]

Sounds like isshinryu5toforever knows what hes talking about listen to him it is the way of TKD

[isshinryu5toforever]

Thank you. I'd like to think I've learned a thing or two after being in the martial arts world for going on 14 years.

[tufrthanu]

No, alot of TKD school spar the old way...and they use just hand and foot pads and a mouthguard...some use head gear. Personally I would go for the macho. Even if the gear is made the same way I have just found macho to be a higher quality company than century.

[JaseP]

Yeah, if you really look at the sites that he was referring to, you see he is talking about simple vinyl-dipped foam. The alternative to that is the cloth covered pads.

 

A ho gu is a whole other universe... That's really for competitive olympic rules fighting. And isshinryu5toforever is right in that they can get pricey. For simple use, the foam covered stuff is fine. My students don't even wear that... Using gear encourages heavier contact and then you are in a whole different insurance coverage realm (the instructor, anyway).

 

All the dipped stuff is equivalent, as I said before. Go with what is on sale.

[tkdBill]

Are you sure you're getting the right gear for TKD? Shouldn't you be looking for a hogu, some shin and instep pads, some forearm pads, and head gear?

 

Many Taekwondo schools do not do Olympic style sparring. All of the TKD schools in my organization use the vinyl/foam Macho type gear for point sparring.

 

--

[OldRookie]

same here tkdBill-we generally buy Macho.I have been ordering my own gear & even my wavebag(as opposed to getting it through the dojang)from Superfoots.com, Bill Wallace's company.They have always been quick with delivery & the prices on their gear was usually a little cheaper than most. The life of your gear really depends on how much it gets used.

[Red J]

same here tkdBill-we generally buy Macho.I have been ordering my own gear & even my wavebag(as opposed to getting it through the dojang)from Superfoots.com, Bill Wallace's company.They have always been quick with delivery & the prices on their gear was usually a little cheaper than most. The life of your gear really depends on how much it gets used.

 

I bought the Macho from Superfoots. No issues with the products.