How bogu is made (1/2).  How bogu is made (2/2). 

E-bogu.com and E-mudo.com have great armor.  Even their bottom-of-the-line machine made armor (around $300) is of very good quality.  Toward the more beautiful (and expensive end) are OnlineKENDO.com, Tozando.com

E-bay.com has an auction for used bōgu around once a week or so.  Most of these are very reasonable (around $150) and in good shape.  Search for "kendo armor" or "kendo bogu".  If you do buy used, then:

• Make sure it is kendo bogu (sellers will often mislabel their goods).
• Make sure it fits (we can help if you want).
• Make sure all pieces are there (men, 2 kote, do, tare).
• Look at the wear (especially the kote palms).  Do not buy something that will fall apart in a couple of months.
• Do not over-pay.  If you cannot get it for $150, you might want to consider new.
• Coordinate with others in the dojo so you do not bid against each other and drive up the price.