I don't have a lot of experience with other shinais, but friends who have used mine (and DO have experience) think it's a simple but very nice little number. I wish the ballance were shifted more towards the hilt, but you adapt quickly. Forget the little red strings - mine lasted all of 15 minutes (and I still keep finding them every now and then).

Also, thanks to an accident, I can verify that they can handle being left out in the rain, and can survive active use in the middle of a river (we were drunk). Durable and strong, though they need occasional tightening.