Tabi

Redwall Templar · Post by **Redwall Templar** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 16:01 -0700

Has anyone ever bought, wear or worn tabi boots? I've read they are good for hiking and such things. Is there a legitimatly good source in the USA that is a reliable supplier one would purchase tabi from?

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Fri Apr 15, 2005 19:57 -0700

You mean the split-toe boots and socks that ninja wear? I doubt they are any better than your state-of-the-art hiking boots. I believe the tabi footwear were designed to optimize ninjutsu moves and be silent when walked in, with the split toe design good for gripping. I doubt they'd be be better for hiking than hiking boots though, especially when you're carrying a lot of gear and need the extra support you get from good hiking boot. Now if you plan on scaling walls and traversing rooftops in stealth mode, they may work better. The stickier the soles, the better they are for wall climbing.

As far as shops, there are many on the internet... AWMA.com has been around for awhile and I've purchased some of martial arts supplies from them.

Redwall Templar · Post by **Redwall Templar** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:16 -0700

Your answer makes sense. In retrospect I don't know why I hadn't thought of the same things. Where it was that I read it, probably just used it as a marketing ploy.

Scaling walls...nah. I have neither skill nor form for that. And I really don't have the need for that. I'll leave scaling walls to The Amazing Spiderman.

Thank you.

What have you purchased from that site, if you don't mind me asking.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:05 -0700

We used to wear rubber soled tabi when we went fishing in Hawaii. They were great for gripping on slippery rocks, or walking on sharp volcanic rocks. As I said, the soles were rubber, but the rest was blue canvas. I wouldn't recommend them for hiking, though. They did not last all that long and the soles did not have the flex that shoes have.

There are also tabi socks. They're usually white with the split toe. They are normally used indoors.

Redwall Templar · Post by **Redwall Templar** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:14 -0700

My next question is, are they comfortable? Like for wearing around the home or just doing things in the yard, where boots are not required?

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:23 -0700

Redwall Templar wrote:My next question is, are they comfortable? Like for wearing around the home or just doing things in the yard, where boots are not required?

As I recall, they were not very comfortable. Being brought up in a Japanese home, we never wore the rubber soled ones in the house. The soles did not have the flex that made casual walking comfortable.

Of course, they may have other styles that are much more comfortable. The ones we bought, we used primarily for fishing.

Redwall Templar · Post by **Redwall Templar** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:24 -0700

Thank you. I think that's about all the questions I have on Tabi.

Leonardo-san · Post by **Leonardo-san** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:32 -0700

We wear them at the dojo for sword class, and the ones we use are either indigo blue or black.

There are actually a number of variations on tabi.
There are tabi socks, of varying lengths and weights, and colors.
There are tabi with cloth or suede bottoms, and for the kind we use it's often best to get them from a kendo shop or martial arts supplier. You would not wear these outside, because the bottoms are thin, but they are great indoors for our classes. Typically if you were going to walk outside, you would then put on a pair of zori (or geta or what you can call "thongs"). You'd just step right into them with your tabi on your way out the door.
We don't want the ones with rubber soles on the bottom because we want to be able to let our feet slide along in class. But as pointed out, you can get them with rubber soles if you want some traction.

I've seen some shops in Japantown in San Francisco that sell tabi, but they didn't have the indigo I needed for class. And you can find them online from stores that sell Japanese clothing, besides the martial arts supply stores.

When I was in Japan recently, we passed a store in the Ginza that had tabi in an amazing array of colors. Wild!
And there are some differences in height on them, too. I have seen at least three different heights, low ankle, above ankle, and partway up the calf. Some have velcro and some have metal tabs.

If you decide to order them, a thing to keep in mind is be sure you measure your foot to get the right size. There are size charts online you can reference too.
Happy shopping!

Post by **Todd Shogun** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 9:27 -0700

Re: AWMA.

I have purchased Hakama from them in the past; they have several colors and patterns to choose from. You can also get your keikogi from them too and be a full blown samurai. Or simply get a kimono somewhere.

I have also purchased several weapons from them.. Sai, nunchaku, bo staffs, shinobikatanas... the whole TMNT armory....even manriki-gusari and tonfa (you die TMNT fans will know what those mean)

. I have a really cool martial arts supply store that I used to go to ... Musashi Martial Arts in Garden Grove, CA. They doubled as a bookstore and I was also able to get my Book of 5 Rings there too. I am not sure if they are still around, but I bought some really cool stuff there before things started to get illegal in CA...Shuriken and butterfly knives to name a few. I also got my bokken, various sets of daisho, tanto knives, and kama from them... ah, the memories....(this was back in my teen years when I had to have my Dad present to purchase

Usagi · Post by **Usagi** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 22:52 -0700

Hmm interesting, I only hurd of the Tabi soxs.....(I have two pairs).....^_^ I would think a Karate shop would have some?

Redwall Templar · Post by **Redwall Templar** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 10:07 -0700

I only caught it the one time online and could never find the site again, or the page at least. Interestingly enough, there were these water sport shoes, of some kind and they were designed in a tabi style.

hazlov2004 · Post by **hazlov2004** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 8:55 -0700

i never wore those befor but i could try im always trying new stuff

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 9:25 -0700

Redwall Templar wrote: there were these water sport shoes, of some kind and they were designed in a tabi style.

That could have been "aqua socks". They are slip-on shoes made of soft mesh, with rubber soles. Each member of our family have them. They're great for walking around pools, or anywhere else that is wet and/or slippery. We took them white water rafting last year.

Redwall Templar · Post by **Redwall Templar** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 15:22 -0700

Hmmm, That's encouraging. I think that I shall have to order a pair. I managed to find a few websites where I can order a pair last night. Those aqua socks sound to be just about what I am looking for then. Sometimes I go to Maine and I don't want to wear boots, which is what I wear most of the time at work or out and about. It'd be nice to have those as an alternative.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 20:58 -0700

Redwall Templar wrote:Hmmm, That's encouraging. I think that I shall have to order a pair. I managed to find a few websites where I can order a pair last night. Those aqua socks sound to be just about what I am looking for then. Sometimes I go to Maine and I don't want to wear boots, which is what I wear most of the time at work or out and about. It'd be nice to have those as an alternative.

Your original question had to do with using tabi for hiking. The aqua socks are not rugged enough for hiking. They are primarily made of a quick-drying soft mesh fabric, with a rubber sole. They are not durable enough, nor do they have the support that hiking boots have.

They are, however, great for water related activities.