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'VANGUARD ESSENTIAL' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set

'VANGUARD ESSENTIAL' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set

€480,95 EUR
€480,95 EUR
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Estimated dispatch time: 1–2 business days

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New and Improved Model

VANGUARD ESSENTIAL Bogu Set

A practical, protective, and affordable Bogu set for beginners, club use, and Kendoka who need a dependable spare set.

The VANGUARD ESSENTIAL Bogu Set is designed for Kendoka who want the trusted protection of the VANGUARD series in a more economical and functional specification. It keeps the most important protective qualities of the Original VANGUARD set, while reducing optional decorative and comfort features to create a more accessible price point.

Price Includes Essential Accessories

This set includes Himo, Chichikawa, and Tenugui, so you have the essential accessories needed to start using your Bogu.

Ideal Choice For

  • Beginners on a budget
    A strong first Bogu set for those who need reliable protection at an accessible price.
  • Club and Dojo use
    A practical option for communal Bogu used by beginners and new members.
  • A low cost spare set
    Useful for Kendoka who want a dependable backup set for regular Keiko or club use.

Key Features

  • Comfortable 10mm padded stitching
    Designed to provide strong cushioning in the main strike areas.
  • Original VANGUARD model Kote
    Uses the same Kote as our Original VANGUARD model, giving excellent protection and flexibility.
  • Soft and flexible Futon
    Designed to feel comfortable while maintaining important protective qualities.
  • 50 piece type synthetic Do
    Supplied with a practical synthetic black Do-dai and Souzashi Do Mune design.
  • Simple, functional specification
    A clean and practical design that focuses on the essentials of protection, fit, and value.

Built on VANGUARD Protection

Despite its competitive price, the VANGUARD ESSENTIAL Bogu Set does not compromise on the most important aspects of quality and protection. The Futon strike zone uses the same protective 10mm construction found in the best selling Original VANGUARD model.

This means VANGUARD ESSENTIAL keeps the essential protective qualities of the VANGUARD series, while simplifying the overall specification to make the set even more affordable.

Protection Where It Matters

The set is designed around practical protection for real Keiko, making it especially suitable for beginners, club use, and Kendoka receiving frequent strikes.

Practical and Affordable

By focusing on essential protective features and reducing unnecessary decorative extras, this set offers excellent value without losing the core VANGUARD feeling.

Men

The Men uses comfortable 10mm stitching, giving the Futon excellent protective cushioning quality. An additional layer of Shin, or inner padding, is also included to further support protection.

VANGUARD ESSENTIAL Men

Kote

The Kote are the same model used in our Original VANGUARD Bogu set. They feature the same 10mm stitching as the Men, along with additional padding in the strike zone to help protect the hands from hard strikes.

The wrist joint uses an original cut that is extremely flexible while remaining durable. The palms are made from tough synthetic leather, and Yoroi-Kazari is used on the fists for increased manoeuvrability.

VANGUARD ESSENTIAL Kote

Do

The set now comes with a 50 piece type synthetic black Do-dai, fitted with a Souzashi Do Mune design. This gives the set a clean, traditional look while keeping it practical and economical.

VANGUARD ESSENTIAL Do

Tare

Like the Men and Kote, the Tare features protective 10mm stitching and a simple, functional design. The Mae-Obi, or waist belt, is made to be flexible and comfortable, while the panels use the same 10mm stitching to maximise protection.

VANGUARD ESSENTIAL Tare

Measuring Guide

Please follow the measuring guide carefully when ordering. Accurate measurements help us supply the most suitable size.

Men Measuring Guide
Men measurement A guide A Measurement Measure from the tip of the chin to the furthest point at the crown. Keep your mouth closed and keep the tape in front of the ears. The tape should be reasonably tight, but not squeezing.
Men measurement B guide B Measurement Measure around the forehead at the widest point, where you would wear a hat. Keep the tape above your ears and eyebrows.
Men measurement C guide C Measurement Measure from the bottom of the chin to the middle of the eyes. For accuracy, have someone help you.
Kote Measuring Guide
Kote measurement D guide D Measurement Measure from the wrist joint to the tip of the middle finger.
Kote measurement E guide E Measurement Measure in a slight diagonal line around the knuckle and palm area.
Kote measurement F guide F Measurement Measure around the palm, with all fingers and thumb closed.

Actual product may vary slightly from photographs.

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Customer Reviews

Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 78 reviews.

Customer photo review of *NEW AND IMPROVED* 'VANGUARD ESSENTIAL' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set

I recently purchased the Vanguard Essential as my first bogu, and it’s been the perfect choice for me as a starting kendoka. It offers the same level of protective padding, durability, and overall quality that I’ve seen in much more expensive models. Despite its lower price, it looks and feels like a top-tier bogu, and at no point did I get the impression that corners were cut on materials or construction. I’m confident this set will serve me well through my first years in kendo, and I highly recommend it to anyone beginning their journey.

Theodorus V. 5/5 Verified

*NEW AND IMPROVED* 'VANGUARD ESSENTIAL' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set

Customer photo review of *NEW AND IMPROVED* 'VANGUARD ESSENTIAL' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set

Having been using a pre-owned set of kendo bogu in the past, and after a hiatus from kendo for a significant part of last year, a kind pat on the back and club invite have finally motivated me to get a fresh new kit of armour for kendo training once again. Despite a small error when making the original measurements for the kote gloves, the armour arrived fairly quickly after the original order, and it fits perfectly! The quality of the materials is solid, the level of sturdiness and protective padding in the men is an excellent reassurance for when I go back to the dojo hall again. I'm looking forward to taking this new kendo gear into the dojo for 2025!

James B. 5/5 Verified

*NEW AND IMPROVED* 'VANGUARD ESSENTIAL' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set

Customer photo review of *SPECIAL OFFER* 'VANGUARD BASIC v2' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set

Best website and service , high quality products. Bought my first bogu and there was no stock for all parts, but the Kendostar team upgraded my bogu set to higher model and Im so thankful I can not be happier with overall customer service. Ezgi and Akin you guys are so great and helpful thank you so much , still watching forma next buy ;).

Marc R. 5/5 Verified

*SPECIAL OFFER* 'VANGUARD BASIC v2' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set

I recently received my complete bogu set from Kendostar, and I am absolutely delighted with it. The fit is perfect —the sizing is spot on— and it is extremely comfortable to wear. The design is beautiful, and at the same time it allows for great freedom of movement while offering excellent protection against strikes. I am also very happy with how quick the entire order process was, and the customer service has been incredibly effective and helpful. Overall, a fantastic product and a fantastic experience. I highly recommend Kendostar!

José Luis M. 5/5 Verified

'VANGUARD ESSENTIAL' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set

The shipping was extremely quick especially as it came from outside my country. Everything was packaged nicely and the quality and appearance appears to be top notch. I have done a few sessions with the new bogu and it felt wonderful. This was my first experience with Kendostar and it was great. Thank you for making it easy to do.

Christopher E. 5/5 Verified

*NEW AND IMPROVED* 'VANGUARD ESSENTIAL' Essential Protective KendoStar Bogu Set