I'd suggest casting a number of bamboo rods prior to purchasing one. The differences, even in top quality rods, are significant. It'll be worth your time. Go to a fish-in. Toys come out during the early evening... I have personally seen 10 very high quality boo rods available for casting in a one hour time frame. That was memorable for me and clearly defined my choice of a rod and maker. It's an oddly personal choice due to use of biological material and the skill involved, as noted above. Take your time... Look for members/friends in your geography if you can't make a fish-in. Fish-ins are remarkable events. That's another subject...

Dana