A very tough spear to say the least. It's durable, and while at first I was not sold on the thick foam padding the shaft (I'm used to only wooden handles) I soon found the joy of it. The entire spear can be used to strike effectively, without risk of major harm to your opponent (or yourself). The blade is remarkably resilient and has stood up to some very powerful thrusts. If you're looking for something to test the waters with spear work, I'd recommend this well balanced weapon.