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We use tapered bos. An adult bo is typically six feet
long. That's the standard off-the-rack length for anyone
adult height. If you are under 5'7", you might want to
clip off the ends of your bo to make it shorter. It should,
however, be no shorter than 2-5" longer than you are
tall. Children will typically use a child's bo. Standard
lengths for children's bos are 4'6" or 5'.

Choose a hardwood bo, preferably without paint or a
polyurethane coating. Synthetic coatings tend to make
your hands stick during manipulation. If you have to get
a bo with a coating, buy good wood (not composite)
with a light coating (not impregnated), and sand the
coating off. You then apply a natural oil like orange oil
and beeswax to protect the wood.

Some tournament organizations won't allow anything but
wood bos in standard wood colors for competition. If you
plan to compete, know the rules before getting a
graphite bo or something with holographic sparkles. Also
if you bring a bo that glows in the dark into the dojo,
prepare to be snickered at.

Some people find two-piece bos convenient. You can
break them down and put them in the trunk of your car
or carry them in a duffle bag on the bus. But they aren't
as strong as one-piece bos, and some tournaments won't
allow them. It's also hard to find them in good wood
without coatings.

Sensei Laura can special order bos. Honbu also
sometimes carries a limited selection (call first). They've
had some waxwood ones lately that are light and strong.
I have one and I like the wood both for hardness and
feel, but they do tend to warp. I've also ordered from
the Superfoot and the AWMA site. Both typically have
below suggested-retail prices. Superfoot ships promptly
(usually) out of Phoenix, so they're probably the fastest
Internet order for us. I can't, however, comment on
specific off-the-rack bos for lack of experience.
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Store bos--especially custom bos--completely horizontal
(and supported along the full length of the bo) or
completely vertical to avoid warping. Go over them
regularly with a light coating of orange oil and beeswax.
Bare wood dries out fast, especially here in the desert.
Information about making a PVC bo case is available
here. I store my bos in the case to help prevent warping.
It also seems to help keep the wood from drying out.

If you need to knock the grain down a bit, or if you have
a ding with sharp edges, you can use a green scouring
pad. It works well on all but the hardest wood, and it
doesn't have the same dangers in the hands of
over-zealous sanders as sandpaper does.

Eventually, you might want a custom bo. Ideally, a bo
should be 2-5" inches longer than you are tall. The
diameter should fit your hand comfortably. 1" to 1-1/2" is
standard. If you have big hands lean toward the larger
size. If you have small hands, lean toward the smaller.
The weight-- various woods vary greatly in weight--
should be as light as you can get away with (for your
level of contact and/or tournament regulations). Light
weight means acceleration, and acceleration means
force. If you are quite strong and have a large frame you
might want a somewhat heavier bo, or if you are planning
to use your bo against other bos, you might want
heavier. But in general, for the katas we do, lightweight
is better.

The senseis use custom-made bos by Gordon Garland,
but he is getting up in years and is no longer making
weapons. If you can pick up one second-hand, consider
yourself lucky. Kyoshi Garland has been a good friend to
KoSho. He is a font of martial arts knowledge, and his
bos are some of the finest bos I've ever held in my
hands.
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Crane Mountain also makes outstanding custom weapons
in a wide variety of woods. Talk to them about your
needs. They are very accommodating. Be aware,
however, that some of the woods they use are very
heavy, perhaps too heavy for our needs. Make sure they
know that you are looking for a light competition bo to
do Yamani-ryu style katas.

Generally, it's a good idea spend six months or a year
learning the bo before getting a custom weapon. Doing
so will allow you to form opinions about weight and
length. For the first six months you won't notice the
difference between stock and custom anyway.