I like these sticks, but the tips didn't hold up and I didn't want to use a nylon tip, so I sprayed the tip with minwax polycrylic sealer that I found at Walmart. It seems to help prevent chipping. First I sand the tip with fine grit sandpaper, dust it off, then spray it and allow it to dry thoroughly. Once it's dry, I sand it again just a touch, then its ready to use.

I recently got a Hard and Heavy 5B pack. The 5B's are a fantastically versatile stick with a great feel. Not to long and the tear drop tip gives warms lows and is very responsive. I have used Vic Firth's in the past but didn't like them much until now. I will probably get the 3A's for lower volume but with out sacrificing durability. Great, I definitely recommend them.

This stick is the best drum stick in the world. On the package that you get from the store, the sticks say the perfect pair. They really are. I used to play with Zildjian sticks. Their sticks are light but they break too easily. These sticks don't ever break. I haven't broken but 3 yet and I've been playing on Vic firths forever. I won't go to a different stick ever.

durable, absorbs shock without losing that bounce, an all around good stick

They felt great, had good response, didn't have a lot of shock into the hands. That was until the tip flew off while I was playing. The part under the nylon tip is a barely rounded flat tip with some grip for the glue to stick to. That barely rounded part made divots all over my drum heads until I noticed what was happening. I thought it was one stick so I bought another pair. It happened to another. I put the remaining ones together. One lost its tip. No more 5BNs for me. Only 5As. Vic Firth is great, but only for their wood tips.