Obviously a drummer's choice of sticks is a very personal thing, so what might suit one may not suit another, and any review is bound to be extremely subjective. But here goes...
What I like about these sticks:
1. Additional length, as I've always preferred 16.5" rather than the standard 16".
2. Size: Vater's 5A sits roughly halfway between Vic Firth's 5A and 5B sizes, so tit's ideal for those who find the VF 5A too thick and their 5B a bit too chunky.
3. Bead tip and shorter taper gives the stick more power without it feeling heavy. (I don't agree with some other reviews that say that this is a heavy stick. It's not, in my opinion.)
As for sturdiness and its ability to hold up to heavy playing and lots of rimshots, I find the Vater 5A Power holds up well, even though the wood doesn't look or feel as solid as, say, Vic Firth's American Classics, and I find theor longevity as good as any other sticks from other manufacturers. I've knocked off one star for quality as they don't look particularly appealing out of the packet. Does this matter? No, not really, they're good sticks.
Finally, I think they are good value for money at less than EUR 10 (excl VAT).
