My god, Sensei and I were blown away when we opened the box and found a pre-tied (like a knot sewn in) Velcro strap. Did I just miss it in the description? I still can't find it. Anyway, it's one of the cheapest options I can find and suits my purposes for now. It has a nice pattern, the right stiffness and is holding up very well. And hey, you'll get the perfect knot every time! HahaUpdate: I've been using this for Iaido for a while now. It still holds up quite well, but it's definitely not ideal, especially for prolonged use. I am very petite and barely tall enough to turn around enough times (2-3) to hold a sword. So not the most functional for sword work, but perfect for aesthetics!