Kupo Baby Boom Steel Drum - Professional Grade KG601612 for Live Performances & Music Recording

My go-to HD stands are Avenger and this is the first KUPO product I've purchased. I went with the KUPO boom for two reasons. There was a $30 price difference and the design of how the boom mounts to the stand seemed better in the pictures. The KUPO uses a flange that mounts into the Avenger or KUPO grip heads and the Avenger has a shaft that fits into the grip.What did come out of the battered box was a big-boy sized steel boom that was exactly what I was hoping for; heavy and bullet proof :) The videos KUPO includes in the product description are excellent and what I got was exactly the same thing.I loosened the Avenger grip and slid the boom flange into it and tightened it down. I hooked an Alien Bee 800 to one end and a 10-pound sandbag to the other. I extended the boom out roughly 30" and balanced it just like the video instructed me. Lastly, I loosened the column and lifted it up to my 8' ceiling. That part definitely took some muscle because of the weight of the boom, the light and the sandbag.This would be a good time for me to emphasize this boom is not for a weenie stand. You could seriously hurt somebody if this falls off a flimsy stand so put your money into a quality stand like the Avenger or KUPO.One more thing about the KUPO boom. It's made in China whereas the Avenger products are made in Italy. Quality-wise I think the Avenger and KUPO are functionally identical but to me the cosmetic finishing on the Avenger product seems to be better. Maybe someone who has purchased both can comment to that.My final word is to tell you to buy the best quality stands and hardware you can for safety and longevity. KUPO and Avenger are the best you can buy. You won't regret it and your grandkids will thank you when you pass it on to them :)