Feel like dressing up in a Harry Potter costume? In addition to finding the right clothes, there is one other item you need to complete your ensemble: A wand! The question is, where do you find a good wand?
Your cheapest option is to find a nice stick and pretend it's a wand. You could even sand it smooth and give it a little polish. Either way, it will certainly get the idea across. However, it will still be just a stick. How much cooler would it be to "swish and flick" a truly elegant wand that looks like it came straight out of Harry Potter's world?
There are a few places online where you can buy your wand. Amazon might seem like the logical place to start, but if you want a quality wand, be careful: Much of the Harry Potter wands that Amazon sells are cheap toys.
If you're willing to spend at least $35 for a decent wand, check out the Noble Collection. This company produces many fine replicas of magical items you see in the Harry Potter movies, wands just being one example. You can find reproductions of wands wielded by Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Voldemort, just to name a few.
The problem with the wands by Noble Collection is that they are made partly or entirely from resin, and they tend to be fragile. If you want a quality wand made from wood, consider ordering a wand from Whirlwood or Alivan's.
In particular, the Whirlwood wands by Gary Hall are beautifully made. Most of them are made from a solid piece of hard maple wood. They are elegant and durable. You'd have a hard time breaking one! Although you wouldn't want to treat one of these wands carelessly, you'll have less to fear if you decide to make it part of your Harry Potter costume. They start at $50, but considering what you get, they are worth the price.
Similarly, Alivan's wands are made from wood. They don't appear to be as top-notch as the Whirlwood wands, but they are still fine wooden wands. You also get a much wider range of choices and lower prices.
If you spend a little time browsing online at these places, you're sure to find the wand that suits you.
About the Author
Interested in learning more about Harry Potter wands and wandmakers? Stop by Harry Potter Wands on Squidoo for more information.
Victoria Neely is a freelance writer. You can read more articles by Victoria at Squidoo.