Ram's Horn Shofar with Badatz Hechsher, 16 to 17 Inches (#A5)

Sixteen to seventeen inches, under the Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis. It is the middle of the three Badatz-certified lengths and the one most men who want the mehudar hechsher end up taking: long enough for a strong tekiah, still short enough to keep under control through a full set.

The extra inch or two over the fifteen-to-sixteen makes an audible difference in a larger room. Past that, choosing between the three Badatz sizes is mostly a question of breath. A man who runs out of air partway through a tekiah gedolah should go shorter; a man who feels the horn is not returning what he puts into it should go longer, and this is where most people land.

Ram's horn, made in Israel. Keep it out of direct heat and in a bag rather than loose in a cupboard — the medium shofar bag at 16 by 10.5 inches takes this length, and design 1085 in black leather is the one to take if it is carried back and forth.

• Malchut design #A5
• Measures 16''-17'' in size

Sold by Judaica Square, Lakewood NJ. Free shipping on orders over $75. Returns within 15 days.