since my old bellows have sprung a leak and i was unable to successfully patch the weardown, i think i am getting some dow bellows to last me for a while. anyone have come comments…?.. i doubt there are any negative reviews, but if there are, you may PM me.
I had a good look at Michael Dow’s bellows at the Pipers Gathering. He gave me a good explanation of how he makes them. Apparently he used 4 plys of leather on the gusset.
I particularly liked the way that the leather is cut tight close to the hinge. When the bellows are closed, there is no noticable fold at that part of the gusset. I imagine it would make pumping more efficient, as less air stays in the bellows.
The bellows were also very comfortable. So much so that I was embarassed when, 30 minutes after first trying them on, Michael had to wake me up to get his bellows back. 
His bellows are not cheap, but they are approx. the same price as bellows by Seth Gallagher or Andreas Rogge.
The one complaint I’ve heard about Dow bellows is that they’re “expensive.” The person who makes that complaint then usualy goes on to say they were worth every penny.
Dionys
I have the older style of Dow bellows, with real sheepskin and in beige and brown, not black with synthetic material. The quality is amazing. I’ll be using Davy Stephenson bellows once i get my drones fixed up (which are beautiful also, lovely wood), but I feel that the Dow bellows are overkill with a practice set. It’s almost impossible to empty the bellows playing with the chanter alone, so I have to try even harder to resist playing from the bellows rather than the bag.
Andrew
I’ve got a set of Michael’s bellows that I’ve been using for years. I wouldn’t trade them for love or money…well, maybe money, but only as long as it was enough to allow me to get another set of these bellows (or 2).
And no…you can’t have them back Rick!
Bill
I just got mine in the mail today in the mail and they look and feel absolutely amazing - world-class! Only problem is that my blowpipe valve connector is too big for the hose Michael sent, which of course I’ll have to adjust accordingly, but that’s no big deal. I can’t wait to get them going though, 'cause I’m sure they’ll make a HUGE difference - bottom line, if you order a set, make sure your blowpipe is the right size!