the cheap ones work fine,mine is a cheapy and had it for a while now and best purchase ever for boating especially for getting back to great fishing holes or reefs hopefully you will not need it to find your way home in a storm an ERB likely a good purchase as well.
lol..I know how you feel I have been spiked a few times they hurt for a day or 2 as all fish spines have a degree of bacteria on them hard to see how the rash is related best to use a glove or towel when handling the spiny ones.