Waco, TX - hotfencingclub@yahoo.com - (254) 722-1107

WIN THIS!

We're on Facebook! Become a fan!

Buying Equipment

By Rebekah Vande Velde

Here is a list of the basics you will need if you decide to buy your own equipment. You will need:

Foil

Jacket

Mask

Glove

Many fencing vendors offer starter sets that include those pieces. Whichever company you choose to go through, make sure that their starter set has those four pieces of equipment. Some companies only include a jacket and a foil in their kit, so always check. There is also usually an option to add a bag to your order, which is a wise idea.

Most beginner sets go for about $110 dollars. That might sound like a lot at first, but with the proper care, your gear should last for several years, making it a worthy investment. Depending on the company you order from, HOT Fencing may be able to get you a discount, so be sure to let me know when you’re ready to order.

The company that I am most familiar with is Blue Gauntlet (www.blue-gauntlet.com). They offer everything fencers need, whether they are beginners or high-level competitors. Their equipment is good quality, they have great customer service, good exchange policies and reasonable prices.

Another vendor is Absolute Fencing Gear (www.absolutefencinggear.com) Like Blue Gauntlet, they offer good equipment at fair prices, and Absolute ships out very quickly.

Wherever you decide to order from, make sure to use that company’s sizing charts, as sizes vary from one store to another.

As you shop, remember that your equipment doesn’t have to be expensive. There are lots of upgrades available, but a basic set will serve your purpose just as well as an expensive set.

Choosing Your Foil

When you are ready to order your foil, you’ll probably see an option for blade size, with numbers from 0 – 5. A size 5 blade is a regular adult sized blade, and sizes smaller than that are usually for children 10 and younger. If you are ordering for your child, buying them a smaller size blade may help their fencing, since the adult sizes tend to be a little heavy and awkward for children at first. The foils that HOT Fencing has are all size 5s.

You’ll also see different options for the kind of grip, or handle on your foil. There are several grips out there, but the two most common are French grips and Pistol grips.

French grips are handles that are mostly straight with a little curve in them to fit your hand. French grips have a pommel on the end that acts as a counterbalance.

Pistol grips are anything but straight, with several curved pieces coming off of them. You hold this grip as if it were a pistol, hence the name. Originally developed by a man who had lost fingers but still wanted to fence, these are also sometimes referred to as orthopedic grips.

For children under 10, you may want to choose an XS grip. Small will probably also work, but medium and large are too awkward for them to handle well.

Remember that your foil should be a practice, or dry foil, not an electric one. Practice foils are more suited to heavy use than electrical weapons, which tend to be more fragile. Also, practice foil points are blunted and covered with a rubber tip, whereas an electric foil has a tip that depresses.

While neither is sharp, an electrical weapon is more likely to leave a scrub-mark on your skin. And without a scoring machine, electrical weapons are useless anyway!

Choosing Your Jacket

While you’re shopping, you may run across descriptions like this: Uhlmann 350 N Women’s Jacket

To break it down, “Uhlmann” is a brand name and “350 N” stands for 350 Newtons. Sometimes there’s a number higher than 350. This is to measure how much pressure the fabric can resist before being punctured. The higher the number, the more pressure it can withstand. This still doesn’t mean you have to upgrade, since all jackets are made of sturdy material.

Men’s and women’s jackets are cut differently, so be sure to pick the right one.

You will also have the option of buying a cotton or nylon jacket. Cotton protects from bruising better than nylon, but lacks nylon’s flexibility. The choice is totally up to you.

Your jacket should fit you very well. Ideally, it will skim the body closely, cover your entire torso in front, and cover your back down to your hipbones. You might not be able to find the perfect jacket, but that’s okay; most people don’t. Avoid oversized jackets; they bunch up terribly, hampering you and anyone who is fencing you. If you are tall, you may want to ask for a “tall” or “long” size in the comments section of the order form.

If you’re happy with the jacket you’ve been using from the club equipment, let me know and I’ll tell you what size it is.

Choosing Your Mask

When you get your mask, be sure that it is a proper fit. It should fit snugly and comfortably around your head. Pay attention to how it fits around the chin. The mask should not be hanging from the top of your head without touching your chin. Loose masks have a tendency to pop off the head backwards if hit with a thrust from above or below.

If your mask doesn’t feel quite right at first, gently try to adjust it. Squeeze the mask to make it wider or narrower. Do this firmly yet carefully, and try it on again.

The piece at the back of the mask is called the tongue and should be adjusted as well. Avoid creating a sharp bend in the tongue, or bending directly down. Adjust the elastic strap at the back and remember to use it every time you put your mask on.

Choosing Your Glove

Your glove should fit your fingers closely, so that you can feel the grip and all of the action happening in your blade. Your glove will be with you a long time, so be sure you are pleased with it.

What is the FIE?

On almost all fencing sites, you will see equipment listed as “FIE” or “Non-FIE”. The FIE is the (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (International Fencing Federation). They are the governing body over the fencing World Championships. For fencers to compete in such high-level events, their equipment must meet FIE standards, which are usually higher than non-FIE standards.

You will also see that FIE gear is much more expensive! So get what you want, but unless you’re heading for the World Championships, know that Non-FIE is acceptable and more practical for most fencers.

What is 3-W?

3-W stands for 3-Weapon, which means it can be used for practice in all three of the weapons. The three weapons are: Foil, Epee and Sabre.

What is a plastron?

A plastron is an underarm protector. It is made of sturdy material and is worn under the jacket to protect the fencer in case a blade should penetrate the jacket. I wear a plastron when I fence with electrical weapons, as they are more fragile and more likely to break than a practice weapon. When I wear one I am usually fencing adults, rather than kids. Since we have mostly young children with practice weapons at our club, I don’t think this is a necessary addition to your kit, but if you would feel more comfortable with one, they are only about $20.

The same thing applies to padded jackets. They are more practical for adults with breakable weapons than the kind of fencing we are doing. They are also going to be hotter than the regular cotton jacket.

Putting it All Together

When your gear arrives, try on all of the equipment at home to make sure it fits. Most companies will not accept returns if they have been fenced in, so take your time. Having to wait a week for an exchange is much better than settling for ill-fitting and potentially dangerous equipment.

LINKS

Here are links from the two companies to their basic set with bag for quick reference. Remember to get the club discount!

Blue Gauntlet:

http://www.blue-gauntlet.com/store/products/545

Absolute Fencing Gear:

http://www.absolutefencinggear.com/shopping/product_info.php/cPath/62_63/products_id/593?osCsid=6681ea58837882e1b34bc7f941328dc8

If you have any questions about equipment, vendors, or anything else, please don’t hesitate to send them to me.