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Feel free to email our Armorer Trevor with all of your equipment/gear questions armorer@highplainsfencing.com
Most Common Questions
Q: What gear do students need for class
A: We suggest students *rent gear for the first 1-3 months and then look into purchasing.
In class students are allowed to use their weapon specific mask and glove for any non competition classes.
Ex: Saber mask in Epee class, Foil mask in Saber class etc.
For students in competition classes or interested in tournaments head over to our tournament page for more gear info
- At a minimum students are required to wear
- a CE certified mask, jacket, and glove
- Long pants and shoes (non marking)
- weapon for that particular class (Foil / Epee / Saber).
- a CE certified mask, jacket, and glove
In class students are allowed to use their weapon specific mask and glove for any non competition classes.
Ex: Saber mask in Epee class, Foil mask in Saber class etc.
- A practice level kit for class from Absolute Fencing runs approximately $250 and would include: Standard 3-Weapon mask, back-zip cotton jacket (least expensive & least comfortable), 3-weapon glove, practice foil/epee/saber, cotton plastron, fencing bag.
For students in competition classes or interested in tournaments head over to our tournament page for more gear info
*Gear rental is available on a first come first serve basis as supplies are limited
If your student has outgrown their gear or no longer needs that particular piece(s) please consider donating it for class usage
Q: What's the difference between all the jacket options
A: There are 3 main differences in jackets
1) Material
1) Material
- Cotton (least expensive, least comfortable) example: $50 from Absolute Fencing
- Stretch (poly or poly/cotton blend) example: $$70 from The Fencing Post
- more comfortable than cheaper cotton jackets. We recommend Stretch for all new students once they are ready to upgrade away from the club rental gear
- Upgraded Stretch (sits between the top of the line FIE (800N) and regular stretch/poly)
- Example: $$150 Allstar Alpha 350N from Blue Gauntlet Fencing
- FIE 800N - these are the top of the line and recommended for those that are looking for a very comfortable jacket or fencers who have been to a few competitions and are ready to upgrade their gear.
- Example: $$$350 Allstar Startex or $$$430 Leon Paul Apex
- Front-zip (aka side zip) - this is the recommended zipper placement as it is much easier for students to use. Normally found on the stretch jackets and up
- Back Zip - zipper is on the back of the jacket. These are usually found on the least expensive cotton jackets
- FIE is the international fencing governing board. All international competitions require FIE certified gear but US competitions do not. FIE jackets are rated for 800 newtons of force protection. This makes them much more expensive but manufacturers also make FIE jackets (and knickers and plastrons) the most comfortable and lightest. FIE gear is recommended for those that want the utmost in comfort and/or have been fencing tournaments for a year+
Q: What about knickers/pants?
A: Knickers/pants have the same material and FIE vs Non FIE differences as jackets do. Knickers however do not have differences in zipper placement. Some brands use zippers, others buttons, others velcro. We have found no clear advantage of zippers vs buttons etc. for knickers.
Q: Does fencing require specific shoes?
A: No. But...here are some tips on what to look for in a shoe.
What about fencing shoes from AllStar, Absolute, etc?
Fencing shoes are great. They can also be very expensive and still not hit all the areas that makes a shoe right FOR YOU. The best shoe is the one that works best FOR YOUR BODY type and fighting style. This may be a shoe marketed for fencing or something entirely different such as a racquetball or other court shoe. You find this out through countless bouts and paying attention to what your body is telling you, and when possible enlisting the advice of a podiatrist or medical professional.
Fencing shoes are chalk full of marketing terms that are more or less meaningless. However, they do offer these key features: toe protection for toe hits, light weight, close to the ground, laces often angled to shift away from high friction areas, soles designed of material specifically to grip on a Piste. Not all fencing shoes are created equally either. When possible try on shoes at fencing gear providers retail locations (mainly East Coast) or at Regional and National tournament venues if a retailer is present.
Are there other sport specific shoes that work well?
YES! Pretty much any court shoe along the lines of a racquetball or even pickleball shoe are good places to start. Head to Big5 Sporting Goods, Scheels, whatever your local store is and try shoes on. Take an En Guarde stance, advance and retreat, try a lunge, try a big retreat. Pa attention to what feels right and what feels wrong/hurts. Try another shoe. Key tips: No cleats (obviously), indoor soccer shoes and racquetball/pickleball shoes are a good place to start. Most fencing shoes are pretty narrow and focused on the European/Asian market not US market. Call the manufacturer for better sizing details (if you can't get ahold of anyone is that really a product you want?)
Where to start: Asics (Gel Rocket, Gel Renma, Gel Domain, Court FF2, Blast FF2, etc..) Puma indoor soccer shoes (NO CLEATS), Wilson Kaos Swift.
Ask people you fence if they like their shoes. If they are die hard about a specific shoe it doesn't hurt to try it in the store. If it's a fencing specific shoe take their advice with a grain of salt if all they do is rehash marketing terms and can't actually tell you what makes that shoe better for them.
- Shoes must be non marking (most athletic shoes are non marking)
- The closer to the ground you are the better
- Rounded heals are preferred
- Some sort of toe protection (suede upper, padding, anything that helps dampen toe hits) is ideal but not required
- Breathability helps with endurance - and of course other areas
- No soft soles (soles made of cloth, suede, or anything that will slip on a gym floor or metal track)
- Impact Protection - Adding an insole helps adapt a shoe that works great for you into one that works even better and helps reduce the likelihood of injuries. Insoles come in a variety of styles and purposes. A podiatrist is the best resource however Scheels has a nifty machine that will help identify a good insole and Dicks Sporting Goods and Big 5 have a solid selection of insoles to try as well.
- A good place to start looking is at racquetball and wrestling shoes
What about fencing shoes from AllStar, Absolute, etc?
Fencing shoes are great. They can also be very expensive and still not hit all the areas that makes a shoe right FOR YOU. The best shoe is the one that works best FOR YOUR BODY type and fighting style. This may be a shoe marketed for fencing or something entirely different such as a racquetball or other court shoe. You find this out through countless bouts and paying attention to what your body is telling you, and when possible enlisting the advice of a podiatrist or medical professional.
Fencing shoes are chalk full of marketing terms that are more or less meaningless. However, they do offer these key features: toe protection for toe hits, light weight, close to the ground, laces often angled to shift away from high friction areas, soles designed of material specifically to grip on a Piste. Not all fencing shoes are created equally either. When possible try on shoes at fencing gear providers retail locations (mainly East Coast) or at Regional and National tournament venues if a retailer is present.
Are there other sport specific shoes that work well?
YES! Pretty much any court shoe along the lines of a racquetball or even pickleball shoe are good places to start. Head to Big5 Sporting Goods, Scheels, whatever your local store is and try shoes on. Take an En Guarde stance, advance and retreat, try a lunge, try a big retreat. Pa attention to what feels right and what feels wrong/hurts. Try another shoe. Key tips: No cleats (obviously), indoor soccer shoes and racquetball/pickleball shoes are a good place to start. Most fencing shoes are pretty narrow and focused on the European/Asian market not US market. Call the manufacturer for better sizing details (if you can't get ahold of anyone is that really a product you want?)
Where to start: Asics (Gel Rocket, Gel Renma, Gel Domain, Court FF2, Blast FF2, etc..) Puma indoor soccer shoes (NO CLEATS), Wilson Kaos Swift.
Ask people you fence if they like their shoes. If they are die hard about a specific shoe it doesn't hurt to try it in the store. If it's a fencing specific shoe take their advice with a grain of salt if all they do is rehash marketing terms and can't actually tell you what makes that shoe better for them.
Q: What is electric vs dry / practice mean for weapons?
A: Practice weapons (also called dry) are the least expensive and come with a rubber tip. They're great for class and training at home however, they will not work with the electric scoring equipment and therefore can not be used for tournaments or competition level classes
Electric weapons are more expensive as they consist of the blade, a tip that completes a circuit, a wire(s) that connects into a socket that then connects into the scoring reels. All tournaments require electric weapons as well as competition classes.
Electric weapons allow for the usage of certified scoring systems. What's the difference? Think of it like this, a ref can try to watch both fencers as closely as possible but in Epee a simultaneous scored hit means the fencers landed hits within 40 milliseconds! Just a tad too fast for a ref to catch.
Electric also ensures you actually landed your hit. We find a lot of fencers surprised the buzzer didn't sound on some hits when they first start electric. That's because it takes a certain amount of force and travel for the tip to complete the circuit. These levels are strictly regulated by the FIE. It can be quite a shocker when you feel your hit land but it glanced off just enough or wasn't quite enough pressure to compress the tip fully and therefore doesn't count as a hit.
Electric weapons are more expensive as they consist of the blade, a tip that completes a circuit, a wire(s) that connects into a socket that then connects into the scoring reels. All tournaments require electric weapons as well as competition classes.
Electric weapons allow for the usage of certified scoring systems. What's the difference? Think of it like this, a ref can try to watch both fencers as closely as possible but in Epee a simultaneous scored hit means the fencers landed hits within 40 milliseconds! Just a tad too fast for a ref to catch.
Electric also ensures you actually landed your hit. We find a lot of fencers surprised the buzzer didn't sound on some hits when they first start electric. That's because it takes a certain amount of force and travel for the tip to complete the circuit. These levels are strictly regulated by the FIE. It can be quite a shocker when you feel your hit land but it glanced off just enough or wasn't quite enough pressure to compress the tip fully and therefore doesn't count as a hit.
Q: What is a body cord?
A: Body Cord – The insulated wire that runs under a fencer's jacket, connecting the Electrical Competition weapon to the reel, and thence to the scoring machine. The body cord also connects to the lamé causing it to become conductive.
- Three Prong – A type of épée body wire/connector.
- Two Prong – A type of body-wire/connector, used in foil and sabre.
Q: What is a Lamé?
A: Lamé – The electrically conductive jacket worn by Foil and Sabre fencers. In foil, the lamé extends on the torso from the shoulders to the groin area. It also covers the back. In sabre, the lamé covers both arms, the torso from the shoulders to the waist, and the back. Sabreurs also wear a conductive glove cover, called a manchette (or cuff) on their weapon hand. The lamé is connected to the body cord with an alligator clip causing it to be conductive.
Q: What Is a Manchette???
A: Manchette (aka cuff) – A special glove cover worn by sabre fencers, on their weapon hand. Covered by a type of brocaded fabric with inwoven metal threads that serve as a conductive surface that aides in the practice of electric fencing, the manchette is worn on the hand and wrist. The manchette is conducting up to but not exceeding the wrist area. It is worn in conjunction with a lamé.
Q: What's a Plastron and do I need one?
A: Optional for class (except competition) Required for tournaments.
- Plastron – (aka Underarm Protector). A partial garment worn under the jacket for padding or for safety. Usually consists of a sleeve and a chest/abdomen covering, which provides additional padding and protection. An 'underarm' plastron is seamless under the weapon arm, providing no weak seams for a broken blade to rip through. An 'over-plastron' is worn to provide additional padding.
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