Fencing Gear - From Starter Kits to FIE Equipment

1. Mask
2. Jacket
3. Pants
4. Underarm protector
5. Glove
6. Knee socks
7. Fencing shoes
8. Weapons (Foil, Epee, or Sabre)
9. Lame and/or Body cord
10. Carrying bag

One of the most iconic views of fencing is of the fencing mask. This is not a helmet, as it's not designed to protect from blows to the top and back of the head, but protects the face from an errant hit from the tip of a fencing blade. Fencing masks are part of the required protective gear for all levels of practice and competition.

Fencing masks come in several levels of protection, from a standard fencing mask which passes a "punch test" of 12kg to an FIE mask, which is certified for use in international events by the International Fencing Federation (FIE).

For those wanting the maximum in protection, an FIE mask is the way to go. These have bibs that are over 4x stronger than the standard mask bib with ratings of 1600NW.

There are also different masks depending on which fencing weapon you are competing in. At the international level each weapon (foil, epee, and sabre) have their own mask based on the target area. In the United States, one can currently (as of 2010) use the same mask for foil and epee but you'll need an electric sabre mask for sabre competitions.

The fencing jacket is designed to protect the fencer's torso. When shopping for one, It's important to select a jacket that is well made and that will provide adequate protection. The US does not have a set standard minimum requirement, though Europe requires a 350NW (CE Level 1) standard for their fencing uniforms. For international tournaments, the requirement is greater and "FIE" gear tests to the CE Level 2 (or 800NW) standard.

When starting out, the basic or 350NW uniforms are more than adequate. The main choices you'll need to make are between cotton or synthetic materials. Cotton tends to be cheaper, but is heavier and hotter while the synthetic materials are lighter weight but slightly more expensive.

Once you know that fencing is the sport for you, and you are going to many high level tournaments, then upgrading to an FIE fencing jacket would make sense.

Fencing jackets come in a front zip and back zip options. Many fencing clubs use jackets that zip up in the back since they can be used by right and left handed fencers. When getting your own jacket, you'll want a front-zip one. Front zip jackets have the zipper on the front to the off-hand side of the body. (So, if you are right handed, then the zipper will be on the left hand side of the jacket.) This is to ensure maximum protection during a fencing match as the zipper would be a weak point in the jacket's protection.

Fencing Pants, or Knickers are what you need to wear to protect your legs when fencing in practice or in a tournament. They are required for all tournaments and may be required for open bouting, depending on the fencing club.

The breeches should go from just above the waist to just below the knees. The requirement for protection is that there be a 10cm overlap between the fencing jacket and fencing pants, so that normal movement won't cause part of the torso to become unprotected.

Just like with the fencing jackets, the basic or 350NW fencing knickers are more than adequate when starting out. The main choices you'll need to make are between cotton or synthetic materials. Cotton tends to be cheaper, but is heavier and hotter while the synthetic materials are lighter weight but slightly more expensive.

Most of the time, fencers choose to get the same brand and style of fencing knickers as their jacket.

The Plastron, or Underarm Protector is the last line of defense in the fencing uniform. It is a half-jacket that is worn underneath the fencing jacket and covers the upper arm and chest of the fencer's weapon arm.

This is worn to provide an extra layer of protection for the chest and prevent a broken blade from penetrating and puncturing a lung. Even though these types of accidents are rare, the extra protection provided by the plastron can be life-saving. They are required for any competition and highly recommended for any fencer doing any open bouting.

The best plastrons are the FIE models, rated to withstand 800NW of penetrating force. These often cost around $100 and are the first upgrade many fencers make to their uniform. 350NW plastrons can be had anywhere from $15 for the cheaper beginner models to $35-$40 for higher quality European made models.

The model pictured is an FIE plastron from German maker FWF.

In fencing, you only need to use one glove for your "weapon hand". Your off-hand doesn't come into play with fencing, so there is no need to put a glove on it. In general there are 3 types of glove: non-electric, electric fencing, and electric sabre.

Although you can buy non-electric gloves it is almost always worth buying an "electric" glove with a Velcro cuff that can be used for electric fencing. The Velcro cuff allows you to easily connect the body cord from under your sleeve to an electric weapon. These are sized either as small, medium or large, or in individual glove sizes. Going for gloves that are individually sized will usually get you a better fit but they tend to be more expensive.

Lately more glove models have been coming out that add features such as gel padding on the fingers or palm to prevent blisters and dings as well as grippy material on the fingers or palms to improve grip and bladework.

It's gotta be the shoes...

Perhaps the most often discussed topic on the Fencing.Net forums related to equipment is that of fencing shoes. Which kind should you get and what shoes can you substitute for an official sport fencing shoe?

We have several lenses devoted to different brands of fencing shoe as well as a quite detailed overview lens on fencing shoes.

Fencing requires shoes that are low to the ground, provide good traction, are durable, and can provide cushioning for actions that put up a large amount of force into the fencers leading heel.

Most fencers end up getting a hard heel cup to put in their lead shoe. If you have had problems with a bruised heel in the past, make sure to get a hard plastic heel cup. (The soft gel ones don't work as well for fencing.)

Socks

You don't really need special socks for fencing. The socks need to cover the knee so that no bare skin is showing on the fencer. There are "fencing socks" available but any long team sport sock (like soccer socks) will do.