Information for Fencing Gear

Gear requirement by level

***When your gear arrives and you have ensured that it fits, contact Angie to let her know that your gear is here, and wash and return any rental items.  Once you have contacted her to confirm that you have your own gear and that you have returned the rental gear, Angie will convert your membership + equipment rental to a standard membership.

When to buy gear

We are often asked “when should I buy gear?” While we do offer gear rental, a general rule of thumb (given the cost) is that once you know your student is going to stick with fencing for at least the next 4-5 months, it’s time to consider getting them their own gear. Some students purchase gear well before that time. Students will need their own gear when they get to intermediate level, including additional items that are specific for intermediate level and above. Most people find it more cost effective to purchase a beginner’s set during beginning level classes, and add on the intermediate level gear when they get to that point. If you prefer to purchase everything they will need for both classes from the start, scroll down to the section on intermediate level gear to see our suggestions.

Some parents are worried about future growth, and having to purchase new gear. This is, unfortunately part of life. However, fencing jackets are very forgiving when it comes to height. The main fitting is around the chest, and most kids tend to add on height long before they begin to fill out in the chest area. Unless your child is in the middle of a growth spurt, waiting for them to fully grow might not be the best option. You can also always go up one size in the jacket if you are worried about a growth spurt. When children grow out of their current gear, you can always put it up for sale to recoup some of the cost. Our WFA Members Facebook page is a good place to do that, and you can put a note on the tack board at the bottom of the stairs as well. If you’re looking for second hand gear, you can go to these same places and send out a request. Someone may have something stashed away in a closet that they are willing to part with.

How to purchase fencing gear

All students are required to wear protective gear when facing other students in class. For beginning level students, we offer gear rental while you determine if fencing is right for your student. When students reach intermediate level classes, they are expected to have their own gear, which includes the required gear for beginning level, plus additional electric gear. We suggest that the beginning level gear be purchased at some point during the beginning level classes; intermediate level gear can be purchased when the student moves up to intermediate level classes. Separating purchases like this minimizes having to purchase it all at the same time.

Please see the list of required and optional gear at the top of the page.

There are multiple online vendors of fencing gear, and you can purchase from any of them. Below is a list of vendors, followed by our suggestions for upgrades and considerations when you order your gear:

Absolute Fencing Gear: has various beginner sets that make ordering easy (see below for our suggestions on their options).
The Fencing Post: has good prices with discounts; you will need to purchase each individual piece.
Blue Gauntlet: Has some sets, pricing varies.
Leon Paul USA: High quality gear.

For new students wishing to purchase gear for the first time, the easiest thing to do is to start with a starter set, such as Absolute Fencing Gear’ Advanced 6-piece Saber Set (under advanced practice sets) or Blue Gauntlet’s 5-piece beginner saber set.  These practice set will have what the student needs for training at the gym in beginner level classes, though the BG set will need a plastron added, and both sets will need to have a chest guard added for girls.  We strongly urge you to consider upgrading to an electric weapon (2 prong socket) and electric mask at the outset.  These items will be needed when the student reaches intermediate level classes, so it is most cost effective to order the electric mask and electric weapon from the start! If your student is entering intermediate classes and purchasing gear for the first time, scroll down to the intermediate level section!

Please follow the guidelines provided by each vendor for measuring your student and selecting the correct size.  Do not select the size based on the gear at the gym, as this comes from multiple vendors and has been washed and dried multiple times!

With regards to the options available in the Absolute Fencing set (these will apply anywhere you buy):

Gender:  This will determine the cut of the jacket and possibly the type of chest protector.

L/R Hand:  Please select which hand the student holds their weapon in.  The Jacket, glove, saber, and plastron are all hand specific!

Mask: We suggest upgrading to an electric mask now since it will be necessary for intermediate level classes. Upgrading now will prevent you from needing to purchase an entirely new mask when that time comes. Try not to size up in masks unless they are right on the borderline; while the masks can be adjusted slightly, these adjustments usually cannot accommodate adjusting to a full size smaller. If you have questions about which size mask is best for your student, they can try on ones at the gym before ordering.

Jacket:  You will most likely want the Cotton Front-Zip or the Comfort Front-Zip.  A padded jacket is not necessary for saber. Follow your vendor’s directions for sizing. Different styles of jackets may have different sizing constraints.

Plastron:   This is the underarm protector and is required of all fencers.

Chest protector:  A plastic chest protector is required for all female fencers.  Many young and/or new male fencers also choose to wear a plastic chest protector.  If you are ordering for a young girl (pre-puberty), please follow the sizing instructions and order a men’s XXS or XS.  To do this, select the appropriate size for “Plastic Chest Protector” and then make sure to select Male for “Chest Protector”. For older girls, check the sizing chart to determine what size of female chest protector to purchase, which is based on bra size.

Glove:  The glove is required.  Follow vendor instructions for sizing.  If the student is in between sizes, we suggest moving up (i.e, the measurement is 6.75 inches.  Adding .5 inches gets you to 7.25 inches —> order a small or a size 7.5 depending on the options). A 3-weapon or leather glove is sufficient for beginning level classes. At intermediate level, student will either need to purchase an electric glove or a cuff to convert their current glove to one that can be used for bouting. For competition, an electric glove is preferred.

Sabre:  Size 2 for ages 10 and under, and size 5 for anyone over the age of 10.  If your student is planning on competing, and is on the cusp of moving up to the next size of sword, please talk to an instructor to determine which size weapon would be best for him/her based on how ready they are for competition.   If upgrading to an electric weapon, choose the two-prong socket.  Like the mask, we suggest doing this upgrade from the start.

Pants:  Pants are not required for beginning level practice, however they are required for tournaments.  If your student plans on competing in the distant future, it is probably best to wait to order these until that time (intermediate level or when they start to compete).

Bag:  Available in a variety of colors.  WFA colors are black and red, but you can get any color you like! While not necessary, it does make carting your gear back and forth to the gym a lot easier.

On the page for the starter set, there is a link that says “Do you need sizing help?”  That will take you to a document that explains how to measure for each item, and how to convert that measurement into the right size for the item.  They have added a section at the very bottom for ordering for kids.  These are guides based on the age of the child; if you have a child that is much smaller or larger than the average child his/her age, please take that into account!

Intermediate Level Fencing

When your student reaches intermediate level, students are required to have their own equipment, and additional electric gear will be needed as well.  In addition to the items in the starter set, s/he will need a lame (the electric jacket), body and mask cords, and an electric cuff to go over his/her glove (or a new electric glove). 

If your intermediate level student is purchasing gear for the first time, we suggest looking at these options, which cover both the beginner and intermediate level gear. See the guidelines above for information on the basic pieces.
Deluxe 10-piece Electric Saber Set from Absolute Fencing
Saber Beginner Complete Set from Blue Gauntlet.

A few guidelines:

Lame:  Lame are generally 1 size larger than a regular cotton jacket.  You do not need anything fancy, and the starter lames are perfectly fine and will last a while.  Please be sure to select the appropriate gender and hand.  If your student plans on competing, you may opt to have their last name and USA stenciled onto the back for an additional fee (usually around $30).  If you wish to do this, place that info in the notes section when you order, and realize that stenciled items are generally not returnable.

Cords:  Select 2-prong for the body cord, NOT bayonette! You will need both a body cord and a mask cord. Even if you opt to use a WFA lame for a short time, you will need your own body and mask cords. These can be purchased at WFA or through vendors when you purchase gear.

Glove/Cuff:  If you wish to purchase an electric glove, please be sure to select an FIE appropriate glove so that if they eventually compete, they have a regulation glove.  If they continue to wear the leather glove that came with their starter set, you will need a cuff to convert the glove to electric for class. The item description should identify whether the glove is FIE compliant for competition. A cuff is not sufficient for competition outside of the WFA, but is acceptable in class and at in-house tournaments.

Knickers:  Knickers are not required for intermediate-1 level classes, but are required for Competitive Classes and is a good idea for Open Fencing Sessions.

Mask/Sword:  If you did not opt for an electric mask or sword when purchasing your starter set, you will need an electric mask, and either a new sword or a few items to convert the practice sword to an electric one.  Talk to an instructor for more information on what to buy if you need to convert your sword.

Competitive Fencing

When students plan to compete beyond in-house tournaments, they will need some additional items:

2nd sword
2 sets of body/mask cords (minimum)
Knickers
Socks (must reach to the knee and under the bottom of the knickers)

If you are purchasing gear for the first time, and would like a complete tournament set, we suggest looking at:
Deluxe 13-Piece Electric Saber Set from Absolute Fencing

Additionally, in order to compete in USA Fencing Sanctioned tournaments (pretty much anything outside of the gym), student’s must have a competitive membership with USA Fencing.

A note on Shoes

Another common question is whether a student should have fencing shoes. At the beginning, most any type of athletic shoe will do, provided it can be tied to ensure a proper fit. If you are looking for something that will work better for fencing, aim for an indoor court shoe. These tend to have rounded edges to the soles, which also tend to be thinner so the fencer can feel the floor. Shoes designed for racquetball, volleyball, indoor soccer, etc. will all work fine. Try to look for a shoe that has padding at the ball of the foot and at the heal to support lunges and that does not restrict ankle movement. A leather or faux leather upper will last longer than a fabric shoe due to the friction encountered on the side of the shoe while lunging. For those fencers that are attending multiple classes a week and competing on a regular basis, a fencing shoe will be a plus.

FINALLY:

Please try on all of your gear as soon as it arrives and BEFORE putting names on any of the items!  If you are uncertain if the fit is correct for any of the items, ask one of the coaches at your next practice, or stop in between any of the classes to have them take a look at it.  Once you are happy with the gear that you have purchased, PLEASE PUT THE STUDENT’S NAME ON EVERY PIECE!  Everyone else that is ordering through Absolute Fencing will have gear that looks exactly like yours.  Help us prevent confusion and lost items by labeling everything!  When your gear arrives and you have ensured that it fits, contact Angie to let her know that your gear is here, and wash and return any rental items.  Once you have contacted her to confirm that you have your own gear and that you have returned the rental gear, Angie will convert your membership + equipment rental to a standard membership.

Please let us know if you have any questions!  If you find you need assistance with measurements or item selection, please contact me so that we can set up a time to meet and/or talk.