Equipment What to Buy, Where and How

At some point once you’ve really got the fencing bug, you’re going to want your own gear, especially if you're going to start competeing regularly. The inside of a shared club mask can be a grim place sometimes!

So whether you’re a fencer or a fencers parent, or a fencers partner/spouse and want to buy the fencer in your life a present, here’s a quick guide to equipment shopping!

Now as you’ve probably worked out, you can’t just walk into JJB or Sports Direct and by yourself fencing kit! So where do you get it and what should you buy….?

There are a few options when it comes to buying fencing kit.

1. Go to a suppliers shop…. There are some out there, but they are few and far between and mainly South!. Leon Paul (London), PBT (Aldershot), Allstar (Slough), Excalibur (Manchester and Hereford)
   

2. Quite a few competitions will have trade stalls from an equipment supplier (competitions are sometimes sponsored by an equipment brand who’ll then have a stall selling equipment.
   
   Option 1 and 2 are a great chance to try things on and see how they fit or to get the feel of a new blade in your hand before you buy it.
   

3. Buy online…. There are plenty of suppliers selling online, from the budget brands to Leon Paul and Allstar. If you know your sizes then this method gives you more choice when it comes to price, design and brand.

As for what to buy, well there are lots of possible places to start.
For those who want to build up item by item, a glove (a relatively low cost item to start) then a practice weapon and a mask is a pretty good list to work through. Fencing can be expensive, so don’t be afraid to build up your kit while relying on the club stuff in the meantime.

If you do want to take the plunge and kit yourself up completely in one go, then check out the starter kit deals offered by some of the suppliers. These are usually enough to get you fencing in a club without the need to borrow club kit and so include:

• Mask

• Jacket (350N)

• Plastron (350N or 800N)

• Glove

• Practice Weapon.
  

Extras like a bag or breeches, even electric equipment are usually options to be added to the starter set and buying all in one go often attracts some package discount.

To compete up to open level in the UK the list of equipment you need get’s a bit longer. You’ll need:

• Mask (electric for foil and sabre)

• Jacket (350N)

• Breeches (350N)

• Plastron (800N)

• Glove (800N electric for sabre)

• 2 Electric weapons (minimum)

• 2 Bodywires

• 2 Maskwires (foil and sabre)

• Lamé jacket (foil and sabre)

• Long socks

(At time of writing, for an adult, this whole lot would cost you around £500 from the cheapest suppliers and a bit over £800 choosing the budget ranges from one of the bigger brands! )

Terminology, CE Marks, Protection Levels and Suppliers.

If some of the last bit seemed full of baffling numbers then here’s an explaination. Fencing clothing is rated based on the force in Newtons (N) that it can withstand without being penetrated. There are 2 recognised standards, one for training and competition up to national level and the second, for international level competitions (Olympics, Grand Prix events, etc. etc.)

The first level CEN level 1, (rated at 350N)
this is the minimum level needed for any fencing in the UK. You can use 350N equipment for all club sessions and up to national competition, although a CEN level 2 800N plastron is required for all electric fencing with size 5 weapons in the UK. Younger age groups use shorter weapons (sizes 0, 2 and 3) depending on the age range and can use 350N plastrons with these weapons in certain competitions. For safeties sake and with an eye to future regulations, 800N plastrons are a better choice.

The second level CEN level 2 800N
is sometimes referred to as FIE regulation clothing as it is required for FIE international competitions. This offers a higher level of protection, but attracts a higher price. it can also be heavier, hotter and less flexible to fence in (depending on which range you buy and from which supplier!)

For more details on clothing regulations see the British Fencing website.