Purchasing Kit

Once you have been bitten by the fencing bug it is advisable to start to purchase your kit, this can be daunting.

When you start to fence with electric weapons and in competitions there are regulations as to the weight of the clothing that is required, the weight identifies how tough the material is and therefore protection that it will give you in bouts, it is measured in Newtons (N).

Here is a brief run down of what you require (Note the following are the requirements for Electric fencing, there are also minmum weights etc for non-electric and course fencing, Lewes Fencing Club are able to supply equipment, please discuss any concerns you may have with the instructor running your group).

Footwear: Whilst you can buy fencing trainers any decent pair of trainers suitable for Squash/Tennis etc will be suitable. They should not have black soles as most leisure centres ban them as they mark the floors.

Socks: There is no regulation for sock quality, however for electric club fencing and above they should be long enough to tuck into your breeches/trousers so that there is no exposed skin.

Glove: There is no regulation as to the weight of the glove material but it should cover the whole hand and over the bottom of the jacket cuff so no skin is exposed.

Breeches/Trousers: These should be of at least 350 Newtons

Jacket: 350 Newtons as a minimum, some Jackets offer higher protection is certain frequent hit areas.

Plastron: 800 Newtons as a minimum.

Chest Guard: Not required for male fencers, but is suggested for older girls and adult female fencers. They are made of plastic and have no formal weight guide.

Mask: Masks should have at least a 350 Newton bib (soft area covering the fencers neck), nb Foil fencers over the age of 15 fencing in competitions are required to use a mask that has a lame bib.

Swords, Wires and Parts: Whilst there are plenty of regulations around the weapons, wires and parts that fencers can use in competitions these will generally not affect the new fencer especially when buying new equipment, more importantly is the type of grip and the flex of the blade, these are personal choices so we suggest you ask around the club and try some of the club equipment before making your choice.

Suppliers

The following websites are of use and will give you an idea of what is available. There is a lot of variation in prices which in the main reflects the quality of the products.

Leon Paul Fencing Equipment London   Leon Paul One of the biggest and best on the market, but you pay a premium. The club gets a discount but this still comes out as more expensive than other suppliers. That said, this is the best quality available and will last considerably longer than cheaper brands so we would recommend them for adults in particular.

All Star Uhlmann  Biggest supplier in mainland Europe, but again not cheap.

Blades Brand  Cheap and cheerful. The kit won’t last as long as more expensive brands but ideal for children or beginners. Again, this is run by an experienced fencer and we have found the service good in the past.

The Fencing Shop

EBay There is a thriving second hand and new market for fencing equipment on Ebay and other listing sites, however we would be express caution if you are to purchase from these sites, perform all the usual checks on the seller i.e. good reputations etc and that the goods being sold are what they are advertised as.

For Sale Check out the ads on the Lewes Fencing Club site to see what other club members are selling on.

Club Kit Looking for something with our logo on it, from Caps to Hoodies.