Buying fencing gear for the first time can be a daunting experience. I hope this will help.
First a few tips:
- All vendors have a link somewhere to help you measure your fencer for the correct size.
- Clothing manufacturers size their garments differently from one another. American. European. Chinese. Use the vendor sizing link to guide you.
- Vendors like it when confused parents and new fencers call them and ask questions. They’d much rather send you the correct gear in the first place than process a return.
- If you find a great deal on ebay or craigslist send me a link and I’ll tell you if it’s worth buying.
Preferred Vendor
Alliance Fencing Gear: 3201 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121 (415) 666-3606
Starter Kit: A foil starter kit can be a great way to just get it done all at once and not worry about gear for a while. Any one of these kits will fit the bill for the beginning fencer.
If you wish to buy individual pieces of kit, you should consider the following:
Beginning Fencers
- Practice mask or Competition mask. Masks typically last 3-5 years or more before they need replacing. With masks, a fit that is a little snug is better than a mask that fits a little loose.
- Glove (A little loose is better)
- Jacket. (A little loose is better).
- Foil Pick any except the
DYNAMO- Size: 9-11 year olds I recommend size 2. Older get size 5
- Point: German. Don’t skimp on the point.
- Guard: I recommend “Silver Guard”
- Insulation: Insulated
- Handle: Pistol Grip, S, M, or L
- Pad: Clear
- Bodycord: Alliance Transparent Bodycord
Intermediate and Advanced fencers
- Foil As above except I would choose the BF
- Plastron (aka. Under arm protector). (A little loose is better)
- Chest Protector. Optional for guys. Required for female fencers.
- Mask Cord x2
- Body Cord x2
- Scoring vest (Lame) Get the cheapest one. It should be 1 size larger than the jacket.