How do I choose my first kit?
Antoine Gouin
This article is intended to help you target what equipment you should get and when. If you choose to purchase a piece of equipment, this article will refer also you to a comprehensive guide that will help you determine the model that exactly fits your needs.
Preliminary information
In order to be able to make the right choices, you will first need to have some information on hand. Talk to your coach and your child (if you are purchasing a set for him or her) to get the following information:
- What is the weapon practiced? (Epee, foil, sabre)
- Does the club lend or rent any of the equipment?
- Does the coach require the purchase of certain pieces of equipment?
- Does the coach have specific requirements or restrictions on the choice of equipment?
- Does the club use electric scoring devices regularly in class?
- Do you participate in tournaments, or will you participate in the next year?
Anatomy of fencing equipment
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Purchasing equipment in waves
Generally speaking, it is rare that fencers will purchase their equipment one piece at a time. Often, our customers equip themselves according to the following steps:
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On the other hand, the situation of each fencer and each club varies according to a multitude of factors. Among the contexts that can affect your buying decisions, we find:
- The specific requirements of your coach or club
- Your club's ability to lend or rent equipment
- The condition of the equipment loaned or rented by your club
- Your child's growth rate (if the equipment is for him or her)
- Your participation in tournaments
- Your budget
To help you determine your needs, we have identified the key points for each piece of equipment.
Bag
Fencing bags are designed to carry fencing equipment. As soon as you start acquiring your own equipment, buying a fencing bag becomes appealing. At first, a lot of fencers use a backpack or something similar, but eventually this is not enough. Depending on your situation, there are different sizes of fencing bags:
- Single-weapon bags
- Multi-weapon bags
- Soft bags for complete set
- Soft bags for multiple sets
- Rollbags for complete set
- Rollbags for multiple sets
If there are several fencers in the family, you can choose a smaller bag for each person, or a larger bag for everyone. If you have little equipment now but plan to get more during the year, you can opt for a bag that can accommodate everything. If you plan to travel for tournaments, a larger bag allows you to bring tools and spares. These are examples, it is a matter of choosing according to your situation.
The article How to choose the right fencing bag will help you find the bag that will suit your needs.
Mask
In a club context where several people wear the same loaned mask throughout the week, it is often more pleasant to have your own mask even if your coach does not require it. Here are some reasons that motivate fencers to buy their own mask:
- Have a mask in good condition
- Have a perfect fit
- Have a removable liner to allow proper cleaning
- Avoid using a mask this is worn by several other people during the week
If you choose to get your own, you should know that there is a specific mask for each weapon. Refer to the article How to find the right fencing mask for more advice on selecting a mask.
Glove
For fencing, only one glove is necessary, namely for the dominant hand (the one holding the weapon). The glove is often recommended to be the first purchase, since many clubs do not loan them. Having your own fencing glove allows you to:
- Have a glove in good condition
- Have a glove of the right size
- Wash your glove regularly
A basic fencing glove is inexpensive and is a good first step in acquiring your own fencing equipment. The article Which is the right fencing glove for me? advises you on the selection of a glove.
Weapon
A fencing weapon is often the first piece of equipment that young fencers request from their parents, but it is not always the most important piece to acquire at first. It's "cool" to have your own foil, epee or sabre, but in fact there are so many varieties and possible combinations of parts for these weapons that you should ideally have fenced for some time in order to determine what you like or not.
At Imex Sport, we have established a selection of pre-assembled weapons according to the most popular combinations in several price ranges. It is therefore not necessary, especially in the case of novice fencers, to know everything before purchasing a weapon.
It is time to buy your fencing weapon when:
- You are addicted to fencing and are sure you want to continue in this sport
- You want to participate in tournaments and want to have your own weapon
- Club weapons no longer suit you
It is also possible to create your own, fully custom fencing weapon. We have a wide range of parts in stock and we will be able to advise you on finding the perfect combination. Among the fencers who opt for a custom weapon, we find:
- High-caliber fencers who have specific requirements
- Fencers who have just returned from an injury or who wish to prevent it (tendonitis, for example)
- Fencers who have physical limitations or disabilities
When you are ready to purchase your fencing weapon, the following articles will help you demystify the various elements:
Jacket
Several clubs lend or rent jackets for beginners. Even if the purchase of a jacket is not mandatory in your case, there are certain things that could make you want to get one nonetheless:
- You find club jackets too warm or ill-fitting
- You don't like to share a jacket with other fencers
- You want a jacket that closes at the front (many club jackets close at the back)
- You plan to participate in tournaments and want equipment you are familiar with
The article Which is the right outfit for me? will help you determine which model is best for you.
Plastron
The plastron, also known as the half-jacket or underplastron, adds a layer of protection in the rare event that a blade could break during a bout. It is mandatory to have it (and wear it) during tournaments. Club policies vary, but often epee clubs recommend or even require it. It is very rare for clubs to lend or rent the plastrons. The benefits of having yours include:
- Better absorption of impacts in foil and epee
- Increased safety during matches
- Easy to wash as needed
The article Which is the right outfit for me? will help you make the best choice.
Chest guard
A chest guard is a piece of moulded plastic that is used to protect against blade impacts during combat or training with weapons. Optional for men, it is mandatory for women at all ages. Unlike in sabre, hits are scored with the tip of the blade in foil and epee. As a result, young boys practicing foil or epee appreciate having a chest guard, since it limits the force of impact to the torso, but it is rather rare for sabre fencers to wear one.
Even if it is optional in your case, the benefits of wearing a chest guard include:
- Less bruises on the chest
- Younger fencers are less afraid of the opponent's blade and can better appreciate fencing
The majority of clubs that lend or rent fencing equipment have chest guards available. If not, don't wait too long to get one. The chest guard plays an essential role in the prevention of injuries and impacts to the torso.
The article How to choose the right chest guard explains the options available to you.
Pants
From the name, you will have guessed that fencing pants are specially designed for this sport. These are high-waisted pants with built-in suspenders, and the pant legs end immediately below the knee. The bottom of the pants is held in place below the knee with an elastic in order to create a fold of fabric that will serve as an expansion during the lunge. In other words, this means that the fencer does not need to reposition his pants before reaching to hit the opponent. Fencing pants also offer protection against puncture in the event of a blade breaking.
Fencing clubs are somewhat divided when it comes to making fencing pants mandatory during training. Several clubs prohibit shorts and accept sports pants, but epee clubs generally require fencers to wear fencing pants once they reach intermediate-level courses. This is because, in epee, the legs are part of the valid target. That being said, few clubs lend or rent pants.
In tournaments, fencing pants are mandatory for all ages.
It becomes interesting/necessary to purchase fencing pants when:
- The club requires fencing pants and does not loan or rental them
- You want to participate in a tournament
- You progress in fencing and seek more comfort and mobility
- You are an epee fencer and hits on the legs are accepted (generally not in beginner courses)
The article Which is the right outfit for me? will help you determine which model is best for you.
Socks
Fencing socks are designed to work with fencing pants. They are long enough to cover the leg up to the knee and often have a little padding in the shin area to protect against the occasional hit.
Some people who participate multiple sports, for example, use soccer socks. This is allowed, but generally these people will admit that fencing socks are cooler and thinner than those of other sports, which is often appreciated.
It is not necessary to purchase fencing socks until you have fencing pants. For tournaments, all socks are accepted as long as they completely cover the leg up to the knee.
Conductive jacket
Metallic jackets are only worn in foil and sabre, over the white jacket. They do not offer any protection; their only function is to delimit the valid target during "electric" matches, that is to say matches fenced with a scoring machine.
Unless the coach advises otherwise, the metallic jacket is usually purchased when starting to participate in tournaments. Since the metallic jackets have a limited lifespan, some clubs will lend or rent the metallic jacket for the first few tournaments, while others will ask you to purchase one from the get go.
In the case of adult classes, the metallic jacket may be used during training even if you are not participating in any tournament.
The article Metallic jackets: Which fabric to choose? will help you determine which type of metallic jacket is best for you.
Bodywires
In foil and sabre, the bodywire is often purchased at the same time as the metallic jacket. For epee, however, it is often purchased at the same time as the weapon. The reason is quite simple: the bodywire is used for "electric" matches, that is to say when a scoring machine is used. With epee, the complete electric equipment consists only of the bodywire and the weapon. In foil and sabre, you must also have a metallic jacket and conductive mask for these matches.
When the time comes to purchase your bodywire, the article Bodywires, what you need to know will help you find the right bodywire.
Shoes
There is a shoe specifically suited to each sport. It's the same with fencing. However, it is generally the advanced fencers and active competitors who will make use of the full potential of fencing shoes. The advantages of a fencing shoe are:
- Good resistance to wear
- Rounded sole under the heel to allow the foot to roll, enabling proper fencing footwork
- Specially designed non-slip sole
- Excellent lateral support for the foot
- Reinforcements on the side of the shoe, for fencers who drag their back foot
This being said, in the case of novice, intermediate or recreational fencers, a good sports shoe will be more than sufficient. Many use a running shoe, others enjoy a "court" shoe (tennis, badminton, indoor soccer, etc.). It is the fencers who train several hours a week and who participate in tournaments, who will get the most out of a fencing shoe.
The article How to choose the right shoe for fencing will guide you.
