How to choose the right chest guard

A chest guard is a semi-rigid plastic plate that protects the chest from impacts made by the tip of fencing weapons, mainly in foil and epee. They come in different models and are regulated by various standards. We will list them to make your choice easier.

Is it mandatory?

At all ages and levels, wearing a chest guard is mandatory for women (and girls) and optional for men (and boys). However, some federations require all children under a certain age, regardless of gender, to wear a chest guard during tournaments and this age can vary from one federation to the next. See our Rules for Equipment to learn more.

Models

For women, there are two main models of chest guards. The most common (left-side in the picture) is a plastic plate held in place by adjustable elastic straps. The other model (right-side in the picture) is a sports bra that has a liner designed to hold the plastic plate.

For men, the universally available model is the plastic plate held in place by adjustable elastic straps.

From one manufacturer to the next, the quality, quantity, ease of adjustment and location of the adjustable straps may vary, but the principle of operation remains the same.

What is this FIE foam?

This section is intended for foilists. To understand the function of this foam, you have to go back a few years.

The story behind the foam dates back to 2005, when the timings for the scoring machines were changed. The timing behind the appearance of the foam was the sensitivity, also known as the time that the tip must remain pressed on the opponent's target for the scoring machine to consider the hit. Before 2005 the delay was 1-5 milliseconds, while after 2005 it increased to 13-15 milliseconds. This difference may seem trivial, but it actually makes a huge difference. The hits made on the opponent's chest guard tended to ricochet before the 13ms was up, so hits were sometimes not detected. There were several other factors to this problem, but that's a story for another article.

Several ideas have been tested or implemented over the years, but there were always certain hits and scenarios that remained problematic. It was not until 2018 that the FIE (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, the entity responsible for establishing fencing regulations) found a definitive solution to the problem: foam. This foam is attached over the standard plastic chest guard and must have a very specific density and elasticity in order to reproduce the texture of the skin. The idea of the FIE is to simulate, with regard to foil hits, that the chest guard is not there at all and thus eliminate the ricochets. With the foam over the chest guard, the tips have the same "bite" as when hitting a part of the target which is not protected by the chest guard.

Today, the FIE chest guards apply only to foilists and are not required everywhere. For tournaments in Quebec, the additional foam is mandatory starting at Cadet events (17 years and younger). For domestic tournaments in Canada it is mandatory, while outside of Canada it may vary. See the Rules for Equipment section for more information. For men, wearing a chest guard is optional. However, if they choose to wear a chest guard for foil, they will be required to use the foam as well.

You can get an FIE chest guard that comes with the foam, or you can get the foam alone to retrofit a chest guard you already own. Visit the Protectors section to see the models we offer.

Sizing

It is normal to have a certain (minimal) play in the adjustment of a chest guard. However, it is important that the chest guard is not too big or too small, otherwise it will not offer adequate protection, and the sides of the chest guard can even cause irritation under the armpits. For young girls, it is often recommended to wear an X-Small model for boys instead of an X-Small model for women.

Measurements, and the ways to measure, vary between models. Refer to the size chart for each model you are interested in (either on the product page or in our size chart) to find the size that best suits you.

Durability

Except when it gets too small, a chest guard can usually last about ten years before needing to be replaced.

Conclusion

The different models of chest guards are relatively similar. The differences are mainly found in the system used to hold the chest plate onto the body. Using the Rules for Equipment section, validate if wearing a chest guard is required for you. Foilists will also have to validate if foam is necessary. Once you know what to look for, visit the Protectors section to see the models we offer.