Which is the right fencing glove for me?

There are two types of fencing gloves: sabre gloves and gloves known as "three weapon". The sabre glove is only necessary for sabre fencers during tournaments, or during practices where a scoring machine is used. For foil and epee, all standard fencing gloves are suitable.

Materials

There is a lot of variety with gloves, both in their materials and construction. Basic gloves are usually made of a thin fabric (usually polyester), while others are made of synthetic leather, genuine leather, synthetic fibers (Dyneema for example), or have accents made of all kinds of exotic materials like Neoprene, Kevlar, carbon fiber and rubber.

Basic cloth gloves are thin and light. They are a little less durable, but have the advantage of being more flexible and comfortable from the start. They are often popular with beginners and people with small hands.

Synthetic leather gloves are the most common on the market. The material used is thicker than that of the basic gloves, which makes them more durable. On the other hand, these gloves must be broken in, somewhat like a new shoe or an ice skate. They are initially stiffer, and soften over time to conform perfectly to the wearer's hand.

Some models have rubber dots throughout the palm of the glove and on the inside of the hand. This has the advantage of offering a better grip on the weapon.

When it comes to gloves made of more exotic materials, the pros and cons are specific to each model. The best source of information is the product page for these gloves. See the Gloves & Cuffs section to explore these options.

Sizes

The sizes of basic gloves are often expressed in words (Small, Medium, Large, ...) while the more upscale gloves use numbers (7, 7½, 8, ...). Sizes vary from one manufacturer to another and sometimes even between models from the same manufacturer. Also, as hand proportions vary, some glove models may not suit you. For this reason, we recommend that you consult the size chart for each model you are interested in (either on the product page or in our full size chart) and validate all the available measurements.

Also, some gloves are made narrower than others, or may stretch over time. These features are indicated in the descriptions of their product page.

Certification

To understand how fencing gloves are certified and to determine if it is advantageous for you to obtain an FIE glove, refer to the article What does FIE mean?. For foil and epee fencers, it is not necessary to purchase an FIE glove.

There is no minimum certification for gloves. FIE gloves are intended for sabre fencers and are not mandatory for provincial or national tournaments in Canada. However, they are mandatory for most tournaments in the United States. Refer to our Rules for Equipment to learn more about the requirements of the different tournaments.

Value for money

In general, the price of a glove directly correlates to its quality. On the other hand, looking at the price alone is not enough. It is also important that the glove is comfortable and that it fits your hand well. Also, it should be remembered that for a growing child, a good quality glove will likely need to be replaced before reaching its end of life.

Higher-end gloves are often an attractive option for high level fencers, fencers who train several hours a week, or for adults who have stopped growing.

Options for sabre fencers

For sabre fencers, there are two options. It is possible to have a regular glove and wear a conductive cuff over it (option 1 in the picture), or to opt for a sabre glove, which combines the two (option 2).

Many sabre fencers are less keen on the idea of a separate cuff, since they often have to get help putting it on and it is often tighter on the arm than a sabre glove. However, there is a noticeable advantage to having a separate cuff. If ever the glove or the cuff becomes too worn, it is possible to replace only the obsolete part. With a sabre glove, you must replace the entire glove each time. Also, if you choose to buy the cuff separately, the available selection of gloves becomes much more varied.

As mentioned in the article Metallic jackets: Which fabric to choose?, the conductive materials of the cuffs deteriorate over time and with wear and tear. If you want to purchase a sabre glove, you can adopt one of the following strategies depending on your situation:

• Have a high-end sabre glove that will be more durable.
• Have two gloves: one "three weapon" for training and one sabre glove for tournaments.
• Have a "three weapon" glove and a separate cuff, then wear the cuff only during tournaments.
• Rotate the gloves: for training, use a sabre glove that is no longer accepted in tournaments and keep a new glove to use in tournaments only.