which starter set

[Dclax07]

Thanks for all your responses in my other thread.

So now the question is, wich set is the best?

I fence foil by the way.

Thanks

[CvilleFencer]

Best as in absolute top of the line? That comes down to a ford/chevy/mopar debate (although with uhlmann/allstar maybe it should be chevy/pontiac/ford) as it really depends a great deal on your personal preferance. If I had to by a set and money was not an option I would go with the Leon Paul set getting top shelf gear as Barry and Co can make custom size kit for me and that is what I prefer to off the shelf stuff. If I was going to buy off the rack from a US vendor I would go to the Fencing Post and order their alacarte starter set getting almost exclusively Uhlmann kit except for the blade, where I would go with a Vniti foil for electric. They offer their 20% discount and let you put together your own kit of jacket/bag/weapon/glove/mask.

I usually tell my fencers to go with Blue Gauntlet. Their masks and clothing are pretty good for the money. I would upgrade the blade and body cord to Prieur, Vniti or Uhlmann if I was getting electric kit however. Also keep in mind that the lames in most of the BG electric starter sets are copper and will turn green pretty quick. The fencing post sells very cheap ($52 after discount) stainless steel lames that hold up pretty well for club use.

Hope that was some help. Please let us know if you want specific opinions on differant pieces of kit and what your price cap would be!

[Dclax07]

Thanks

Price cap is about 150 to 200 dollars

[JEC]

Useful tips:
- Most clubs use electric equipment, so you better not spend on dry equipment.
- Knickers: at the beginning, you could get away with baseball knickers, later you could upgrade that.
- Jacket: look for at least 350NW (newtons) and FRONT ZIP. It sucks to be asking your friends to zip you in and out.
- Socks and tennis shoes: local sporting goods (not fencing) would be OK for a beginner.


Your two best choices are:

Blue Gauntlet:
http://www.blue-gauntlet.com/cgi-bin...=7037491.15470
Call them up. HBFS-5 Foil + electric

Fencing Post
http://www.thefencingpost.com/foil_blades.htm

[Dclax07]

Did some research, based on the equipment venders you guys suggested.

I fence foil, and once i spend money on a set + electric, then i dont plan to buy again. I may go with leon paul because thier stuff seems pretty high quality, or fencingpost going ala carte.
Problem is, i dont know what to get...

I know what i need, i just dont know what model/company/etc.
is good and what to stay away from.

heres what i need

one dry practice foil
one lame
one jacket
one mask
two body cords
two electric foils
knickers

Suggestions?

Price cap is around 350 bucks now

[swordsen]

hmm maybe BG is better on their starter kits now but I had a student a few years ago that got a jacket from them that I could read his Tshirt through.
I like TCA's starter kits myself. Especially if you spring a few bucks for some upgrades.

[glowstix]

Did some research, based on the equipment venders you guys suggested.

I fence foil, and once i spend money on a set + electric, then i dont plan to buy again. I may go with leon paul because thier stuff seems pretty high quality, or fencingpost going ala carte.
Problem is, i dont know what to get...

I know what i need, i just dont know what model/company/etc.
is good and what to stay away from.

heres what i need

one dry practice foil
one lame
one jacket
one mask
two body cords
two electric foils
knickers

Suggestions?

Price cap is around 350 bucks now

dry practice foil (blue gauntlet $25)
one lame (fencing post for $65)
one jacket (blue gauntlet front zipper $50)
one mask (blue gauntlet for $55)
two body cords (physical chess 2x $13)
two electric foils (blue gautlet 2 x $42)
knickers (blue gauntlet $30)

total: $335 before shipping. after shipping you probably will reach your limit of $350.

[CvilleFencer]

Cville’s list of recommendations…

dry practice foil (Fencesmart for $13)
one lame (The Fencing Post for $52)
one jacket (Fencesmart Cotton front zipper $38)
one mask (Blue Gauntlet for $44)
two body cords (Uhlmann from The Fencing Post 2x $25)
two electric foils (StM foils from The Fencing Post 2 x $48)
knickers (Blue Gauntlet or Fencesmart $30)

The Fencing post offers a 20% discount off their web prices if you mention it on the phone. Their econo lames are stainless steel and will last much longer (and not turn green) with proper care than those from most other vendors as they sell copper threaded ones. Do not be afraid to spend a bit more on weapons and body cords. These are the things that will break the most on you. Buying very cheap weapons and body cords is a false economy as they will break very quickly. Uhlmann makes about the best cords around and StM is a very good blade for the money Uhlmann/Allstar sell these blades under their name). BG blades are pretty much crap for electric and Blades body cords have a pretty bad track record at my club.

One thing about the $55 dollar BG mask. It is very large and will make you look like an egg headed space alien but it is fairly comfy and very well padded. So well padded that I can’t hear very well out of them! For a better fitting mask that will last just as long their $44 dollar mask is the best I have found anywhere close to the price and is what we put in the starter kits for our club. You might also want to think about picking up some spare springs/screws/tips and some tip tape for your weapons. Better to have the parts and not need them than to need them and not have them. And you will need them eventually.

total: $323 before shipping. Not having your weapons and body cords break the first day you get them… Priceless.

[JAnthony]

About the BG masks - you do have to watch the size with the $55 mask. I had to send back my first one (Large) for a Medium. However, the $44 mask has a "roll" pad under the chin that many of our members find uncomfortable. We'll probably pay the extra $11 in the future.

Great recommendations, everyone! Shows you can get great deals without being stuck with whatever "kits" are out there...

[geezer]

I've yacked-up this topic before and I'll do it again....

Lots of vendors offer discounts of some sort but you've got to get beyond this. Negotiate...on the phone, one on one, catalog and calculator in hand, set for set, discount for discount, item for item...trade-up on each thing they offer (for which, you want a better deal, or extra gear.) I traded-up for mask, extra gloves, equipment bag, body cords, and grips. In retrospect I should have gotten more wires and points. Example, the beginner set offer is a defacto discount of "X"%. If the set offers is a 3-weapon mask, get an FIE at that discount. Get a bigger and better bag, a better lame, etc.

You've got to try. The equipment is so bad enough at top of the line anyway that you OUE it to yourself to search and deal. BG, TCA, Blade, many others, or...
http://fencesmart.com/
http://www.fencing-equipment.bizhosting.com/

Try them all, what have you got to lose...except money? Cheers.