350 or 800 & 2-pin or bayonet?

[Calder]

Have a couple questions for those with both more experience and more knowledge then myself...
I am returning to fencing actively from a break of a couple years and plan on sticking with it competetively for years and years to come. As such, I have chosen to invest in some fairly nice gear. But wanting to make sure I have a solid foundation to continue to build on I am taking a few beginner classes again. I have heard great things about the Leon Paul Competition line of stretch fencing jackets and breeches but wasnt entirely sure if I am waisting my money by NOT purchasing the 800 FIE line. I have been looking at the 350cn line of gear because of the cost, but also because it seaemed like it was adequate for me to use for years to come and still be a top notch set-up. Any opinions as to if I am planning for sure on competing, should I forego the 350 and go straight ahead with the 800? Or will I be able to compete here in the US for a while at a beginner level with the 350? I would like to not have to drop that much money just yet, but still want to be able to compete for a good while, building skills and experience before investing to much more money from the get-go.

2. On electric body wires for competing here in the US, should I be purchasing 2 pin or bayonet? whats the pros/cons or is one just standard here in the states?

[DangerMouse]

For the uniform, if you aren't planning to compete internationally, the 350N uniform will last you for a while. If you are just getting back into fencing, the uniform will probably wear out before you get to the level of competing internationally anyway. Of course, the cost of an 800N uniform is minor compared to the cost of travelling to a world cup!

As for the body cord, get whatever most people in your club use so that you can borrow their gear if you need to.

[greenchick]

You can compete in US competitions up to world cup level in 350NW gear. So as far as your competition goals are concerned, you'll probably be covered for a while. I'll leave questions about the quality of LP's gear to people who have actually used it.

As for 2-prong vs. bayonet, both have passionate proponents -- and both have their advantages and disadvantages. However, neither one is worth a thing when your last weapon has failed and the only one you can borrow doesn't have the right kind of socket on it. Ask around among the competitive fencers at your club, and make sure you aren't the only one in the area using one or the other.

[Prometheus]

Although I do not use them myself, my understanding is that cheap bayonet connectors are trouble. So, if thats what you chose, appearantly, you pay for what you get...

[geezer]

I just made a choice and went with 2-prong 'cause they're easy to fix. And, I found a good deal on an Ulhmann 800N uniform, so....

[kalivor]

2. On electric body wires for competing here in the US, should I be purchasing 2 pin or bayonet? whats the pros/cons or is one just standard here in the states?

Go for what's most common at whatever club you're going to. Best to have the right stuff around when you need to borrow someone else's, and good advice when you ask someone how to fix/maintain it properly.

That said, if you go bayonet make sure it's Leon Paul. Uhlmann makes the best 2-prongs ... in both cases, the few extra bucks you spend will make a big difference down the road.

[keith]

on the body wire.

Make sure you get one with clear plastic cover on the wire. This means you can easily find breaks and cut them back to good wire (something you may have to do once a year depending on how much you fence). I think this limits you to the leon paul bayonet but there may be two pin choices as well.

[keith]

As for the body cord, get whatever most people in your club use so that you can borrow their gear if you need to.

or get the opposite so you never have to lend your kit. Depends on how nice you are I suppose.

[Craig]

...Any opinions as to if I am planning for sure on competing, should I forego the 350 and go straight ahead with the 800? ...

You only need the FIE gear if you are planning on competing in international events. For competitions in the United States, the 350N is adequate and will last you for a long time. The reasons for moving up to the 800N are:

• Plan to compete internationally
• Want to invest in the extra safety of the 800N gear
• Think that it's cool to have the top of the line gear

On electric body wires for competing here in the US, should I be purchasing 2 pin or bayonet? whats the pros/cons or is one just standard here in the states?

This is a matter of opinion. I am currently switching away from 2 prong to bayonet because I am tired of fixing my 2 prong body cords. The people I know that use bayonet have, on average, fewer repair issues (and fewer repairs) than those using even the Uhlmann 2 prong. The key is to not skimp on the body cords - the better "brands" tend to be better for a reason. Check the product reviews and a few discussions here. I don't have enough fencing time in with bayonet to give you a really good opinion.

Hope that helps,
Craig

[neevel]

I just made a choice and went with 2-prong 'cause they're easy to fix. And, I found a good deal on an Ulhmann 800N uniform, so....

The trouble is, which 2-prong? Prieur 2-prong is easy to fix, but the plastic retainer clip just doesn't do the job adequately in my experience. Real Uhlmann are the most reliable, but they are also the most difficult of the common body cord types to fix because you need to disassemble the plug body to do anything. The BG "Easy Fix" cords are better in terms of ease-of-repair, but the pins are fragile. The other cheap Uhlmann copies are the worst, since they tend to combine poor reliability with difficulty of repair.

-Dave

[achilleus]

or get the opposite so you never have to lend your kit. Depends on how nice you are I suppose.

And how smart you are.

If you're gonna get sockets that don't match anyone else's, make sure to buy at least one body cord that does. That way, when you need to borrow a weapon, you can.

[Calder]

Just a quick thanks to everyone for the fantastic advice! It has made my purchase that much more informed. Craig, great breakdown, thanks. And Achilleus and Keith, while not a friendly notion, I do agree that it may be a wise one! Everyones advice, really really apreciated.