Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 12-31-2004, 01:41 PM

hey, what do you guys reccomend for a non-fie mask? my current one is about to die, and I cant come up with the neccasary's to buy an FIE.

glowstix · 12-31-2004, 08:03 PM

i've used the blue gauntlet "olympic mask" (for about $55 i think) which is supposedly rated at >1000N but i'm not trusting that. the bib is really really strong and heavy and takes forever to "break in". the padding on the inside is the minimum and i would have liked to have seen more. the forehead restraint sucks though. if you go down for a foot touch and get nailed in the mask you might get the mesh rammed against your face. i've had that happen tons of times with face shots. in all the mask is pretty strong, i've had mine for year and a half now and i just ordered a prieur FIE which i don't REALLY NEED. just that i keep getting scared even though my current mask hasn't given me a reason to be. i think its the best non FIE mask for cost/performance. 4 stars (loses one in comfort/feel category).

ReverseLunge · 12-31-2004, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D+F+P=Hadouken!

hey, what do you guys reccomend for a non-fie mask? my current one is about to die, and I cant come up with the neccasary's to buy an FIE.

Well I dont know how short on funds you are but i would suggest getting an FIE mask. Last forever and wont rust. I think you do Epee right? I would never do epee with a non FIE mask.

Don't by the BG mask. That was my first one. It rusted like a mother.

Infact dont ever buy BG anything.

Purple Fencer · 12-31-2004, 10:38 PM

The entry level Uhlmann is a good mask.

CvilleFencer · 01-01-2005, 02:31 AM

You can get an FIE Prieur, which is an awesome mask, from BG for about $130. The LP non-fie masks are about a $100 and they use the same mesh as the FIE ones IIRC. Following that I would go with the following in roughly this order:
Uhlmann/Allstar $100ish
PBT $100ish
BG olympic $60ish
Any ol Chinese made POS from anyone $50ish.

ThatReallyHurt · 01-01-2005, 05:27 AM

I bought a Leon Paul FE29... it cost about $130CDN a few months ago. It's been great so far, but the only others I've been able to compare it to was a PBT (I couldn't find one that fit well, although it was great for glasses), and some old Allstars from the club.

I've taken two guard hits in the mask that almost knocked me on my backside, and there's no denting or other problems so far.

I also like it because I have a tendency to tuck my chin in while fencing, and the bib stays against my jacket if I do end up lifting up my chin.

neevel · 01-01-2005, 05:45 PM

Prieur is going to have the most durable mesh and has ample interior padding-- if you are going to be using a non-FIE mask for epee, this is probably the best choice. It will still be vulnerable to rust, but I know plenty of people with 10-year old non-FIE Prieurs which are still perfectly viable for competition.

LP masks with the Countour fit set-up will probably be the lightest and most comfortable.

Katman · 01-01-2005, 07:43 PM

I've used the $44 BG special. It lasted about a year before it started giving me worries about passing a mask test. The mesh is a bit too close to the face and it rusts like crazy. I'd try something else.

MikeHarm · 01-01-2005, 08:58 PM

I've been using the Prieur non fie mask. It looks cool and seems like the mesh is strong enough and has passed every punch test thrown at it. However I don't like the padding. While I see the mask does have plenty of padding in it, that padding doesn't seem to work as well as some of the other masks I've had and seems a little on the thin side to me.

I've had more ringing in the ears from hard head shots in foil and epee using the Prieur mask than the others I've tried. I've tried the FIE triplette mask, non FIE Negrini, and the BG Olympic and SG masks. The triplette FIE one I liked best.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neevel

Prieur is going to have the most durable mesh and has ample interior padding-- if you are going to be using a non-FIE mask for epee, this is probably the best choice. It will still be vulnerable to rust, but I know plenty of people with 10-year old non-FIE Prieurs which are still perfectly viable for competition.

LP masks with the Countour fit set-up will probably be the lightest and most comfortable.

glowstix · 01-01-2005, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neevel

Prieur is going to have the most durable mesh and has ample interior padding-- if you are going to be using a non-FIE mask for epee, this is probably the best choice. It will still be vulnerable to rust, but I know plenty of people with 10-year old non-FIE Prieurs which are still perfectly viable for competition.

LP masks with the Countour fit set-up will probably be the lightest and most comfortable.

for the price of a non FIE prieur at most of the vendors you can buy the FIE prieur from BG...its been in the specials section for a while now.

Kismet · 01-02-2005, 03:17 AM

I use an LP non-FIE mask. It's 350N. It fits well and it has taken a bunch of crazy hits and still no damage whatsoever. I highly recommend it.