how do you use your 2-compartment bag?

[El Chucko]

For those of you who use 2-compartment bags, how do you divide your stuff?

The reason I got one was to separate my sweaty uniform from my corrosion-prone weapons. But what do you do with your mask, that has metal mesh AND a sweaty bib? How about your lame? Shoes? (They're not metal, but they are dirty.)

I have my own system, but I am curious as to what other people do.

[mackillian]

I keep my weapons with their PVC pipes in one compartment. I also put my folded lame in that compartment until I get home (I live 5 minutes from my salle). Everything else goes into the other compartment, including the mask. When I get home, mask, clothing, and lame get taken out to air. It's worked so far.

[Bob Farrow]

I don't have a 2 compartment bag, but I do carry a small gym bag large enough for my uniform to keep them away from the blades.

My shoes go in a mesh bag in the weapon bag, and I roll my lame into a towel before it goes in the bag.

For my mask, I usually stuff the small sports towel I've been using inside it, and just wrap the mask with another towel just large enough to go around it. Keeps all the sweaty stuff and the mask off the blades.

Once home, the mask gets wiped down a clean towel and I give it a shot of febreeze on the padded lining. I dunk the lame in clean water for a few minutes then hang it to dry. I've found it easy to just start filling the washing machine (no soap yet), until it's full enough to swish the lame around. After the lame is out, soap and sweaty stuff goes in. Works like a charm.

Salle Honolulu Fencing Club
http://www.sallehonolulu.com

[Nusy]

I have a PBT Duplo bag, so in the larger compartment I have a separate place for my blades - if I don't overload my bag, they don't rust anything.
So, to the large compartment come the blades, mask, body wires (sometimes mask-2-lamé chords) the uniform, plastron, chest protector and my lamé, thoroughly dried and put into a plastic bag (the original, from PBT! )
To the smaller come my shoes (also in a plastic bag), my breeches, the clothes (in a plastic bag, till I reach home and wash everything) and all the other stuff - towel, first aid kit...
In the 3 small pockets I keep my headband, licence card, paper hankies... All that I might need FAST.

[Zilverzmurfen]

I have an allstar 'JUMBO' bag. There's a 'toilet bag' like thing that comes with it that I keep my shoes in.

All my weapons I keep in one of the compartments. I usually put my club track suit in here too (but not if it's sweaty!) to add a bit of extra 'padding' for the blades.

In the other compartment I keep my mask and the rest of my kit. I also always put my kit and rest of sweaty clothes in plastic bags after fencing, until I come home and can wash it/hang it to dry. This to help prevent any rusting.

Outer pockets are used for toolbox, test equipment, 'pocket' penalty chart, water bottle, powder energy drinks, sweets, competition invitation, license etc.

[Craig]

Weapons, cords, shoes, lame, test gear goes in one compartment. Uniform, socks, extra t-shirts, mask, etc. go into other compartment.

Upon arrival at home, both compartments are unzippered and all clothing + mask comes out to get washed/air dry.

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!


I do not have a 2-compartment bag, but I use two bags. I have a simple guitar LP bag for my 3-4 epees, and all other stuff goes into the big sports bag. Occasionally I also bring a steam sabre in a PVC pipe.

I would not worry about rusting mask mesh. I have a Soudet mask from 1988, and it does not show any rust problems at all. I have also given it some rust-inducing treatment. I have had problems with people "borrowing" my mask without asking first. I have solved that problem by always storing my fencing socks, jockstrap, undies, plastron in the mask. When other fencers see that, they leave my mask alone.

Sometimes it helps to have a weak sense of smell.


Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[Mergs]

Weapons in the top, dry stuff in the bottom, to include tool kit, body cord bag, miscellaneous stuff bag, mask (with shoes and glove inside), and extra change of clothes.

Oh, yeah, my two compartment 'bag' is a hard wheeled golf bag with netting for the top part that holds the weapons.

[Larrison]

Originally Posted by PeterGustafsson

I have had problems with people "borrowing" my mask without asking first. I have solved that problem by always storing my fencing socks, jockstrap, undies, plastron in the mask. When other fencers see that, they leave my mask alone.

Crimminy! Don't your eyes water when you wear it? *shudder*

[Larrison]

Just for the record -- 2 compartment PostSport (Fencing Post) bag. Weapons on one side, including mask(s). Clothes on the other -- jacket, pants, shoes, change of shirts, etc.

2 Outside pockets are used for gloves, body cords, basic tools, notebook with pencil, etc... Lame is currently kept by itself, carefully folded in the largest outside pocket.

Used/ Wet/ sweaty clothes are pulled out after I get home after fencing and either aired out on a hanger in a doorway (such as a very lightly used jacket), or washed -- so they don't sit and ferment in the bag in the back of my car....

[Alain]

Originally Posted by el chucko

For those of you who use 2-compartment bags, how do you divide your stuff?

The reason I got one was to separate my sweaty uniform from my corrosion-prone weapons. But what do you do with your mask, that has metal mesh AND a sweaty bib? How about your lame? Shoes? (They're not metal, but they are dirty.)

I have my own system, but I am curious as to what other people do.

Here's what I do...

In one compartment, I have my weapons. I put each one in some garden hose - this is to protect the tips of my weapons, as well as the base of the bag itself. I also have an old towel (for warming up blades), and my fencing shoes (which I keep in a boot bag). And a bottle of water.

In the second compartment, I have almost everything else... fencing jacket, plastron, and mask, etc. as well as spare clothes, and I keep everything in separate plastic bags. This is really important if you have a single-compartment bag, beacause keeping stuff in plastic bags helps to keep sweaty kit from rusting your weapons.

In one outside pocket, I have just bodywires. In another pocket, I have my membership cards AND (importantly), some mascots (called Oscar and Pete). In another, I have some spare deoderant, spare shower gel, and a first aid kit. And in another, I have just spare plastic bags.

For big competitions, I'll use a third compartment which secures to the top of the main fencing bag - full of food, toiletries, a tool box, and a good book!