Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

CMA · 07-16-2005, 07:21 PM

what do u think is the best fencing bag for the best price

tallntender · 07-16-2005, 08:29 PM

I recommend the SKB golfclub case. It's cheap and durable, with replaceable wheels and latches. They make two sizes. The smaller (a cylinder) is large enough for almost everyone. The only downside--it's a single compartment, so sweaty togs may expose your weapons and body cords to moisture. I wrap them in a garbage bag.

SJCFU#2 · 07-18-2005, 07:57 AM

As with most things in life, it depends on your needs.

A beginer may only need to carry one or two foils, a mask, jacket, underarm protector and glove. Someone who is travelling to competitions may be carrying a half-dozen weapons (or more), several body cords, two lames (in case one fails inspection), etc.

In general, one compartment bags are cheaper but two compartments allow blades to be kept seperate from sweaty whites. Pockets cost more but are convenient for carrying small items, such as body cords and tools. Wheels are convenient when travelling, but are generally and only found on larger, more expensive bags. Hard shell golf cases are relatively inexpensive and can hold a fair amount, however they can be difficult to fit into small cars or onto mass transit.

AllisonT · 07-18-2005, 10:57 AM

On a related note, I will be going to NACs this coming season and would like to know how everyone deals with air travel with your equipment. Do you put it in a hardshell case and wave it goodbye at check-in? I can't imagine letting baggage handlers loose with my soft bag! ...even if I have the blades in PVC.

Also, do you find your bag has been been inspected (i.e. rummaged-though) when you get it back?

***Craig*** · 07-18-2005, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllisonT

I can't imagine letting baggage handlers loose with my soft bag! ...even if I have the blades in PVC.

This is how I've always travelled for fencing. No big deal. Yes, the handlers may inspect the fencing bag, just like any other bag. Don't put you iPod in any bags going into the cargo hold...

Craig

AllisonT · 07-18-2005, 11:40 AM

Thanks, Craig. I'm sure glad I don't have to buy any new luggage!

Goofy · 07-18-2005, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllisonT

Thanks, Craig. I'm sure glad I don't have to buy any new luggage!

Just make sure that if you go the soft bag/PVC route you either carry your mask with you or pad it exceedingly well, otherwise you probably should go with the hardshell case.

AllisonT · 07-18-2005, 12:47 PM

Good point! I'm not Zippy (who is?) and wouldn't appreciate a squished mask.

I guess I should respond to the original post....
You get what you pay for. I have one of the least expensive BG bags and the shoulder strap is ripping off. I will throw a rivet in it, but I was hoping the original stitching would last longer (2 years moderate use). I just bought a trolley to haul the bag, so that will take the weight off any strapping I guess.

KD5MDK · 07-18-2005, 03:40 PM

I'm still kicking myself for not ordering the slightly broken wheel bag off eBay I saw last week. With a little bit of carpentry or metalwork, I'd have had a fully functional 2 compartment roll bag for $100.

dekko · 07-18-2005, 04:23 PM

For travelling around on airplanes those are good but for the rest of the fencers out there who don't fly to events....

We have a store in out are of the country called Dick's Sporting goods, save the jokes they are all old, that sells a tent bag that is 4.5 feet log and 40" diameter. Great bag for the trunck and very long straps for over the shoulder carrying. The bag only costs about $30.

***Craig*** · 07-18-2005, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goofy

Just make sure that if you go the soft bag/PVC route you either carry your mask with you or pad it exceedingly well, otherwise you probably should go with the hardshell case.

Never had an issue with my mask either.

achilleus · 07-18-2005, 04:30 PM

I would just like to add, I've traveled for years with a fencing bag to lots of different places. I've never used PVC while traveling, and never had a problem. All it does is add weight.

neevel · 07-18-2005, 05:08 PM

As has been pointed out many times before, regardless of concerns about damage, when flying to a tournament it's a good idea to take your mask, uniform, shoes, & cords in a carry-on bag. That way you'll only have to buy or borrow weapons if your luggage gets delayed or lost.

Larrison · 07-18-2005, 08:05 PM

Let's get back to the basics here..

I'm not sure what CMA is asking, so I'm going to break this apart into two separate questions.

1) What is the best fencing bag for the best price (for everyday use)

My opinion on this, is that since the bag is going between my car and the house and the sallee, a soft sided bag with 2 compartments is the best option. You'll want one which can handle several weapons, mask, electric gear (body cords, whatnot, etc), and give you a separate place to toss your grubby post-fencing sweaty clothes and towel. I find a bag with a shoulder strap instead of wheels works fine for me -- I'm using a PostSport (www.thefencingpost.com) hard bottom 2 compartment soft bag for around $70 (list) which works fine for -- carries 3 foils, plus mask, gloves, shoes, basic tools, etc. and has a separate compartment I use for sweaty post-fencing gear.

Depending upon your specific needs, this may or may not be a good answer. If you need to carry 2 types of weapons, don't need to carry electric equipment, etc you may find other better, more economical answers.

2) Traveling bag, including plane or cargo luggage handling.

I haven't done much long-distance traveling with a bag on the plane or throwing my bag into other cargo holds. But if I was, I would probably consider a hard-sided case such as the listed golf cases to carry my equipment. Multiple options there, but I've noted some moderately inexpensive hard sided golf cases in the $50-70 range suitable for any limited use I might come up with. Other folks swear by either a PVC frame in their bag for additional support, or PVC on all their weapons, and carrying their mask etc on the plane. (Carrying non-weapons and non-tools on the plane is probably a good idea, regardless of what bag you buy for this application).

Ordway · 07-18-2005, 10:17 PM

Depends on how much stuff you have to carry around, and where you're carrying it to, as others have mentioned.

My husband (when he fences) has one of the pear-shaped fencing bags, which is fine if you have very little stuff, but he soon found that it is a bit of a challenge to fit both dry and electric gear plus a mask in there. It would probably be OK if it had side pouches to take some of the excess, but the BG one that he has, doesn't.

I have a large Triplette bag. It's rectangular, with two side pockets AND two end pockets. It's perfect for my everyday needs. I use one end compartment for my shoes and ankle brace, the other end for water bottles and snacks and first-aid stuff, one side compartment for tools, another side compartment for misc. stuff. The interior compartment doesn't have any dividers, but it's roomy enough to take all my gear (typically 3 sabres and associated dry and electric gear). I don't worry too much about sweaty stuff being against everything else, because when I get home, I hang up my lame and jacket to dry. I also keep my blades in PVC tubes. I really like this bag quite a bit, and it's pretty tough: it's seen about 6 years of regular use and abuse, and it's still going strong.

For traveling via plane, I swear by my Triplette hardshell case, though. I would not want my stuff to go in a soft bag. (I am OK with sending it all through baggage - I am not that paranoid.) It wasn't cheap, but it's built like a tank, has a padded foam section for the mask, and has interior removable bags and a cloth flap to separate two layers. It fits one weapon set of stuff comfortably, with room for quite a bit of other stuff. I usually stuff all my dirty laundry into the hard case for the trip back. I have, in fact, successfully packed it with three sabres, four foils, two masks, and associated gear; not easy, but it worked. And like I said, it's built like a tank. Big thumbs up. But I wouldn't want to lug it around for daily practice - it's heavy. Great for rolling through airports and convention centers (much better than a shoulder bag) but for tossing in the trunk of the car to head to an evening practice, definitely the soft bag is a better choice.

CvilleFencer · 07-18-2005, 11:41 PM

As Dekko mentions I think some of the best "fencing bags" aren't. I have a large Samsonite rolling golf bag/cover that was under a $100, has two pockets (one for my toolkit and one for shoes) on the side and a giant center pocket that holds my mask and a change of clothes for local events/practice or the garmet bag it came with for long distance travel to carry my uniforms, lames and such. I usually have 3-5 epee's, 2-4 foils (foils and epees in PVC), body cords, chest plate, lame, towels, toiletry kit and other odds and ends tossed in it and I still have room to stick in weapons to take home to repair for friends and clumates. I got mine from Dicks Sporting goods also, although I never saw the tent bag. I will have to check those out.

Anyway, point is I would have paid a few hundred dollars to get something close to this good/capacity from a US vendor in the form of a "fencing" bag. I think the only thing that comes close to this capacity is the largest Uhlmann/Allstar model or the Adidas one and that one is just stupid expensive. Check out all your options before buying a dedicated fencing bag would be my advice. This subject has been covered many times before so you might want to do a thread search and read up on past discussions as well.