Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

edwin012290 · 11-14-2005, 11:43 PM

underarm protectors arent really comfortable for me so i was thinking on purchasing one of those full body ones that LP has, where both arms and the chest are protected, since i was going to progress onto sabre anyway. LP has for both non fie and fie...can anyone comment on how these plastrons are? would underarmor still be good to wear under this plastron?

***Craig*** · 11-15-2005, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwin012290

underarm protectors arent really comfortable for me so i was thinking on purchasing one of those full body ones that LP has, where both arms and the chest are protected, since i was going to progress onto sabre anyway. LP has for both non fie and fie...can anyone comment on how these plastrons are? would underarmor still be good to wear under this plastron?

The full LP FIE plastron is sweet. It's very comfortable. The LP Budget FIE plastron is also comfortable as well. I would recommend both.

I always wear shirts under my plastron, so you should be fine wearing one.

Craig

Ordway · 11-15-2005, 11:29 AM

I've never tried a two-armed plastron -- gaaah, in sabre we have to wear so many layers already, who wants more?!?!

But I did recently buy an Uhlmann FIE plastron and I LOVE it. It's so thin and light that I honestly forget that it's on. So much more comfortable than the heavy cotton ones I used before (which I still use for practice, so I'm reminded of the difference often.)

In terms of comfort, I found that switching to wearing a tight (spandex-type) tank top instead of a t-shirt makes the plastron more comfortable, since what got annoying was the soggy t-shirt sleeve bunching up inside the plastron. I imagine that the tight Underarmor-type shirts would be similarly better than a regular t-shirt.

kalivor · 11-15-2005, 12:02 PM

I've personally only ever tried on
a) Leon Paul's cheapest plastron.
b) Allstar and Uhlmann FIE plastrons
and
c) Negrini FIE plastrons.

Of those three, the Negrini is easily the most comfortable.

That said, I haven't tried on the better LP plastrons ... I expect they're good. Generally speaking, FIE plastrons seem to be thinner and stretch more, making them more comfortable than the non-FIE ones.

El Chucko · 11-15-2005, 09:02 PM

I had a thick denim plastron, and hated wearing it so much that I usually went without. I got sick of my wife hounding me (too many epee bruises), so I bought an FIE plastron from Leon Paul which my friend recommended. It is light and comfortable and effective... I love it. Now I wear it at every practice.

achilleus · 11-15-2005, 09:24 PM

Um...

What exactly is so uncomfortable about the plastron? Personally, I hate the extra layer, and the extra sleeve, so getting a double sided plastron would double my hate of it...

CvilleFencer · 11-16-2005, 01:17 AM

This is about the only time you will here me say something like this about a product from this company, but I love the TCA nylon plastron. It is very light and very comfortable. It breaths well and dries quickly. That said I plan on going with an FIE plastron eventually. I don't like the Uhlmann/Allstar ones as I hate the ones that fasten around the neck. I will probably go with an LP half body model as I can't see myself being comfortable in a full body model.

kalivor · 11-16-2005, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achilleus

Um...

What exactly is so uncomfortable about the plastron? Personally, I hate the extra layer, and the extra sleeve, so getting a double sided plastron would double my hate of it...

Well, while Leon Paul doesn't have a picture of it, it is described as "full length." My guess is that it's not a short-sleeve plastron, and thereby avoids the bunching around the shoulder/armpit annoyance that you get with normal-sized plastrons.

Inigo_Montoya · 11-16-2005, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CvilleFencer

This is about the only time you will here me say something like this about a product from this company, but I love the TCA nylon plastron. It is very light and very comfortable. It breaths well and dries quickly. That said I plan on going with an FIE plastron eventually. I don't like the Uhlmann/Allstar ones as I hate the ones that fasten around the neck. I will probably go with an LP half body model as I can't see myself being comfortable in a full body model.

I have to agree with CvilleFencer and say the TCA nylon plastron is a good, comfortable non-FIE plastron. The only other product I like of TCA is their nylon jacket.

The Uhlmann/Allstar FIE plastron is the one to go with if you're willing to spend the money. Its the most comfortable plastron I've tried.

edwin012290 · 11-16-2005, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalivor

Well, while Leon Paul doesn't have a picture of it, it is described as "full length." My guess is that it's not a short-sleeve plastron, and thereby avoids the bunching around the shoulder/armpit annoyance that you get with normal-sized plastrons.

thats the problem that im getting. it gets uncomfortable when it starts bunching around inside so wouldnt a full body plastron be more comfortable in terms of fixing this problem?

achilleus · 11-17-2005, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwin012290

thats the problem that im getting. it gets uncomfortable when it starts bunching around inside so wouldnt a full body plastron be more comfortable in terms of fixing this problem?

I have no such problem with my Allstar FIE plastron. I usually wear some sort of tank top, or close-fitting shirt to cut down on bulk in the sleeves as well.

What kind of plastron do you have currently?

i'mnottelling · 11-18-2005, 09:55 AM

Do jacket manufactuers take into consideration the plastron? Do they make the sleeve/shoulder area larger on the fencing side for the plastron?

It would be nice if the did.

i'mnt

fencinman89 · 11-18-2005, 10:21 AM

The "full length" plastrons do not go to your wrist, they cover just your bicep, but it goes on both sides of your body, so if you're left handed, your right arm gets covered also.
-Tre'

edwin012290 · 11-18-2005, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by achilleus

I have no such problem with my Allstar FIE plastron. I usually wear some sort of tank top, or close-fitting shirt to cut down on bulk in the sleeves as well.

What kind of plastron do you have currently?

i have this allstar plastron. its yellow in color, white inside and i think its cotton...my coach mass ordered these, so i dunno what the name is but im guessing its pretty old because its marked with the FIE logo for the 80's. cant remember what year exactly.