Fencing pants

[girl]

Is there a huge difference between left and right handed fencing pants?

[Chafunkta]

The only things I could think of being different is the pocket and padding. I have the BG stretch ones, and there's no difference in the padding. So we'll throw out the padding one. Yep, only difference is what side the pocket is on.

[epeeisky]

Is there a huge difference between left and right handed fencing pants?

I didn't realize pants could be left or right handed.

[Purple Fencer]

It might have to do with the closure in front, perhaps? For the same reason as the zipper on the jacket??

[achilleus]

Big difference. Left handed pants worn by a righty expose the zipper and leave a large velcro flap easily opened by a point, and vice versa.

So, when you buy your pants especially, get the correct handed pants, otherwise you'll be buying unsafe, and unusable (by a good ref) equipment and have just blown a lot of $, especially if they are FIE.

[ReverseLunge]

Is there a huge difference between left and right handed fencing pants?

Not if you have a nice butt. No...it doesn't make one damn difference if you have a nice butt.

[Purple Fencer]

Big difference. Left handed pants worn by a righty expose the zipper and leave a large velcro flap easily opened by a point, and vice versa.
.

Yeah....that's what I meant...

[foily]

Oh dear, left handed pants.

For some reason at my club it was a good idea last night for us to bout, even ppl on about their 3rd lesson like me, and while I had my neato new left handed jacket, I ended up with a right handed lame and that caused problems with the zipper - as if it was making a difference on an easy to hit target like me lol. But it showed me how stuff like that can matter, I got hit a couple of times in the area where a pants zipper would make a difference, so I will make sure to get the left handed pants!

[penguin_2000]

Don't the manufacturers also put the tag on the opposite leg, so it isn't facing the opponent when fencing? Same with jackets.

[jjefferies]

Yes as with jackets, there is a difference. You can get away with it in your own salle and even in local tournaments. But if you go to a national and particularly an international tournament you will be called as out of uniform. The differences have to do with how zipper flaps are laid out and in some cases the leading leg material may be doubled. This is particularly true with polyester clothing.

[Zilverzmurfen]

...if you go to a national and particularly an international tournament you will be called as out of uniform.

...and what section of the FIE rules is this to be read?

[Duellist USA]

I think this is what they are going by..

m.25 1. Protection. The equipment and clothing must provide the competitor
with the maximum protection compatible with the freedom of
movement necessary for fencing.
2. Safety. It must not be possible for the opponent to be obstructed or
injured by the equipment, nor for the opponent’s weapon to be caught
up in or deflected by the equipment which, in consequence, must
have neither buckles nor openings in which the opponent’s point
may be caught up — except accidentally — and thus held or deflected.
The jacket and its collar must be completely buttoned or
done up.

But I could be wrong....

Rick SHellhouse

[Zilverzmurfen]

m.25 1. Protection. The equipment and clothing must provide the competitor
with the maximum protection compatible with the freedom of
movement necessary for fencing.
2. Safety. It must not be possible for the opponent to be obstructed or
injured by the equipment, nor for the opponent’s weapon to be caught
up in or deflected by the equipment which, in consequence, must
have neither buckles nor openings in which the opponent’s point
may be caught up — except accidentally — and thus held or deflected.
The jacket and its collar must be completely buttoned or
done up.

Oh well. I've used my beloved 'Startex' breeches -- inherited from a rightie (I'm a leftie) -- when competing both nationally and internationally and have never ever had a problem with it, or having someone pointing it out.

The rules I've fenced by were the FIE, FIE+SwFF and FIE+CISM.

Then again the "front part" of my jacket covers the zipper, which really is the only place a blade would likely to be caught, as I see it. Perhaps I've just been lucky not to be carded for it. *shrug*



Edit: Thanks for digging up the rule.

[Duellist USA]

Its wierd...soemtimes they are picky...other times they aren't...the popular thing here recently is that when you are on guard your lame is suppose to come to the top of your hipbone....

That one is fun to watch them figure out.....



Rick Shellhouse