women using men's chest protectors

[tokenfoil]

I've heard that some smaller-chested women use men's chest protectors. What are your opinions/experiences with this?

[Purple Fencer]

I've heard that some smaller-chested women use men's chest protectors. What are your opinions/experiences with this?

Certainly nothing illegal....if nature didn't "gift" them well enough why SHOULD they wear a protector with breasts??

If I rememebr right, Felicia Zimmerman was wearing one when we was coaching at SwordPlay briefly...

The rules require that women wear chest protection...not that it has to be female specific.

[CvilleFencer]

I know a lot of women that go this route. For foil fencers the flat plates offer a nice flat rigid service for attacks to glance off of without a hit, in addition to providing more overall protection than the womens plates do since they cover more area. For epee fencers, well that just puts a couple areas of target a few inches further away.

[tokenfoil]

Have any of them complained of pain from boob-squishage?

[CvilleFencer]

Have any of them complained of pain from boob-squishage?

A properly fitted flat chestplat is not a corsett. It is not that much more preasure against the bits of anatomy in question that a close fitting normal female chest plate. Also if you prefer a sports bra you do not have the center "bridge" material pressing the curve of the CP out away from your chest.

[tokenfoil]

Well I meant pushing them in rather than together... And the bit about the bridge material's a plus.
Also, could you link me to any chest-plate measurement charts? Thanks for all your help thus far!

[CvilleFencer]

You know the fit of the plates really depend on where you buy them. Most of them are either made in China to various standards of qualty or by a NZ company that turns out the best I have scene, but at a pretty penny. The good news is that this is an item that will last a very long time so you should not mind paying a bit for quality and comfort. You can check them out here: http://www.qp-sport.co.nz/

The best thing to do is to call the company you will be buying them from and talk to them about the sizing. For the mens plates, for guys or girls I like the ones from Absolute as they are pretty flexable and they are very adjustable. Either those for an on the cheap option or one from QP sports (the NZ company I mentioned) would be what I suggest.

[tokenfoil]

Awesome, thanks muchly!

[Purple Fencer]

You know the fit of the plates really depend on where you buy them. Most of them are either made in China to various standards of qualty or by a NZ company that turns out the best I have scene, but at a pretty penny. The good news is that this is an item that will last a very long time so you should not mind paying a bit for quality and comfort. You can check them out here: http://www.qp-sport.co.nz/

The best thing to do is to call the company you will be buying them from and talk to them about the sizing. For the mens plates, for guys or girls I like the ones from Absolute as they are pretty flexable and they are very adjustable. Either those for an on the cheap option or one from QP sports (the NZ company I mentioned) would be what I suggest.

I sell the QP ones...

In mens (in inches): 28 and less XS
34 Small
40 Medium
48 Large
48+ XL

For women it's a little different.

In inches (UNDERNEATH the bust) + cup size
32A, 32B, 33A, 33B, 34A, 34B, 34C, 36C, 34D, 38D

The major problem I've found is QP hasn't figured out that a smaller ribcage does NOT always mean a small bust...or a big rib and big bust...

[tokenfoil]

The major problem I've found is QP hasn't figured out that a smaller ribcage does NOT always mean a small bust...or a big rib and big bust...

Yeah, I'd be unable to purchase a QP due to this. I'm a 36 ribcage, but an A cup.

[Purple Fencer]

Yeah, I'd be unable to purchase a QP due to this. I'm a 36 ribcage, but an A cup.

If you're a smallish A cup, you might WANT to look into a men's plate, then. You may need to buy some extra velcro for the back strap....they don't make the closure long enough.

[Larrison]

I've heard that some smaller-chested women use men's chest protectors. What are your opinions/experiences with this?

At least one of the women at the local club I fence at uses the flat men's chest protector. She's willow thin, and I'm guessing in the age 16 range and it seems to work well for here -- she had just just made the JO qualifiers last time I saw her fence.

[stealingophelia]

wow why would any girl rather wear a mens protector, if i could i'd wear a womans! so many hits bounce right off of those damn things.

[tokenfoil]

wow why would any girl rather wear a mens protector, if i could i'd wear a womans! so many hits bounce right off of those damn things.

Supposedly they glance off of men's protectors even more, in addition to reducing target area by flattening the chest.

[stealingophelia]

Supposedly they glance off of men's protectors even more, in addition to reducing target area by flattening the chest.

i dont know about that, i've only had about two or three hits ever bounce off a male protector, as apposed to about 20 off of a girl's protector

[WhipLash]

i dont know about that, i've only had about two or three hits ever bounce off a male protector, as apposed to about 20 off of a girl's protector

only when the hit arrives on the outside curve. if the hit was aimed at the centre of the chest it will probably not bounce off.