Lame Recommendations?

[llewesglaif]

'Tis the season...I'm looking for recommendations on a good (but not exorbitantly expensive) foil lame. I like the sound of the lightweight ones, but it's not for me, so what do you foil fencers think on the subject? Much appreciated!

[noodle]

good cheap ones are the jian ling (JL) ones.
i've yet to hear from anyone regarding the new absolute ones.

[llewesglaif]

Yes, I was eyeballing the $99 AF Ultra Lite on this here Fencing.net...I've got one friend who says it's pretty good, but was hoping for some more thoughts before I make a purchase.

[erooMynohtnA]

Yes, I was eyeballing the $99 AF Ultra Lite on this here Fencing.net...I've got one friend who says it's pretty good, but was hoping for some more thoughts before I make a purchase.

The fabric is wonderful. I like the fabric even better than my LP ultralight; however, the cut isn't as nice as my LP. I've heard anecdotally that the durability isn't up to par. I've never seen one fail myself.

[CvilleFencer]

I love the LP lames and I think they are probably the best deal on the market for high end lames. If you want to go to the cheaper end, I think the Enlighten from fencing.net looks like a good one and our club has also had decent luck with the absolute lames. One thing about the absolute lames to keep in mind though, at least in my experience, is that they will work a long time, but they will not pass the conductivity tests after much hard use. If you are going to be doing NACs and the like, go with an LP or some other quality brand.

[KD5MDK]

The Absolute Ultra Light has only been out for a few months, so if anyone has seen them fail, it's not a great sign.

The Estoc lames from Swordmasters are tanks, and priced like it, but they're as durable as anything and then some, and won't tear your gear up like the Triplette sandpaper ones did.

[HDG]

and won't tear your gear up like the Triplette sandpaper ones did.

Or my beloved Santelli cheese grater.

Bear in mind the reminders in this thread about Absolute lamés though.

[brtech]

The Absolute Ultra Light has only been out for a few months, so if anyone has seen them fail, it's not a great sign.

I failed a couple in Albuquerque. This was not a good sign, and one of my daughters has one.

I like the Uhlmann.

On this subject, and reminiscent of another thread I just posted about, there is some disagreement on the interpretation of the rules that apply to the Negrini lame with a back strap. If you select that one, be warned that some armorers believe they are illegal according to m.25

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.

Here, the rule is not crystal clear, although I maintain that the point CAN clearly be caught up in the strap AND the strap has a buckle.

Also note the heading of this section and consider the liability for laxly interpreting it.

[qatet]

On this subject, and reminiscent of another thread I just posted about, there is some disagreement on the interpretation of the rules that apply to the Negrini lame with a back strap.

A problem that is easily solved with a pair of scissors... And then you have extra material for patching small dead spots!

[foildad]

...One thing about the absolute lames to keep in mind though, at least in my experience, is that they will work a long time, but they will not pass the conductivity tests after much hard use...

Agreed. My daughter's Absolute lame has never registered an off target, but failed the test at JO qualifiers last weekend. So I'm thinking of buying her an Uhlman for competitions (my son's Uhlman has been great and the zipper flap thing people complain about has been a non-issue).

So here's another question. Assuming we reserve the Uhlmans for competitions, what makes sense for an everyday club lame? Another Uhlman? Or an Absolute or similar at half the price?

Thanks

[CvilleFencer]

So here's another question. Assuming we reserve the Uhlmans for competitions, what makes sense for an everyday club lame? Another Uhlman? Or an Absolute or similar at half the price?

Thanks

I really suggest you take a look at the LP over the Uhlmann. I really think they are a much better lame. For the question you ask, and Absolute or Enlighten (F.net brand. I have been really happy with all their house brand gear) lame should be fine for club work. No need to spend the extra money unless you just have it to spend. I take that back, if you want to keep they "club" lame as a possible backup to your competitive lame, you would want them both to be good quality. Otherwise, go with a less expensive one to beat up at the club.

[clonardo]

The Infinity Lame is still available. They're actually talking about dropping prices for the holidays to clear out some stock. Email them at jeff@infinityelectronics.com to see if they have your size, and what he's asking for them nowadays.

[SJCFU#2]

Agreed. My daughter's Absolute lame has never registered an off target, but failed the test at JO qualifiers last weekend. So I'm thinking of buying her an Uhlman for competitions (my son's Uhlman has been great and the zipper flap thing people complain about has been a non-issue).

So here's another question. Assuming we reserve the Uhlmans for competitions, what makes sense for an everyday club lame? Another Uhlman? Or an Absolute or similar at half the price?

Thanks

If the old lame still works out on the strip then why not continue to use it for practice until it starts failing to register touches? Then get another Uhlmann for competition and start using the old "competition" Uhlmann lame for practice.

The problem with keeping using a practice lame as a back-up is it usually ends up seeing a lot more use and less care so it's far more likely to fail than the competition lame.