Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Xenoflame · 01-14-2007, 11:26 AM

Whenever I go to tournaments, I see people slip on their masks with no problem. They pull the strap over the hook-thing, slip the mask on, and slip the strap off the hook onto the back of the head. Whenever I try this with my FIE sabre mask, the strap breaks at the velcro and I have to put it on the old fashioned way.

Is there anything I can do to strengthen the velcro connections or make my strap more elastic? I mean, the strap sometimes comes undone after a really hard flunge so if I could make it stronger, that would kill two birds with one stone.

Thanks for any help.

Goldgar · 01-14-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenoflame

Whenever I go to tournaments, I see people slip on their masks with no problem. They pull the strap over the hook-thing, slip the mask on, and slip the strap off the hook onto the back of the head. Whenever I try this with my FIE sabre mask, the strap breaks at the velcro and I have to put it on the old fashioned way.

Is there anything I can do to strengthen the velcro connections or make my strap more elastic? I mean, the strap sometimes comes undone after a really hard flunge so if I could make it stronger, that would kill two birds with one stone.

Thanks for any help.

Without seeing it, it's hard to say whether the velcro is failing or whether maybe the strap is too short and there's not enough velcro in contact with velcro. You can easily replace the velcro or put more velcro on, or you can lengthen the strap. Do you think that would solve the problem?

eac · 01-14-2007, 01:50 PM

I've always had that problem. I theorize that it's because I have a big head. I've taken to just forgetting the strap entirely, letting it stay inside my mask, and using the prong to keep my head in the mask.

Goldgar · 01-14-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eac

I've always had that problem. I theorize that it's because I have a big head. I've taken to just forgetting the strap entirely, letting it stay inside my mask, and using the prong to keep my head in the mask.

Having seen masks fall off the head after a lunge and go rolling across the floor, I really like the straps.

MyrddinsPrecint · 01-14-2007, 02:03 PM

You can live with it.

You can modify it in some way (replacing just the velcro part).

Take it out and put entirely new elastic and velcro in.

Or you can buy the contour fit system separately (http://www.leonpaulusa.com/fencing/a...ories_39.html), and do your best to put that in..... I've never done this one, so I don't know how well it would go, or how easy it would be....

seak · 01-14-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eac

I've always had that problem. I theorize that it's because I have a big head. I've taken to just forgetting the strap entirely, letting it stay inside my mask, and using the prong to keep my head in the mask.

Also if you run into the right ref (i.e. smart ones), they will make you put the strap on as a safety measure, before letting you fence

Inquartata · 01-14-2007, 02:12 PM

I put on the mask and then fasten the strap. Which makes for occasional issues with the Velcro and my sweatband, but such is life.

Wearing glasses further complicates the procedure.

Purple Fencer · 01-14-2007, 02:45 PM

You actually do NOT want to hook the strap over the tongue....it eventually stretches the elastic to the point where it does not fit snugly over your head...thus negating it's ability to do the job it was intended for.

If you have a strap that joins in the center -- in line with the tongue (like a Prieur), you can secure the strap with one hand...that's what I do.

UnorthodoxEpeeist · 01-14-2007, 03:21 PM

How old is your mask? Is it the correct size maybe?

Downtown · 01-15-2007, 07:35 AM

I posted this once before, but it is something that works for me.

I use a "mitten clip" to extend the strap. ( a mitten clip looks like a two inch suspender and is used to hold mittens on jackets). This keeps the Velcro together.

It is legal, as all that is required in the rules is to have a strap. Nothing more is stated.

I keep a couple of these things in my kit when I am at tournaments as well. It is a great instant fix for a broken mask strap. Particularly if you do not have the time or ability to sew.

peet · 01-15-2007, 01:22 PM

I've also seen people just sew the straps together, taking the velcro out of the equation.

-p

D'Artag-NOT · 01-15-2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inquartata

I put on the mask and then fasten the strap. Which makes for occasional issues with the Velcro and my sweatband, but such is life.

Wearing glasses further complicates the procedure.

A red-letter day!! I have something in common with Inquartata!

I always put my mask on by cupping the bottom under my chin, pulling it on, and then fastening the strap. It's the only really effective way I've found to do so without displacing my glasses. (Inquartata wears glasses too!)

The whole procedure became a lot easier when I had my hair cut shorter.

edew · 01-15-2007, 04:10 PM

I have a rather tight mask that I use for competition. I have to straighten out the tongue, slip my head in chin first (as opposed to the forehead first) and then push down on the tongue to make it secure and then fasten the velcro. The problem with the mask is that removable inner lining comes off the velcro fastener if I put the mask on forehead first. And my glasses sometimes get in the way (when I'm fencing in a not-so-strong competition that I would put contacts on for).

Asprin · 01-15-2007, 08:15 PM

Safety pin the strap together once you have the velcro how you like it.

carter693 · 01-15-2007, 09:15 PM

I leave the strap over the hook thing. Is that bad?

Goldgar · 01-15-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carter693

I leave the strap over the hook thing. Is that bad?

Yes. You might as well have no strap at all, since you're not letting it do its job.

Ordway · 01-15-2007, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D'Artag-NOT

A red-letter day!! I have something in common with Inquartata!

He'd be appalled to be the occasion of a day with COLORED letters, I'm sure...

As for the whole glasses-in-mask thing, two little words make my life a whole lot easier: contact lenses.

(I've been wearing contacts since high school, and they have gotten SO much better in the last 10 years, it's amazing.)

VFrom · 01-15-2007, 10:18 PM

Just sew it together, works for me.

Purple Fencer · 01-16-2007, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carter693

I leave the strap over the hook thing. Is that bad?

See post #8 in this thread..

VorpalCat · 01-16-2007, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ordway

As for the whole glasses-in-mask thing, two little words make my life a whole lot easier: contact lenses.

(I've been wearing contacts since high school, and they have gotten SO much better in the last 10 years, it's amazing.)

For those of us who can't/couldn't wear contacts, here's my .$02: I tried several different styles of frames to try to make life easier, finally found what worked best for me was a cheap pair of child-sized wire frames. They were narrow enough across the temples that I didn't have nearly as much trouble getting the mask on and off over them as I did my regular glasses. (Not to mention those poorly-aimed shots to the face weren't nearly as likely to grind the mask into the frame and the frame into my nose.

)

But that's all in the past for me now, did the eye surgery thing and *heavenly chorus, softly filtered light drifting down from above* ohhhhh yeah.