Who Makes The Best Masks

[neevel]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by touche turtle:
<strong>"The masks from Blue Gaunlet are as well made as any other mask on the market. There are some mask from Santelli that I would not buy because of the bibs being on the minium size."

Personally I will NEVER buy a Saber mask from BG. I purchased one from them 2 years ago, non FIE, made in China. I must have used it 15-20 times at the most and it still looked brand new. Within 4 months, a wire in the middle of the mask broke. My next saber mask was a (non-FIE) Leon Paul, which I am (still) very satisfied with. I also have an FIE Uhlmann that I use for competitions.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">This does also occur with higher-end masks-- it's a side effect of the stiffer S2000 blades, and fencers attempting to still get whipovers by making harder actions. It's somewhat more likely to occur with less expensive masks that have weaker mesh, but it can still happen to an Uhlmann or Prieur FIE mask.

There's no guarantee that you won't take a really hard shot that will exceed the limits of even the best mask. I had a Prieur mask that took a very hard hit to the chin on one of the rare occasions I fenced epee competitive-- even after removing the deformation, the mesh had been weakened enough that it failed the punch test not long after. Had that hard shot not occured, I might still be using it today. The mask did its primary job, though (keeping my face safe).

BTW, on the queston of stainless steel: The FIE specs mandate stainless steel for any masks that receive FIE homologation (the three sample steels listed in the rule book all have 17-20% Chromium and 8-12% Nickel composition). This is one reason why you might want to steer towards FIE masks over non-FIE masks (some better quality non-FIE masks may use stainless steel, but not all of them do).

-Dave

[HilandDoug]

Our club purchased 3 sabre masks from Santelli, and within the year, all 3 were looking worse for wear due to the threads coming out, and the bib and sides falling off. I would say do not order the cheap Santelli sabre mask, but rather spend the money and get a better one from another vendor.

[Gav]

I'll say it again - I'm quite happy with my Leon Paul [comfort plus] FIE mask. I was also very happy with my FL mask. I do Epee and it had stood up to some 'severe' bashing before it experienced the bout of pique that finished it off. The Allstar masks are very good as well (as you'd expect), as are the Uhlmann.

[MikeHarm]

Now that Triplette repainted it, my FIE Dynaflow mask from them is the best mask I've ever had. Apparently they switched to a new method of painting after my origional complaints (which was that I kept getting covered with paint flecking off even on shots that didn't hit my mask)

I tried the Blue Gauntlet Olympic mask before that, and had a lot of problems with the bib flipping up continually exposing my neck while I was fencing. Scary problem. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

[D'Artagnan1673]

What is the padding like on the Dynaflow? They advertise like its some real nice stuff.

[arcon]

Hey there D'Art......I bought a New Mask,new jacket,new lame,new glove,New foil
at Nationals. Thats one of the coolest things about Nationals......almost all ot
the fencing equipment dealers.........ARE THERE.
Its a form of fencing heaven.........so take your plastic....dude.

the arcon

P.S. I think they will accept American Express.

<small>[ 07-18-2002, 05:08 PM: Message edited by: arcon ]</small>

[Purple Fencer]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by arcon:
<strong>Hey there D'Art......I bought a New Mask,new jacket,new lame,new glove,New foil
at Nationals. Thats one of the coolest things about Nationals......almost all ot
the fencing equipment dealers.........ARE THERE.
Its a form of fencing heaven.........so take your plastic....dude.

the arcon

P.S. I think they will accept American Express.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">I remember 2001 at Sacramento...part fencing venue, part trade show! The only vendor I don't remember seeing there was Fencing Post (Strange, since Saul was in San Jose at that time, and it's not a very long trip), but my memory's a ittle sketchy, so I may just not remember him being there.

[Zilverzmurfen]

I personally can recommend Allstar.

They're comfortable, durable and good looking. (Comfort and durability being the most important issue, needless to say...)

I'm having my second Allstar-mask now. The only reason I had to buy a new one is that FIE-standards changed to 1600N for masks. The old one is still in excellent shape.

My advice to anyone who needs to buy a new mask is to ALWAYS buy one that applys to the FIE standards!

Good luck!

// Zz

[JEC]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial"> I remember 2001 at Sacramento...part fencing venue, part trade show! The only vendor I don't remember seeing there was Fencing Post (Strange, since Saul was in San Jose at that time, and it's not a very long trip), but my memory's a ittle sketchy, so I may just not remember him being there. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Sam,
I know that he was there because I bought my last lame from him (barely used because I do mostly epee, but my son needs to practice with a moving target). Saul, and other vendors, target a specific audience and leave early or get there later. For example, the guys who sell the reproduction katanas left early (Wed or Thur) at Nationals this year. Saul also left early. On Sunday (last day), pretty much the only seller left was Mr. Chen.

[D'Artagnan1673]

I was piddling around on Ebay earlier and there is one Chinese mask that is being sold that honestly doesn't look at at all. The shape is attractive and the padding looks very plush.

[three_hundred_fifty_five]

The Allstar FIE mask is nice because it makes you look good.
The Prieur FIE mask is nice if you don't like masks that have a heart shape.

[D'Artagnan1673]

When I showed my dad my allstar mask, he said that I looked like a bug.