Oversized saber lame?

[seak]

So, I really want to order from fencing.net (they have more of what I want, leon paul, at better prices, stm complete weapons), except that the smallest size for the budget saber lame is 40, I generally wear a 38 (Absolute nylon jacket, and Absolute foil lame). So how bad would it be to have a slightly oversized saber lame?

Side note: Does f.net carry the absolute women's front zip saber lame? I didn't see it on the website but they have size 38 women's lames.

[noodle]

not too bad. having a good fitting lame in saber is a less of an issue than it is in foil, where it really does help you not get hit more to have a snug lame.

[Inquartata]

Yes. You'll be cooler in a bigger one, anyway.

Better too big than too small ( within reason ).

[KD5MDK]

Too small doesn't feel so great. I now own an Allstar conductive corset.

[CvilleFencer]

Seak, the F.net house brand lames are in Euro sizing. They have one that will fit you, trust me. A US 38 is going to be around a 42 Euro sizing. Don't forget to tell him Left handed...

[seak]

I will try to remember the whole left handed thing, given that it's important for the glove, and weapons as well

As to the lame sizing, I measured according to the euro guidelines on the f.net site and still got a 38. Looking at the men's sizing chart, it appears to be the case that the euro sizes run higher then the US sizes, but not the women's gear.

Size 36 chest guy euro size 46 absolute size 40
size 36 chest women both euro and absolute size are 40

Of course I could somehow be screwing up the measurement, if you're supposed to measure differently for euro jackets then for American ones.

[CvilleFencer]

There is still a bit of a size difference in Euro sizes for women. If your actual chest size is a 38, the Euro size would be a 42. My concern with the FDN lames for you in a US 36/40 Euro would be that the arms and maybe the torso would be to short for you, even for saber. I think a US 38/Euro 42 would be a better overall fit, especially with a jacket/plastron/chest plate on under it. Best bet is to give Craig a call, but I have a pretty good track record of "eyeballing" someones sizing...

[seak]

hrrrrm, I am absolutely sure that a US size 36 is to small, and that a US size 38 is correct. The problem I'm having is that when sizing according to the f.net charts it's basically telling me that a women's European sized lame is the same size as a US so 38=38. I could of course be reading the chart wrong.

(thinks another call to Craig might be in order)

[fencerbill]

You really should try the Lame on over a jacket and move around. My second Sabre Lame was an Allstar and was a revelation compared to my first. The shoulders were much less restrictive. I could do head parries without the whole Lame sliding up around my body. But I have very mobile shoulders, you might not have the same problems I do.

A tight Lame can really trap heat, as has been mentioned. The ultimate for not trapping heat was the Infinity. But it has its own problems, a lot of them because the seams aren't double sewed.

I am short so don't have problems with Lame length. If you are tall you might want to check with OUIYT, he has had to deal with the slender, tall situation.

[AndrewH]

Yea, us tall thin sabre fencers are left out of the market. Myself and most of the other tall sabrists I know have lames that are slightly too big. No way around that really.

[seak]

heh, well I went and bought a size 42. Luckily I'm not tall