AllStar VS Blue Gauntlet

[chinbeard]

I've decided to invest in an FIE mask. My budget is less than $200. Of course, cheaper is better, but I don't want a total piece of junk. I've compiled a list of masks in my price range:

These are supposedly "three weapon" masks (I'd much rather have one of these if such things exist), but from what I understand from my previous thread, there are issues with insulation and bibs, and I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with these two masks:

AllStar FIE 3 Weapon Mask-1600N
German Made FIE 3 Weapon Mask-1600N (from Blade-Fencing)

The rest are foil/epee masks:

Absolute FIE
Blue Gauntlet 1600NW FIE
Estoc FIE
Fencing With Fun FIE
Leon Paul 1600 FIE
Leon Paul with Contour Fit FIE
Negrini "New Competition" FIE
PBT FIE
Uhlmann 1600NW FIE
Uhlmann Removable FIE
Zen Warrior Armory FIE Mask

[Cookeit]

I would go with either the Leon Paul or the Negrini.

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by chinbeard

Zen Warrior Armory FIE Mask

Uhh....who makes THAT one? Never heard of it...could be Wu Xi, which IS FIE....has that kinda ring to it.

[Jvanhousen]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

Uhh....who makes THAT one?

.TCA.

[chinbeard]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

Uhh....who makes THAT one? Never heard of it...could be Wu Xi, which IS FIE....has that kinda ring to it.

It's from the "Zen Warrior Armory" site...I don't know if they're real fencers or not--they have a bunch of medieval weaponry and stuff.

[erooMynohtnA]

Originally Posted by chinbeard

It's from the "Zen Warrior Armory" site...I don't know if they're real fencers or not--they have a bunch of medieval weaponry and stuff.

No, they're not real fencers, and if they were selling to real fencers, they would have a lawsuit on their hands. An armorer should contact them about that.

It's from Triplette, and it's NOT FIE, and it's FRAUD to sell it as an FIE mask. http://www.tcafencing.com/catalog/pr...products_id=95

As an aside, I love how Triplette always adds a few extra Newtons onto whatever rating they have on their otherwise crappy product and claim it's the safest in the world.

I would highly recommend the LP FIE with contour fit. If not the LP, then the FWF.

Edit: Are you going to be using this mask for electric competition? A foil/epee mask is the same as a three weapon mask. Saber masks are electrically conductive, but you don't need that if you're fencing dry. No "three weapon" mask can be used for electric saber.

[KD5MDK]

Official List of FIE masks

If it isn't on this list, it isn't an FIE mask.
That said, I don't recall any particular stories about one FIE mask being much stonger than another, except for Prieur (which supposedly is). They all seem to be about the same in that regard, so it comes down to fit, price, and internal padding and retaining system to make the difference.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by chinbeard

It's from the "Zen Warrior Armory" site...I don't know if they're real fencers or not--they have a bunch of medieval weaponry and stuff.

Zen Warrior Armory is Triplette's Theatrica/SCA wing (hence all medieval stuff). Mask-wise, I think the only difference between Triplette and ZWA is that the bibs are dyed black for ZWA.

[jjrenaud]

Estoc FIE are just negrini mask buy in Italia but after estoc put his trademark on it: both are a little bit heavy

allstar and uhlmann are very good

[brtech]

You don't really want to fence foil/epee with a mask that has a conductive bib, and you can't fence saber without one. There will be (within a couple of years) a change in foil that will require a part of the bib to be conductive, but it's not the whole thing as it is in saber.

The best mask our there now I think is the LP. If you can afford it, get it.
The Negrini mask is quite good, but tends to be even more expensive than the LP.
The FWF is an excellent mask. It's what the Uhlmann/Allstar used to be.

The Uhlmann/Allstar remains a very good mask. They are not as good as they used to be, but they are good. You can sometimes find them on sale, and since nearly every vendor carries them, it's often the lowest cost for a very good mask.

The rest of the FIE masks are not as good, but they are getting better. If it is a real FIE mask, then it has been tested by the FIE for all the important safety issues. I think they are safe. I don't think they last as long. The Absolute and BG are the ones to look at.

I personally have no experience with the Blade mask made in Germany, so I can't comment on the mask, but I don't like dealing with Blade.

I will not deal with Triplette any more period. Note that at least some of the AF masks are Gajardoni and some of the TCA masks are Gajardoni.

[DangerMouse]

One more vote for the LP. One of mine is 6 years old and the inside is destroyed and I've had to replace one rivet on the strap, but I've never had a mask hold up this well before (I've owned two Ulmann FIE masks before this one). On top of that, it's the most comfortable mask I've ever owned.

The Prieur are really nice too (although not on your list). They tend to be a little pricier, but are every bit as durable as the LP.

[brtech]

You are right, I forgot about the Prier also. Still a very fine mask. Very rugged. I'd say about the same as a Negrini: I like the LP better, but you can't go wrong with a Prier FIE. We have some really ancient, non FIE Prier masks in the high school club which are still in great shape, and laugh at my 12kg punch. You know when you have a Prier in your hand; the mesh is rock solid, the bib is very protective (although it's very stiff, which bothers some fencers). Most fencers think they are comfortable otherwise.

[DangerMouse]

The inner lining on the Prieur masks is also far mor durable than any other mask I've seen.

That said, I do prefer my LP, but only slightly.

[Gav]

Best mask I've ever owned is the LP FIE with a contour fit. Brilliant mask. Can't say better than that.