Gear Required for Tournaments

[Dreyman]

I fence foil and I'd like to get my own gear for tournaments. I was wondering what stuff I would need. The things I can think of are electric foil, lame, jacket, mask, and gloves. Anything else that I'm missing?

[epee rocks]

Your gonna need fencing pants along with 2 foils and 2 body cords along with what you have.

[Dreyman]

Is the body cord the cord that goes from your foil, up your jacket, and to the wire that's at your back?

[HDG]

Yes, that's it.

Along with fencing pants, you will need socks that go all the way up to them; soccer socks do fine, there's no need for "fencing socks".

[Dreyman]

Whats the difference (besides looks) between a 2 pin and a bayonet body cord?

[HDG]

Whats the difference (besides looks) between a 2 pin and a bayonet body cord?

2 prongs are more common, but they and bayonets do the same thing. Both have their advocates. I'm a Leon Paul bayonet person.

If you opt for 2 prong, you have to pay attention and make sure that all of your equipment is compatible. If you get German style bodycords, you must have German style sockets on your foils, and if you get French style bodycords, you must have French styles sockets on your foils.

Don't get cheap Chinese cords of either design. Go name brand here.

[Dreyman]

I fence with a French style foil. Would adding a leather grip instead of a rubber one be beneficial?

[TBean]

I fence with a French style foil. Would adding a leather grip instead of a rubber one be beneficial?

That is a matter of personal preference. Try a leather grip and see how you like them. While you are sampling, you might try a pistol grip.

[TBean]

I'm sorry, you also need a plastron or underarm protector. Required piece of equipment.

[HDG]

I fence with a French style foil. Would adding a leather grip instead of a rubber one be beneficial?

Eventually you are likely to switch over to some sort of orthopedic grip, but in the meantime, unless you have a specific problem with your current grip, there is probably no reason to change to another french grip.

[AlphaFire X5]

Here is my checklist I complete before every tournament. I fence saber, modify accordingly if you'd like:

Tournament Checklist

Equipment

• Jacket
• Knickers
• Glove
• Underarm Protector
• Mask
• Lame
• Body cords (2x+)
• Mask cords (2x+)
• Weapons (2x+)
• Carry bag

Other

• Gatorade (32oz)
• Water (32oz)
• Bananas (3x)
• Energy bars (3x)
• UnderArmour shirt
• Fencing shoes
• Knee-high socks
• Wallet
• Keys
• Phone
• Checkbook
• USFA Membership Card
• Deodorant
• Notebook
• Knee braces
• Towel

Notes:
A towel can be an absolute godsend at a tournament, it can keep you warm, dry off your sweat, or be used as a pillow if you need a quick nap.
Deodorant, well, I wish that one didn't need explanation, but it's best to be kind to the people around you.
The Gatorade and water are also very important, and it's best to cut the Gatorade 50/50 with water, otherwise it has too much sugar for exercising.
Bananas give you potassium which helps prevent cramps, and the energy bars give you the calories you need to keep energized through the tournament.
UnderArmour shirts, I've found, are fantastic for fencing. Skin tight (compression fit) and moisture wicking means very little bulk underneath the jacket, and they don't compromise your range of motion, nor do they get sopping wet like standard cotton shirts.
Checkbook, wallet, keys, etc..., well, I can be forgetful sometimes.

[les nôtres]

Are two weapons absolutely necessary for admittance into (USFA) tournaments?

[HDG]

Are two weapons absolutely necessary for admittance into (USFA) tournaments?

Only if you don't want to start every bout with a yellow card, and only if you are certain that it is somehow impossible for your weapon to break or to malfunction...

[monitorlizerd]

As you become more experienced, here's a few more items to get...

1. A small tool kit, specific for your weapon and body cords.
Inside/outside hex if needed, or something to tighten the pommel when it
gets loose
2. Small screwdrivers-for tip screws, body cords
3. Two small adjustable wrenches or one wrench and an 8 mm and a 5 mm
ignition wrench (6mm if for epee)
4. Small pliers-for holding things, and for the wire cutters included with the
pliers
5. A small supply of parts, specific for your weapon-tip screws, springs, a
spare tip, tip tape

Another handy thing to have is a small first aid kit- a couple sizes of bandaids, tape, ointment. People are always skinning knuckles, etc.


Good Luck!!
Susie in Houston

[les nôtres]

Only if you don't want to start every bout with a yellow card, and only if you are certain that it is somehow impossible for your weapon to break or to malfunction...

I take it thats a no then...

[AlphaFire X5]

As you become more experienced, here's a few more items to get...

1. A small tool kit, specific for your weapon and body cords.
Inside/outside hex if needed, or something to tighten the pommel when it
gets loose
2. Small screwdrivers-for tip screws, body cords
3. Two small adjustable wrenches or one wrench and an 8 mm and a 5 mm
ignition wrench (6mm if for epee)
4. Small pliers-for holding things, and for the wire cutters included with the
pliers
5. A small supply of parts, specific for your weapon-tip screws, springs, a
spare tip, tip tape

Another handy thing to have is a small first aid kit- a couple sizes of bandaids, tape, ointment. People are always skinning knuckles, etc.


Good Luck!!
Susie in Houston

Good call on this stuff. Since I travel with my club, we usually take a small armoury with us to tournaments, which is why I don't include it on my checklist. Also, sabers are wonderfully simple. When I used to fence epee I used to have a small toolbox like this to perform quick repairs as necessary.

[wahrman]

You will regret not having at least two weapons at a competition.

At the very least you will get a yellow card. If it breaks or stops
working (and it will, they all do) you are done. Wouldn't that suck?

I take it thats a no then...

[HDG]

I take it that's a no then...

The rule & penalty issue aside, just as a matter of prudence, you are going to want to have a backup weapon and a backup body cord. These are the parts of a fencer's equipment that are most likely to break or malfunction. If you only have one foil and the blade breaks, then you're out of the tournament.

Fencers having 3 or 4 of each with them is not at all uncommon (pricey, but not uncommon).

[Mergs]

For a list of tools, check out the Armory forum, there's a good thread on that. As for what to do and what to take, check out PurpleFencer's signature or go to www.homfencing.com, he's got a great piece he's written on getting ready for your first tournament.

[SJCFU#2]

If you opt for 2 prong, you have to pay attention and make sure that all of your equipment is compatible. If you get German style bodycords, you must have German style sockets on your foils, and if you get French style bodycords, you must have French styles sockets on your foils.

I fence with a French style foil. Would adding a leather grip instead of a rubber one be beneficial?

Just in case you are not aware of it, the "French" style body cords and sockets which HDG is referring to are in no way related to the grip.

German style two-prong body cords have a clip incorporated into the 2-prong plug which fits over the metal frame of the socket to keep the plug from accidentally pulling out. French-style body cords have no clip on the 2-prong plug, relying instead on a plastic clip attached to the socket which fits over the 2-prong plug to keep it from accidentally pulling out. Bayonet type body cords and sockets use a twist-and-lock mechanism to achieve the same purpose.

Any form of socket can be used with either a French or orthopedic grip so long as the socket and body cord are compatible with one another.

One final note - if you are using a French grip than you will want to make sure that you pommel is insulated in order to prevent shorting your weapon to your lame. Most vendors provide insulated pommels with electric weapons however foils which have been converted from dry to electric may still have bare metal pommels (a deficiency easily resolved through the judicious application of electrical tape).