What will I need?

[Pescados666]

I was thinking about getting this for varsity next year, what do you think?

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Item Name: FDN Men's Standard Fencing Jacket
Item Price: $51.95
Options:
Jacket Size:44
Hand:Right
Comments:Comments
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Item Name: FDN Men's Standard Fencing Pants
Item Price: $34.95
Options:
Size:50
Hand:Right
Comments:Comments
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Item Name: Absolute Standard Back/Zip Foil Lame (32 ~ 56)
Item Price: $65.00
Options:
Size:44
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Leon Paul Economy FIE 800N plastron - Right - S
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Item Name: BF White FIE Foil w/Pistol Grip
Item Price: $143.00
Options:
Point:FWF NextGen Point
Foil guard:One-Piece TI Alloy Guard
Socket:2-Pin
Choose your bell pad:Standard Foil Pad
Grip Style:Visconti M
Hand:Right
Add Hard Cover?:No
Comments:Comments
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Item Name: StM Electric Foil w/Pistol Grip
Item Price: $59.00
Options:
Point:FWF NextGen Point
Foil guard:One-Piece TI Alloy Guard
Socket:2-Pin
Choose your bell pad:Standard Foil Pad
Grip Style:Visconti M
Hand:Right
Add Hard Cover?:No
Comments:Comments
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Item Name: Absolute Removable Elite 3-W Mask (S ~ XL)
Item Price: $59.00
Options:
Size:M
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Foil/sabre body cord 2-pin - French Style
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Foil/sabre body cord 2-pin - French Style
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Item Name: Team / Club Fencing Bag (I'll probably get a hard case golf bag instead of this)
Item Price: $50.00
Options:
Color:Red
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Total: $596.41 /w shipping.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Upgrade your mask to an FIE one (1600 N).

The rest of your list I'll leave for others to comment, but at least don't go cheap on the mask. That is all.

[IvorDarcy]

I agree with Zilver, upgrade to the FIE mask. Why would you buy a top of the line foil and then one that costs a third of the price? Just buy two of the cheaper ones and use the money saved for the FIE mask. I can see the point of the bottom of the range jacket/knickers as at age 15 you will probably grow out of them fairly quickly. You only have 1 head, protect it well.

[Mr.Piccolo22]

Why are you getting a back zip lame? If your not going to be fencing both ways (right handed and left handed), why go through the trouble of a back zip.

[Medinilla]

The BF foil is awesome, but i would keep in mind the LM and the LP Goluvinsky.

[Pescados666]

Why would you buy a top of the line foil and then one that costs a third of the price?

Cause my parents are paying.

Why are you getting a back zip lame? If your not going to be fencing both ways (right handed and left handed), why go through the trouble of a back zip.

I'm used to it already, beside, I like turning around infront of someone and saying "DO ME!".

[AlphaFire X5]

Cause my parents are paying.

Then why are you cheaping out on the rest of your gear?

[IvorDarcy]

That's what I am wondering too Alpha. If parents are paying then why settle for the bottom of the range? No way would I buy a top of the line foil and then a bottom of the range, even it was only for back-up. You get what you pay for so get the best you can afford (especially when someone else is footing the bill!)

[KD5MDK]

What does your coach say? He knows what he's talking about.

Get the front-zip lame. You're an absolute tool if you don't.
Don't get French style body cords. Get German. Are you ordering from Fencing.net? What you want is this:
http://shop.fencing.net/product_p/fwf27301.htm

[SJCFU#2]

Don't get French style body cords. Get German.

Either that or upgrade the socket on both foils to the LP two-prong socket so that you get sockets a plastic clip on the socket that fits over the two-prong plug.

Personally I would either get the German cord that KD5MDK recommended or contact Craig directly and ask if you could order the LP two-prong plugs with a German style plug (I don't see it listed as an option in the Fencing.net store but it is an option on LP's website). That way you get the integral clip on the two-prong plug and don't have to worry about the plastic clip on the socket breaking at the most inconvenient moment.

[KD5MDK]

The plastic clips on the socket are so crappy I'm tempted to call them "not an effective retaining device" and ban them from my strips. Remember it is you that is disadvantaged because your body cord comes unplugged.

[kanuck]

Getting back to the expensive vs. cheap weapons discussion for a second, I'd recommend against getting two different types of blades in general because you want your weapons to all feel as identical as possible. This might be less the case in foil then epee, but different blade types/brands all have different characteristics, and using multiple blades at the same time can mess with your technique.

Wether you move to two expensive blades or two cheap blades is up to you (I like cheaper blades because I'm still doing wince-worthy wrong things with them), but your weapons should try and be as identical as possible.

[Pescados666]

Then why are you cheaping out on the rest of your gear?

Cause my parent's arn't rich, I have enough of my own money to upgrade the weapon to that, but not enough for anymore. I plan to upgrade my equipment as I get the funds so this gear should work for now.

Can someone explain the different body cords? I understand the difference between types like 2-prong and bayonette, but not any more then that. I wanted to try the bayonette socket but I wasn't sure as alot of the people at my school don't have them and it might be harder for me to get them services and whatnot.

What's wrong with a back-zip lame?

[KD5MDK]

They're unwieldy, very awkward when you have to run to the bathroom between pool bouts, a sign of a beginner and hard to unzip partway when you need to vent heat inbetween bouts.

You're much better off buying a 3rd weapon than a BF blade now. If you have the money, wait for your first blade to break and then replace it with an FIE blade.

Use the socket type of the people around you. When your last weapon or body cord has failed, you want to be able to borrow one immediately from your clubmates. It takes a long time to be experienced enough to be able to ignore this advice.

Again, what does your coach say?

[SJCFU#2]

Can someone explain the different body cords? I understand the difference between types like 2-prong and bayonette, but not any more then that. I wanted to try the bayonette socket but I wasn't sure as alot of the people at my school don't have them and it might be harder for me to get them services and whatnot.

Rather than repeat a rather long-winded post discussing the advantages and disadvantages of various types of body cords, I would suggest looking at the Which type of foil socket it better, the bayonet or the continental thread.

A few thoughts - if you stick with what everyone else is using it is easier to borrow a weapon or body cord when yours fails. On the other hand, if you are unique then nobody is likely to want to borrow your equipment.

If you do decide go with the LP bayonet then be sure to stick with genuine LP. Many of the copies out there are garbage.

Finally - do yourself a favor and get a front zip lame. I won't bother to list the reasons in favor of them (KD5MDK has already done a good job of that), but about the only instance where is back zip lame is preferable is for a club (which may not want to have to keep both left and right handed lames on hand) or maybe the odd fencer who likes sometimes practice with their off hand.