Buying Equipment for New Club

[Applesauce and Foils]

Hello, all! I'm planning to start a fencing club sometime next fall. It will be geared more toward recreational than competitive fencing so I won't be needing electric equip., at least not for a while.

Have y'all found good deals on club startup sets? Is there such a thing out there? I'm looking for the basic foil kit. Mask, glove, jacket and foil.

Thanks in advance for the help.

AF

[SJCFU#2]

Hello, all! I'm planning to start a fencing club sometime next fall. It will be geared more toward recreational than competitive fencing so I won't be needing electric equip., at least not for a while.

Have y'all found good deals on club startup sets? Is there such a thing out there? I'm looking for the basic foil kit. Mask, glove, jacket and foil.

Thanks in advance for the help.

AF

First thing to do is find a vendor who offers a club discount (many do).

[Pescados666]

I know that Absolute offers a club discount and they're all that our school uses.

[Fencergrl]

F-net has an awesome deal 1 practice foil & 1 glove for $30.

[Applesauce and Foils]

Thanks, for the input everyone, I will look into those things.

AF

[Mo]

Hello, all! I'm planning to start a fencing club sometime next fall. It will be geared more toward recreational than competitive fencing so I won't be needing electric equip., at least not for a while.

Have y'all found good deals on club startup sets? Is there such a thing out there? I'm looking for the basic foil kit. Mask, glove, jacket and foil.

Thanks in advance for the help.

AF

Another thing you could do is send out an appeal for used but usable fencing gear.
I have one kid that quit fencing entirely and one who has grown a lot since she started.
We have maybe three left over jackets and a couple pairs of knickers.
Want them?
PM me your address.
The Momster

[Applesauce and Foils]

That sounds great, thanks! I've sent you an email with a question.

[edew]

Get electric gear anyways. They're better quality and for all three weapons, you really can't tell what the heck is happening without the electronics, even if people are fencing "recreationally".

[Applesauce and Foils]

Get electric gear anyways. They're better quality and for all three weapons, you really can't tell what the heck is happening without the electronics, even if people are fencing "recreationally".

heh, that's true, but the reels are out of my price range. But I will stay open to the idea just in case something turns up.

Thanks for the advice
AF

[Pescados666]

heh, that's true, but the reels are out of my price range. But I will stay open to the idea just in case something turns up.

Thanks for the advice
AF

Look into getting a bungee cord system then. It's a lot cheaper then reels and I'm sure it has other benefits that reels don't.

[Delta]

I suggest you invest in the following items: masks, jackets, chest protectors for the women, and weapons.
I don't think gloves are as important as the others I mentioned above, largely because it's something nearly anyone who is interested in fencing for more than a couple times to try out the sport can invest in. Gloves are also a very personal thing (IMHO), including size specific and...smell/hygiene issues. A jacket that is too big is less of an issue of a glove that's too big. Jackets don't really cause blisters, hinder good form of holding a grip, etc.
I suggest you buy a few, but let everyone know they should invest their own glove if they become a regular member....it also teaches the young fencers to be responsible the things they use and to remember to bring it each them they come.

Hope this helped.

[Applesauce and Foils]

Good points from both of the last two posters. Thanks!

Wouldn't it be awful if your jacket did cause blisters!

AF

[SJCFU#2]

One approach that I've seen used at country rec-type classes is to charge a small lab fee as part of the class, take measurements the first day of class and order everyone their own glove.

[aamct2]

I second SJCFU#2's recommendation. Say, after the first week or two of footwork, those who are staying will be clear. Include a $10 charge for a glove in the membership dues, and then just do a group order for them. They'll fit, people will have at least one piece of fencing equipment and thus make them more likely to stay, it's easy to convince them to spend $10, and it's then one less thing for you to buy.

[foiled once again]

We have a small club and we require all fencers to buy their gloves and we provide the rest of the dry gear. If they compete, they have to buy the electric gear, the knickers, socks, etc. This keeps the cost down and the repair tiime as well.

We do own a few gloves though because it is improper to ever let a fencer fence without proper gear.

[Applesauce and Foils]

Okay. . .I'm still mulling all this over in my mind. Thanks, y'all.

AF

[Applesauce and Foils]

Hi, everyone.
Just wanted to add a note here saying: We're all set up now. I went ahead and ordered full sets of gear through Blue-Gauntlet. We're having fun!

AF

[SabreReedfrost]

I hope you got a club deal... but if it's a new club, I see no reason to go buy electric equipment just yet. Intro fencers shouldn't be using them for a while anyways. But if you're looking for cords that don't cost too much, the bungee system does work well.

Good luck!

[Applesauce and Foils]

Yes, we got a club deal. We're going dry. I have no doub that the bungee system is a good one, but we are set up in a community gym so it's not possible for us to use. I am actually a big fan of dry fencing, too, so we're good. It's been going really well.

lol-your signature, the Ben Franklin quote was quite timely: I'm watching John Adams right now!

[TodG]

We started dry, but quickly moved to electric. Unless you have a permanent location, the bungee system can be a bit of a pain. Reels are much easier to set up and take down.

Just take the long view. Your first few classes will be accumulating gear. After a while, you'll have what you need and can start investing in scoring gear. A machine and reels can cost under $1000.

We charge a $10 glove fee for all new students.