New to fencing, when to buy?

[Orako]

If this is the wrong section, I do apologize. I started in a beginner class in my university and am really enjoying it. It's only been a few classes but at what point would you all recommend getting my own set of gear. Starter kit or other wise?

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by Orako

If this is the wrong section, I do apologize. I started in a beginner class in my university and am really enjoying it. It's only been a few classes but at what point would you all recommend getting my own set of gear. Starter kit or other wise?

Get your own gear when you feel comfortable doing so (and can afford it). You might want to get a mask first, since smelling your own stink instead of the other 5 million or so people who have worn that same communal mask is a good thing!

If you're just fencing dry (meaning visually judged...not on the electric scoring box), the 4 typical items bought (not counting a bag to carry everything) are mask, jacket, glove, and dry weapon. If you're a women or haven't figured out how to retreat and parry yet, you can also add on a plastic chest protector (optional for guys....mandatory for girls).

Once you get to the heavy sparring or competition stage, there are a lot of choices and more required gear.

[Orako]

Here is what am looking to buy:
Mask
Jacket
glove
underarm protector
bag
French grip foil
Pistol Grip foil. (I really enjoy pistol and french so why not both?)

For 250. It's a high price but I am a big guy and I needed to add extra to get right sizes.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Originally Posted by Orako

French grip foil
Pistol Grip foil. (I really enjoy pistol and french so why not both?)

Hmmm...Say you're bi. Would you marry one of each? OK. Bad question. Let me start again. Do you intend to get good?

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by Orako

Here is what am looking to buy:
Mask
Jacket
glove
underarm protector
bag
French grip foil
Pistol Grip foil. (I really enjoy pistol and french so why not both?)

For 250. It's a high price but I am a big guy and I needed to add extra to get right sizes.

I'm heading out to a club to sell right now....I'll PM you prices when I get back (or get setup there, since i have an air card)

[Orako]

Well I live in Canada, is that a problem?

Also, Beloit. I do not care at this point about "getting good". I am taking up fencing because it interests me and I also want to be active in university and not sit on my behind like I have done all through High school. And if I was bi, I would totally marry both, the would be in different city's but I would still have both.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

What are your prospects for fencing past this semester? Are there further university classes, a team, a local club?? Depending on what you'll be doing in a few short months, what you should buy now might be different.

If you plan on being a competitive foil fencer, you want a pistol grip. Of course, if you plan on being a competitive foil fencer, you'll also need an electric foil, eventually.

If you'll be fencing with a bunch of random people in a gym once or twice a week, without electric gear for the next several years... it doesn't really matter.

I would say put off buying more than one weapon for now. Possibly put off buying any weapon at all. And until you know where you'll be fencing next, start with buying the things that really don't fit well, or really creep you out to share. For some that's the mask, for others it's the glove....



Oh, and as the token person-on-these-boards who likes both males and females and does so openly, WTF? ............The choice to have more than one partner is very separate from the preference a person has for the body parts on a partner. Thus the "suppose you're bi" bit is...... unnecessary. Ever heard of "swinging"??

[Orako]

I would be fencing once-twice a week in the University club which is considered the local club. Every week for the next few years and most likely after the beginner classes this year I would like to move on to electric foil/saber.

[KD5MDK]

Ever heard of "swinging"??

I would put that in a different category.

Buy a jacket, glove, knickers and plastron. Those will be the same regardless of what you fence. If it turns out you're naturally more into sabre, having a dry mask will be less fun. On the other hand, if you stick with foil it's ok.

[ApAperture]

I'm new too but I bought a starter kit because I calculated that it is cheaper (for me) than buying them piece by piece. I only really wanted a glove and most definitely a MASK. but ended up with a jacket and a dry foil. dry foil would be good only if you intend to practice at home or something, if not just use the ones at the club. But then again, I am new too.

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by ApAperture

I'm new too but I bought a starter kit because I calculated that it is cheaper (for me) than buying them piece by piece. I only really wanted a glove and most definitely a MASK. but ended up with a jacket and a dry foil.

You might also want to pick up an underarm protector - it's there to provide protection where the jacket tends to be weakest (at the seam under the arm).

Unfortunately most starter kits don't include them.

[Dr Epee]

Originally Posted by SJCFU#2

You might also want to pick up an underarm protector - it's there to provide protection where the jacket tends to be weakest (at the seam under the arm).

Unfortunately most starter kits don't include them.

Correction. You really NEED to pick up an underarm protector if you can't use one from your club.

[IvorDarcy]

Whoa! You think $250 is a high price for a jacket, mask, plastron, glove, bag and 2 weapons???? That is the very low end of the scale. My mask was $250 and worth every penny because that's where I want the most protection. If a broken blade penetrates my jacket, there is a good chance of survival. If it penetrates my mask, there is a good chance of losing an eye or worse.
Buy a top notch mask and a decent glove for the $250 and use the clubs' jacket and weapon. However, I would wait a month or two before buying any gear until you know for certain you are going to stick with it.

[Rambler]

Though not a fencer, I can share with you the experience we had with our son just starting out. He has fenced Weekly since July and just got his full equipment today (his birthday).

First, his club has good jackets, mask and weapons available, as I hope yours does.

We bought him a mask (non-FIE) and glove about 6 weeks ago (~$100). These were the two things that seemed to get the wettest at practice. I might have bought a plastron then too, but he could use one at the club and it did not get too wet.

We bought the jacket, pants, plastron, 2 epees, and 2 body cords, and bag after he had tried the different jackets in the club (~$350).
The pants were of least value since he just wore warmups during practices mostly.

I would suggest using club gear, especially weapons, until you are going to not be allowed to compete with it, or you are comfortable you will be doing this for a long time.

You may find you want to buy a slightly better jacket or pants than bottom of the line, but it is better to try all the different ones that fit at the club.

Mi dos pesos.

Rambler

[Cookeit]

When to buy?

Buy low, sell high.

[Frater_Frag]

When to buy?

1) Do I really want to put on this smelly glove that belongs to the club?

2) Why is the armourer looking at me like that?

If the answer is yes, start getting your own gear!

Start with glove, weapon and bodywire, after that get a good FIE CE2 mask. Then the rest!

[TodG]

A halfway decent glove is cheap enough I really can't see a reason not to buy one. I agree with the sentiment to wait until you know you are going to stick with it. I've bought a lot of gear for our club on ebay, much of it barely used and fairly inexpensive. For every 4 people who take a basic fencing class, only one will stick with it.