Visibility and quality: Leon Paul Regular X-Change vs Titanium White X-Change Mask

[Sergeant Perecz]

First of all I would like to confess that I really like Leon Paul products/shop for superior quality and great customer service. But I do have some concerns about Titanium White FIE X-Change Mask I would like to buy.

http://www.leonpaulusa.com/fencing/a...pee_masks.html

As far as I understand the only diffirence between black FIE X-Change 1600 Newton mask for Foil and Epee and Special Edition Titanium White FIE X-Change 1600 Newton is additional cosmetic white external coating.

I have 3 questions:

1. It is logical to speculate that addtional coating increases mesh thickness. Other words Titanium White mask's mesh holes should be smaller. Is it right? Does additional coating affect the visibility through the mesh (compare to Regular X-Change) ?

2. There is also speculation that this additional external white coating can chip off easily, because it is one side only. Is it right? What are owners experience with Special Edition Titanium White Mask?

3. I also read that X-Change masks (black and white) require constant adjustment in bib area while you wear it. Is it the case? Or I misread?

All answers and opinions are highly appreciated.

[Nolano]

1. No. The white coating is instead of the black, rendering the holes to be the same size. The inside is the sprayed with a nonreflective black coating for maximum visibility.

2. The coating is not one side only. It's the same as the black coating except for the color.

3. I've never needed to adjust mine.

[Alex_Paul]

1. No. The white coating is instead of the black, rendering the holes to be the same size. The inside is the sprayed with a nonreflective black coating for maximum visibility.

2. The coating is not one side only. It's the same as the black coating except for the color.

3. I've never needed to adjust mine.

Do you want a job?

They were the answers I was about to type!

[Nolano]

I have an occasionally photographic memory...

[Stormblade]

I have the black X-change, so most of your questions I can't answer, but I've had mine since August and haven't had to do anything to the bib. BTW, the X-change masks are awesome, everybody! It's worth the extra money!

[bigdawg2121]

IIRC the older generation of X-Change masks sometimes required bib adjustment but the design has since been changed such that the bibs curve around the neck much like a standard mask and that problem has disappeared.

[CvilleFencer]

Yet another vote for the X-change. Once it is set up correctly it does not require any fiddling. Some of my fencers have the white masks and except for the color they are identical in visibility and breathability. Some folks just like the look of the white better and/or feel that it allows them to see better.

The X-change lets in so much light and air due to its design, if you are coming up from a standard mask it is going to be a huge improvement. I may get the white next time around however, just because so many folks in my division have gone with the LP X-change it is getting hard to tell all the masks apart.

[InFerrumVeritas]

Either is a great choice. If you like a white mask and can afford the extra cost, go for it. Personally, I'd rather buy something else with the money since it's for a purely cosmetic difference (like another weapon, upgrading all of my weapons to German points, new knickers, etc).

[Patrician]

Being a newbie I have no idea what an X-Change is and why its considered the best, can someone explain a bit?

[Coldfire]

Being a newbie I have no idea what an X-Change is and why its considered the best, can someone explain a bit?

The Leon Paul X-Change is a type of mask. It allows for the bib of the mask to be switched out quickly and easily. This is especially useful in sabre, where the bib tends to be the first part of the mask to fail, but it will soon be relevant in foil when the bib is made target. In addition, the X-Change masks are lighter than other masks and have great airflow.

Combined with LP's contour fit system its the most comfortable and durable mask available IMHO.

[Patrician]

The Leon Paul X-Change is a type of mask. It allows for the bib of the mask to be switched out quickly and easily. This is especially useful in sabre, where the bib tends to be the first part of the mask to fail, but it will soon be relevant in foil when the bib is made target. In addition, the X-Change masks are lighter than other masks and have great airflow.

Combined with LP's contour fit system its the most comfortable and durable mask available IMHO.

Nice. How much is it and would you recommend it for an epee fencer?

[Coldfire]

On Leon Paul USA it costs $209

http://www.leonpaulusa.com/fencing/a...pee_masks.html

While the bib switching capability may not be as useful in epee it is still the most comfortable mask. If for whatever reason your bib needs to be replaced you can do it quickly which is nnot the case with traditional masks. If you have the money it is definitely worth it.

[Patrician]

Sure I have the money, but how much is a "regular" FIE mask? If the X-change is twice as much I really see no point in paying twice the money for a replaceable bib. However, if the X-change is like $70 more, I'll buy the X-C.

[Alex_Paul]

It depends on where you are and what is available if you buy a Chinese "FIE" mask you will pay less but not get such a good product.

There isn't really anything to compare the X-change to as no else makes anything similar. Not only can the bib be removed, you can also remove all of the interior padding which also wears out eventually. This helps make the mask cheaper to use in the long run but there is much more to it than that alone:

- You can also machine wash all of the soft parts to keep them clean, hygenic and most of all not smelly!
- It is lighter
- With the Contour-fit system it is more comfortable and adjustable
- There is much better air flow as the soft pillow like padding has been pared back to the essential points that you need to hold it on tight leaving the rest of yur skin free to breathe!
- You can hear better

If you are looking for prices you also need to factor in any shipping, tax etc... in the UK a standard german finished (chinese mesh shell) mask is £116.91 including tax and an x change is £116.34 you would be bonkers to buy a standard Allstar one over an X change!

You may find that you can get German kit cheaper in mainland Europe than in the UK as they have a habbit of adding big mark ups in the UK. Regardless though it isn't an apples to apples comparrison!

[CvilleFencer]

***Oh, Alex posted while I was typing. Sorry to be redundant...***

Most FIE masks of any quality will be $150+. The other benefits of the X-change is that all the lining can be taken out and washed or replaced, it is lighter than any masks and it is much more adjustable to customize your fit. It also lets you hear better and lets in a lot more light and offers more periferal vision than many masks. It pretty much rocks and IMHO is the best mask on the market. But people still like to complain that it costs a lot and then talk themselves into buy some Chinese made mask that will fail at their first NAC in an attempt to save a couple of bucks.

[catwood1]

I got my XC before they the ICE cooling pads in it. Would it be posible for me to get the new pads for it/ would they fit into my mask?

[parrythis]

Sure I have the money, but how much is a "regular" FIE mask? If the X-change is twice as much I really see no point in paying twice the money for a replaceable bib. However, if the X-change is like $70 more, I'll buy the X-C.

As cool as the removable bib is, it is not the best part. The comfort-fit system on the inside adjusts any which way you want or need and once it is how you want it, you will forget that you have a mask on at all.

Also, I don't know if the mesh is stronger on this mask or my epee fencing has gotten better, but I don't get dents in the x-c like I did on my previous mask. (coughTriplettecough)

Also, I have never had to adjust the bib.

My purchase of this mask stands as one of the better decisions I have made, not just in fencing, but in my life. (and I've been living a long, long time. )

[InFerrumVeritas]

I got my XC before they the ICE cooling pads in it. Would it be posible for me to get the new pads for it/ would they fit into my mask?

If I remember correctly, Alex mentioned that the ICE padding can be purchased as you would purchase any of the replacement X-Change parts. He was talking in context of upgrading to the ICE padding, so I would assume that it would be backwards compatible with recent X-Change masks.

In fact, it would appear that upgrading it costs about $42 USD.

http://www.leonpaulusa.com/fencing/a...sories_39.html (about halfway down the page).

[Patrician]

How come the X-C is more useful in sabre and foil than in epee?

[Alex_Paul]

I got my XC before they the ICE cooling pads in it. Would it be posible for me to get the new pads for it/ would they fit into my mask?

Yes

Also, I don't know if the mesh is stronger on this mask or my epee fencing has gotten better, but I don't get dents in the x-c like I did on my previous mask. (coughTriplettecough)

My purchase of this mask stands as one of the better decisions I have made, not just in fencing, but in my life. (and I've been living a long, long time. )

It is stronger. The mesh is better quality and we use nylon powder coat rather than paint. The nylon acts like glue at each point where the weave meets and welds the mesh together rather than relying on friction and tension in the weave to hold it.

That is a great quote! Can I add it to our product page?

How come the X-C is more useful in sabre and foil than in epee?

Because the lame on sabre masks wears out especially around the cheek area where they take lots of cuts. Because of the shape of the XC there is no lame at the cheek only metal so they last a lot longer. When they do wear out they are easy and relatively cheap to change rather than having to replace the whole mask.

In foil (until 2009) there has not been lame and epee obviously there isn' t so the bib wearing isn't much of a problem with thiose two weapons.

Alex