Lame fit?

[mach11]

Okay, I just got my lame in the mail (No fencing stores close enough to drive to) and I was curious about the fit. It is a little loose on the chest which I am assuming is normal. However, it is a little tight around my neck. I was wondering if this is normal or if I should go one size larger. It feels like when you button the top button of a dress shirt to wear a tie and it is constrictive around the neck.

Any advice would be appreciated. I have worn jackets and knickers for practices that i borrowed but, I have never worn a lame so I'm not sure how it is supposed to fit. Thanks in advance!

[Wetmelon]

Odd... Sabre or Foil? Some places have male/female lame's... (a little wider at the hips for female)

[Cookeit]

Odd... Sabre or Foil? Some places have male/female lame's... (a little wider at the hips for female)

Why would this matter? The OP is asking about how it should fit around the collar, not the hips.

[mach11]

It is a foil lame and i did in fact get the males version. However, as cookeit said i am curious abou the fit of the collar not the hips. Like i said it fit fine everywhere else and i have no problems zipping it up. I can get it to be semi-comfortable if the have the velcro just barely attached.

[TodG]

Most lame makers assume that fencers are slim and have narrow necks - which is probably accurate. I have a thick neck and needed to get a custom lame in order to have it fit well in both body and neck.

If the fit at the neck is close, you can make it close more securely by using an extender - basically a a small trap with velcro hooks and wool sewn back to back, the same width as the velcro on the lame and and inch and a half or so long.

[mach11]

Thanks for the advice....any idea on where to get one of those or a way to make one. I do have one concern. will it matter that the velcro is showing because if it wasn't that peaice would have te cunductive material of the lame there. It is a vary small area but i didnt know if it would matter in a tournament. I figurd the mask would mostly cover it anyway. Thanks again

[SJCFU#2]

Another option would be to take a small piece of lame fabric and use it to extend the tab that covers the Velcro. That way you get a looser fitting collar and don't have to worry about the Velcro being exposed.

[mach11]

where would i get a peice of lame fabric?

[SJCFU#2]

If you want new material then ask your vendor - many will sell material by the square foot, even if it isn't listed in their catalog.

However if you don't mind reusing old material then the less expensive option would be to ask around your club if anyone has an old old lame which no longer passes the resistance test and they would be willing to donate. There's often quite a bit of material there that can be salvaged for patches, etc (just be sure to offer so share some of that material with whoever donated the lame).

[TodG]

Almost any fabric store will have velcro material. You may even be able to find the back to back hook/wool material. It's used by IT people to tie up cables. Check for velcro straps at you local hardware or electronics store.

And make sure you feel it. Some of the stuff is stiff and will abrade you skin.