High School Fencer!!!

[Pltdan]

Im a junior in high school and am starting fencing. Im basically just wondering what i need to get going and be semi-competitive.

Ive fenced before a few times before and know the very basics, im just wondering what equipment (specifically, such as brands) you all suggest for a novice fencer -- i have a foil, certainly dated as it was my dads (he was a div 1-a fencer) which is a "Paul" brand and has a standard french grip. <-- Any Good?

Thanks

Dan


"Remember that in fencing, your sword is the gun and YOU are the bullet"

[DHCJr]

Handles should be a personal choice. Each has their advantages and disadvantages, so I wouldn't question that. Use what you feel is best for you. If someone has something different, you might ask to try it, but make sure they have approximately the same size hand. You may try one that you feel will never work and not know you have the wrong size. All handles have different sizes, even French. If you go into competition, you will need to have at least two working weapons and two working body cords. One important point, whatever type of tip and connector you use, be consistent. Don’t try and have one with one type and the other with another. How you make the decision as to brand is what you already have, what club members have, do you want to be able to share, how competent are you at repairing and how much money you have. There are others, but know this there is no best for everyone. There should be those out there, who will give what is best for them and why. Listen to what they have to say and see how it pertains to you.

[Mr_Foilist]

I know you said you're a novice but, what's written below is important as it will affect your wallet in the long-run.

When it comes to equipment in the fencing world, you usually get what you pay for. If you're planning on sticking with the sport for a good length of time, your best bet is to invest in good blades, a good mask that won't rust and turn to crap after a year, and a good lame.

I beat the hell out of my blades when I fence and I frequently lend them out to other people who are stuck and don't have any of their own. By far, the best blades that I have ever owned are called Vniti. They are FIE approved and have lasted me quite a long time and endured heavy abuse. They're also good for a high school fencer since they take a little bit of time to become "flicky" which allows you to develop better point control. For FIE blades, they're also pretty cheap. They'll cost you about $60 from

Lames: Really, lames depend entirely on how much you sweat, how hot you get, how willing you are to take proper care of them and how much money you have to spend. I sweat a lot and I get pretty hot. I find that Uhlmann/Allstar and similar types of standard metal-mesh lames feel like I'm wearing a zip-lock bag. Not very comfortable. I also like to take care of my lames and, despite frequent rinsing with water and always hanging it up to dry, my Uhlmann lame developed dead spots after less than a year of use. I now use Infinity lames which are light, breathable and comfortable. They are expensive and have some (I think minor) quality issues. You may need to patch it as tears can happen (although they are rare). I had my first one for 4 years before getting a tear. But, that was easily fixed with patch material which is readily available from the manufacturer. They are also easy to care for. They survive up to 50 washings and dryings (yes, in your standard laundry machines) without experiencing a significant decline in conductivity. Even then, they will still pass better than an Uhlmann. You can also simply hang it up in the shower and rinse it off. It dries in about an hour. Or, you can roll it in a ball and leave it in your equipment bag. Either way, it'll work for years. If you're interested in these lames, contact either Blue Gauntlet or the manufacturer at

As for masks, like I said, I sweat. Every Blue Gauntlet mask that I've owned has rusted horribly in the face region. This hasn't been the case with everybody but it happens. I now use an Uhlmann FIE mask. No rust after a year+. It's worth the few extra bucks to get the one with the removeable lining. A note on Uhlmann equipment You can save yourself some money by ordering directly from Germany. Shipping will be about $40 (Depending on the weight of your stuff) and it will take about 7 days to get to you but, even with shipping, you'll pay between 1/2 and 2/3 the price for the same item in the US. A good company to deal with is While you're at it, if you're going to order the mask, you might as well get the non-FIE Uhlmann/Allstar jacket and knickers. These are good quality uniforms and will last a long time. Plus, since shipping will remain about the same, it makes the savings from ordering from Germany even greater since the shipping cost contributes less to the overall price with the more items you order.

I'm sorry for the long rant here but I feel that this is an idea that every fencer who is serious about staying with fencing realizes all too late. The more expensive equipment, while expensive at the moment you buy it, will save you money in the long run. I've gone through numerous blades at around $30+ a pop in the same amount of time that one $60 blade will last me. The same is true for my mask and lame. So, yeah, it may be expensive at first to get the equipment that I mentioned, but it will save you money if you plan on competing for a long time.

If you're not sure how far you want to take your fencing or for how long, mooch off of your school for as long as possible. Beg borrow and steal (okay, don't steal) as much equipment as possible for as long as takes you to realize what you want to do with your fencing. If you plan on sticking with it for a long time and feel that it's time you get your own stuff, really do consider what I said above.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

[Zelda]

I agree with Mr. Foilist. Buy the most expensive stuff you can afford. I was given my first kit as a gift and it was all FIE. I would still be on the same mask if it hadnt of being nicked, but my mask is getting on to be 4 years old, my jacket and knickers still fit and I use them for training and they are just on 5 years old... Soudet is a good company if you can find a supplier. Their clothing is light, wicks sweat away and easy clean. (I cant stand the canvasy stuff that Uhlmann is made out of and Allstar doesnt fit me properly). My Mask is a Jeff Gray (Australian Supplier, actually rebrands Frances Lame masks). As for blades, I am still in search of the perfect one. I break mine fairly regularly (even FIE) so am still looking.....