jackets, knickers?

[foiled again]

I need some recommendations on jacket and knickers? Don't have enough money for the really expensive ones. What is your favorite mid-priced model? Stretch or non-stretch? Would also welcome comments on different styles, brands, and fabrics. Thanks.

foiled again

[EnoYls]

all my uniform stuff has come from tripplete. I've just recently ordered a new jacket and knickers from them and noticed that they've change them a bit in design. The new design fits a lot better around the collar than my old jacket that I got in '94

[Shadow Fencer]

Check out Blade. I like the stretch nylon- it's lightweight for both jacket and knickers. Probably would run about $100.00.

[tsalyards]

Triplette uniforms are pretty junky in my view. I always like to joke that Triplette is the offical fencing supplier of the Renaissance Festival. So, if cheap tight uniforms are your thing, go for it.

If you have the $$, buy a good German or French made uniform. I've heard good things about Blade's cheaper uniforms, which I believe knock off Allstar designs.

-Tad

[HilandDoug]

Triplette has good stuff for those just starting out. The velcro on the jackets lasts way longer than any other maker, guaranteed. If you like 100% cotton, go Triplette.

[latenight]

I really like fencepbt.coms uniforms. My FIE is light stretchy and strong. But it is probably out of the price range you are looking at. You may want to check out their non FIE stuff.

[iepee]

Get an Allstar FIE uniform. Even though they are expensive THEY ARE WORTH IT!!!(even if you never go to an actual FIE event). They come in two models The Athean which has panels of strech material bulit in and the Startex which does not strech. Their is also a brand called Uhlmann, they are same as the Allstar unforms, both made in Germany by the same company. Uhlmann stuff is sometimes cheper than the Allstar.

[Arturo]

unitards are for retards

[fencingguy]

the startex is the the Olympia model and the whole thing is made out of the same material as the stretch panels in the cheaper stuff. Thats why it's more expensive.

[foiled again]

I wish I could afford the FIE uniforms but alas, I need weapons too. I'll look into the blade and triplette models. Any preferences on nylon vs. cotton? I would think the cotton would be more breathable but could get more clammy I guess. Thoughts?

[damianip]

Cotton does seem to breathe better but nylon stretches. Nylon dries much faster than cotton allowing for more frequent washings. Something your club mates will really appreciate.

My cotton jackets definitely took the sting out of hits, particularly in épée and sabre, but I found the trade-off for better mobility in the stretch jacket preferable.

Nylon can get a bit stifling on a humid summer day, however.

The choice is yours.


Paolo

[neevel]

One option that combines some of the advantages of both materials is Blue Gauntlet's standard jacket, which is cotton for the front and sleeves, but stretch nylon on the back, so you can move in it more comfortably than an all-cotton jacket. It's what most folks at my club getting lower-end gear have been buying, and they've been satisfied with them. They seem to fit most people better than the Triplette denim jackets, which have a sort of boxy, long-armed, one-size-kinda-fits-all design (fine for club jackets which will be used by a many different people, but not as desirable for one's own jacket).

Something to keep in mind about jackets made of cotton is that they will shrink if you run them through the dryer-- so you either need to air dry them (which might take a few days in humid weather if you don't have A/C), or else buy one size larger to compensate for shrinkage.

The type of nylon used in Santelli stretch uniforms seems to breathe a lot better than many other non-FIE nylon uniforms-- they use several layers of a thinner, more supple nylon as opposed to one or two heavy layers. They tend to look like you're wearing thick spandex, though.

If you can handle $192, that's what a non-FIE Uhlmann Jacket and Knickers from The Fencing Post (w/the 20% e-mail order discout) will cost you-- that's just about the best non-FIE uniform out there.

-Dave Neevel

[jc flick]

I would also recommend looking into American Fencing Supply. They make many different models of jackets and their prices a re really pretty reasoable for what you are looking for. Remember...you don't have to buy the "good Stuff" until you decide you are gonna stick with the sport for a LONG time!
You can check out AFS online. http://amfence.com

JC

[Lumberg]

www.thefencingpost.com has Uhlmann World Cup FIE uniforms on sale. That's the cheapest I've seen for that quality. If that's too much, I would suggest www.triplette.com. Inexpensive and functional.

------------------
Lumberg.
"...ahhh, we have sort of a problem here... yeah, you apparently didn't put one of the new cover sheets on your TPS report"

[This message has been edited by Lumberg (edited 02-03-2001).]