Welcome to our Fencing Equipment Buying Guide, designed to help you navigate the process of purchasing fencing gear for yourself or your child. We understand that it can be confusing, so please don’t hesitate to ask us if you have any questions.

Determining the Right Gear

When it comes to clothing, there are two levels to consider: Level 1/FIE (also marked as 800N or FIE 800N or 1600N masks) and Club or 350N. Level 1/FIE gear is designed for top Open-A grades, interstate competitions for individuals over 15 years old, and veterans. The “N” denotes the Newton meters of resistance. Club or 350N gear is suitable for all other types of fencing, including club sessions, kids’ grades, and Open-B grade (intermediate fencers of all ages). Unless your child is approaching the age of 15, Club or 350N gear will be perfectly adequate.

Jackets, breeches, and lames are specific to left or right-handed fencers, so make sure to choose the correct ones accordingly.

Masks follow the same grading system, with Level 1/FIE masks offering 1600N resistance and club masks offering 350N. Some masks come with detachable padding, which is convenient for washing and fine adjustments. Avoid purchasing a “Sabre” mask unless you specifically need one.

Most of our kids learn foil fencing unless you have chosen epee for them. For foil fencing, masks with a silver metallic fabric lame bib, known as “foil masks,” are suitable. Lame bibs are not required until kids compete in U15 competitions, so a plain or epee mask will suffice for 8-10-year-olds if that’s all you can find.

Recommended First Items to Purchase

The first items to acquire are a mask and jacket since they are the most personal pieces of equipment and it’s important for them to fit well. Breeches, a plastron (half-shirt), a plastic chest guard for girls, and a lame vest are the next items to consider. These items are available for use at the club. We also offer gloves and ASC socks.

Sizing and Trying On

We provide jackets and masks in a range of sizes from various sellers for you to try on. Most sellers offer size charts based on height, ranging from 142 to 150 centimetres tall or X-small to X-large for masks.

Swords

We do not recommend purchasing your own sword unless you are willing and knowledgeable enough to fix it or cover the costs of repairs and servicing. Blades can snap and need to be tested before competitions. Dummy or training foils, also known as non-electric or “steam” foils, are inexpensive and perfect for home use and coaching.

Recommended Sellers

For budget-friendly options, we recommend the following AliExpress suppliers with prices starting as low as $70 for masks and jackets, including delivery. Keep an eye out for free shipping and full sets:

WS Fencing (China) Aliexpress: wsfencing.aliexpress.com/store/3938011

Perfect Fencing Store (China) Aliexpress: chinafencing.aliexpress.com/store/1626

Many Australian fencers and clubs rely on these two AliExpress suppliers. They often offer free shipping.

For reliable local options within Australia, consider the following sellers. Please email them first to check availability, as their websites may not always reflect current stock:

• Jeff Grey (Sydney): jgfencesport.com/equipment.html
• Fencing Imports Australia (Melbourne): fencingimports.com.au
• Swordplay (Sydney): swordsplay.com

If you’re ready to explore higher-level gear, remember that shipping

 costs can be expensive. Feel free to reach out to us for advice. Here are some recommended options:

• PBT Fencing (Hungary): shop.pbtfencing.com
• Absolute Fencing (USA): https://www.absolutefencinggear.com/
• Leon Paul (UK): leonpaul.com (known for quality, but pricier than other brands) Avoid purchasing from Leon Paul Australia, as they add extra shipping costs.

Avoid buying from Amazon or eBay, as we cannot vouch for the authenticity and quality of the products available there.

We hope this guide helps you make informed decisions when purchasing fencing equipment. If you have any further questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us.