The equipment needed for our classes depend on the weapon being used. Note that sparring has stricter requirements than drills.
Long Rapier
This includes 17th century Italian rapier and Spanish rapier.
Drilling
- Mask
- Gorget
- Glove on the off-hand
Sparring
- Puncture rated jacket. Modern fencing jackets are acceptable.
- Light gloves or better
- No exposed skin
Recommended
- Hard elbow and knee pads
- Chest protector
Synthetic Swords
This includes one and two-handed plastic swords.
Drilling
- Mask
- Gorget
- Lacrosse gloves or better
- Hard elbow
- Hard knee pads, if they are targeted for the drill
Sparring
- Hard knee pads
Recommended
- Padded jackets
- Fingertip protectors in the gloves
- 5-Finger or clamshell gauntlets, if the hilt allows
- Chest protector
Steel One-handed Swords
Drilling
- Mask
- Gorget
- Hard elbow and knee pads
- Lacrosse gloves or better, if the hilt allows
Sparring
- Padded and puncture-resistant jacket.
Recommended
- Fingertip protectors in the gloves
- 5-Finger or clamshell gauntlets, if the hilt allows
- Hard forearm guards
- Hard shin guards
- Chest protector
Steel Two-handed Swords
Drilling
- Mask
- Gorget
- Hard elbow and knee pads
- 5-Finger or clamshell gauntlets
Sparring
- Padded and puncture-resistant jacket
- Clamshell gauntlet on upper hand
- 5-Finger or clamshell gauntlet on lower hand
Recommended
- Hard forearm guards
- Chest protector
Staves
Assumes a foam or flexible rubber head if physical contact is being made.
Drilling
- Mask
- Gorget
- Hard elbow and knee pads
- Lacrosse gloves or better
Sparring
- Padded jacket
- Hard shin guards
Recommended
- Fingertip protectors in the gloves
- 5-Finger or clamshell gauntlets
- Hard forearm guards
- Chest protector
Terminology
- 5-Finger gauntlet: Hand protection where each finger is individually covered on three sides by hard plastic or metal plates.
- Clamshell gauntlet: Hand protection where all 4 fingers are covered by the same set of plates.
- Gorget: Neck and throat protection made from plastic or metal plates.
- Gauntlet: Hand protection made from overlapping plastic or metal plates.
- Glove: Hand protection made predominately from soft material. May have some hard plates.
- Longsword jacket: Shorthand for a jacket that is both padded and puncture resistant.
- Mitten gauntlet: See clamshell gauntlet.
- Padded jacket: A jacket that can cushion blows, including heavy leather or winter coats. Not necessarily puncture resistant.
- Puncture-resistant jacket. A jacket advertised to resist being punctured by at least 350N of force. Not necessarily padded.