Fencing Apparel

The Best Fencing Apparel for Olympic-style Competition

When you're just starting out in the world of fencing, you may need to get used to all the various terms, including the clothing included in fencing apparel.

Introduction to the Sport and Fencing Apparel

Fencing is a uniquely beautiful and vintage sport that hails back to some of the first Olympics (1896). Requiring you to perform well under pressure, you must hone in on high levels of agility, physical strength, understanding, and intelligence. This sport demands hard work and dedication, physically and mentally. It's a wonderful activity to get into, whether you're looking for a new challenge as an adult or if your child is looking for a new challenge or a way to get college scholarships. Having the right apparel for fencing is essential, as it can impact your performance at a high level. If you're a beginner or intermediate fencer, be sure to focus on footwork, develop your reaction time, and seek out the best coaching staff you can learn from! A suitable fencing apparel collection will set you up for success as you begin to learn the art of fencing.

Essential Fencing Apparel

Depending on which form you will be competing in, you may need a few individual items to get started, as well as a fencing starter set. Our starter sets include a weapon glove, fencing knickers, a practice weapon (sabre, foil, or epee), a body cord, mask, jacket, underarm protector or under plastron, and a chest protector for females. Each of these pieces is essential for fencing. Let's look a little closer at how the various fencing apparel pieces function.

Your Weapon: Sabres, Epée, and Foil — With each of these styles, the rules of play depend on the weapon you use.

• With épée, you have a slightly weightier weapon and a larger target area. Both foil and épée fencing only score by using the point of the blade.
• Foil fencing demands planning skills and precision. It is a lighter weapon with a smaller target area, so you must be precise!
• Sabres use cutting and thrusting with both the "sharp" and blunt back of the blade.

To summarize, the foil is intended for thrusting attacks to the torso; the sabre is designed for thrusting attacks to the upper body; and the epee is intended for thrusting attacks on the whole body. Each weapon and style of play has its own rules, strategies, and struggles for the competitor to master — you must adapt your game and techniques to each!

The Mask — This essential accessory protects your face and head from any injury. The fencer wears it over his head and face, with metal mesh covering the face while allowing the fencer to see.

Jacket (lamé) — The fencing jacket protects the torso and arms with a thick padding. Since the abdomen is often the area where points are scored, it protects the fencer from hits from the opponent's blade.

Pants (knickers) — The knickers protect to just below the knee and are reinforced with padding.

Glove — The specialized reinforced glove covers the hand that holds the weapon, helping to provide an excellent grip as well as protecting from any mistaken hit.

Body Cord — Connects the competitor's clothes to the scoring gear in electric scoring.

Underarm protector (plastron) and Chest protector (for women) — Provides more protection and support to fencing competitors.

Fencing Shoes — The special shoes help the fencer have a good grip on the mat while conducting quick movements and footwork.

How to Choose the Right Apparel

When you decide to jump into the sport of fencing you may wonder how to choose the right fencing apparel. As we said earlier, our starter sets are a great way to get everything you need to start competing, except for the fencing shoes, which you would purchase separately. If, for any reason, your starter set does not fit properly, we can provide a 90-day money-back guarantee to give you the precise fit that you need. Be sure to get something that will last long-term — our Morehead options are made of the highest-quality, ensuring you have a good start in your new sport.

Sizing Notes for Fencing Apparel

When putting in the order for your equipment, having the correct size is essential so that you can be appropriately protected and can move freely when you're on the fencing strip. Here are some easy tips to help you get a perfect size.

• Consider how it should fit. You want your equipment, from the face mask to your shoes, to fit snugly, providing the most protection as well as freedom in your movements. But it would help if you didn't have equipment that is so tight that you feel like you can't move. If you find yourself measuring between different sizes, consider moving up a size to have the most comfortable fit and room to grow.
• Take your measurements. Use a tape measure and write down your measurements in inches as accurately as possible. Measure your chest, hips, waist, and inseam so you have all the numbers you need when placing your order. Our provided sizing chart will help you determine the best fit from our manufacturer's point of view.
• Talk with an expert. We always recommend speaking with your coaching staff to ensure that you get the right equipment, or reach out to us at support@morehousefencinggear.com if you have any questions — we can help you with the sizing guide. If you are unsure about the fit and the size, after receiving your purchase, you can show your new equipment to your fencing coaches. They can help determine if it is, in fact, the right size and if it can meet your fencing needs.

Additional Equipment to Consider

For the sport of fencing, you may need to also purchase fencing socks as well as a bag that is dedicated to storing and transporting your equipment to practices or competitions. In fencing, you may travel a lot to competitions, so you need a bag that will withstand lots of use from flying.

Purchasing Your Fencing Apparel

Because of this sport's unique needs, having the right equipment for fencing is essential. Morehouse Fencing Gear provides high-quality fencing apparel for early to experienced Olympic-style training and proudly provides some of the premier fencing apparel curated by former Olympian Tim Morehouse! As you look through the various fencing apparel, be sure to get advice from a coach or experienced fencer before purchasing your equipment. Shop our gear today. We look forward to helping you or your child find the perfect fencing gear to get this new hobby started.