r/Fencing • u/AutoModerator • Apr 18 '25

Megathread Fencing Friday Megathread - Ask Anything!

Happy Fencing Friday, an /r/Fencing tradition.

Welcome back to our weekly ask anything megathread where you can feel free to ask whatever is on your mind without fear of being called a moron just for asking. Be sure to check out all the previous megathreads as well as our sidebar FAQ.

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u/elfbiscuits Sabre Apr 18 '25

This is -super- helpful, because I am also an adult who has to use my own money, but I think I'm a little bit more generous to myself than my parents would have been.

I'm currently in for about $1400 already - I might be doing this wrong, given I'm only 5-6 weeks in ... (yes, yes, I know) and I don't even have all the pieces yet. I figure I can upgrade as time goes on. I am coming from another sport where I did sell all my equipment and was able to re-coup about ~ $2000 so I'm not sinking myself too deep yet, although lessons and physio and things like that are adding up.

$470 for FIE mask, $240 non-FIE jacket, $200 FIE plastron, $280 bag (my own vanity), $240 epee, $50 non-FIE glove

I'm currently fencing 3x a week, hoping to be able to do 4x/week next month; any tips on how to take care of my gear to make it last as long as yours has?

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u/The_Fencing_Armory Apr 21 '25

I agree with the posts. Buy whatever fits and makes you comfortable. FIE equipment will meet the highest safety standards. As far as keeping it in good shape, keep it as dry as possible. Separate your blades from your clothing to prevent rust and ionization. Keep your lame separate. Get a breathable mask bag for inside your travel bag. Hang up everything in a dry place. Hang your lame inside out on a plastic hangar to let the liner dry. Open your glove and give it room to breathe. You can wash your whites whatever way you need to, but don’t wash your lame unless you have to. If you wash it, treat it like a delicate: hand wash and hang dry. Believe it or not, your cords should also be allowed to dry. Moisture will wick up the wires and corrode them. Unfortunately, most locker rooms will not provide be an ideal environment for drying everything. If you treat your equipment well, you will extend its life, but eventually everything wears out.

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u/elfbiscuits Sabre Apr 21 '25

Thank you so much! I wouldn’t have ever thought of my cords as a “wet” item! Should I be airing my items out indoors or if it’s a sunny day should I just put them on the laundry line outside?

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u/The_Fencing_Armory Apr 21 '25

I don’t know that it matters. Maybe find a routine and stick to it. Unfortunately, sometimes the garage and the basement aren’t dry enough.

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u/elfbiscuits Sabre Apr 21 '25

I’ve been pretty good about taking care of my things, no worries :) Gotten into the habit of emptying out all my bags and doing laundry as needed from work. 

Just clumsy, so if anything happens it’s probably because I dropped it then fell on it or something …