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HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE:
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE:
Gear listed here that is ENDORSED is a recommended option.
Gear that is ALLOWED can be purchased without approval from club leadership.
BANNED items are not allowed.
If an item is not listed here, ask club leadership before purchasing, or run the risk of it be not approved.
First 45 days - Required Gear
First 45 days - Required Gear
To help keep loaner gear available for new students, we require a gorget, mask, and chest protector be purchased in the first 45 days after becoming a full member.
Gorget (Throat Protector)
Gorget (Throat Protector)
Endorsed
Red Dragon
Tempus Fugitives
Black Armoury Arcem
Vytis
Allowed
SPES
PBT
Winter Tree
Banned
DMZ (grandfathered for existing members)
Mask
Mask
Endorsed
Fait D'armes
Absolute Force
Any coach's mask
Any mask purchased through club group order
Allowed
PBT
Allstar
Uhlmann
Wukusi
Rearguard
Banned
Red Dragon
Chest Protector
Chest Protector
Endorsed
Masterguard
Absolute Force
Allowed
Tempus Fugitives
PBT
Groin Protection
Groin Protection
Required if you have external genitals.
Any protective cup
External Muay Thai or Kickboxing groin/abdomen protectors
POST 45 DAY GEAR BUYS
POST 45 DAY GEAR BUYS
While there is plenty of club gear on loan, there will always be "not enough." That's by design - enough to help new people get started, but not so much that you can rely on having stuff without sharing. Do not rely on club gear - you will need to eventually buy your own.
Back of the Head Protector
Back of the Head Protector
Endorsed
SPES Unity or Trinity
PBT Mask Cover
Allowed
Red Dragon
AF Deluxe Mask Cover with Back of Head
Banned
SPES BOH-Only
Gloves for Longsword, Arming Sword, & Messer
Gloves for Longsword, Arming Sword, & Messer
Endorsed
SPES Heavies
HF Armoury "Black Knight" clamshell
CFHG "Michael" and "Gabriel" gloves
Allowed
Progauntlet
Kvetun clamshell
Sparring Gloves infinity gauntlets, mittens, and hoofs (with liner gloves such that no skin is visible while fencing)
Banned
Steel gauntlets of any kind.
Koning gloves
hockey gloves or red dragons (allowed for drilling only)
Sparring Gloves "5 Finger Special" Gloves (old five fingered model from SG, replaced by infinity gauntlet model)
Gloves for Saber, Rapier, and complex-hilted Sideswords
Gloves for Saber, Rapier, and complex-hilted Sideswords
Endorsed
Any endorsed or allowed glove fro Longsword, Arming Sword & Messer listed above that can fit into the guard of your weapon is permitted for these swords
HF Black Knight Saber gloves
Allowed
Purpleheart's Rapier & Singlestick gloves (the most common option)
Lacrosse, hockey, motocross and similar padded gloves
Banned
Epee / Sport fencing gloves / PBT Light gloves - only permitted for sport sabers and smallswords, or under Sparring Gloves
Padded leather gloves - grandfathered only for members currently using these gloves already
Unpadded / light leather gloves - not permitted
Shins/Knees
Shins/Knees
Endorsed
Kneepro knees
field hockey shins or hema shins - MUST HAVE ankle protection
Allowed
SPES Knees
Ultraflex Knee
Per case basis
catcher's legs (too many have gaps, must be assessed individually)
Elbows/Forearms
Elbows/Forearms
Endorsed
SPES Elbows (the standard)
Wuwuzao elbow + forearm - Previously found on aliexpress, now may be difficult to find
Promtetheus packs forearms
Purpleheart Encased Forearm / Elbow Guard set
Allowed
Art by Amber Damare forearms
Purpleheart Armory economy elbows
DMZ Forearms
SPES forearms (all types)
DIY Kydex forearms
Banned
elbows for other sports
Jackets
Jackets
Endorsed
SPES AP Light
SPES Officer
HS Scholar Jacket
Allowed
Any other SPES Jacket
PBT
Uhlmann/In-Motu
Black Armoury
Ultima Ratio
Golden Falcon
Banned
Steel Mastery
Larp/Reenactment Gambesons
Homemade gambesons will only be approved once completed - do so at your own risk.
Longswords
Longswords
Purchase your sword LAST. We have lots of swords to try and recommend, plenty on the rack to have fun with, so please make sure you try a bunch of them out before you buy anything.
Your sword is also your fencing partner's primary piece of safety equipment. Very heavy swords or any sword that describes itself as "stiff" or "heavy" flex is generally inappropriate, even if it is sold by endorsed brands or vendors.
Endorsed
Most Sigi Forge models, including the Feder, Light, Concept / Lichty, Gothic, and Maestro.
Allowed
Sigi King - this is one of the only "blunt" or schiltless longswords we permit in the club
Regenyei and VB longswords with light or medium flex
Any longsword with rings - be aware ring hits can and should be counted as hand hits
Banned
All other blunt / schiltless longswords
Regenyei or VB swords with heavy or strong flex
Any and all sharps regardless of maker, model, or "I ground down the edges so it's safe to fence with!" Do not bring sharps into the club under any circumstances unless explicitly told to do so by leadership.
Endorsed Vendors
Endorsed Vendors
Purpleheart Armory: https://www.woodenswords.com/
You could easily outfit yourself exclusively at Purpleheart. Some custom-order items will take months to work their way through a vendor queue, but many items are in-stock and they are in Texas, so items will come to you very quickly.
Sigi Forge: https://sigiforge.com/
All items here are custom made to order. Please note the current production timelines and expected shipping time from Slovakia. IMPORTANT: Sigi does not have vendor agreements with any distributors. Just buy Sigi swords direct.
While you can order SPES jackets and other gear through Purpleheart, you can also order directly from SPES. This may or may not get you custom items more quickly, and it may or may not cost less; your items will be shipping from Poland, however, so please figure that into your choices. Also, they occasionally sell returns, discontinued stock, and other items at a deep discount in their Outlet section.
Important Note
Important Note
HEMA Supplies commonly shows up in google results for gear and weapons. However, there have been many horror stories of absent customer service and lack of fulfillment of orders, ultimately requiring chargebacks or Paypal intervention. Vendors like Regenyei and Sparring Gloves have reported (in October 2024) that they no longer have a relationship with HEMA Supplies and have not fulfilled any orders from HEMA Supplies since early 2024 or late 2023; however, HEMA Supplies has items from those vendors listed and takes orders for those items. As a result, we cannot recommend HEMA Supplies. Order at your own risk.
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