In Practice - Basic practice equipment or “dry” gear is the minimum required for non-tournament fencing.

1. Practice Weapon - either a foil, épée or saber. Foils and épées have blunt plastic or rubber tip on the end. 
   

2. Mask - The heavy, strong steel mesh can resist even the hardest of hits. They also have a heavily padded bib that protects the throat.
   

3. Glove - protects the hand and includes a thick cuff to protect the wrist. Worn only on the weapon hand.
   

4. Jacket - made of denim, kevlar or other approved protective cloth, the jacket protects the torso, including the groin.
   

5. Chest Protector - this plastic guard is only required for ladies, although men’s styles are available.
   

6. Plastron - also known as an underarm protector, it provides an additional layer of cloth in the most frequently hit target.
   

Competition Equipment - Competition equipment, or “electric” gear, is required to use the electronic scoring machines and for tournaments. This equipment is used in addition to the “dry” gear, except for the electric weapons, with must be used instead of the practice weapons.

1. Electric Weapon - either a foil, épée or saber that includes wiring and a socket for the scoring machine connection.
   

2. Body Cord - Connects the fencer’s electric equipment to the scoring machine.
   

3. Lamé - Metallic vest in foil or jacket in saber that allows hits to register in the legal target. Not required in épée since the whole body is target.
   

4. Scoring Machine - The electronic box that registers touches and alerts the referee. Some machines can also record score, time and other information. Setup include floor cords and reels, all of which allows the machine to be connected to the fencers’ body cords. Provided by the tournament organizers.
   

Foothills fencing academy sells a full range of high quality practice and competition equipment. (Discounts below catalog price are available for members only.)