Gear
Below is our recommended list of gear for participating in drills/partnered work.
Links provided are for Purpleheart Armory, a reliable distributor of quality HEMA goods. Superior Fencing provides more affordable HEMA products, but has a questionable reputation in the HEMA community. The USA retailer for Blackfencer, a good source for weapons, is SoCal Swords. SoCal Swords also distributes SupFen in the US. For more information, speak to a club member.
Beginner Recommendations
Required
Synthetic Saber Drills
AF Basic HEMA Fencing Mask
Lacrosse Gloves or Singlestick Gloves
Longsword Drills
AF Basic HEMA Fencing Mask
Lacrosse Gloves
Optional
Elbow and/or forearm padding
Full-Speed Sparring Requirements
Longsword (Steel or Synthetic)
SPES AP Jacket with additional protection (plastic men’s, women’s)
SPES Dragonfly Fencing Pants
HF Armory Black Knight Gloves
Appropriate back-of-head protection
Gorget
Hard elbow and knee protection
Forearm and shin protection
Groin protection and/or breast protection
Saber (Steel or Synthetic)
Appropriate back-of-head protection
SPES Officer Jacket or similar light jacket (men’s, women’s, higher protection) with additional protection (plastic men’s, women’s)
SPES Locust or Dragonfly Fencing Pants
HF Armory Black Knight Gloves for Steel
Hard elbow and knee protection
Forearm protection
Shin protection (recommended, but not required)
Groin protection and/or breast protection
Singlestick
AF Basic HEMA Fencing Mask
Heavy hoodie or HEMA Hoodie
Singlestick Gloves
Hard elbow protection (recommended, but not required)
Weapons
Longsword
Wooden (for techniques only)
Synthetic
Saber
Infantry Synthetic
Hungarian Length Synthetic
Scottish Broadsword
Synthetic
Spadroon
Basic Synthetic
HQ Synthetic
Singlestick
Cheaper Option (you may want gloves due to basket style)
Super Extra Cheap Option
Hickory or Rattan with Leather Basket
Hickory or Rattan with Synthetic Basket
Bayonet
Trainer
Lancaster Historical European Martial Arts 