Fencing Mask

When choosing a fencing mask its good it understand that not all fencing masks are created equal. Be wary of cheap or old fencing masks from amazon, ebay, or facebook marketplace. Fencing masks do eventually have to be replaced after a number of years depending on frequency of use. Your head is one of the most important parts of your body, if there is one piece of gear to invest in, its your fencing mask. Here are some considerations when buying mask.

Mesh & bib rating

For the most part, the steel mesh of the masks are fairly similar between manufacturers. Some are carbon steel while others are stainless but regardless, the mask should be hard enough to not dent from normal strikes. The bib of the mask is made with puncture resistant fabric with varying levels. The two main certification labels to look out for are FIE and CE. FIE (International Fencing Federation) and CE (European Conformity) are both standards created from the olympic fencing world, they represent rigorous testing of the equipment to meet safety standards. Youll also see a Newton rating “350N”, “1600N”. This refers to the puncture resistance of the bib below the mesh.

The minimum requirement for Snohomish Dueling Society is CE Level 1 (350 N) Certified

Sizing

Masks come in various sizing so its useful to try a few on before buying your own. The club has common for its loaner gear that you can try on. When it comes to how a mask should fit, it should be snug on your head but not super tight. Your chin should fit in the chin rest and you should be able to speak without difficulty. The sides of the mask and back tongue are adjustable to fit to your head. We can help you adjust your mask at practice.

Back of head protection

When you feel like you are ready to move on from foam and onto steel or synthetics, you will need back of the head protection for sparring. We don’t try to hit each other on the back of the head but sometimes there are stray blows. Back of the head protection covers that area to prevent injury and usually has a mixture of padding and rigid protectors. Some versions are overlays and are separate pieces of equipment that are designed to fit over a standard mask. Some fencing masks have the back of the head protection built into the mask and can not be removed.

Where to buy your equipment and recommendations

We recommend you shop at specific HEMA or historical fencing shops and that you buy your mask new if possible. Here is our recommendation of the type of mask and a few shops that sell them.

Shops: https://www.woodenswords.com/ , https://socalswords.com/ , https://www.absolutefencinggear.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=hema ,