Guide to Buying
Training Equipment

PROTECTIVE GEAR

As you progress in your training and want to participate in more advanced exercises, you'll be required to obtain the appropriate protective equipment. This guide is designed to help you understand the best order in which you should purchase your gear, along with a list of suggested vendors.

We understand that obtaining gear can be an expensive and lengthy process. Students will often take a year or more to fully acquire a full “tournament ready” kit.

Classes range in gear requirements from:

• No Gear — only comfortable athletic clothing and shoes.

• Minimal Gear — mask, light or heavy gloves.

• Full Kit — mask, jacket, heavy gloves, gorget, chest protector required, lower body and elbow protection strongly encouraged.

If you have any questions about gear for a particular class check with your instructors.

HEMA Fencing Mask

• • Absolute Force HEMA fencing mask

  • Horse Bows fencing mask

  • Zen Warrior Armory fencing masks (requires additional back of the head protection).

  • Darkwood Armory fencing mask (requires additional back of the head protection).

Soft Padded Gloves

• • Historica Swordplay Padded Gloves 

  • Zen Warrior Armory Padded Gloves

  • Darkwood Armory Padded Leather Gloves

  • Absolute Force Three Weapon Glove

Heavy HEMA Gloves

• • Sparring Gloves

  • SPES Lobster Heavy Gloves

  • Thokk Weapon Masters

Padded Jackets

• • Historica Padded HEMA Jacket

  • SPES AP Light jacket [men’s] [women’s]

  • SPES Officer’s jacket

Gorget / Throat Protector

• • Zen Warrior Armory rapier gorget

  • Castille Armory stainless steel gorget

  • Red Dragon gorget

  • Historica Store Half- or Full Brigandine Gorget

Additional Body Protection

• • Mac-Armour: Legs, Knees, Shins, Elbows, Forearms

  • Shin Guards

  • Elbows Guards  Type 1 or Type 2

  • SPES padded tasset (aka “battle skirt”)

  • Athletic Cup

Chest Protector

• • Absolute Force chest guard (recommended for all body shapes)

  • Mac-Armour [men’s] [women’s]