Guide to Buying HEMA Gear
About HEMA 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.
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Always talk to your instructors before purchasing a practice weapon.
About Gear Requirements
Some of our classes require fencing equipment to participate.
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.
Refer to the Course Catalog for more information about what gear you need for specific classes. If you have any questions about gear for a particular class check with your instructors.
Gotham Swords Uniform
Once you begin to frequently attend class you will be expected to procure a uniform and some basic training equipment:
Fencing Shirt — Gotham Swords shirt.
Fencing Pants: Historical ¾ Length in Black or Purple Sport Kilt* (*recommend "men's cut" for all genders).
Over-knee Socks in Purple
Fencing Shoes: Flat Bruce Lee Shoes, Feiyue Shoes, or flat heeled shoes.
Wooden Sword Trainers can be acquired here.
Fencing Mask and Light Gloves — see below!
No Gear
Only comfortable athletic clothing and shoes required!
Minimal Gear
HEMA 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).
Practice Weapons
Always talk to your instructors before purchasing a practice weapon.
Practice Weapons
Arms-N-Armor — Longswords, arming swords rapiers, messers, etc.
Castille Armory — Excellent supplier of single and two-handed weapon trainers.
Zen Warrior Armory — Smallswords, sabers, and rapiers.
Sigi Forge — Longswords, sabers, arming swords.
HEMA Supplies — Many brands of longswords, sabers, arming swords, messers, etc.
Full Kit
Heavy HEMA Gloves for practice with steel
Padded Jacket
Gorget / Throat Protector
Additional Body Protection
Mac-Armour: Legs, Knees, Shins, Elbows, Forearms
SPES padded tasset (aka “battle skirt”)
Athletic Cup
Chest Protector
Absolute Force chest guard (recommended for all body shapes)