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Please find the below the comprehensive list of all equipment required for participation in our tournaments:

Steel Simulators:

Tournaments are conducted on a BYOS (Bring Your Own Sword) basis. Organizers will have some spare weapons supplied by themselves, but it is recommended to bring your own.

For Longsword:

  • Steel HEMA sparring longsword or federschwert with safe flex, blunt edges and safe point
  • Weight range: 1350-1650 grams
  • Max blade length: 102 cm
  • Flex: 15-20 kg

For Sabre:

  • Steel HEMA sparring sabre with safe flex, blunt edges and safe point
  • Weight range: 750-950 grams
  • Max blade length: 88 cm
  • Flex: 11-20 kg

For Sidesword:

  • Steel HEMA sparring sidesword with safe flex, blunt edges and safe point
  • Max weight: 1150 grams
  • Max blade length: 95 cm
  • Flex: 11 – 20 kg

    Sidesword companion:
  • Steel HEMA buckler, max diameter 34 cm, min weight: 900 g (no buckler strikes allowed),
  • Steel HEMA parrying dagger, allowed blade length: 35-45 cm, flex: 9 – 20 kg

Each weapon will be checked for signs of damage. Flex is tested by pulling down the crossguard towards the scale until it flexes 5-7 cm. There is a required minimum of 12 mm sq surface area for tips (too small tips may be rejected or required a thermoplastic to be applied over)


Protective Gear:

  • Fencing Mask: must be in good condition with no tears, large dents or any other signs of overuse that would make it unsuitable for competition.
  • Mask overlay: SPES/Red Dragon or similar overlay for the fencing mask,
  • Back of the Head Protection: rigid protector covering back of the head with no significant gaps,
  • Throat Protection: rigid throat guard (gorget) or a layered throat protection preventing the blade to go under the bib (3 layers minimum),
  • Fencing Jacket: well padded HEMA jacket offering good protection against strikes with a tag showing at least 350N rating (under plastrons/rigid chest protectors are highly recommended),
  • Fencing Pants/Skirts: well padded HEMA pants or skirts with a tag showing at least 350N rating
  • Elbow Protector: hard shell protection of the elbow joints,
  • Knee Protector: hard shell protection of the knee joints,
  • Shin Protection: hard shell protection of the shin is required,
  • Forearms Protection: additional forearm protection is recommended,
  • Gloves: sparring gloves with full level of protection applicable to chosen weapon, eg. Sparring Gloves, SPES heavy gloves etc., (Note: Red Dragon gloves are only acceptable for single handed swords with SPES fingertip protectors highly recommended)
  • Groin Guard: Obligatory for men,
  • Rigid Chest Protector: Obligatory for women.