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Starting fencing is one of the most rewarding things you can do for fitness, focus and confidence, and the good news is that you need far less equipment to begin than a full catalogue might suggest. This guide walks through how to start fencing, what to buy first and in what order, how the three weapons differ, what the 350N and 800N ratings actually mean, and how to get the sizing right, so that you can turn up to your first sessions properly equipped without buying kit you will not need for months.
The best first step is not a purchase at all but a club, because fencing is a sport you learn from a coach, and almost every club runs beginner courses where the masks, jackets and weapons are provided so that you can try the sport before committing to any equipment of your own. British Fencing, the national governing body, keeps a club finder that lists affiliated clubs across the country, and it is the most reliable way to find a club near you, whether that is a community club, a school or university club, or a leisure-centre session.
Most people spend their first few weeks on borrowed club kit, which is no bad thing, because by the time you are ready to buy you will know which weapon you enjoy, roughly what size you are, and how often you are likely to fence. That is the point at which owning your own equipment starts to make sense, partly for comfort and hygiene and partly because kit that fits you properly is more comfortable and protective than whatever happens to be left in the club bag.
If you are going to buy in stages, the order that most fencers and coaches follow puts the items that touch your face and body first, since those are the ones that are most personal and the ones where fit matters most, and leaves the weapon until you are sure of your discipline.
Women and girls will also want a chest protector, which sits under the jacket and is required for female fencers in competition, and which many find more comfortable in club fencing too. We stock chest protectors in women's and girls' sizes, and in men's and boys' sizes for anyone who would like the extra protection.
If you would rather see everything a newcomer needs in one place, our beginner fencing equipment and starter kit range gathers the masks, clothing, gloves and complete weapons that make up a first kit, so that you can put it together without hunting through the whole shop.
Fencing has three weapons, and although the clothing is shared between them, the mask and the weapon itself are specific to each, so the lists below set out what a complete beginner kit looks like for foil, épée and sabre. Many clubs start beginners on foil because its small target and right-of-way rules teach precise technique and good habits, but there is no wrong answer, and plenty of fencers start on épée or sabre and never look back.
The foil is a light thrusting weapon, and only hits with the point on the torso count, which makes it a very technical weapon to learn and the one most juniors start with. A beginner's foil kit includes:
All of our foil equipment, from complete weapons and blades to grips, points and spares, is in the foil range.
The épée is the heaviest of the three thrusting weapons, the whole body is a valid target and there are no right-of-way rules, so it rewards patience, timing and tactical thinking, and it suits fencers who enjoy reading an opponent. A beginner's épée kit includes:
Everything else for the weapon, including blades, guards, grips and points, is in the épée range.
The sabre is a cutting as well as a thrusting weapon, the target is everything above the waist including the arms and head, and bouts tend to be fast and explosive, which is a big part of its appeal for fencers who like an attacking style. A beginner's sabre kit includes:
Blades, guards, grips and spares are in the sabre range.
When fencers talk about "steam" fencing they mean fencing without electric scoring, where hits are judged by eye, and this is how almost everybody learns. Electric fencing uses a scoring box that registers each hit with a light, and it is what competitions use, so most fencers move on to it once they start fencing scored bouts regularly.
Our complete foils, épées and sabres are wired for electric fencing, and an electric weapon works perfectly well for steam practice too, which means that buying one at the start saves you replacing the weapon later. When you do make the move to electric, you add a bodycord, which connects you to the scoring box, and for foil and sabre a lamé, the conductive jacket that marks out the target area:
You will find all of the electric components together in our lamés and wires ranges, and there is no need to buy any of them until you are actually fencing electric.
Fencing clothing carries a rating in newtons, most commonly 350N or 800N, which describes how much force the fabric will withstand before a broken blade could penetrate it, and understanding the difference stops you paying for a specification you do not yet need. 350N, also known as CE Level 1, is the standard for club fencing, training and most domestic competition, and it is the right choice for the great majority of people starting out, which is exactly why we concentrate our design, material sourcing and manufacturing on 350N equipment.
800N, or CE Level 2, is the higher rating that international competition under FIE rules requires, along with some higher-level domestic events, so it really only becomes relevant once you are competing at that level, and the rules of each competition will tell you what is needed. The one place where beginners commonly do meet 800N is the plastron, and our plastrons are rated 800N, which gives an extra margin of protection on the side of the body that takes the most hits while you build your technique. Our breeches are made to the CE 350N standard from a 400+ newton stretch fabric, with half-lined legs for added protection and comfort.
Children are not simply small adults when it comes to fencing kit, because jackets, masks and weapons are proportioned differently and young fencers use shorter blades that are easier to control, so it is worth buying from a children's range rather than sizing down an adult item. Our children's fencing kit includes masks for all three weapons, jackets in height-based sizes, breeches, plastrons, gloves and socks, while our adult fencing equipment covers the full-size range for men and women.
Blade length is described by size, from size 0 for the youngest fencers up to size 5 for a full-length adult blade, and our complete weapons and blades come in several sizes so that the weapon can grow with the fencer. Certain national and regional age-group competitions require blades shorter than the standard size 5, and as a general rule that means size 0 for under-10s in all three weapons, size 3 for under-14s in foil and size 2 for under-14s in épée and sabre, with size 5 for everyone over 14. Rules do vary from event to event, so it is always worth checking the entry form or asking the organisers before choosing a size, and our blade size chart sets this out at a glance.
Fencing clothing should be close-fitting without being restrictive, because a jacket that is too loose leaves gaps and folds while one that is too tight limits your lunge and arm movement, and the same is true of breeches. Rather than guessing from your everyday clothing size, take your measurements and compare them with our sizing charts, which cover clothing, masks and blade sizes, and remember that jackets, plastrons and gloves come in left-handed and right-handed versions, so choose the hand you hold your weapon in.
Masks are sized by head measurement, and a well-fitting mask sits firmly without rocking when you move your head, while children's jackets are sized by height so that the sleeves and the length of the jacket are right for a growing fencer. If you are between sizes, or buying for a child who is growing quickly, our team is very happy to help before you order, so give us a call on 01753 517 700 or email sales@bladesbrand.com, or visit our shop at 514 Ipswich Road, Slough.
If you are equipping a group rather than one fencer, perhaps a new club, a school programme or a university team, our clubs and schools page explains how we can help with sets of kit in a spread of sizes, and how to send us your list.
Ready to put your first kit together? Everything a beginner needs, from masks and jackets to complete weapons, is gathered in one place in our starter range.
To start fencing you need a mask for your weapon, a fencing jacket with a plastron underneath, a glove for your weapon hand and a weapon, with breeches and long fencing socks added once you begin to compete, and a chest protector for women and girls. Most clubs lend this kit to beginners, so you can usually try the sport before buying anything of your own.
The best first step is to find a club through the British Fencing club finder and book onto a beginner course, where equipment is normally provided. Once you know which weapon you enjoy and how often you will fence, you can start buying your own kit in stages, beginning with a mask and glove.
Yes. 350N, also called CE Level 1, is the standard for club fencing, training and most domestic competition, and it is the right choice for the great majority of beginners. 800N kit is required for international FIE competition and some higher-level events, so you only need it once you are competing at that level.
Many clubs start beginners on foil because it teaches precise technique, but épée and sabre are equally good places to start. If your club lets you try all three, pick the one you enjoy most and follow your coach’s advice.
No. Beginners usually fence steam, without electric scoring, so no bodycord or lamé is needed. A complete electric weapon still works for steam practice, and you can add a bodycord, plus a lamé for foil or sabre, when you start fencing scored bouts.
Compare your measurements with our sizing charts rather than relying on everyday clothing sizes, since jackets and breeches should be close-fitting without restricting movement, masks are sized by head measurement and children’s jackets are sized by height. If you are between sizes, call or email us and we will help before you order.