True Edge Academy of Swordsmanship
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SLO
True Edge Academy of Swordsmanship
Home
Locations
  • Salt Lake City/Holladay
  • Orem/UVU
  • Other local HEMA
Resources
  • TESL
  • TES
  • Recommended Gear
  • Ox and Plow - Club Gear
  • Links to Books
  • Club Research
  • Community HEMA Calendar
SLO
More
  • Home
  • Locations
    • Salt Lake City/Holladay
    • Orem/UVU
    • Other local HEMA
  • Resources
    • TESL
    • TES
    • Recommended Gear
    • Ox and Plow - Club Gear
    • Links to Books
    • Club Research
    • Community HEMA Calendar
  • SLO
  • Home
  • Locations
    • Salt Lake City/Holladay
    • Orem/UVU
    • Other local HEMA
  • Resources
    • TESL
    • TES
    • Recommended Gear
    • Ox and Plow - Club Gear
    • Links to Books
    • Club Research
    • Community HEMA Calendar
  • SLO

Recommended Gear

Masks

Fencing Masks are the go-to HEMA head protection. Picture courtesy of Purpleheart Armoury.

Jackets

Jackets are made of pierce-resistant layers of cloth and help absorb impact. Picture courtesy of Purpleheart Armory.

Gloves

Hand Protection comes in many styles and functionalities. Picture courtesy of Purpleheart Armoury.

Pants

Hard Protection/Miscellaneous

Fencing pants are usually recommended but not required for most tournaments and sparring. Picture courtesy of Purpleheart Armoury

Hard Protection/Miscellaneous

Hard Protection/Miscellaneous

Hard Protection/Miscellaneous

Hard plastic protection for joints and other vulnerable areas. Picture courtesy of Purpleheart Armoury.

Swords

Hard Protection/Miscellaneous

Hard Protection/Miscellaneous

Practice Swords come in many shapes and sizes.

Banned/Disallowed/Low Quality/Gear of Concern Section

Buyer's Beware- Not all gear labeled "HEMA gear" is worth your time or money.

HEMA as a martial art is still young in practice, but many years were spent and wasted trying out sports gear, motorcycle gear, and other bits and bobs to get to the current status quo. Here is a list of items we do not recommend for your practice:

 

Kingston Arms Federschwert- Do not buy this weapon. It is prone to breaking very quickly, with little predictability or effort, into 2 or more pieces (we’ve seen 5 from one sword). 


Wish.com- Anything claiming to be an arming jacket or other piece of HEMA-style equipment is a fake and easily destroyable. We have disassembled a jacket with laughable ease.


VB techniques blunt-style practice swords- Blunt-style swords are often not safe to hit others with. A blunted sword that could be sharp is far worse. But often “practice” swords that have a blade shaped profile are not suitable for most sparring purposes.


5-finger Sparring Glove gloves- These are not suitable for longsword fencing as the resin can fail and lead to mangled fingers. They can be used for smaller weapons at your own risk and discretion. These have had at least 2 local finger fractures.


AF HEMA gloves- Some of the worst functioning gloves, failing on aspects of general usability.


SupFen Gloves- Plastic used on all their gloves tends to be brittle and fails under general use. Other quality issues as well. Buy at your own risk as quality varies heavily.


Blackhorse Blades: Crowbar. Owner also banned from the community in general.


Darksword Armory HEMA Federschwert: A promising design belies some heft, stiffness and balance issues, as well as an extremely spiky schilt. Not recommended.


SCA-style gambesons or other homemade padded gear: we cannot ensure safety and quality control on gear of this type. Some tournaments do not allow gear of these types.


Gambesons with front lacing or buttons as the primary closure, or with gaps in the armpits. Primary closure must be a zipper.


Motorcycle gear as primary protection: while “armored”, motogear has no pierce-proof qualities. Leather, in general, is not pierce-proof.


Gambesons/Jackets lacking throat protection/blade catch.

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