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Painting your HEMA mask with Posca: from base colors to details

Posted in: HEMA Culture

09/16/2026

With his photos and advice, Fred shows us how to create a design with a paint marker, from the large areas to the...

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Starting HEMA: What equipment do I need?

Rest assured: you don't need to assemble your complete gear before your second class. At Faits d’Armes, we sell equipment, but we also practice. Our advice to a newcomer at the club would be to start with a few well-chosen purchases, and then take the time to discover what suits them best.

Our Advice for Getting Started

Prioritize your mask and gloves. For the simulator, take advantage of the club's loan when it is available. You can then complete your equipment based on your trials and the scheduled sessions. This order of purchase assumes that you have, either personally or on loan, all the necessary protective gear for each exercise.

What equipment should be purchased first ?

The mask and gloves are generally the first two purchases we recommend. You will use them regularly, learn to adjust them, and enjoy having equipment that fits your size.

There is also a very simple reason: this equipment quickly absorbs sweat. Borrowing is very helpful for discovering the practice, but having your own gear soon becomes preferable. In a club, advice is readily shared. When it comes to sweat, everyone eventually prefers their own.

Before ordering, make sure to ask about the references used in your group. Your instructor knows the planned exercises and the constraints of the equipment you will be working with.

Masque d’escrime noir avec grille et bavette textile sous le menton.

A personal mask, in the correct size, is one of our top purchasing recommendations. Example: HEMA mask 350N. View the 350N mask

Your first mask

350 N or 1600 N: Should you choose the more expensive one ?

To start, a well-fitted 350 N mask can be perfectly suitable when your club approves it for the scheduled sessions. This is an option we offer for a first set of equipment; we do not systematically direct every new practitioner towards the 1600 N.

If you are already planning to participate in tournaments, check their requirements: choose directly a 1600 N can save you from making a second purchase. It may also be required for training, depending on the club and practice. Therefore, it's important to check the instructions before placing an order.

A useful reference: the indications 350 N and 1600 N refer to the puncture resistance of the textile gorget, the part located under the grid. They do not alone summarize all the characteristics of the mask. As a reference, the FFAMHE preferably recommends a CEN2 level mask..

What matters from now on: compliance with your group's requirements, a suitable size, and a stable fit. A poorly fitting mask does not become a good choice just because its label shows a higher number.

Which gloves to choose to maintain good sensations ?

The choice of gloves is always a compromise between maneuverability and protection. We want to be able to feel the handle, change grip, and move our fingers while protecting our hands for the intended work. This balance evolves with your practice.

Paire de gants Kevlar V2 à doigts séparés, avec renforts sur le dos de la main.

Gloves that provide freedom to the hand for exercises while ensuring protection. Example: Kevlar V2 Gloves. View the Kevlar Gloves V2

Learn to feel your weapon

Lightweight gloves for technical play

To begin technical work, we gladly prioritize models that preserve good sensations, such as the Kevlar Gloves V2 or some lacrosse gloves, when the club approves their use with the weapons and exercises planned.

Relatively flexible gloves allow for a better feel of the grip, help correct an overly tight hold, and aid in understanding what you're doing with your hands. For the initial, highly controlled exchanges, this is something to discuss with the instructor, who will set the conditions and limits.

One point to keep in mind: "First sparring" does not automatically mean "light gloves." For bouts at the...Longsword In steel, you need gloves designed for this purpose, even if you are a beginner. Equipment should be chosen based on the exercise, not just the number of months of practice.

When to add a pair of gauntlet gloves ?

When exchanges become more intense, a pair of gauntlet gloves is a useful addition. It may even be necessary from the very first sessions if your group immediately engages in sparring that requires it. Your lighter gloves will still have their place for exercises they are suited for.

Among the gauntlets, you will encounter two main constructions:

Mittens, or gauntlets, group several fingers under a common protection. This shell allows the contact to be distributed over a larger surface. It is a very protective solution on suitable models, with a compromise on finger independence.

The five-finger models seek to maintain greater freedom for each finger while ensuring high protection. Protecting each joint without restricting movement requires a more complex design; therefore, these models are often more expensive. The best ones can achieve an excellent balance between mobility and protection, but the outcome depends on the model and your hand.

Our advice: Try both with your simulator. A pair highly appreciated by your neighbor won't necessarily be the one where you find your footing. Price and the number of fingers do not replace this trial.

Should you buy your simulator right away ?

Many clubs have loaner simulators: take advantage of them. It's often the best way to start without immediately committing to the budget of a sword. Simply ask what is available for your group and for how long.

For someone who has joined a club and wishes to equip themselves sustainably, we generally do not recommend foam as a first personal purchase. It maintains an interest in discovery and certain exercises, but you may quickly encounter its limitations if your goal is technical work practiced with the group.

At theLongsword, we are leaning towards two options: a good synthetic simulator or directly steel, depending on the club's preferences. For the rapier, the saber or another weapon, of course, start with the references used in your discipline.

Épée longue EXO Blades avec lame synthétique claire, garde métallique et poignée sombre.

TheEXO Blades is part of the synthetic models we recommend for beginners inLongsword. . Discover theEXO Blades

The synthetic track

TheEXO Blades, for a first personal simulator

If your club works with synthetic simulators, theEXO Blades is one of the models we recommend for beginners. It allows you to equip yourself with a budget lower than that of a steel sword, while having a tool to follow the group's work when this reference is accepted there.

Take advantage of a loan or trial to discover its balance and grip. The most important thing is that you can use it with partners and in the planned exercises.

To remember: Synthetic does not mean that protections can be reduced randomly. The design and the way it is used are as important as the material.

Feder Meyer 1570 en acier, avec lame étroite, élargissement près de la garde et poignée noire.

The Meyer 1570 is our starting choice for those who wish to a Longsword steel training. Discover the Meyer 1570

The Steel Track

Start directly with the Meyer 1570

In our interactions with practitioners and clubs, we observe a growing interest in steel from the very beginning. The investment is greater, but The contact between the blades provides sensations that we prefer for learning blade work.. When the group works with steel, it allows participants to familiarize themselves with the equipment used in this practice right from the start.

For this first Longsword in steel, Our recommendation is the Meyer 1570.. We recommend it for its value for money: in our opinion, it's an excellent starting point for equipping yourself without immediately aiming for the high-end.

It is a Feder, "a type of"Longsword training. Ensure its compatibility with your group's standards and arrange for the necessary protective gear for steel exercises.

To explore further: our simulator selection guide Detail the differences between foam, plastic, wood, and steel.

What is the second tier of equipment ?

Once you have chosen your mask, gloves, and possibly your sword, you will already have a more concrete idea of the sessions. Arm guards, the jacket, and the mask overlay often constitute the next set of personal purchases if these items were previously borrowed or not needed for the exercises practiced.

Experience helps you identify the most exposed areas in your practice and choose useful accessories. Discuss this with your instructor before increasing intensity: there's no need to wait until you've been hit to decide that you need protection.

Veste d’AMHE SPES AP Plus noire, coupe femme, avec col montant et manches longues.

Try the jacket with the protective gear you will wear underneath and on your arms. Example: AP Plus 350N, women's cut. View the jacket details

Gradually complete

An outfit that works as a set

Forearm guards and elbow pads reinforce exposed areas. A suitable jacket provides the coverage and padding intended by its design. The mask overlay complete the mask, particularly with padding and, depending on the model, protection for the back of the head.

These pieces must remain compatible: sleeves and gloves should fit together properly, the shells should stay in place, and the mask overlay Keep the mask well-fitted. The gorget, which protects the throat, has a distinct function; it is not replaced by the mere padding of a mask overlay.

To check with the club: the needs for the chest, throat, knees, shins, and groin protection. These protections should be planned for before the exercises that require them, even if they arrive earlier than expected on your shopping list.

How to know what really suits you ?

The best place to form an opinion is often during training. Feel free to ask other practitioners if you can try their equipment for a few minutes and what they think of it after use.

Ask them what they like, but also what bothers them: a cumbersome cuff, a handle that's too short with their gloves, a mask that fits particularly well on their head... These concrete feedbacks are more useful than a simple "this brand is the best."

Everyone has their preferences based on their body type, style, and the weapons they practice with. Try several options before making a significant purchase. Along the way, you'll discover another popular activity in clubs: discussing equipment between exercises.

During the fitting: Assume a guard position, change your grip, and raise your arms without exchanging blows. The mask should remain stable without your face touching the mesh; the gloves and jacket should allow for freedom of movement. For sizing, always follow the guide for the chosen model.

Should you aim for high-end products from the start ?

We are very familiar with this feeling: you discover a practice, you envision yourself doing it for years, and you immediately want the best equipment. It's understandable. Our advice is to give yourself a little time. Yes, it is indeed a shop that advises you to be patient.

Some equipment represents a significant investment. Trying out a few items at a club will help you determine if you prefer a longer grip, a certain jacket cut, mittens, or five-finger gloves. These are things that are difficult to decide on just by looking at a screen.

As you practice, your criteria become more precise. You can then invest in pieces that bring you real benefits. This is also the advice we would give to a newcomer in our own group.

Take your time to choose, not to protect yourself. You can postpone a purchase if the budget or planned exercises allow it. The necessary protective gear for a session must be available at the time of practice.

Pack or separate pieces: which to choose ?

A pack It is practical when it aligns with your club's choices and you need the items it contains. Some of our offers have been specifically composed with partner clubs. Their purpose is to help you find a selection that is consistent with their guidelines.

Purchase Per piece It is equally suitable whether you start with your mask and gloves, if you already own an item, or if you want specific references. Compare the cost of what you actually need with any potential shipping fees.

Before ordering, confirm the references, take your measurements, and check availability. You will then have a set chosen for your needs, with sizes and pieces that work well together.

The final details before ordering

The club has confirmed the models and intended uses.
You know what you can borrow and for how long.
The sizes and the combination of different pieces have been checked.
The required protections, total cost, and timelines are planned.

Between Practitioners

Shall we look at your first equipment together ?

Do you have a club list, two models that interest you, or a doubt about a size? Send us the references and your questions. We will help you understand the differences and prepare your choice, taking into account your instructor's guidelines.

Request advice View the equipment packs

For your first order: new customers benefit from 5% discount. Contact us for the terms of the offer.

History is practiced.

Practice Tips and Selection: Faits d’Armes. Photos: Faits d’Armes. To further explore these guidelines, check the Recommendations for sHeater shieldFFAMHE membership and the manufacturers' instructions. The details about the bibs of the masks are specifically explained in the Leon Paul guide.

Posted in: Buying Guides, Starting HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts)