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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.