New Jersey Historical Fencing Association

HEMA is an equipment intensive sport.  Below are some suggestions.

Swords

You will need a sword for HEMA.  If you can afford steel you may want to skip buying a synthetic.

• Steel Tech Hand and a Half Bastard Sword
• Purpleheart Armory Tournament Feder, Spatulated Tip
• Steel Tech Feder with Pear Pommel
• Ensifer feders
• Swords with spatulated tips are highly recommended.  Rolled tips have been known to break.
• Any generally accepted HEMA blunt or federschwert  may be used including those by Regenyei, VB, Albion, or Chelebiwski.  If in doubt please check with an instructor.

Heavy gloves

Heavy gloves are a must for training with steel swords.  Lacrosse gloves are not suitable.

• SPES Heavy Gloves with Revised Hard Thumb Cap
• Sparring Gloves
• Infinity Gloves by Sparring Gloves
• Red Dragon gloves - NOT FOR USE WITH STEEL SWORDS

Gorget (neck protector)

• Roughneck Gorget
• PHA Gorget
• AF Hema Deluxe Neck Protector
• Jointed Light Neck Protector Gorget by Vytis 

Fencing mask 

A HEMA rated mask with an overlay or back of head protection is vital.  A sport fencing mask does not offer enough protection for longsword fencing

• AF Deluxe HEMA Fencing Mask
• PBT HEMA Warrior Reinforced Mask
• PBT Back of the head protector
• Other HEMA rated fencing masks
• Wukusi HEMA Fencing Mask - by far the most protective mask/helmet on the market, can be hard to find.  Try Sword Gear Canada or SoCal Swords also.

Fencing jackets/gambesons

• Longsword jackets
• Torso protection

Arm protection 

Hard elbow and forearm protection are highly recommended

• Arm protection

Other

• A plastron (chest protector) is also a good idea 

Please feel free to contact us if you have questions regarding equipment.  We have limited club loaner masks, light gloves, and masks available.

* All males must wear an athletic cup for sparring