Introduction to Gear & Equipment

HEMA practice is a spectrum of partial-contact and full-contact martial arts, including training with practice weapons and empty-hand techniques. These training weapons are blunt and designed to increase their safety while mimicking the real thing as closely as possible. However, injury can still occur. This is particularly true if you do not abide by the safety policies and requirements for protective gear found in the HEMAA Safety Policy and the Canopy Longsword Policies and Training Guidelines.  Participants in Canopy Longsword activities must abide by these policies, including wearing protective gear and using training equipment appropriate to the activity's intensity as described in the above policy documents. 

Our club has equipment for beginners to borrow at practice. However, you will soon want to obtain your own equipment. Recognizing that this equipment and protective gear can be a little bewildering, this guide has been prepared to orient newcomers and provide some advice. 

 Below are more details on the equipment and gear.  We have provided some links to suitable gear on vendor websites as examples. Canopy Longsword is not affiliated with and does not receive compensation from any outside links or vendors, and provides them for educational purposes only. We are not affiliated with any of these stores, and you may find better deals or other suitable options elsewhere. We also have links to suppliers on our Helpful Links page. There is also a vibrant HEMA presence on YouTube and across the internet, with many thoughtful reviews and discussions of HEMA protective gear and equipment.   

This spreadsheet, while a little out of date, provides some helpful comparisons between products and links to vendors. The HEMAA Gear Checker app is a helpful reference for determining what equipment you need for a given weapon type and activity. Be aware that Canopy Longsword has more stringent requirements for some weapon types and activities; see the Canopy Longsword Policies and Training Guidelines for those guidelines.

 This information is intended to orient you to the types of equipment available; it is not exhaustive or definitive. If you’re unsure about any equipment, we recommend running it by the club’s leadership to ensure it is suitable before purchase. Gear that club leadership considers unsafe will not be allowed for use at club activities.  

 A complete kit for tournaments (including a steel blunt or feder) will cost approximately $1,500.  You don’t need to buy all this at once! If you don't intend on competing at tournaments, you don't necessarily need all of this gear at all. We recommend you purchase this gear as your training and studies advance. Take the time to try things out and decide what works best for you and your goals. There are many options and combinations, so many of your choices will come down to personal preference.

The following is a list of required protective gear you should aim to acquire, in order of importance for training and safety. This represents a list of all the protective gear you will need to spar in earnest with steel training swords. This is based on our club’s safety policies and training progression. We recommend you prioritize purchasing protective gear in this order:

1. Groin Protection- If you have testicles, you should be wearing groin protection in the form of an athletic cup. Ideally, you will wear one on your first day, but you are expected to wear one after that. We strongly recommend everyone wear groin protection at all practices. It is a requirement to wear groin protection for anything other than solo drills if you have testicles 

2. Gorget (throat protection)- You are required to wear a gorget and mask if you are thrusting, even in walking-speed drills. It is recommended that you develop a habit of putting a gorget on before you pick up a sword. Your throat is vulnerable; protecting it should be a priority.  

3. Fencing Mask- A standard fencing mask or one designed for HEMA from a reputable manufacturer protects your face and head from thrusts and blows. Required for thrusting and anything but slow, non-adversarial, low-intensity activities.  

4. Fencing mask overlay (back of the head protection)- Some fencing masks designed for HEMA will have built-in protection for the back of the head. 

Standard sport fencing masks will not, but you can purchase overlays that fit on the mask and provide this coverage. 

Soft overlays are made of thick fabric, while rigid overlays are hard plastic, which is sometimes covered with fabric. You will need a soft overlay before you can start practicing at a medium intensity with longswords. 

You will need a rigid overlay for larger weapons.     

3. Heavy Gloves for Longsword- You will need to buy a pair of heavy longsword gloves to practice at medium intensities with the longsword and heavier weapons. These gloves will cover all fingers with rigid protection and fit similarly to mittens.  There are a few versions of five-fingered gloves marketed for longsword. While these may offer improved dexterity compared to other designs, they do not provide the same level of protection. Getting hit on a single finger in this style of glove can be very painful.  

Light gloves designed for HEMA are intended for use with single-hand weapons. Under-gloves are any regular, unpadded gloves. 

Some heavy gloves will need under-gloves to function correctly or to be allowed at tournaments. You can find puncture-resistant, unpadded gloves (i.e., gloves designed for police), which are recommended for this purpose.     

4. Hard Joint Protection (Knee, elbow protection)- You will need hard joint protection to spar at higher intensities with the longsword and heavier weapons. 

5. Shin and forearm protection (vambraces)- Required to spar at high intensity with steel. Many options come with hard-joint protection. 

6. 350N* or greater puncture-resistant fencing Jacket- Required for sparring and training at higher intensities with steel. There are many varieties on the market offering varying levels of padding. We suggest you talk with other club members about their preferences and try a few on before you make a purchase. 

Plastrons for HEMA are optional, rigid plastic protection for your torso. If you want extra protection, you might consider these. If you have breasts, then they are strongly recommended.

7. 350N or greater puncture-resistant pants or skirt. 

*The Newton (a metric system measure of force) has been adopted by marketers of HEMA gear and is used as the standard designation of puncture resistance by tournament and activity organizers.  

You should come to practice in clothing suitable for exercise that you are comfortable in. This is very much a matter of personal preference. 

What kind of shoes to wear is a common question. We recommend you wear light athletic shoes with good ankle and lateral movement support appropriate for the surface you are training on. They should fit well and not slide off your heel. The only real requirement is that they are closed-toed and not cleats. Non-marking soles are a plus. Our club practices on turf, wood floors, and mats. Mats are expensive, and we want to maintain them. You may practice barefoot on mats, or in dedicated mat shoes, but never in street shoes. Wrestling shoes and similar are ideal for mats, but any shoe with a flat sole, minimal tread, and not worn off the mats is acceptable.    

Blunt training weapons are used for training and sparring. They are either made of steel or a synthetic material like nylon. The club has loaner synthetic feders for newcomers to use at practice. Training weapons are not sharp, and sharp swords may not be brought to normal practices, and under no circumstances should they be used in partner drilling, free play, or sparring.  

Steel feders are the standard at HEMA tournaments. There are many different makes and models. They can represent a significant investment and often have long delivery times. We recommend that you try out as many different steel feders as possible before committing to a purchase. There are also steel training weapons called "blunts" that are shaped more like the sharp versions of the weapons they are based on. While many of these are safe to spar with, some are not, and you should do your research and talk to club leadership before purchasing one. 

Synthetic feders are a more economical option but still cost $100+. The club has loaner synthetics for newcomers to use at practice. You don't need to rush out and buy one to practice at home; any sword-like object will do (i.e., broom handle).

Our club (despite the name) practices with a wide range of historical weapons, not just longsword. As you figure out what you are interested in and expand your training to include other weapons, you may want to purchase other types of training weapons. They all fall into the same basic categories of steel and synthetic versions. As always, we recommend you ask around, try a few out, and talk to club leadership if you aren't sure of a purchase's suitability.