How much does it cost to get involved in fencing?
Beginner’s dry fencing setup: about $100 – $200 US Includes: cotton jacket, glove, dry weapon, maskFIE Competition setup: about $500 – $1000 US Includes: FIE 800N jacket & britches, FIE 1600N mask, at least 2 electric weapons, body cord, socks, glove, shoes, lame (foil & sabre only), sensor (sabre only). Note: while FIE-certified equipment is recommended both in terms of safety and quality, clothing costs can be as much as halved by purchasing regular cotton or synthetic knits. Do not expect such equipment to be accepted at national or international levels of competition, however. Always wear a plastron when using non-homologated fencing jackets.Club costs vary, but are usually on the order of $50-$100 per year for each day per week of fencing. Many clubs will provide or rent equipment to beginners.
A beginner’s dry fencing kit (cotton jacket, glove, dry weapon, mask) will cost about US$100-200. A full set of FIE-spec competition gear (FIE jacket, pants, mask, 2 weapons, wires, glove, shoes, plastron, electric jacket) will run at least US$500-1000. FIE equipment is recommended both in terms of safety and quality, but clothing costs can be as much as halved by purchasing regular cotton or synthetic knits. Do not expect such equipment to be accepted at national or international levels of competition, however. Used equipment can also be bought from retiring or upgrading fencers. Club costs vary widely, depending on the quality of the space, the equipment provided to its members, and the amount of coaching included in the club fees. Advanced lessons are usually purchased separately.
