What should I check when buying gear?

① Left-handed or right-handed?

Make sure the equipment matches your weapon hand. In fencing, most gear is made for one hand: jackets, grips, gloves, some breeches. In competition, you may not fence with left-handed equipment if you are right-handed, or the other way round.

② Make sure the gear meets safety standards and suits your category

If you compete, your equipment must meet a number of requirements and standards that depend on your age category.

The first thing to do is check that the equipment carries CE certification and the FIE or FFE label. CE certification indicates that the product meets the Essential Health and Safety Requirements set out by the European Union.

• Blades: blades come in several sizes, numbered 0 to 5. The size used depends on the fencer's category.
• Clothing: there are two standards, 350 newtons and 800 newtons, corresponding to different fabric thicknesses and levels of protection. Check that the jacket, plastron or breeches you buy (and the glove, for sabreurs) meet the standard.
• An electric bib is compulsory in foil from the M17 category upwards.

https://www.ffescrime.fr/je-suis-en-club/competiteurs/reglements/

③ Check the condition and the size

Make sure the equipment works (lamés, body wires and so on) and that its condition is safe for you: no hole in a glove, for instance. Finally, check that it is the right size for you.