HEMA Gear for OCHS

Before you purchase any gear we kindly ask you to consult with the instructors. As HEMA lacks a global governing body to set safety standards, and with ongoing developments in gear continually improving safety, our opinions on what products are the best for HEMA update regularly. We prefer to personally test gear before recommending anything to our students. In addition there are several brands/items that are accepted in the broader HEMA community, but which OCHS has found to be unsafe for our classes.

  • We understand HEMA is an expensive sport, so we want to make it easily accessible to those just checking it out for the first time. You do not need to buy anything at first. We usually have enough gear for first-timers to take classes and try out the sport. If you decide you really enjoy HEMA and want to start building up your kit below is a list of items we do recommend.

  • Masks are required for all weapon related activities at OCHS. It doesn’t matter the speed or intensity, if a training partner is facing you, you must be wearing a mask.

    Longsword gear requirements:

    • Mask + back-of-head protection

    • Clamshell gloves

    • Gorget

    • 350N+ Jacket/Gambeson

    • Rigid elbow + forearm protectors

    • Rigid knee protectors

    • Cup (Men)

    • Chest protector (required for women, recommended for men)

    Recommended:

    • 350N+ padded pants, rigid shin protectors

    Saber gear requirements:

    • Mask + back-of-head protection

    • Rigid gloves

    • Gorget

    • 350N+ Jacket/Gambeson

    • Rigid elbow + forearm protectors

    • Rigid knee protectors

    • Cup (Men)

    • Chest protector (required for women, recommended for men)

    Recommended:

    • 350N+ Pants, rigid shin protectors

    Rapier gear requirements:

    • Mask + back-of-head protection

    • Padded gloves

    • Gorget

    • 350N+ Jacket/Gambeson

    • Cup (Men)

    • Chest protector (required for women, recommended for men)

    Recommended:

    • 350N+ Pants

  • Below is a short list of retailers that carry HEMA gear. If items are sold out they can usually be purchased directly from the manufacturer too.

  • For longsword we like to work directly from the medieval/renaissance fight books for all of our lessons. We primarily study from Ringeck Danzig Lew: Long Sword by Stephen Cheney. It is a translation and comparison of three medieval texts on longsword fencing that covers all the core concepts of the German tradition.

    However, because this book is text-only and can be a bit esoteric it may help to get some of the books below as a second study reference.

    • Fechtbuch Fabian by Martin Fabian. Written by one of the highest ranked HEMA fighters in the world, it is the most comprehensive modern book on German longsword techniques to date. It covers nearly every technique with author commentary as well as touching on fight strategy and psychology, all visualized with color illustrations. We highly recommend it.

    • Sword Fighting: An Introduction to handling a Long Sword by Herbert Schmidt. This book is an underrated gem that breaks down every technique in the Zettel with a surplus of photos.

    • Foundational Description of the Art of Fencing: The 1570 Treatise of Joachim Meyer.
      This book is the magnum opus of the renaissance era fencing master Joachim Meyer and it is widely considered to be the pinnacle of the German fencing tradition. It was written in 1570 so the language can sometimes be dense and difficult to parse, however it includes five complete weapon systems (longsword, dussack, sidesword, dagger, polearm) so it is well worth the read.

    For rapier we study from the Italian school of fencing, including masters such as Capoferro, Giganti, and Fabris. Books we like are:

    In addition Wiktenauer has an enormous amount of fencing material for free

  • The safest mask for HEMA is without question the Wukusi Cobra. We highly recommend it to anyone who can afford it. It is usually available from SoCal Swords and Purpleheart Armory. If the Cobra is outside your budget, any FIE-rated fencing mask paired with a HEMA mask overlay is sufficient for most OCHS activities.

    For basic masks we like:

    For basic mask overlays we like:

    On the subject of medieval helmets…

    We do not normally recommend any kind of medieval helmet for most HEMA activities. Instead, consider something like the Wukusi Sallet or Aegis Fencing Mask Overlay. If a blade can pass through the eye slots or faceplate, or under the chin it will not be allowed for any OCHS activity. However, for those of you who specifically want to build a harness and study harnischfechten there are a few standards that must be met in order to pass safety:

    • The eyes slots must be either covered in a perforated steel plate or the holes in the faceplate cannot not be large enough to allow a sword tip to pass through. (Most SCA helmets with bar grills do not meet this standard, FYI)

    • The faceplate of the mask must be a single piece, must lock in the closed position, and must not allow for a blade to pass underneath or between plates. (E.g.: Two-piece sallets are not acceptable as a sword can pass between the bevor and visor.) The styles that most commonly fit within these criteria are bascinets, armets, close helms, and burgonets.

    • Bascinets/Armets/Close Helms must have a lock or strap to keep the faceplate down during sparring.)

    • Throats must be protected by an aventail, bevor, falling buffe, or similar.

    • Minimum steel thickness is 16 gauge.

    Please ask us before purchasing a steel helmet if you expect to use it at OCHS. Custume/LARP helmets are not acceptable for sparring.

  • Please don’t purchase unapproved gloves for OCHS activities. Finger injuries are the most common type of injury in HEMA, so it is absolutely worth it to buy the best glove you can.

    For longsword:

    • HF Armory Black Knight (If they are unavailable from either Purpleheart or SoCal swords, they can be order directly from the manufacturer.)

    For saber:

    For Rapier:

    • Any padded leather glove

    On the subject of metal gauntlets…

    We do not recommend metal gauntlets for normal HEMA use. Some mitten-style metal gauntlets can work, but overall most are not made with HEMA in mind. Finger gauntlets especially are not recommended and will not be allowed for longsword sparring.

  • Athletic cups/rigid groin protectors are required for men to participate. Chest protectors are highly recommended for everyone. Any MOF chest protector is sufficient.

  • SPES Historical Fencing. 350N+ puncture resistance.

    SCA and LARP gambesons without Newton ratings are not acceptable for HEMA.

  • Because of the inherent risks involved in longsword fencing, we will not allow any unapproved feders during class or at tournaments. Medium to soft flex are recommended. The list of approved brands are:

    If you own a feder that is not on the approved list above but feel it is safe for sparring, please ask one if our coaches for approval. VB/Purpleheart, Kingston Arms, and Age of Craft brand longswords are explicitly banned and will not be allowed for OCHS activities.

  • Sabers for OCHS activities must be under 800g in total weight. Look for ones labeled as “light”, “gymnasium” or “dueling” sabers.

    Castille Armory

    Sigi Forge Light

    VB/PurpleHeart Gymnasium Saber

  • Castille Armory

    HF Armory

    Sigi Forge

  • Closed-toe shoes are required to participate in OCHS. Please no slippers.

    We recommend barefoot-style trail runners as most of our training is outdoors, but most types of athletic shoes/trainers will work fine.

  • While OCHS does not currently offer a dedicated harnischfechten class, we welcome people who have armor and want to show it off. See the sections above on helmets and gauntlets in regards to safety.