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This page explains what governing bodies, standards bodies and researchers publish. It is not a substitute for lessons from a qualified coach, for a qualified armourer's checks or for medical advice.
Check the event's own rules
National rules change often and differ by event level, age group and weapon. This page gives each rule with the date of the document read. It cannot say that any kit is legal for a given event: the organiser's rules and the officials on the day decide.
FIE, British Fencing and USA Fencing side by side
| Item | FIE Material Rules (August 2026) | British Fencing, domestic | USA Fencing (October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacket and breeches | 800 Newtons (m.25.3.c) | 350 Newtons at domestic events (Domestic Variations, 6 December 2023); CEN 1 (350 Newtons) at BF competitions (Equipment by Activity, 2 October 2026) | Rule text reproduces 800 N (m.25.3.c), but an FIE-homologated uniform is not required (note to t.64.1); standard uniform with no FIE label (Athlete Handbook 2026-2027) |
| Under-plastron | 800 N, obligatory (m.25.3.c) | CEN 2 (800 Newtons) for general training and BF competition (Equipment by Activity); 350 N allowed at under-14 level with size 3 or smaller blades and below (Domestic Variations) | At least two layers with a sleeve to the elbow and no armpit seam; need not be 800 Newton material (note to t.64.5) |
| Mask bib | 1600 Newtons (m.25.7.d) | 350N at other BF competitions; 1600N at National Championships for U17, U20, U23 and Senior (Equipment by Activity) | 350 Newtons; FIE-homologated mask not required (m.25.7) |
| Mask rear fastening | Two different safety systems (m.25.7.a and m.25.7.e) | Two systems required at National Championships at Cadet, Junior, U23 and Senior from 1 September 2022 (Domestic Variations) | Two different systems meeting US SEMI requirements; secondary strap mandatory on masks without a metal tongue (m.25.7) |
| Sabre glove | 800N, seams 200N, cuff 350N (m.33.1) | Glove with the FIE 800N label (Equipment by Activity) | 800 N at all levels of competition (Athlete Handbook) |
| Chest protector | Compulsory for women, optional for men (m.25.4.c) | Compulsory for anyone with female breasts (Safety Guidelines, 23rd edition, 1.5); see the disagreement below | Required for women; allowed for men (Athlete Handbook) |
| Blades | Maraging steel at all three weapons (m.2.1) | FIE-homologated maraging blades not required for any weapon (Domestic Variations) | No maraging requirement in m.2; "maraging" appears only in the Appendix A epee note |
| Points and plugs | Only traditional or homologated points at foil and epee (m.5.5.a); transparent bodywire plugs (m.29.1.b, m.31.2, m.35) | Transparent plugs not required; bayonet plugs permitted (Domestic Variations) | No requirement that the point be homologated (note to m.5.5) |
USA Fencing
USA Fencing's Rules for Competition (October 2026) are its American version of the FIE rules and apply to its championships and nationally rated competitions. Its foreword says it normally follows the FIE technical rules, with occasional minor exceptions that are announced. The two documents read for this site were downloaded from links on USA Fencing's own athlete-handbook page.
- A disagreement within the rulebook: m.25.3.c states 800 N for under-plastrons, while the note to t.64.5 says the plastron need not be 800 Newton material and the note to t.64.1 says FIE-homologated uniforms are not required. The Athlete Handbook 2026-2027 says standard uniforms and plastrons are acceptable without an FIE label.
- The handbook also requires a full jacket with a groin strap at epee and foil, a groin strap on foil and sabre lames, no warm-up trousers and no torn uniforms, a conductive foil bib at all levels, and no foil or sabre masks with an electric bib at epee. Names on uniforms are required only at national-level tournaments, a Board decision of September 2010.
British Fencing
British Fencing publishes several equipment documents with different dates. The newest read are the Equipment by Activity page (2 October 2026) and the Safety Guidelines, 23rd edition (approved 25 June 2026). Its safety policies page lists a 24th edition, Board approved in September 2026, which could not be read.
- By activity (2 October 2026): beginners, pupils in lessons and under-14 and under-10 fencing use CEN 1 (350 Newtons) clothing and a CEN 1 mask with a 350N bib; general training adds a CEN 2 (800 Newtons) plastron; FIE competitions need CEN 2 (800 Newtons) clothing with the FIE mark, a CEN 2 mask with a 1600N bib, FIE mark and two rear systems, maraging or FIE-marked blades and FIE-standard chest protectors at foil.
- Disagreement on plastrons for club fencing: the markings page (as at 13 March 2026) gives a 350N minimum plastron for metal club fencing, with 800N recommended; the Equipment by Activity page (2 October 2026) requires a CEN 2 (800 Newtons) plastron for general training.
- Disagreement on chest protectors: the Domestic Variations page (6 December 2023) makes one mandatory for women's foil and optional for men's foil; the Equipment by Activity page (2 October 2026) makes one compulsory for anyone with female breasts in every activity listed.
- FIE and European Fencing Confederation events (13 March 2026): FIE CEN Level 2 kit throughout, maraging FIE-homologated blades, and sabre blades stamped only "M" no longer accepted since September 2022.
Other bodies, as each published
- Fencing Australia (8 December 2018): the FIE's new mask-fastening requirements under m.25.7 applied to all Australian Fencing Circuit events from 1 January 2019.
- Fencing SA, the South Australian state association (page undated): Open-A events need a 1600N FIE mask and 800N FIE jacket, plastron and breeches; Open-B events 350N items, with a 1600N mask recommended; Veteran and U20/U17 events an 800N FIE plastron with 350N jacket and breeches; U15 and younger 350N items. A double hook-and-loop mask closure became compulsory from 1 July 2024 for Open, Veteran, U20/U17 and U15 events and from 1 January 2025 for U9 to Schools events.
- Canada: Fencing Ontario reported on 5 April 2018 that the Canadian competition standard, including Canada Cups, required 350N masks and clothing. No current Fencing Canada equipment document was found, so the present national rule is unconfirmed.
- New Zealand: search-result summaries say Fencing New Zealand announced maraging sabre blades for its national events from 1 January 2024, then reversed this for domestic events in a 2025 rule-changes notice, keeping an S2000-or-later sabre blade standard, with Oceania events in New Zealand under full FIE rules. Both Fencing New Zealand pages returned errors, so this is unconfirmed.
Maraging blades below FIE level: four positions
The FIE text makes maraging blades obligatory at all three weapons (m.2.1). British Fencing does not require them at domestic events; USA Fencing's m.2 does not carry the requirement; Fencing New Zealand reportedly reversed a domestic sabre requirement (unconfirmed, above). Each rule applies only to that body's own events. Youth kit levels by age are on youth equipment levels.
Sources
- FIE, Rules for Competitions, Book 3, Material Rules (edition dated August 2026)
- USA Fencing, Rules for Competition (October 2026)
- USA Fencing, Athlete Handbook 2026-2027
- British Fencing, Domestic Variations from FIE Rules (updated 6 December 2023)
- British Fencing, Equipment by Activity: Safety Guidelines (updated 2 October 2026)
- British Fencing, CE, CEN and FIE Markings on Fencing Equipment (as at 13 March 2026)
- British Fencing, FIE and EFC equipment rules (updated 13 March 2026)
- British Fencing, Safety Guidelines, 23rd edition (approved 25 June 2026)
- British Fencing, safety policies and guidelines page (updated 2 October 2026)
- Fencing Australia, Change to mask requirements for AFC events (8 December 2018)
- Fencing SA (South Australia), competition equipment requirements
- Fencing Ontario, notice on equipment standards (5 April 2018)
- Fencing New Zealand, rule changes for 2025 (search-result summary; page returned an error)
- Fencing New Zealand, new equipment requirements (search-result summary; page returned an error)