Questions on Foil/Sabre FIE blade pricing
Hi guys. I'm a foilist of about 14 years who's looking to invest in an FIE maraging blade. So far I've been using PBT non-FIE blades, but I will need an FIE maraging blade as I'm aiming to compete in national competitions (based in Australia). I managed to find a vendor nearby and found the price runs at about $330AUD ($235USD).
I have a history of breaking blades, owing to poor maintenance and hitting technique when I was younger. I am much better at it now but I would still like to ask if anyone finds FIE blades are 1) more durable and 2) worth the price in terms of quality.
In addition, I'm picking up sabre soon (starting classes in July). My local club has gear hire included in their class fee which is great, but I was researching blades beforehand when I will eventually have to purchase gear. What are good recommendations for a non-FIE beginner sabre? When would you recommend to start looking at FIE blades for any weapon?
For context - I live in Australia, so all gear here is pretty expensive due to shipping costs. There are some local resellers but I primarily purchase from the Allstar distributor (Allstar Australia). Thanks!