u/OrcOfDoom

This jacket is less than a year old. We got both kids a set right before summer nationals. They didn't even use them at nationals because we didn't want to mess up the vibe.

Stitching hes been fraying, and we've been making repairs. This is supposed to be FIE gear.

The first picture is the clip literally ripping to shreds. Are you kidding me?

I'm only including pictures of the jacket too. This doesn't include the helmets, which both needed glue already. This doesn't include the pants, which both sets are fraying and the stitching is coming loose.

I don't know what is up with them, but I am not buying any of their gear ever again. This is nearly $2k of gear.

The worst part? I bought the cheap stuff for me. It's like $150 for the entire set. And my stuff is outlasting the fie gear?! My stuff is a year and a half old, and yeah I had to replace a piece of Velcro. But the helmet has been solid. The pants are good.

This is shameful.

Never again.

I'm even telling people that fencing isn't that expensive because your gear actually lasts a long time. I'll just have to include that you just can't buy allstar gear because it is horrible and they don't offer any warranty.

What's good? Prieur? I've been really liking my negrini glove.

It looks like I'll have to replace $2k worth of gear sooner than I thought. Maybe I'll just replace it with the cheap stuff. It lasts longer.

I'm in the PNW, and the Seattle area has a fantastic scene for adults. It probably has a little bit extra energy because nationals is going to be in Portland this year, but there are lots of local tournaments. I only fence epee, so I'm not really sure what is going on with other weapons.

There is at least one unrated/E & under tournament each month between the clubs that host epee tournaments. Salle Auriol, and Rain city host most of them. Metro Tacoma is another club, but they are about an hour away.

There is often a D & under. Div2 are more rare. If you get your C rating, you'll find yourself being able to participate much less often, but there are a good handful of open tournaments. There are adult open, and vet open events. There were a few months where we were doing tournaments almost every weekend.

I know that finding refs is an issue, so my kids and I took a course. They passed their test, and started reffing this weekend. I will take my test and follow shortly. I'm bugging the club owner to host more tournaments so that we can address the needs of the community better, which, imo, is div 2 mens and more women's fencing. So I'm just getting involved to keep the energy up. One of the foil fencers from another club told me that if we help take over some of the lower level tournaments, they can host more foil events, so even if things stay the same for epee, maybe we can help foil out too.

This weekend there is a local open foil and open epee tournament that has over 40 athletes competing.

It also helps that NWFC is close enough in Portland, and they have some really great adult and vet fencers. I know there are other smaller clubs in the area also.

One of my friend's from NJ said he's got a good scene over there. I heard that Colorado has some energy going with adult fencing. When I was in Georgia, there was very little available - really mostly youth stuff.

Shoutout to all adults and vet fencers out there.

What's your scene like? Where are the hubs around the US?

Allstar gear is all trash

Which regions in the US have great adult fencing scenes?