Best fencing protective gear according to redditors

Might I recommend this?

Also, ouch!

It depends on the weapon. Eye protection is the most basic thing you need. Gloves are also quite useful as is a groin guard. Using a 3-weapon fencing mask is a good option for most not-too-sharp weapons.

For blunt weapons you could get away with something like this TKD helmet with a face cage. It's much lighter with better visibility than the fencing mask. It's good for just drilling head shots or something.

Not the top 3, but the rest of these look alright for weapons sparring. Make sure weapons gloves have a thumb cushion, and you can use more regular sporting gloves like lacrosse gloves, or sometimes cricket gloves although usually only one of the pair has thumb protection.

Racquetball goggles are good if you're just drilling and not sparring to protect against accidental eye pokes. Or these bad boys although mesh is annoying to see through.

You might want to check into fencing chest guards. They're light, fit under clothing, and are rated against things that hit much harder than BBs.

https://www.amazon.com/Womens-Plastic-Fencing-Chest-Protector/dp/B002UFD0YG?keywords=fencing+chest+guard&qid=1537984007&sr=8-13&ref=sr_1_13

Armor shaped to fit the contours of the breast is not some fictional concept. Armor made to accentuate the contours of the breast is pretty much fictional, but OP's seems much closer to the former.

Probably means magic chain mail, like a medieval knight would wear. Like this

[the training mask is pretty awesome] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E5FQQYA/ref=wl_it_dp_v_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=HB6EOXFK5VK7&coliid=I1L32DQNV835G2&psc=1)

I'm just asking a question and not trying to offend you. Are you sure it was a Bane mask and not a high altitude mask? Here is the one mocked to look like a Bane mask.

Skiers encounter this problem even more than cyclists, since skiing can be anaerobic at its most intense. Many skiers use neoprene half-face masks with their helmets. The neoprene is lined for comfort and has slits for breathing. As you warm up the lining and neoprene, it takes the edge off the cold air when you inhale. Here's a cheap example: https://www.amazon.com/Mask-Neck-Warmer-Outdoor-Sports/dp/B00KYO7TE2/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_200_lp_t_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=4M50W9E9S2QA5RX0MV3E (I am NOT recommending that model, I just thought the picture was useful).

Another alternative for very cold riding is a simple fleece balaclava that you can usually wear under your helmet. Like the neoprene, the fleece warms the air slightly as you inhale. Here's an example: https://www.backcountry.com/icebreaker-oasis-balaclava?skid=ICE00GS-BK-ONESIZ&ti=UExQIENhdDpCYWxhY2xhdmFzIDoxOjE3OmJjc0NhdDEzMTExMDA1Mw== (again, just a photo example and I'm not recommending a particular brand).

Any time you put something over your mouth in cold weather and then breathe through it, it's going to get damp and maybe a little gross. The only reason I ever wear a balaclava is to protect my face from frostbite in very cold conditions (skiing more than cycling), not to warm my breath. Over time, cold-weather athletes usually learn to manage their breathing through trial and error to inhale in a fashion that doesn't make them cough from the icy cold air. To some extent, that's the primary solution: experiment with inhaling through your nose, or shape your mouth so that the air has to pass through a narrower channel and is warmed up as it comes in.

Last thought: If none of these solutions work for you, you might consider seeing a physician with expertise in sports performance. For most athletes, this is an annoyance and not a big enough problem to warrant much attention. It could be a sign you have some underlying physiology issue making it more difficult for you.

There are very few HEMA products on Amazon right now, definitely not enough to make a full kit. There are some pieces that are alright though.

• Piranha Gloves - Decent light gloves, for classwork NOT for sparring
  
• Red Dragon Helmet - A good entry level helmet
  
• Red Dragon Shin/Knee - Good leg protection, though you can find similar motocross-style leg protection on Amazon for cheaper too
  
  There are also books by Guy Windsor which I'd recommend. I would avoid the Red Dragon gloves, they fall apart quickly and are no good for steel sparring. I would avoid the Rawlings and Cold Steel synthetic trainers, the Rawlings are floppy crap and the Cold Steel are rigid dangerous crap.

Female fencers do have "boob armor"-style chest protectors (e.g., this product), but you wear it underneath all your other gear. Generally, the order of operations is

bra (if you need extra support) -> thin shirt -> chest protector -> underarm protector -> padded jacket -> lamé (metal jacket for electric fencing)

Trying to fit a chest protector between the padded jacket and the lamé, where most fantasy boob armor would be, would just painfully squeeze the padding around your boobs, assuming you got the padding to conform to the chest protector at all.

/u/Wannabecossack might have a point about ceremonial armor though. Once it's not meant for the battlefield, anything goes.

These are super cheap and have worked fine for me. Just launder them a few times to remove the weird smell.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KYO7TE2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There's little reason to buy used masks, especially ones with dents in them already.

For $49 you can get a Standard Epee fencing mask from Absolute Fencing via Amazon, link. Based on comments many customers use them for HEMA; I'm assuming drilling and light sparring. I own one and I wouldn't trust it for any moderate force sparring using metal weapons since the material isn't puncture rated, but it's fine for synthetics where that is a non-issue. SPES Unity fits on it no problem. A lot of people use Absolute Force Coach Masks though which cost abit more, though Absolute Fencing has a Coach Mask that is a tad cheaper.

For competitive sparring you should get a highly rated mask from one of the HEMA suppliers like this one.

Having a cheap, beater mask for drills and light fencing will make your nice mask live longer, too.