Kit Requirements
DATED : 2026-10-16
Because hitting people with 3 foot long bits of blunt steel will tend to cause injuries, we have a set of requirements for the equipment you need to have to participate in the club’s activities. If you are starting out we can lend you some kit, and you can accumulate the bits over time, but to engage in full sparing you will need the required bits of equipment.
In all cases you will need footwear that are either trainers or martial arts footwear, ideally with ankle support. Please don’t wear heavy boots to class.
A club t-shirt or rash guard and long sweat pants or leggings should be worn to class.
Please consult with your instructor and fellow members before you purchase anything, however YOU WILL NEED TO CLEAR ANY WEAPON YOU WANT TO USE WITH YOUR INSTRUCTOR FIRST!!
Kit Definitions
| Item | Definition |
|---|
| Light Gloves | Leather gloves, Olympic fencing gloves, light padded gloves etc.. |
| Medium Gloves | “Red Dragon” gloves, ice hockey gloves, etc… |
| Heavy Gloves | Gloves with a hard shell made for HEMA, eg: SPES lobster, Red Dragon Dreadnaughts, etc… |
| Chest Protector | A stiff plastic chest protector as is used in HEMA. |
| Jacket | A HEMA rated padded jacket designed for steel sparing. |
| Gorget | Stiff neck protection designed for HEMA. |
| Groin Protection | Hard protection of the groin for both sexes. |
| Boffer Weapon | A weapon simulator with a stiff plastic core covered in thick padding. |
Grappling
Required
| Low Intensity Training | High Intensity Training and Sparring |
|---|
| Clothes and footwear | Groin protection |
| Gum shield |
Recommended
| Low Intensity Training | High Intensity Training and Sparring |
|---|
| Padded MMA style gloves |
| Head Guard |
Dagger
Required
| Low Intensity Training | High Intensity Training and Sparring |
|---|
| Plastic dagger or similar | Plastic dagger or similar |
| HEMA grade mask | HEMA grade mask |
| Light Gloves | Light Gloves |
| Groin Protection |
| Gorget |
| Chest protector or jacket, ideally both. |
“Boffers”
Required
| Low Intensity Training | High Intensity Training and Sparring |
|---|
| “Boffer” sword | “Boffer” sword |
| HEMA grade mask | HEMA grade mask |
| Groin protection | Groin protection |
| Gorget |
Recommended
| Low Intensity Training | High Intensity Training and Sparring |
|---|
| Light gloves. |
| Chest protector |
Hard Plastic Sword Simulators
Required
| Low Intensity Training | High Intensity Training and Sparring |
|---|
| Approved plastic sword simulator | Approved plastic sword simulator |
| HEMA grade mask | HEMA grade mask with back of head protection |
| Groin protection | Groin protection |
| Medium gloves or better | Medium gloves or better |
| Gorget |
| Chest protector or jacket, ideally both. |
Steel Swords, Synthetic Spears and Synthetic Poleaxes
Required
| Low Intensity Training | High Intensity Training and Sparring |
|---|
| Approved steel sword simulator | Approved steel sword simulator |
| Approved non-metallic spear simulator | Approved non-metallic spear simulator |
| Approved non-metallic poleaxe simulator | Approved non-metallic poleaxe simulator |
| HEMA grade mask with back of head protection | HEMA grade mask with back of head protection |
| Approved jacket | Approved jacket |
| Groin protection | Groin protection |
| Medium gloves or better | Heavy gloves |
| Gorget |
| Chest protector |
| Elbow and wrist protection |
Recommended
| Low Intensity Training | High Intensity Training and Sparring |
|---|
| Knee protection |
| Thigh protection |
| Shoulder protection |
