When we planned our first tournament, Lane County Longsword Open (LCLO), we decided to do a few things differently than what we've seen at other events. One of those things was to have stricter gear requirements, both in terms of protective gear, and for the weapons used by attendees. To the latter point, we decided to have minimum and maximum ranges for weight, length, and flex.

We have some significant news to share regarding our training space. We were notified that we will no longer be able to use the facility at ReNa after the end of this month. This means that next week will be our final week of practice at our current location.

We all know, this sport is about the swords -- fighting with swords is probably what got most of us into HEMA in the first place. The section on gloves preceded this one only because of how much time and consideration they require, and how intractable a problem they can sometimes be.

My interest in gloves is first and foremost aimed at longsword fencing. Having a safe and reliable heavy glove for longsword is always going to be my first priority because Masterless is at its core a longsword group. However, I’ve also been very interested in experimenting with gloves for other weapons, such as saber, sidesword, and rapier.

About one year ago, I decided I was going to make a significant investment in HEMA gear. I had been fencing for maybe a year and a half by then, but I had been using mostly light DIY equipment, with affordability as my highest priority. When I decided to shift my priorities instead to safety and durability, my entire kit changed, and my fencing skill improved drastically.