Photo by Caroline Selfors on Unsplash
New York, NY — In a very short time, thousands of fencers from across the country will pack their fencing gear into bags, backpacks and suitcases to travel to the Summer Nationals. And it’s practically guaranteed that no two bags will be packed alike.
There are those who hand-carry everything of value onto a plane (masks and lamés), those who check only their weapons because they’re easier to replace if luggage gets lost or delayed, and those who check it all, throwing caution to the wind. No matter which one you are, don’t forget to get a Tile, Apple AirTag or some sort of tracking device for your checked case (and your peace of mind).
“Mask, cords, fencing shoes, lamé, white jacket and knickers go on the plane,” said Faye Kim, Shaun Kim’s mother, “as well as blue socks and Tim Morehouse Fencing Club T-shirts. Blades are the only thing that get checked.”
Some pack their gear into hard-sided cases meant for golf clubs, some use padded fencing bags on wheels and there are those who repurpose bags meant for hockey, archery, or even bags meant for fishing rods.
“My daughter had a nice big backpack that was for lacrosse that became her go-to carry-on for fencing tournaments,” said the mom of a former fencer on the junior international circuit. “She checked her fencing bag and kept her mask, glove, and lamé with her.”
How people pack their gear is also up for discussion. Masks can be carried in their own travel cases, wrapped in bubble wrap or stuffed with clothes for extra padding.
“I pack my mask in a T-shirt. I then stuff in my gloves (gotta have two to have one), wires, socks, sports bra, long sleeve Drylite top and underwear,” explained Rita Comes, Veteran Foil and Saber Fencer and the US rep to the FIE. “I put my mask along with my shoes, underarm protector, breast protector, knickers and jacket in a carry on bag for the plane.” She added: “If all of my (checked) equipment is lost, I will still be able to fence after I buy a few weapons.”
There is much confusion over how delicate blades are. The most common way they’re packed is in a thin PVC tube, cut to the blade’s length and kept in place with a tiny bungee cord. Some take the extra step to put the PVC-encased blade in a trimmed-down pool noodle. However, an expert calls this ridiculous.
“You’re protecting your blades from what? They’re designed to withstand wear and tear on the strip,” said Philippe Bennett, owner, Radical Fencing and five-time Veteran National Team member. “I’ve never put my blade in a tube.”
Bennett is also the designer of the Liberty travel bag that appears to be the gold standard in bags. Or at very least, the most durable of the bags. “I’ve come to realize that people have very little desire to be nice to this bag. If they have to go down 10 steps or 60, they make sure it hits every step,” he said, adding: “This bag is designed to take the shock.”
Now it’s up to you to decide how to pack your bag. While you’re deciding, read on to see what some members of the fencing community find indispensable when traveling:
Shaun Kim, Tim Morehouse Men’s Saber Fencer: A massage gun for legs, especially if traveling on a flight over three hours. Painkillers, sports pain spray and bandages. Sweatpants for the venue even in the summer. Wear them to keep the legs warm between pools and DEs. A lucky pendant only for competitions. And, added his mother, Faye, “I force him to wear red underwear for the most important events because I am Chinese.”
Coach Fraser Ward: A 6mm Allen wrench.
Ziad El Sissy, Team Egypt Olympic Saber Fencer: I have a black T-shirt that I start all my tournaments wearing.
Chris Cheney, FIE and USA Fencing Referee, coach, senior fencer: The smartest move for anyone is the portable stool — the one that turns into a little tiny disk and then opens up is probably the best one for fencers.
Alex Gioiella, USA Fencing Referee: Extras of nearly everything. This includes underwear and feminine hygiene products — sharing is caring.
Sandra Paparazzo Marchant, Owner, Rogue Fencing, Veteran World Team, Women’s Epée: Dryer sheets to help keep the smell and moisture down. There’s also a Wonder Woman mini stuffed doll attached to my case….she kinda travels with me.
Philippe Bennett, Radical Fencing: I used to see things people wanted to trade. Americans would bring jeans and other garments to trade with the Eastern European fencers. They’d bring caviar.
Coach Luka Oboladze: As a fencer, I wore a lucky ring. I still have the habit as a coach. I also have self-care items.
George Fuller, épée fencer, Fencer’s Club: A baker’s rolling pin. I use it to roll out my hamstrings and quadriceps. I bring a lacrosse ball to roll out my hip flexor. They’re more compact than a foam roller.
Rita Comes, Veteran Foil and Saber Fencer, US rep to the FIE: For luck, I have a hand towel from a train ride between Kiev and Moscow, and a Ukrainian Cupie doll.
The Liberty bag packing list