Your mask is the one piece of kit you should never cut corners on. Everything else protects things that heal. The mask protects your face, your eyes and your head, and it takes the hardest hits you will ever take in HEMA.
We have written a whole guide to what to look for in your first fencing mask. This post is the companion to it: the makers HEMA fencers actually use, and what separates a good HEMA mask from a sport fencing one.
First, the Rating
Fencing masks are tested by pushing a punch through the mesh. The numbers you will see are 350N and 1600N. The 1600N standard is what international sport fencing requires for competition, and it is the one to look for. A 350N mask is a club-level sport mask, and it is not enough for steel longswords.
Some HEMA masks advertise their own tests, for example a mesh rated to a higher punch, or a bib made from stronger fabric. Those are welcome, but 1600N is the floor.
Second, the Back of the Head
A sport fencing mask is designed for a sport where nobody hits you on the back of the head. In HEMA, somebody will. Longswords wrap around, sabres cut over the top, and in a scramble you can take a blow from behind.
So a HEMA mask needs either a built-in back-of-head protector or an overlay that fits over the mask and covers the back. Most HEMA makers sell the mask with one or offer it as an add-on. Budget for it from the start.
The Makers
These are the names you will see at any HEMA club in Britain, including ours.
Leon Paul. A British fencing company with a long history in the sport. Their HEMA mask is built on a strong sport mask, well made and comfortable, with HEMA overlays available.
SPES. A Polish maker of HEMA gear, better known for jackets and protectors. Their masks and back-of-head protectors are common in the HEMA world, and their overlays fit many other masks.
HF Armory. Makers of a full range of HEMA protection, including masks rated for heavy sparring, throat protectors and the popular Firestone and Black Knight gloves. Our club's loaner masks are from HF Armory.
PBT. A Hungarian fencing maker with HEMA masks and bibs, often good value.
Red Dragon. A Welsh brand best known for synthetic swords, with an affordable HEMA mask that suits people starting out with nylon sparring.
There are others, and new ones appear every year. What matters is the rating, the back-of-head cover, and the fit.
Getting the Fit Right
A mask that is too big moves when you are hit, and a moving mask lets the blade reach your skin. A mask that is too small presses on your forehead and chin and gives you a headache in twenty minutes.
Measure around your head, check the maker's size chart, and if you can, try a few on. The tongue at the back should hold the mask firmly without pulling it off your face. You should be able to see clearly through the mesh without your nose touching it.
Do You Need Your Own?
Not at first. At HEMA Penzance the club lends masks, along with gloves, jackets, throat and chest protection, so you can train and spar before you buy anything. When you do buy, bring it along and ask the people who have been wearing theirs for years. They will happily tell you what they wish they had known.
Come and try one on. Your first lesson is free.