Fencing Uniforms

You can tell the difference between foil, epee, and sabre fencing uniforms by looking for a few key visual cues. The most important difference is the lamé, a metallic, conductive jacket or vest worn over the protective jacket that registers a valid hit with an electronic scoring system.

Foil Uniform

A foil fencer wears a lamé vest that covers only the torso. This is because the valid target area in foil fencing is limited to the torso, excluding the arms, legs, and head.

Epee Uniform

Epee fencers do not wear a lamé because the entire body is a valid target area. Hits are registered by the fencer’s weapon itself, so there’s no need for a conductive garment. The uniform is typically all-white.

Sabre Uniform

A sabre fencer wears a lamé jacket that covers the torso, arms, and extends up to the waist. The mask also has a conductive bib and a lamé covering, as the valid target area includes everything from the waist up, including the arms and head.