Upper Arms and Shoulders#
Jackets tend to become thinner at the forearms out of the expectation that protectors will be worn, whereas the upper arms and shoulders on non-light jackets tend to be thicker. You might be able to get away without additional upper arm and shoulder protection if the following is all true:
- You are not wearing a light variant of a jacket
- Your jacket’s upper arms are sufficiently thick
- You are primarily fencing with single-handed weapons
Even if you don’t need additional upper arm protection, a big hit to the shoulder can be uncomfortable, so these are still worth consideration.
(See also forearms and elbows.)
Arming Straps#
Some jackets have what are called “arming straps” along their upper arm and shoulder areas. These are a series of short fabric loops that let you tie protectors in place. Some upper arm protectors require arming straps, some do not (if the protector’s product photos don’t show a strap encircling the whole arm, then arming straps are probably required).
Protectors that tie onto arming straps come with small lengths of elastic paracord that will eventually break or be lost. You can get ahead of this problem by making a journey to Fabricland to pick up a few feet of spare elastic paracord for makeshift repairs.
Recommendations#
Upper arm and shoulder protectors are not always required by tournaments, so always check the rules. Where such protectors are required, all of the below recommended protectors are accepted by local tournament organizers.
SPES#
They don’t look like much, but the SPES PRO Set upper arm/shoulder guards are surprisingly effective. These protect the shoulder and outside upper arm where you are most likely to be hit. These are strongly recommended for anyone wearing a light variant jacket regardless of your choice of fencing weapon.
These require arming straps.
Superior Fencing#
The Heavy Arm Protector offers comprehensive protection for anyone practicing longsword. These don’t require arming straps which makes them compatible with a wide variety of jackets.
MAC#
MAC sells a fairly premium set of shoulder protectors. Most hard protectors are fairly plain, so these will stand out.
North Armoury#
North Armoury has a new whitelabel shoulder guard that articulates well while providing better coverage than the SPES PRO Set. These require arming straps, and because they are held together with elastic paracord, you should definitely have some spare material for repairs.