I've used these gloves for about six months now and while they do indeed offer excellent protection the trade-off naturally becomes mobility. It is a really cumbersome glove to use since it is so stiff (especially the thumb, even 6 months later of using it at least twice a week). The glove forces you to hold the sword in a way that doesn't feel 100% natural and that of course greatly affects how well you can perform techniques. I find that some techniques can't be done at all while wearing them. I have found, during sparring, that I sometimes know directly which technique I would use to counter my opponent but in this moment I also analyze how well I can perform it with the glove. Sadly this has made full force sparring less interesting as time goes on. Basic moves work well I guess but some variants of the four guards (longsword, liechtenauer) are quite hard to perform well. Also it is hard to get a good grip of the sword in some guards and techniques which has led to me getting my sword struck out of my hands. Overall I'd give them a 6/10 Protection 9/10 What keeps it from maxing this category is due to the thumb being forced into exposure due to lack of mobility. And even though there are a lot of protection I've hurt my thumb. Mobility 4/10 Price 5/10 These gloves are expensive. If you want to avoid broken fingers and just have superior protection they might be worth it. But at this price level and seeing how much they affect my performance I really feel that they've only focused on one aspect of fencing and they really should be a mix of both worlds. Which they are not. :(
I'd honestly give it a 2 for mobility because it also eliminates any way of grabbing your opponent(s weapon), can't wait to get rid of this mispurchase when something better comes out.
A guy who fences at my club semi-regularly broke his thumb in SPES Heavies, he still claims that they're the best hand protection available but it just goes to show that they're not infallible. He fences Lichtenauer though and he was thumbing the blade at the time.
9 років тому+13
This video has too much sexual allusions in it to be written down. Congratulations Matt, you beat Internet.
you could actually fold the cuff as overlapping plates and put a rubber/ elastic in between after cutting the flare and filling it with an elastic/rubber material, so that the plates can slide off when the cuff needs expanding during a particular wrist move, and still stay in place due to the elastic, while still providing protection as the plates in the cuffs are overlapping.
Have you ever tried using Wisby Gauntlets? I live nearby a smith who makes them for 900 dollars but the people who have them combine both great protection and mobility.
I've been using a set of these for about half a year. Protection wise, I think of them as a cheap alternative to steel gauntlets, if anything. I agree with you on most, if not all, points, especially regarding the cuffs. A few things worth adding, though: Trimming the plates about the thumb and index knuckle can be done with a basic knife, and I'd suggest lining these areas with electrical tape afterwards. It's a good way to reduce wear on the lether grip. Also, whilst mitten gloves like these can restrict mobility quite a bit, I'd argue they also provide a very rigid grip. I personally find they make one-handed wielding much easier, as they support the grip by pressing against the crossguard, and I've been told by sparring partners they make disarms much more dificult (for them). Lastly, I'd like to comment that the fingers are a tad short, so if somebody is right inbetween two size categories, they should definitely go for the larger.
I've used the AFs, both the mitten and three finger Sparring Glove, and the SPES. The SPES are my favourite. I had mine modded to better protect the thumb. I've had them for a while now and so far, they give the best dexterity to protection ratio of any HEMA gloves I've used. Some people prefer the Sparring Glove which is not surprising: they're great gloves, and everyone's hands are different.
I am actually a fan of the large cuffs, My previous gloves did not agree with my SPES jacket sleeves with protective plates. Also, if you are worried about the tips of your fingers, SPES offers finger protectors that can fit on the inside of a number of gloves, including their own.
Y'know... They seem more like mitton gauntlets than an armadillo, which, and correct me if I'm wrong, would make them unsuitable for simulating an unarmoured duel, because you can't use your hands in the same manner?
Got me some of those SPES heavies and they're the best I've found so far. This year I've bought steel gauntlets which broke in the first day of sparing, bought some Torvaldr boiled leather mitten gauntlets they're ok but better for SCA fighting but beautiful pieces of work I actually don't use them just keep them on a shelf as art. I've made some boiled leather appliqué pieces for my hockey gloves. But the best solution for this problem is the SPES, I could have saved a lot of time money frustration and pain had I bought these first. Same goes for the body armour situation. Bought a cheap Gambeson and my wife and I spent HOURS making boiled leather vambraces adjusting sleeves sticking on 'points' when all I had to do was send money to my good friends at SPES and get the Axel Pettersson jacket which absolutely craps all cover my Gamby for fit and mobility. Now as soon as I get their leather head protector for my mask I'll have nothing to worry about (who am I kidding there's always something to buy) Hell this turned into an essay. Ps in reply to the cuff being too big I've found when wearing the Jacket the cuff is about the right size, I think it was designed to be worn in conjunction with the jacket.
Matt, thanks for your review. One of my concerns with SPES Heavy Gauntlets is the position of the thumb. All photos I have seen show the thumb on top of the SIDE of the index finger instead of over the back of the index or middle finger where it would give a more natural and stronger grip. Furthermore, as the thumb rests on the plate (as opposed to tucking under it) it is sticking way out. This puts the thumb joint at risk when struck, and joint injuries a slow to heal.
I agree that the cuff is too wide. I would suggest cutting the diameter down by a couple inches, putting a split down the inner side with a buckle or Velcro adjustment, and "plating" the outer side. Because your wrists and forearms are constantly weaving around each other when using a longsword (I almost tied myself into a knot the other day) those extremely flared cuffs look like they would get in the way a lot.
Hi Matt, in my club we also have a huge variety of gloves being used. I saw one broken finger in those gloves. This was a pinky as - as you mentioned - a sideways blow can have a very unfortunate angle for this glove. However, the overall design is in my opinion at least as good as the polish sparring gloves I use so far. As you have some people in your club using them for a while, do you have any experience with the long-term durability of the gloves, say after more than a year-and-half?
Great video! I'm just getting into HEMA, and I think these gloves will be my first purchase. Do you think a skilled leather-worker could modify that cuff via extracting one of the plates, and adding laces or velcro? That ginormous cuff would not work for me. Thank you for the video!
Concerning the Cuff, my experience was that it is easier to put it over a padded Fencing Jacket or Gambeson. These Gloves are the most protective in our Club in Augsburg, Germany, but I find it difficult to do the most thumb grip forms with a Feder, me considering myself still a Beginner I might just get the hang of it while learning along the route.
I have the Spes heavy gloves abd they are a delight if you're used to having only light protection. They are restrictive but blast the competition out of the water.
They didn't have to deal with keyboards back then, it's probably super easy to write with gauntlets and a quill though :P
9 років тому
It's great to see that there is more and better protective gear coming out. I have the red dragon gloves for Messer and I think they are ok. What you say about moving your fingers is absolutely true. I don't like on the red dragons that the protection is so wide I can't close my fingers correctly. Also I have the feeling the handle of my Messer is slipping, as if it was too thin wich I don't have with light gloves or no gloves at all. I'm hoping that there will be something better coming up.
My main fear is with this gloves is that it is not working well whit the SPES forearm protector. (Because of the cuffs size... they are both really bulky.) Can you tell me something about how well do they fit together?
I've had a pair for a few months and they loosen up a pretty quickly and you can get a decent amount of dexterity in the fingers given that they're mitten gauntlets. I added a fingertip protector to the thumb of the glove but otherwise haven't felt like I needed to modify them.
I recommend these as about the ONLY safe Glove for use at my Academy for our Quarterstaff bouting and training. Of course you lose some of the individual finger dexterity for seemless flourishing but to be quite honest, the majority of the safe bouting allowable is largely thrust play in any case - rownde blows and downright blows delivered with full development from overhand or reverse wheel flourishing are far too dangerous. And so ... these are the best units out there for safety and protection on balance. It may turn out that the Koning Gloves might have a place for Polearms - I have yet to purchase these and test them however.
I like the review videos. I think you should try getting these to be more common. besides, who doesn't love free products for reviewing...another thing I'd like to hear in your reviews would be whether or not the product is available in all areas. will they ship to Thailand or Alaska or Madagascar. I don't live anywhere particularly odd but I'd like to know that they have a place on their page that breaks down the cost to ship and the Euro to US Dollar.
Matt, please tell me you still have the Del Tin St. Maurice sword...Did you just replace it with the Albion on the wall? I have that same sword, heavy as all get out, but still feels great...I love that sword.
Matt, I know that you've dealt with questions about "How would you make a modern sword" and so on, and maybe you're tired of those, but I'd like to put a spin on it. How would these gloves fare with real, sharp swords, and people who wanted to kill/hurt each other? How would you make modern gloves for actual combat?
By this point wouldn't it be easier to get steel mitten gauntlets with integral unflaired vambraces, and leather gloves under that? Stiffer and stronger material might need less extent, getting you some flexibility back.
Hey could you make a video on the pike weapon, phalanx formations and how that was used in a real battle, offensively and defensively, and if the phalanx formation had any weakness besides getting flanked (especially curious if any other infantry performed well against them).
Feedback on your videos. Plz do the summaries first instead of last, then go into details. That way we don't have to "skip and search" to find out what you think about stuff and everyone intrested can just keep watching for more information. Keep up the good work!
Would the finger protection issue with the mittens be helped any by incorporating some version of the armored fingertip inserts you mentioned the other gloves having?
Hehe, I have the same problem with steel gauntlets as you do with the heavy gauntlets, ends up having to dremel it down. Good gauntlets are surely a challenging thing to build.
Matt, in reference to the weight of the mittens, its like boxing gloves (really heavy boxing gloves) in that you will have to change your technique to use them properly, I would guess. It was always a little comical to see someone try to punch with boxing gloves for the first time. They, also only weighted 12 oz. I'm not going to remark on the "camel toe" reference, I'm sure plenty of people will. Thank-you, Dante.
how much do these weigh? interestingly that cut you propose making has been the main source of serious injury in historical solid lance ojusting with steel coronels. deflections along the weapon go straight for that point if the weapon guard does not stop it. I think pretty much all the gloves aroundt these days are far too bulky and preclude gripping wrists and hands in grappling moves like are so often described and prelude moving the hand through the oppoenents guard to grapple too. gripping is often problematic as the hand does not readily open. the thumb rotation for thumbing the blade inlichtenauer tradition needs to be much better. I don't understand why they didn't just use the historical mitten design with 4 finger assemblies on a fitting glove under the mitten plates, and why the turtle design is nessesary, as it is impeding rein use on horseback and grappling in itself.
+Roland Williams I don't find Red Dragon restrictive for anything but the thumb (which is poorly designed). I would not recommend cutting off the cuff.
These gloves are bad ass My club has a couple and literally don't feel anything when I get hit I only had one incident on the tip of my thumb. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and it got caught by a longsword. I wish that I could curl my thumb down, that would be the only improvement I would want.
Matt, how would you rate a 15th century steel gauntlet(like what you'd find on a metal suit of armour) in regards to hand protection in HEMA longsword and/or when using Arming sword?
Sorry if this has come up before, but has anyone had a look at enduro motoX gloves. They saved my hands on many occasions when filtering through traffic on the north circ. Very tough knuckles and finger protection too.
I'm considering these SPES gloves because my current red dragon ones get in the way of my gambeson and I can't close them. I think the massive flared cuff would work very well in that case. Anyone got any feedback on that?
I would say it depends on the system you use. I don't do much in staff but I can speak to longsword and the issues with release and grabbing with longsword. I have had issues with grabbing swords or opponents with these gloves because the protection over the fingertips and the lack of mobility in the thumb means I need to force my hand open to grab. I have many times went to grab for my opponents blade while in the bind and end up just pushing it away because my hand was not open enough. This is mostly minor for longsword because I have just adapted my techniques to the gloves in so that I keep the protection but for a staff if you are releasing and re-grabbing the staff you might have issues with these without some modifications to increase the mobility in the thumb.
+Henrik Malmros Yes it's possible and when we spar in HEMA we always use gloves. However, historically it seems gloves were rare in combat of this era.
We fight viking western style and there are alot of weapon changes ( axe sword scramasax ) during the battles so the shield gets dropped ( tossed ) quite a few times. Good to have two gloves with good protection for those..... axe and dagger fights :) Thanks alot for the fast response.
+Henrik Malmros I say that it depends on the boss size as I have build a shield and I can fit some gloves like the red dragon ones but these I wouldn't think so.
Thanks for the answers..... and no you cant use these gloves with a normal vikingshield. Bought a pair and they have great protection but kinda bulky with onehanded weapons.
John Smith The standard is modified fencing masks - usually the mask itself is unchanged, but padded overlays with back of the head protection are added.
John Smith Nothing like the old bucket in the head. You may sacrifice some vision (because the bucket it's not transparent) but the gains in style are huge..
scholagladiatoria Industrial impact gloves. Like "ArmorCore Extrication", "TAA M-Pact 2", "MRT M-Pact 2" or "M-Pact Covert" Much cheaper do to mass production, and it seams adequate for sparing, maybe not with long-sword but with anything lighter then long-sword. Matt, what do You think about that ?
Vlad Constantin Minea "Mechanix Wear ORHD OutDry Gloves" This model seems to offer more protection, less dexterity (more padding). Check some models from "Hexarmor" they have some nice impact protection gloves too. And if You want style and cool factor, the maybe "Excalibur motorcycle gloves".
I do not like the Red Dragon gloves for almost anything. I did not suffer a broken bone, but I took a serious hit in the hand from a messer -- and keep in mind this was only a synthetic one -- at my last tournament. The Red Dragon gloves I was wearing can probably be thanked for the fact that the bone did not break, but if it had been a steel sword or even a mere synthetic longsword, I am positive it would have been broken. The knuckle of my middle finger turned purple-black, and my hand was all but useless for several days. I use my hands in my work, and I need better protection than that. I will be ordering a pair of these Spes gloves in the near future.
I just bought my Sparring Gloves and tried them over this past weekend. Sorry but the price is fair for the amount of protection and quality of the gloves. A trip to the urgent care and broken fingers are more expensive if you ask me. I heavily recommend you save up and try to get them.
Philip Dyer Just in my experience at the club I train at, we had one person who used steel gauntlets, and the main flaw with them was that they would bend under a heavy strike. It's the same issue I've seen with rotellas and some bucklers; The steel buckles under heavy pressure, and where gloves are concerned, that means that the steel will press down into your finger, increasing the chance of a break. If your finger breaks and the steel is buckled, it can be very difficult to get it out safely, especially if the steel snaps, and stabs into the finger. The other main issue is that it isn't safe for your opponent. The risk of injury when grappling with steel is a lot greater than it is with the plastic, for the same reasons as above. The plastic is a lot less likely to snap or bend and leave a jagged edge. You could use thicker steel, but then the weight increases and the risk is still there. At my club a fairly expensive steel gauntlet was broken with a synthetic sword. I'd be worried to see how much worse the injury would have been if they had been training with steel that day.
Philip Dyer So about stabbing, I would bet plastic gaunlets would have higher chance of stabbing than a metal ones, unless the metal ones are made very poorly.
+Philip Dyer Arent allowed at most competetions. Dangerous to punch with, also hard for the judges to hear a hit on them (the cross is also made of metal). Aand most of all; steel gauntlets makes ut looks as larpers.
Philip Dyer Metal tends to dent and plastic tends to crack under heavy force. Gauntlets will generally crush a finger, and the dented metal has the risk of keeping that force applied to the finger. Plastic will crack instead, so you still might get a break, but in theory, it shouldn't be as bad. Plus if the gauntlet gets chipped, sharp metal is more dangerous than sharp plastic.
+Philip Dyer I fought in metal gauntlets for many years in SCA.... very good levels of protection, and if they dent, you just beat them out again. However, some tournaments don't allow them for HEMA, which means you would need synthetic back ups.
If you have small hands and your normal glove size is 7 or smaller, don't buy these. They're crap for people with small hands. Buy Polish Sparring Gloves instead.
I loved the apprehension when saying "Cameltoe".
Haha, just lost it myself too and came here to make the comment. Austin Powers-ism done right!
Apprehension or excitement? Also, when is he going to start talking about penetration?
Can't believe he said that lmao
"...these shit on the others in terms of protection." I would love to see this company use that quote from you in an advertisement.
I was needing an Armadillo hand puppet... do they come in natural brown?
I've used these gloves for about six months now and while they do indeed offer excellent protection the trade-off naturally becomes mobility.
It is a really cumbersome glove to use since it is so stiff (especially the thumb, even 6 months later of using it at least twice a week). The glove forces you to hold the sword in a way that doesn't feel 100% natural and that of course greatly affects how well you can perform techniques. I find that some techniques can't be done at all while wearing them. I have found, during sparring, that I sometimes know directly which technique I would use to counter my opponent but in this moment I also analyze how well I can perform it with the glove. Sadly this has made full force sparring less interesting as time goes on. Basic moves work well I guess but some variants of the four guards (longsword, liechtenauer) are quite hard to perform well. Also it is hard to get a good grip of the sword in some guards and techniques which has led to me getting my sword struck out of my hands.
Overall I'd give them a 6/10
Protection 9/10
What keeps it from maxing this category is due to the thumb being forced into exposure due to lack of mobility. And even though there are a lot of protection I've hurt my thumb.
Mobility 4/10
Price 5/10
These gloves are expensive. If you want to avoid broken fingers and just have superior protection they might be worth it. But at this price level and seeing how much they affect my performance I really feel that they've only focused on one aspect of fencing and they really should be a mix of both worlds. Which they are not. :(
I'd honestly give it a 2 for mobility because it also eliminates any way of grabbing your opponent(s weapon), can't wait to get rid of this mispurchase when something better comes out.
@@bobu5213
It’s definitely a mid-measure fencing glove rather than a close-measure grappling glove, which is unfortunate but expected.
A guy who fences at my club semi-regularly broke his thumb in SPES Heavies, he still claims that they're the best hand protection available but it just goes to show that they're not infallible. He fences Lichtenauer though and he was thumbing the blade at the time.
This video has too much sexual allusions in it to be written down.
Congratulations Matt, you beat Internet.
you could actually fold the cuff as overlapping plates and put a rubber/ elastic in between after cutting the flare and filling it with an elastic/rubber material, so that the plates can slide off when the cuff needs expanding during a particular wrist move, and still stay in place due to the elastic, while still providing protection as the plates in the cuffs are overlapping.
Have you ever tried using Wisby Gauntlets? I live nearby a smith who makes them for 900 dollars but the people who have them combine both great protection and mobility.
I've been using a set of these for about half a year. Protection wise, I think of them as a cheap alternative to steel gauntlets, if anything. I agree with you on most, if not all, points, especially regarding the cuffs. A few things worth adding, though:
Trimming the plates about the thumb and index knuckle can be done with a basic knife, and I'd suggest lining these areas with electrical tape afterwards. It's a good way to reduce wear on the lether grip.
Also, whilst mitten gloves like these can restrict mobility quite a bit, I'd argue they also provide a very rigid grip. I personally find they make one-handed wielding much easier, as they support the grip by pressing against the crossguard, and I've been told by sparring partners they make disarms much more dificult (for them).
Lastly, I'd like to comment that the fingers are a tad short, so if somebody is right inbetween two size categories, they should definitely go for the larger.
I've used the AFs, both the mitten and three finger Sparring Glove, and the SPES. The SPES are my favourite. I had mine modded to better protect the thumb. I've had them for a while now and so far, they give the best dexterity to protection ratio of any HEMA gloves I've used. Some people prefer the Sparring Glove which is not surprising: they're great gloves, and everyone's hands are different.
I am actually a fan of the large cuffs, My previous gloves did not agree with my SPES jacket sleeves with protective plates.
Also, if you are worried about the tips of your fingers, SPES offers finger protectors that can fit on the inside of a number of gloves, including their own.
Y'know... They seem more like mitton gauntlets than an armadillo, which, and correct me if I'm wrong, would make them unsuitable for simulating an unarmoured duel, because you can't use your hands in the same manner?
Matt. They've actually modified it, implementing your comments about thumb plates and cuffs. :D Pretty awesome!
Got me some of those SPES heavies and they're the best I've found so far.
This year I've bought steel gauntlets which broke in the first day of sparing, bought some Torvaldr boiled leather mitten gauntlets they're ok but better for SCA fighting but beautiful pieces of work I actually don't use them just keep them on a shelf as art.
I've made some boiled leather appliqué pieces for my hockey gloves. But the best solution for this problem is the SPES, I could have saved a lot of time money frustration and pain had I bought these first. Same goes for the body armour situation. Bought a cheap Gambeson and my wife and I spent HOURS making boiled leather vambraces adjusting sleeves sticking on 'points' when all I had to do was send money to my good friends at SPES and get the Axel Pettersson jacket which absolutely craps all cover my Gamby for fit and mobility. Now as soon as I get their leather head protector for my mask I'll have nothing to worry about (who am I kidding there's always something to buy)
Hell this turned into an essay.
Ps in reply to the cuff being too big I've found when wearing the Jacket the cuff is about the right size, I think it was designed to be worn in conjunction with the jacket.
Matt, thanks for your review. One of my concerns with SPES Heavy Gauntlets is the position of the thumb. All photos I have seen show the thumb on top of the SIDE of the index finger instead of over the back of the index or middle finger where it would give a more natural and stronger grip. Furthermore, as the thumb rests on the plate (as opposed to tucking under it) it is sticking way out. This puts the thumb joint at risk when struck, and joint injuries a slow to heal.
i dont know why i laugh so much when you cuss in your video's idk im not apposed to it but im never ready for it LOL
I agree that the cuff is too wide. I would suggest cutting the diameter down by a couple inches, putting a split down the inner side with a buckle or Velcro adjustment, and "plating" the outer side. Because your wrists and forearms are constantly weaving around each other when using a longsword (I almost tied myself into a knot the other day) those extremely flared cuffs look like they would get in the way a lot.
Hi Matt,
in my club we also have a huge variety of gloves being used. I saw one broken finger in those gloves. This was a pinky as - as you mentioned - a sideways blow can have a very unfortunate angle for this glove. However, the overall design is in my opinion at least as good as the polish sparring gloves I use so far. As you have some people in your club using them for a while, do you have any experience with the long-term durability of the gloves, say after more than a year-and-half?
The huge cuffs are important to go over vambraces - over a decent jacket, SPES' arm guards have an enormous circumference.
Great video! I'm just getting into HEMA, and I think these gloves will be my first purchase. Do you think a skilled leather-worker could modify that cuff via extracting one of the plates, and adding laces or velcro? That ginormous cuff would not work for me. Thank you for the video!
I also am not a fan of the cuff. How do you find the wrist mobility?
How does that price compare to just getting a pair of actual mitten gauntlets?
Sad that they did not send you a prototype of the ProGauntlet yet ;)
Concerning the Cuff, my experience was that it is easier to put it over a padded Fencing Jacket or Gambeson. These Gloves are the most protective in our Club in Augsburg, Germany, but I find it difficult to do the most thumb grip forms with a Feder, me considering myself still a Beginner I might just get the hang of it while learning along the route.
I have the Spes heavy gloves abd they are a delight if you're used to having only light protection. They are restrictive but blast the competition out of the water.
i'm typing this witth histort5icslly accurarte gloves on and it';s fufkng difficulfdt.
They didn't have to deal with keyboards back then, it's probably super easy to write with gauntlets and a quill though :P
It's great to see that there is more and better protective gear coming out. I have the red dragon gloves for Messer and I think they are ok. What you say about moving your fingers is absolutely true. I don't like on the red dragons that the protection is so wide I can't close my fingers correctly. Also I have the feeling the handle of my Messer is slipping, as if it was too thin wich I don't have with light gloves or no gloves at all. I'm hoping that there will be something better coming up.
My main fear is with this gloves is that it is not working well whit the SPES forearm protector. (Because of the cuffs size... they are both really bulky.) Can you tell me something about how well do they fit together?
I've had a pair for a few months and they loosen up a pretty quickly and you can get a decent amount of dexterity in the fingers given that they're mitten gauntlets. I added a fingertip protector to the thumb of the glove but otherwise haven't felt like I needed to modify them.
I recommend these as about the ONLY safe Glove for use at my Academy for our Quarterstaff bouting and training. Of course you lose some of the individual finger dexterity for seemless flourishing but to be quite honest, the majority of the safe bouting allowable is largely thrust play in any case - rownde blows and downright blows delivered with full development from overhand or reverse wheel flourishing are far too dangerous. And so ... these are the best units out there for safety and protection on balance. It may turn out that the Koning Gloves might have a place for Polearms - I have yet to purchase these and test them however.
I like the review videos. I think you should try getting these to be more common. besides, who doesn't love free products for reviewing...another thing I'd like to hear in your reviews would be whether or not the product is available in all areas. will they ship to Thailand or Alaska or Madagascar. I don't live anywhere particularly odd but I'd like to know that they have a place on their page that breaks down the cost to ship and the Euro to US Dollar.
Would these make the cut fitting for the limited grip space in a Viking style sword?
Any chance for a Konig glowe review?
Matt, please tell me you still have the Del Tin St. Maurice sword...Did you just replace it with the Albion on the wall? I have that same sword, heavy as all get out, but still feels great...I love that sword.
How I wish I could afford a pair of these. Are they sold used amywhere
Matt, I know that you've dealt with questions about "How would you make a modern sword" and so on, and maybe you're tired of those, but I'd like to put a spin on it.
How would these gloves fare with real, sharp swords, and people who wanted to kill/hurt each other? How would you make modern gloves for actual combat?
Would a Wisby style gauntlet work better? Giving the protection of plates, but the mobility fingers?
I have added a Spes fingertip to the inside of the thumb, it adds a lot of extra protection.
By this point wouldn't it be easier to get steel mitten gauntlets with integral unflaired vambraces, and leather gloves under that? Stiffer and stronger material might need less extent, getting you some flexibility back.
For spear and shield sparing good motorbike gloves is enought right ?
Hey could you make a video on the pike weapon, phalanx formations and how that was used in a real battle, offensively and defensively, and if the phalanx formation had any weakness besides getting flanked (especially curious if any other infantry performed well against them).
Regarding protection, what is better, neyman gloves or SPES heavy gloves?
Feedback on your videos.
Plz do the summaries first instead of last, then go into details. That way we don't have to "skip and search" to find out what you think about stuff and everyone intrested can just keep watching for more information.
Keep up the good work!
Would the finger protection issue with the mittens be helped any by incorporating some version of the armored fingertip inserts you mentioned the other gloves having?
And it's impossible to find gloves for Spadone.
Can we get a review on that Two and a Half Men series you got back there? ;D
Can you do thumb grip with Regenyei ring handguard feder in SPES heavy sparring gloves?
Hehe, I have the same problem with steel gauntlets as you do with the heavy gauntlets, ends up having to dremel it down. Good gauntlets are surely a challenging thing to build.
Matt, in reference to the weight of the mittens, its like boxing gloves (really heavy boxing gloves) in that you will have to change your technique to use them properly, I would guess. It was always a little comical to see someone try to punch with boxing gloves for the first time. They, also only weighted 12 oz. I'm not going to remark on the "camel toe" reference, I'm sure plenty of people will. Thank-you, Dante.
6:59 Maximilian IInd ? Didnt you mean Maximilian Ist ?
Please post the results of your modifications. ty
19 minute review of gloves? Short recap did he recommend or not tecommend
how much do these weigh?
interestingly that cut you propose making has been the main source of serious injury in historical solid lance ojusting with steel coronels.
deflections along the weapon go straight for that point if the weapon guard does not stop it.
I think pretty much all the gloves aroundt these days are far too bulky and preclude gripping wrists and hands in grappling moves like are so often described and prelude moving the hand through the oppoenents guard to grapple too. gripping is often problematic as the hand does not readily open.
the thumb rotation for thumbing the blade inlichtenauer tradition needs to be much better.
I don't understand why they didn't just use the historical mitten design with 4 finger assemblies on a fitting glove under the mitten plates, and why the turtle design is nessesary, as it is impeding rein use on horseback and grappling in itself.
I was strongly considering getting these, but now I'm sure :) I love my sparring gauntlets, but I'm so sick of repairing them every few weeks..
Could it be possible to make hema finger gloves with fiberglass finger plates?
+0urobors Better would be to use polycarbonate. :)
Try cutting the cuff off the Red Dragons, it adds a lot of movement for minimal loss of protection.
***** I already did it with one pair :-)
+Roland Williams I don't find Red Dragon restrictive for anything but the thumb (which is poorly designed). I would not recommend cutting off the cuff.
What about just wearing steel gauntlets?
These gloves are bad ass
My club has a couple and literally don't feel anything when I get hit
I only had one incident on the tip of my thumb. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and it got caught by a longsword. I wish that I could curl my thumb down, that would be the only improvement I would want.
Haha, luv' the 'Armadillo' at the beginning! Perfect image.
:-)
Matt, how would you rate a 15th century steel gauntlet(like what you'd find on a metal suit of armour) in regards to hand protection in HEMA longsword and/or when using Arming sword?
Two and a half men?!
raggedbreath Not mine....
So I wasn't the first to notice
raggedbreath Hahaha, 2 seconds in and I scrolled down to post this. First thing I saw.
raggedbreath One is prompted to wonder what's behind the Union Flag.
raggedbreath same reaction
Matt, what gloves would be best in your opinion for sabre with a thumb ring? Like the ones people often describe as hussar sabre.
Sorry if this has come up before, but has anyone had a look at enduro motoX gloves. They saved my hands on many occasions when filtering through traffic on the north circ. Very tough knuckles and finger protection too.
Excellent, thorough review by the bye.
I have heard a lot about these recently. I would love to see a review: Koning Gloves
I'm considering these SPES gloves because my current red dragon ones get in the way of my gambeson and I can't close them. I think the massive flared cuff would work very well in that case. Anyone got any feedback on that?
How effective are those plastic plates against sharp weapons? These days, could we make effective suits of plate armour out of plastic?
What do you think of using finger gauntlets with longsword?
Which size are those? The M/L or the XL?
Would you recommend these for staff sparing?
+Bluebuthappy182 Well they are just about the most protective gloves you can find at the moment.
I would say it depends on the system you use. I don't do much in staff but I can speak to longsword and the issues with release and grabbing with longsword. I have had issues with grabbing swords or opponents with these gloves because the protection over the fingertips and the lack of mobility in the thumb means I need to force my hand open to grab. I have many times went to grab for my opponents blade while in the bind and end up just pushing it away because my hand was not open enough. This is mostly minor for longsword because I have just adapted my techniques to the gloves in so that I keep the protection but for a staff if you are releasing and re-grabbing the staff you might have issues with these without some modifications to increase the mobility in the thumb.
Is there anyone using paint-ball gear for fencing?
I've seen silicon long gloves, up to elbow, it seems to be good impact protection.
is it possible to use the gloves with a vikingshield or are they too bulky for the inside of the shieldboss?
+Henrik Malmros Yes it's possible and when we spar in HEMA we always use gloves. However, historically it seems gloves were rare in combat of this era.
We fight viking western style and there are alot of weapon changes ( axe sword scramasax ) during the battles so the shield gets dropped ( tossed ) quite a few times. Good to have two gloves with good protection for those..... axe and dagger fights :)
Thanks alot for the fast response.
+Henrik Malmros I say that it depends on the boss size as I have build a shield and I can fit some gloves like the red dragon ones but these I wouldn't think so.
Thanks for the answers..... and no you cant use these gloves with a normal vikingshield. Bought a pair and they have great protection but kinda bulky with onehanded weapons.
+Henrik Malmros Yeah mine do not fit in a standard sized spatha grip. The plastic interferes with the pommel too much.
Does anyone has experience with the neyman "Inigo Heavy Gloves"? I would like to use them for longsword sparring.
Sounds like I should get a pair or two.
If you need more holes on the strap use an ice pick or a punch and hammer. Simple fix.
I like your analogies haha.
I think the "sparring glove" glove have the best cuff design
what do you guys use for head/throat protection? Sabre fencing mask?
John Smith The standard is modified fencing masks - usually the mask itself is unchanged, but padded overlays with back of the head protection are added.
John Smith Nothing like the old bucket in the head. You may sacrifice some vision (because the bucket it's not transparent) but the gains in style are huge..
Paul Wagner has a longsword with 2 steel discs to protect the hands.
From the stoccata school of defence.
Do you have a photo of it?
I will try and find one.
facebook.com/stoccatanewtown/photos/pcb.1800164370263668/1800163796930392/?type=3&theater
check out comfort fencing gloves.
Verithiell I know them well.
scholagladiatoria
Industrial impact gloves.
Like "ArmorCore Extrication", "TAA M-Pact 2", "MRT M-Pact 2" or "M-Pact Covert"
Much cheaper do to mass production, and it seams adequate for sparing, maybe not with long-sword but with anything lighter then long-sword.
Matt, what do You think about that ?
jhjkhgjhfgjg jgjyfhdhbfjhg they don't look very protective. Seem designed more for style than looking after your fingers.
Vlad Constantin Minea
"Mechanix Wear ORHD OutDry Gloves"
This model seems to offer more protection, less dexterity (more padding).
Check some models from "Hexarmor" they have some nice impact protection gloves too.
And if You want style and cool factor, the maybe "Excalibur motorcycle gloves".
I do not like the Red Dragon gloves for almost anything. I did not suffer a broken bone, but I took a serious hit in the hand from a messer -- and keep in mind this was only a synthetic one -- at my last tournament. The Red Dragon gloves I was wearing can probably be thanked for the fact that the bone did not break, but if it had been a steel sword or even a mere synthetic longsword, I am positive it would have been broken. The knuckle of my middle finger turned purple-black, and my hand was all but useless for several days. I use my hands in my work, and I need better protection than that. I will be ordering a pair of these Spes gloves in the near future.
So basically we have choice between "Red Dragon" nad "SPES"? "Sparring gloves" are sadly freaking expensive :(
I just bought my Sparring Gloves and tried them over this past weekend. Sorry but the price is fair for the amount of protection and quality of the gloves. A trip to the urgent care and broken fingers are more expensive if you ask me.
I heavily recommend you save up and try to get them.
"like a ninja's foot" I didn't realise ninjas had 3 toes
Robert R Recent studies have proven it. You should see the documentary "Teenage Mutant Ninja Trtles" it's all there
Robert R tabi shoes
"you have here .... cammel toe" made my day :D
Heh heh, Matt said...CAMELTOE
Why not just invest in good steel gauntlet instead of trying to invest in modern looking, foam ,cloth, and plastic mitts?
Philip Dyer Just in my experience at the club I train at, we had one person who used steel gauntlets, and the main flaw with them was that they would bend under a heavy strike. It's the same issue I've seen with rotellas and some bucklers; The steel buckles under heavy pressure, and where gloves are concerned, that means that the steel will press down into your finger, increasing the chance of a break. If your finger breaks and the steel is buckled, it can be very difficult to get it out safely, especially if the steel snaps, and stabs into the finger.
The other main issue is that it isn't safe for your opponent. The risk of injury when grappling with steel is a lot greater than it is with the plastic, for the same reasons as above. The plastic is a lot less likely to snap or bend and leave a jagged edge. You could use thicker steel, but then the weight increases and the risk is still there. At my club a fairly expensive steel gauntlet was broken with a synthetic sword. I'd be worried to see how much worse the injury would have been if they had been training with steel that day.
Philip Dyer So about stabbing, I would bet plastic gaunlets would have higher chance of stabbing than a metal ones, unless the metal ones are made very poorly.
+Philip Dyer Arent allowed at most competetions. Dangerous to punch with, also hard for the judges to hear a hit on them (the cross is also made of metal). Aand most of all; steel gauntlets makes ut looks as larpers.
Philip Dyer Metal tends to dent and plastic tends to crack under heavy force. Gauntlets will generally crush a finger, and the dented metal has the risk of keeping that force applied to the finger. Plastic will crack instead, so you still might get a break, but in theory, it shouldn't be as bad.
Plus if the gauntlet gets chipped, sharp metal is more dangerous than sharp plastic.
+Philip Dyer I fought in metal gauntlets for many years in SCA.... very good levels of protection, and if they dent, you just beat them out again. However, some tournaments don't allow them for HEMA, which means you would need synthetic back ups.
The amount of sexual innuendo in this video is too damn high. :-D
Sooner or later all englishmen reveal their will to have their hand "in" an armadillo... it's kind of weird but who I'm I to judge
A boxing glove might work
I'm selling this piece of scrap plastic as soon as progauntlets are out...
Ninja turtle hands!
If you have small hands and your normal glove size is 7 or smaller, don't buy these. They're crap for people with small hands. Buy Polish Sparring Gloves instead.
I think this is Matt's most vulgar video.
lol... "camel toe"
Good to see the Union Flag.