What’s one important piece of gear HEMA fencers sometimes overlook, but is super important? A HEMA bag!
HEMA gear can pile up quickly and start taking up lots of space. Sparring masks, HEMA jackets, pants, gloves — not to mention the weapons themselves. Whether it’s just for storage or to make transportation convenient and safe, a proper and spacious bag should always be a priority.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. With so many choices available — not to mention different sizes and shapes of equipment to account for — it can be easy to get lost choosing one.
That’s why I’ve put together a guide of 6 HEMA bags I’m sure you’ll love. Whether it’s a first bag or a replacement, I hope you’ll find something for you below.
Table of Contents
Absolute Force X-Long HEMA Bag
The Absolute Force X-Long HEMA Bag is a high-capacity, rugged bag that will make storing and transporting your gear a dream.
With multiple compartments and pockets and an expandable body, there’s a good chance you can fit all of your gear in this bag. The zippers are heavy duty and won’t tear or break any time soon. My favorite feature is the roller wheels on the base. Just take it by the top handle and roll your HEMA gear along with you. Couldn’t be easier.
Comfortably fits a 52” sword. Only available in black.
Length: 54″(137 cm)
Pros
- Durable construction for longevity.
- Roller wheels (replacements available separately).
- High capacity.
Cons
- Difficult to balance, so may tip over if you try to stand it on end.
- It could be longer
PBT HEMA Bag and Backpack
The PBT HEMA Bag and Backpack looks like a soft guitar case at first glance, but don’t let that fool you.
This 54” bag is long enough to fit most swords and feders and is designed to fit a single person’s total kit. Interior compartments make it easy to store different pieces while preventing them from damaging each other.
You can roll this bag on wheels attached to a removable board, or carry it like a backpack. Transporting your gear probably isn’t going to get much easier than this.
Currently only available in black, but with plans for more colors in the future.
Length: 55″(140 cm)
Pros
- Versatile — roll it on wheels or carry it on your back.
- Removable wheel base.
- Comfortable shoulder straps.
- Great compartmentalization for storing HEMA masks, gloves, etc.
Cons
- Less storage capacity than many other bags.
- The top handle is small, which can make wheeling a fully loaded bag uncomfortable.
- It could be longer
Faits D’Armes HEMA Bag
Faits D’Armes HEMA bag is a perfect one-person bag, large enough to fit everything you need for a sparring session. A protective mask, HEMA jacket, gloves, two federschwerts and an array of padding will all fit into the bag. You might, however, be pushing it if you try to add your HEMA pants, too.
This is the first bag on the list that doesn’t have roller wheels on it. The construction is fairly sturdy, with the expected interior compartments inside. It can be carried by side handles or as a backpack.
While the construction is good, I wouldn’t recommend overstuffing it. The zips aren’t quite as industrial as the other bags, and the handles are sewn on, not riveted.
This bag is perhaps best used to just carry essentials, rather than a one-stop storage spot for all of your gear.
Length: 55″(140 cm)
Pros
- Great single-person bag.
- Large and light enough to fit all the gear you need for a fencing session.
- Easy to move around
- Front pocket for personal belongings, water bottle, etc.
- Price range
Cons
- Sewn-on handles start stretching under heavy loads.
- Zippers also start struggling under a full pack.
Cavalier Attitude The Rapier Bag
The Cavalier Attitude Rapier Bag boasts that it’s the product of “a swordsman teaming up with an expert sports-bag designer, to create a bag that carries the equipment that no other bag
can handle.”
While I think some of the other entries certainly give it a run for its money, there’s no denying this is a large, sturdy bag built to last. Internal compartments, general external pockets, and a construction that will handle stress; for storage and transport, this has you covered.
Available in black, black and blue, and black and red.
Length: 60″(152 cm)
Pros
- 5 feet long to fit HEMA swords, rapiers, etc.
- Won’t struggle under a full load.
Cons
- No wheels for easy transport when fully loaded.
Caddy Daddy Golf Constrictor 2 Golf Bag
Moving away from dedicated HEMA and fencing bags, let’s take a look at some other options — like this Caddy Daddy Golf Constrictor 2 Golf Bag.
This golf bag is large enough and sturdy enough to take care of your gear. It lacks the internal compartments of the dedicated HEMA bags, but still features internal straps to keep things secure. There are built-in wheels on the base for easy transport.
Perhaps my favorite thing about this bag is it folds down flat when it’s not in use. You don’t need to worry about it taking up a lot of space when you’ve got your gear out or on display.
Length: 50″(127 cm)
Pros
- Large enough for all your HEMA gear.
- Folds down flat for easy storage.
- Built in wheels for easy transport.
- Durable construction for longevity.
Cons
- No internal compartments, so you’ll want to wrap up gear to protect it.
- Zipper not quite as sturdy as dedicated HEMA bags.
Athletico Maverick Padded Snowboard Bag
Continuing the theme of non-HEMA bags, I present to you the Athletico Maverick Padded Snowboard Bag to round out the list.
The bag is a generous 6 feet long (180 cm), making it one of the biggest bags on the list. Internal padding will help protect your HEMA gear during transport. Unfortunately, there are no internal compartments. Like the golf bag, you’ll want to wrap gear up to keep it protected inside the bag.
This bag features very generous storage capacity. However, like the Faites D’Armes bag, the handles are sewn on. For my money, I’d rather use the bag to store gear and use a different bag for transport if I needed to take a lot of stuff.
The biggest benefit, though, is that this is also the cheapest bag on the list. So while it doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the dedicated HEMA bags, it’ll do what you need it to affordably.
Length: 71″ (180 cm)
Pros
- Generous storage capacity.
- Six feet long (180 cm), able to store almost any HEMA weapon easily.
- Padding to protect gear from knocks and bumps.
Cons
- No internal compartments.
- Sewn on handles.
In Conclusion
There are lots of great HEMA bags on the market, both those specifically designed for the purpose and those that can be used to store gear regardless.
I would personally recommend getting a bag designed for HEMA gear — your swords, your HEMA gloves and jackets, all the kit you have — if you have the budget.
If not, at a pinch, the golf and snowboarding bags will at least get you started.