The Idea
I started HEMA in 2019 and got onto the tournament scene later that year. In 2020, I competed in Capitol Clash, which required chest protectors. That was the first time I had ever worn one.
I checked around the internet to see what was available and what was recommended. I asked more experienced people in my club what they recommended. All of them basically just shrugged and said “The boob armor one isn’t great. Most women usually just buy the men’s one and then try to fit it to themselves with a heat gun and some scissors.”
Or you have chest protectors with literal boob cups or holes drilled in it for some reason.
I went ahead with the men’s version and did my best to cut it down and shape it to my body. It… worked okay. When I wore it at Capitol Clash 2020, I had bruises from the chest protector itself on the inside of my biceps because no matter how well I tried to get it to fit, it kept not wanting to sit flat against my chest.
In 2021, I got fed up with it and tried once more to get it to shape correctly. I took the straps off of it and cooked it in the oven for a few minutes, and then heat shaped it to my body. Even with extra towels to protect myself it got pretty hot.
Even then it wasn’t great. I talked to other women to see what their solution was. One used heat moldable plastic and leather to custom make hers. One uses a combination of the football padded shirts and extra cloth padding. Some people just forgo them because they’re so uncomfortable and restricting.
Obviously there’s a need here. A few HEMA armor manufacturers have tried to fill the gap, but they keep making the same mistake as all the rest.
They keep trying to make a “women’s” chest protector just a smaller version of a “men’s” chest protector. Even though the measurements might be similar, the body shapes are fundamentally different.
Then I remembered that I’m a product designer by trade and resolved to fix the problem on my own. I wanted to build a chest protector that would fit all curvy bodies comfortably and provide protection during fencing.
