You know ’em, you love ’em – Purpleheart Armory is the premier US vendor of HEMA kit. From steel swords to purple socks they have it all. They’ve also been a long-time sponsor of IGX. No seriously, they have been with us since the first IGX.
If you have HEMA kit, it was probably made by SPES. It’s no exaggeration to say they are the biggest name in HEMA kit. All we have to say is “SPES Heavy” and you know exactly what we mean. Offering protection from head to toe, styled from Cavalry Officer to Imperial Officer, you can guarantee they have something for you. They’ve also been with us since the beginning, so give them a look.
One of our oldest sponsors, Castille makes top notch custom swords to exacting standards. With rapiers, daggers, longswords, sabres, broadswords and everything in between! They’re another one of our long term sponsors, supporting us for nearly a decade. For our 10th Year, they provided a custom sword. It was beautiful, and the team was jealous we couldn’t keep it.
With us since the beginning and always providing great sponsorship, PBT is wonderful source for protective equipment, bags, and whatever else you might need for kit. You’ve no doubt seen their gorgets – they cover not only the neck but the shoulders too. We want to extend a hearty thank you for their tireless sponsorship.
Back again, Sigi is a renowned swordsmith. If it can cut and thrust, they probably make it – and not just western, but eastern too. With their customizable swordbuilder software, you can make a sword that you can love for a very long time. They have longswords, messers, sabres, katanas and more!
Get on a mask. Get on a head cover. Adjust the head cover every pass. Wait, where’d it go? — Has this happened to you? Don’t you wish you had better mask solution? With their “Cobra” mask Wukusi does just that. With a rigid shell around the head, not only is the mask cover integrated but it’s solidly protective too.
CHFG was founded in 2015, focusing on Living History and HEMA. In 2017, the brand “Maleus Scutun” was established for HEMA gear research, production, and sales. The club now offers a complete set of HEMA protective gear, including the famous “Michael” and “Gabriel” gloves and the unique “Storm” and “Ranger” jackets.
The product developers at CHFG are HEMA practitioners and competition organizers, who have developed and improved their products through use, trial, and user feedback!
We work from treatises that are, well, old. It’s in the “historical” part of HEMA. Unfortunately, that means getting your hands on originals can be impossible. Fortunately, there’s HEMA bookshelf. They make spectacular fascimilies of the treatises, from Fiore to Fabris, so you can own a piece of history… without robbing a musuem.
Tired of getting in a grapple and not having a way to stab someone? Wish you could carry a rondel with you? Thistledew Leather has you covered. They are the most common rondel sheath available on the market today. Not only do they have rondels sheaths, but they also have socks, HEMA jewelry and the like. Chances are – you’ve seen them at an event near you. If not, you definitely will because they will be at IGX!
Most swords you can buy these days would have been the creme de la creme of swords back in the day. Not everyone was walking around with swords that looked straight out of the Albion show room. Most swords were, well, a bit rougher around the edges. That’s what Alex makes. Munitions grade, hand made arms of all types. Truly handmade! Every single piece is one of a kind.
All you young whippersnappers and your flexible steel, bah humbug. Back in the day we had wood and we liked it. And that wood came from Hickory Arms. Ask any old HEMA vet and they probably have a hickory arms sword kicking around on a shelf – I know we do. One of our oldest sponsors, they took a hiatus for a few years but they’re back. Give them a look and own a piece of HEMA history.
While it’s a HEMA tradition to use forks, knives, napkins or even a bread stick to work techniques after an event, sometimes you want a little better. Enter Supper Swords, who is that “little better.” With a variety of dinner-appropriate sword simulators, you’re guaranteed to find the right sword for your discussion. Even better – they’re local right to New England!While it’s a HEMA tradition to use forks, knives, napkins or even a bread stick to work techniques after an event, sometimes you want a little better. Enter Supper Swords, who is that “little better.” With a variety of dinner-appropriate sword simulators, you’re guaranteed to find the right sword for your discussion. Even better – they’re local right to New England!
Black Cat Historical Fencing, founded in 2023 in Rhode Island, is an educational nonprofit dedicated to providing teaching and guidance in HEMA. They have their two major events, St. Benedict’s Big Day and Long Tail, along with other miscellaneous events. If you happen to see any of the Black Cat members at IGX don’t forget to thank them for the sponsorship, meow.
FrauFecht is the premier HEMA event for women, featuring tournaments found nowhere else in the world. Our mission is to uplift women and give them the very best that HEMA has to offer. This two-day dedicated women’s event provides a place for women to compete in multiple weapons, feature as workshop instructors, grow in leadership roles, and make lasting friendships. The atmosphere of this event is unapologetically feminine, but men are welcome to tag along and spectate, coach, participate in workshops, free-spar, and judge!
Boston HEMA League is a group focused on getting you more tournaments you don’t have to drive too far to. With different weapons and host clubs each month, there’s sure to be an event for you. Even better, between the competitions special guest instructors have been invited to teach weekend workshops. So you can fix all the things you did wrong last event. Give it a look!
Nerds helping nerds! OpHam has been our first aid staff for a number of years. Why? Because they get you. They’re nerds too and they understand you. Often the main medical staff at conventions, they understand that no, you can’t cut that costume apart. Yes, you do need space. And so on. Best of all, they’re volunteer. So, if you need med staff for your event, give them a call!