202:: The padded weapon sometimes just called the "foam weapon" is the creation of the American battle gaming movement. Padded weapons typically have at least twice the padding found in traditional boffer weapons. They also tend to be lighter than traditional PVC boffers as they are almost always built on fiberglass or carbon fiber cores. All striking surfaces are covered with cloth to prevent the weapon from scratching uncovered skin. The combination of more padding, lighter weight, and cloth covering make these weapons ideal for the unrestrained fighting that is found in most American battle gaming groups (
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333:, either full length or cut into smaller pieces, which makes a firm, yet safe coating for the weapon. Sometimes pipe insulation is used. The general convention of most modern groups is that there must be at least one layer of stiff closed-cell foam for safety reasons. Some groups differ on the thickness required and this mainly stems from issues of safety and control. Some full-contact groups require more padding on striking surfaces.
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192:: Throughout Europe, almost all modern sword-fighting games use molded foam swords of latex rubber. These weapons are often airbrush painted with a slick latex covering. The weapons are only lightly padded and require players to use only touch contact and pull back on their blows before striking. The weapons have little support at the tip and do not lend themselves to thrusting. These mock weapons are starting to be used in
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should be placed a ridged punch protector consisting of either a pipe end cap or small plastic or leather disk. The end of the core should also be covered or surrounded by a rip-resistant material such as a tightly taped small foam box, a layer of strong mesh tape, or some yoga matt that will prevent the core (which will whip back and forth) from sliding around the punch protector.
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repair of punctures by simply smoothing the shell out and applying a small patch of duct tape to the hole. Additionally, some United States groups use a cloth covering or opaque tights instead of duct tape. This practice is gaining almost universal acceptance with most groups moving to these systems.
172:: The term "boffer" refers to a particular construction of weapon that involves a single piece of PVC pipe, with one layer of pipe foam around it, and covered with duct tape. This type of mock weapon, although it has padding, is not suitable for unarmored high impact fighting. It is commonly used by
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Once padding and thrusting tips are secured on the core, it is not unusual for the weapon to have added flourishes for aesthetic and practical purposes. If the foam weapon is to be an axe, a head carved out of open-cell foam may be affixed. Additional layers of closed-cell foam can be used to define
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Padded weapons used in
American-style battle gaming are often used with full force blows. The thrusting tips must be elastic and compressible. The foam should be open cell of a density greater than or equal to 2.3 lbs per square inch. In addition, between the core and the thrusting tip there
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Some core materials can be bent into a number of shapes to give variety and uniqueness to a weapon. A common way to bend a PVC core is with a blow torch or kitchen stove; however, heat guns or boiling water are preferred by some as these methods deliver even heat, to prevent burning or weakening of
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Rules for constructing foam weapons vary a great deal from group to group as foam weapon fighting groups are usually small and tend to operate independently of each other. Foam weapon fighting groups also differ on the allowed weight, size, flexibility, thickness of foam, length of thrusting tip,
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One method within United States conventions involves a simple coating of duct tape to hold the outer foam together. The tape itself is used in many places to shape the foam and pull it into place, allowing for the artist to "carve" the weapon out as they work. Duct tape weapons also allow for easy
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The primary concern in designing a foam weapon is safety; a pulled blow with a foam weapon should not hurt the target, and in systems that allow it, even a full-strength blow should not cause injury. Combatants who consistently fail to pull their blows are liable to be ejected from an event, or at
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Unlike boffer weapons, padded weapons are used in full force striking and therefore need more padding. For most
American battle gaming organizations the rules specify approximately one inch of padding on the striking surface of any weapon under 24 ounces in weight. For weapons over 24 ounces in
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of the foam weapon may also have a thrusting tip for striking with the bottom of the weapon. The thrusting tip at the bottom of the pommel is commonly referred to as a waylay tip, as its purpose is to be used to strike between the shoulder blades, simulating an assailant waylaying a victim. Even
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Most groups in Europe and the UK do not allow thrusting even if the weapon has a thrusting tip, due to concerns on the safety of such weapons. However, thrusting tips are much more popular in the United States where practitioners ensure that any weapons that risk the core piercing through the
182:: These mock weapons are similar to standard boffer weapons, but they are reinforced on the core pipe with strapping tape. They are used in full power combat with the participants wearing a significant amount of safety equipment (armor). This type of mock weapon is primarily used by the
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finishes with detail airbrushing. Some specimens are so stunning that, at first glance, they are difficult to tell apart from actual metal weapons. Latex weapons, however, are much more expensive (to both purchase and repair), and generally have a stiffer give on impact.
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When solid coatings are applied over thrusting tips, many holes must be poked through them to allow the foam to deflate and re-inflate upon impact. This is generally not needed when coatings such as cloth are used, as air can pass freely through such media.
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are used, with standards varying between groups and countries. Graphite golf club shafts and PVC tubes are presently the cores most commonly used in the United States, whereas solid fiberglass or carbon fibre rods are the cores most commonly used in Europe.
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or other foam types that allow a progressive give, which is often much softer and more compressible than the foam on the core. This allows for a wielder to execute a thrust on their opponent without fear of skewering them on the core or leaving bruises.
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a blade of a sword, the hilt of a dagger, or the soft foam "spikes" of a club. Foam weatherstripping is commonly used to better define a "cutting blade" as opposed to electrical tape. Flourishes allow for a great deal of artistic expression.
274:; often, a foam weapon is designed to look something like a real weapon such as a sword or an axe, sometimes with detailed adornment. The weighting and balance of a foam weapon can also affect how easy it is to use in combat.
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Within
European and Australian conventions, latex or rubberized coatings are generally considered the standard. Latex coating allows for levels of detailing and artistry through such techniques as appliqué moulds, and
483:, are generally encouraged to check with the rules of group with whom they plan to participate, so not to bear the pain of disassembling and re-assembling a new weapon to make it in compliance with local standards.
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combat but require less protective gear. The scale of such tournaments may vary from individual duels to battles with hundreds of participants. Foam weapons are also used in some sport-like battle games such as
462:(including pommels and guard) of the weapon should not easily fit through a two-inch hole. This allows the weapon to be used in unhelmeted combat without significant risk of causing eye injury.
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Boffers are also made by individuals for use at home for fighting amongst friends and family. Typically these will be made without reference to the design standards of any LARP group.
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Normally there are several main features of a foam weapon: A core, padding, thrusting tips, various forms of functional and artistic flourishes, and an outer coating or shell.
511:. While designed with safety in mind, these weapons tend to undergo more relaxed safety inspections as the fighters are usually not expected to use full-force blows.
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and type of materials that may be used as a core. As a result, those who are into the sport, whether as a form of freestyle martial arts or within the context of
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Standard "blue" weapon made from a fiberglass core, open cell foam padding, strapping and cloth tape, a cloth covering and a rope around the handle.
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The most important piece of a foam weapon is its core, which acts as the shaft of the weapon and gives it its initial shape. Cores made out of
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Most padded weapons are either formed using round (omni) blades such as pool noodles, or flat rectangular blades from layers of sheet foam.
149:, is a padded mock weapon used for simulated handheld combat. Such weapons are used in simulated battles called battle gaming and in some
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Padded weapons are typically built on similar cores as listed for the boffer weapon, but some groups such as
Markland use rattan cores.
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there are four major kinds of foam mock weapons in use in medieval combat sports, battle gaming, and LARPs. They can be defined as:
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without this tactic, having a padded pommel is a common safety precaution as it provides added protection against accidents.
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To prevent skin abrasion from full contact strikes, all padded weapons must have cloth covers over all striking surfaces.
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least pulled out of the fighting for safety reasons. The weapon should be durable, to withstand the stresses of combat.
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Once a core is decided upon, a layer of foam padding is glued around it. Sometimes a core is inserted into a
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weight the padding requirement typically is increased to about one and one half inch of closed cell foam.
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such as contact cement, spray glue, or carpet tape are typically used to hold foam layers together.
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Some groups wrap tape around the core as reinforcement and to limit damage should the core break.
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where participants must perform touch combat by pulling back on their strikes at the last moment.
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thrusting tip and into a combatant are failed in safety checks held before every game.
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the core. Rattan is generally soaked in water and then moulded to fit a shape.
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battle which shows a variety of foam weapons and shields being used.
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789:. Garden City, N.Y.: The Headlands Press/Dolphin Books. pp.
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The weapon is then covered with either tape (such as kite tape,
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checking foam weapons and shields for safety before a match.
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New Games
Foundation (1976). Fluegelman, Andrew (ed.).
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Some foam weapons also feature a tip made of open cell
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are more common, and combat is usually referred to as
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Foam weapons may also be used in fights more akin to
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Depending on which set of rules are being used, the
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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767:. Battle Game Sports and Hobbies, 2010, p. 216.
741:. Battle Game Sports and Hobbies, 2010, p. 215.
242:. Non-latex foam weapons are primarily used in
754:. Battle Game Sports and Hobbies, 2010, p. 59.
507:Boffer weapons are commonly used as props in
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550:History of live action role-playing games
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109:Learn how and when to remove this message
582:. Battle Game Sports and Hobbies. p. 58.
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560:List of live action role-playing groups
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655:New England Roleplaying Organization.
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186:(SCA) in their youth combat program.
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662:. NERO. Archived from
657:"Boffer Weapon Safety"
623:"The DIY Guide to LRP"
525:historical reenactment
515:Medieval combat sports
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712:"Fraticidal Fighting"
578:Graham, David 2010).
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270:A secondary issue is
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216:Darkon Wargaming Club
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180:heavy boffer weapons
43:improve this article
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16:Padded mock weapon
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32:This article
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41:Please help
36:verification
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793:"Boffing".
696:9 September
673:9 September
633:9 September
599:9 September
377:gaffer tape
331:pool noodle
240:LARP combat
196:LARP games.
157:Terminology
135:foam weapon
820:Categories
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800:038512516X
566:References
503:LARP props
474:Variations
454:Flourishes
362:Flourishes
295:fiberglass
272:aesthetics
69:newspapers
423:Adhesives
303:aluminium
153:(LARPs).
692:. Source
688:Source.
594:"Boffer"
544:See also
536:Home use
466:Covering
441:A latex
291:graphite
260:Dagorhir
226:and the
212:Dagorhir
127:Dagorhir
99:May 2024
481:LARPing
413:Padding
389:isoflex
317:Padding
204:Amtgard
161:In the
83:scholar
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530:Jugger
447:dagger
355:pommel
244:Jugger
224:Europe
139:boffer
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791:24–25
667:(PDF)
660:(PDF)
487:Usage
443:sword
145:, or
90:JSTOR
76:books
805:OCLC
795:ISBN
698:2010
675:2010
635:2010
601:2010
460:hilt
445:and
405:Core
343:foam
281:Core
234:and
62:news
287:PVC
222:In
45:by
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