A Spear is defined as any weapon between 36 inches and up to 96 inches long that can only be used to thrust.
Spears do not need to have any padding on them other than at the tip. They must have a layer of foam at least three inches thick and three inches wide at their tip. You must be able to poke yourself in the eye with significant force and not sustain an injury for the spear to be judged LARP-safe.
You are not allowed to swing a spear, ever. If your spear lacks foam padding along its length, you are not allowed to parry with it — either dodge or take the blow, but parrying may hit another player and without padding the weapon is by definition unsafe in that circumstance.