Our Gambesons are also suitable for martial arts practitioners who want a sturdy but functional padded garment for drilling and light sparring with wooden weapons such as bokken, jo and bo. We also have a martial arts gambeson which is quite generic that we recommend as a 'sports gambeson' for this activity.
No surviving references to Dark Age or Viking padded armour survives but it is known that gambesons formed the basis of most warrior's kit. This gambeson copies the civilian fashion of the time and is therefore our best interpretation of what it might have looked like.
This gambeson is based directly on period illustrations (for example the "Masciejowski Bible") and is a highly functional piece of kit. Suitable for any portrayal from the early 12th century though to the ealry 14th century. It may have been used even earlier but surviving evidence for this period is rare.
This gambeson is based directly on period illustrations and a few similar surviving examples. It has special tailoring in the shoulder area to allow great freedom of movement. Suitable for any portrayal from the early 14th to early 15th centuries and available in black, off-white or split colours. Listed price is for black, off-white or red and black split colour only. This is our best selling gambeson.
By the late 14th century our standard 14th century gambeson had changed slightly into this more stylish version with more tailored lines through the waist and dagged edges. It still retains the great shoulder mobility of our best selling 14th century gambeson.
This gambeson really captures the feel of the 15th century which saw the pinnacle of the development of full plate armour for battlefield use. This garment can be worn as 'stand alone' or under items of plate armour. Available in black and off-white (natural state).
15th Century Arming Doublet for Western Martial Arts or as a foundation garment for a 15th century harness. It is also great for HEMA or any sword based partial art. It provides excellent protection to the torso and arms while its clever tailoring provides the greatest freedom of movement of all of the padded body armours in our range.
Available in all sizes in black or off-white (natural undyed state). This is a very sturdy and functional piece of kit. Although it was superceded by our more historically accurate 11th - 13th Century gambeson, it has proved popular with martial artists for weapons sparring.
Generic Dark Ages/Medieval padded cap to wear under a helmet. Ideal for use under a light helmet. Some form of padding is essential under any helmet and the style of this arming cap follows civilian fashions from the time.
The neck and top of the shoulders were one of the prime targets in medeival hand to hand combat. The padded collar protected this area - either as a standalone item or under maille.
This item combines the padded collar and arming cap into a single garment. It is slightly more bulkier then either but combines both into a single garment. We use this type of item as a core part of our Jousting equipment and is our best selling padded garment.
Early medieval padded mittens for LARP combat or light steel weapons training and combat
Medieval full length padded legs. One generic size - 86 cm (34 inches) long exluding belt loops, 58 cm (23 inches) circumference at thigh opening and 38 cm (15 inches) at ankle opening.
This is a generic pair of padded greaves to protect the shins and lower leg. Practical for all periods, infantry and cavalry
