1. Full requirements are in Amendment 1 for each class.
2. All armor should be appropriate to the combat style. It is solely the combatant’s responsibility to know the requirements of armor for their chosen combat style and to wear the appropriate armor to engage.
   1. Rattan kits may not be used for steel fighting.
   1. Steel kits wearers must ensure they are appropriately counting shots due to their armor being a heavier grade and not always “feeling” the shot. Fighters in steel kits must listen for the shots they may not feel and call them appropriately.
3. Armor Terms:
   1. Hard (Rigid) over Soft
      1. Hard: Rigid material required for each marshal style
      1. Soft: Padding is closed cell foam or gambeson material as required by the marshal style. This is usually at a minimum ½”.
4. There must be NO major internal projections.
   1. Minor projections of necessary structural components must be padded.
   1. All metal shall be free of sharp edges.
5. If eyewear is worn it must not be allowed to contact the helm itself during normal combat conditions. The lens of all eyewear shall be shatterproof industrial safety glass or plastic. The wearing of contact lenses or “sports glasses” is strongly recommended.
6. All helms shall be designed to prevent the helm from being dislodged during combat. Face guard bars or mesh should not attach to the interior of the helm unless of structurally superior design and workmanship.

Armor as Worn

1. Armor as worn is considered what weapon would and would not actually harm a combatant based on historical weapons and armor for the purpose of counting blows.
   1. Hidden armor counts as armor as worn.
   1. Hitting armor reduces a substantial blow to a telling blow and a telling blow to a non-point hit.

Armor Requirements

Please contact your Lord or any Marshal for clarification and any other questions you may have. Equestrian rules are listed under that section.

	Unarmored Combat   (including padded weapons)	Light Armored Combat   (Incl: full contact boffer)	Synthetic Weapons	Cut & Thrust Combat   (including rapier, saber, small sword,)	Rattan Combat	Steel Combat
Helm	Participants may wear arming caps for incidental hits to the head.   Headshots / face thrusts are prohibited in Division 1 and only allowed in higher divisions if appropriate helms are worn.	Fencing mask (regular) or a plastic helmet with a face plate (hockey helmet). No openings great than 1”.	Back of the head and neck must be protected by heavy leather or equivalent	3 weapons mask or equivalent 12kg mesh). No openings larger than 1/8” (3mm) wide.   RIGID C&T – Back of the head and neck must be protected by heavy leather or equivalent.	-16 ga or heavier steel helm (welded or riveted) -No openings greater than 1” on the faceplate / grill -Face guard must extend at least 1” below the bottom of the chin / jaw line when head is held erect -Helm must be padded with a minimum of 1/2 “ closed cell foam or suspended in such a way as to prevent injuries.	– 12 ga or heavier steel helm (welded or riveted). – No openings of greater than ¾” – Eye openings no great than ½” – Helm must be padded in such a manner as to provide progressive give under the force of a blow without resulting in injury whether foam or suspension.
Neck (top of Spine)	Neck shots / thrusts to the neck are illegal.   Gorgets that cover the larynx are recommended.	Heavy leather or equivalent gorget. Or a drape of heavy material / leather may be utilized.	Heavy leather or equivalent gorget.	Heavy leather or equivalent gorget.	Rigid hardened leather, steel, or impact resistant plastic that protects all sides of the neck including the top of the sternum (at the collar bone juncture) and the top of the spine. Aventails and camails may be utilized if the drape can absorb the force of the blow.	Neck shall be protected on all sides by rigid material over padding. Aventails, camail or equivalent is not sufficient.
Chest / Torso	Gambeson optional	Gambeson optional	RIGID C&T – torso must be covered in a padded gambeson that extends beyond the tip of the shoulder to the ball of the hip. There should be no gaps in the armpit area.	FLEXIBLE C&T- Puncture resistant vest. RIGID C&T – torso must be covered in a padded gambeson that extends beyond the tip of the shoulder to the ball of the hip. There should be no gaps in the armpit area.	The kidney area and lower spine must be covered rigid over soft. It is recommended to cover the chest, sternum, and breast areas.	Full torso armor (rigid over soft) including the spine
Shoulders	Gambeson optional	Gambeson optional	Recommended	RIGID C&T – recommended	Recommended	Must be protected by rigid material including collar bones and shoulder joints.
Arms	n/a	n/a	Recommended hard over soft	RIGIT C&T – Recommended hard over soft	Recommended	Forearm shall be protected (vambrace) with rigid material along the radius and ulna bones
Elbows	n/a	Recommended	RIGID C&T – Protected with rigid material over padding. 3 points of the joint must be covered.	RIGID C&T – Protected with rigid material over padding. 3 points of the joint must be covered.	Protected with rigid material over padding. 3 points of the joint must be covered.	Protected with rigid material over padding. 3 points of the joint must be covered.
Hands	Optional – sparring or hockey gloves may be worn	Optional – sparring or hockey gloves may be worn	Sparring gloves or rigid material	FLEXIBLE C&T – Minimum of leather dueling gloves that extend at least 2” above the wrist.   RIGID C&T – Hands must be covered beyond the wrist by rigid material.	Riger over soft full hand gauntlets for all open hilt and great weapons. Demi-gauntlets may be utilized inside of basket hilt or shield if the hand is fully covered. Archers are required to wear demi-gauntlets.	Protected by rigid, mitten style gauntlets. Must completely cover the hand. The cuff (wrist) must extend a minimum of one inch above the wrist joint. Finger gauntlets are allowed w/ basket cup or shield.
Hips	n/a	n/a	Minimum of a gambeson recommended	Gambeson must cover hip joint.	Recommended	Top of the iliac crest (hip bone) must be covered by rigid over soft.
Groin	Highly recommended	Protected by gender specific rigid material (normal sports cups are appropriate)	Protected by gender specific rigid material (normal sports cups are appropriate)	Protected by gender specific rigid material (normal sports cups are appropriate)	Protected by gender specific rigid material (normal sports cups are appropriate)	Protected by gender specific rigid material (normal sports cups are appropriate)
Thighs	n/a	optional	RIGID C&T – recommended	RIGID C&T – recommended	Recommended	Protected with rigid over soft
Knees	n/a	Recommended	Protected with rigid material over padding. 3 points of the joint must be covered.	RIGIT C&T – Protected with rigid material over padding. 3 points of the joint must be covered.	Protected with rigid material over padding. 3 points of the joint must be covered.	Protected with rigid material over padding. 3 points of the joint must be covered.
Shins	n/a	n/a	Rigid over soft material to cover the front of the shin at a minimum.	RIGID C&T – Rigid over soft material to cover the front of the shin at a minimum.	Rigid over soft material to cover the front of the shin at a minimum.	Protected with rigid over soft
Ankles	n/a	n/a	Recommended if the foot is included as a target	Recommended if the foot is included as a target	Protected with rigid material over padding. Both side joints must be covered except if the rules state no blows below the knees.	Protected with rigid material over padding. Both side joints must be covered.
Feet	Closed toe shoes	Closed toe shoes	Recommended if the foot is included as a target	Recommended if the foot is included as a target	Shoes or boots which cover and protect the entire foot are required. Cleats are prohibited. Rigid sabatons recommended.	Shoes or boots which cover and protect the entire foot are required. Cleats are prohibited. Steel sabatons recommended.
Shields	Foam only	Foam, plastic, wood, aluminum or other equivalents. No wires, bolts, screws, or other objects may rise more than .25” without padding or tape covering them. Shield edges should be covered with edging appropriate to your marshal category.
Other						Rerebraces (armor for the upper part of the arm and back of shin are not required but strongly recommended. A heavy gambeson material meets this requirement.