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. |
| Unarmored Combat | Light Armored Combat | Synthetic Weapons | Cut & Thrust Combat | Rattan Combat | Steel Combat | |
| 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. |
| Unarmored Combat | Light Armored Combat | Synthetic Weapons | Cut & Thrust Combat | Rattan Combat | Steel Combat | |
| 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 |
| Unarmored Combat | Light Armored Combat | Synthetic Weapons | Cut & Thrust Combat | Rattan Combat | Steel Combat | |
| 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 | Armor recommended if the foot is included as a target | Armor 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 | 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. | |||||