Bracers are one of the quickest ways to make an outfit look finished. Two on the forearms and a plain tunic becomes a ranger, a Viking or a knight. But what's the difference between a bracer and a vambrace, and how do you choose? Here's the simple version.
In short
- A vambrace was medieval plate armour for the forearm. A bracer was an archer's arm guard.
- Today both words mean a forearm guard, and people use them interchangeably.
- Laced bracers fit closely; buckled bracers go on and off quickly.
- Most of our bracers are sold singly. Order two for a pair.
Bracer or vambrace?
A vambrace (from the old French for “fore-arm”) was the part of a suit of armour that covered the forearm, usually made of steel. A bracer was originally an archer's guard, worn on the inside of the bow arm to stop the string from slapping the skin. In costume, LARP and fantasy, both words now describe a guard or cuff for the forearm, usually in leather or faux leather. “Bracer” is the more common word for leather pieces, and “vambrace” tends to be used for more armour-like ones.
How long should a bracer be?
- Wrist cuff (about 10 cm): subtle, easy to wear all day. The Centre-Laced Wrist Cuff.
- Short bracer (13 to 16 cm): sits close to the wrist. The Tree of Life Bracer (13.5 cm), the Laced Wrist Guard (15.5 cm), and the Embossed Cuff Bracers (16 cm, sold as a pair).
- Full forearm (18 to 24 cm): the classic armour look. The Tapered Laced Bracer (18.5 cm), the Three-Buckle Bracer (19 cm), the Heraldic Banner Bracer (21.5 cm) and the Wolf and Hammer Bracer (24 cm).
Laced or buckled?
Laced bracers draw snug to the shape of your arm and look more traditional, but they take a minute to tie, so ask a friend for the second one. Buckled bracers, such as the Three-Buckle Bracer or the Gold-Stud Pentagon Bracer, go on and off in seconds, which is handy at a long event.
Which design for which character?
- Viking: the Wolf and Hammer Bracer, the Winged Beast Rune Bracer, or the Studded Bracer with Fur-Look Trim.
- Knight: the Heraldic Banner Bracer or the Three-Buckle Bracer.
- Ranger or archer: the Tapered Laced Bracer or the Laced Wrist Guard.
- Elf or druid: the Tree of Life Bracer.
- Dragon hunter or sorcerer: the Twin Dragon Bracer.
Shop bracers
See all bracers and arm armour.
How to wear bracers
- Over a sleeve is more comfortable than on bare skin, and it holds the sleeve in place.
- Narrow end at the wrist, wide end towards the elbow.
- Snug, not tight. You should be able to slide a finger underneath.
- Check the width. Product pages give the width laid flat. Compare it with your forearm measurement at the widest point.
A note for archers
Shooting a real bow? Wear a proper archery arm guard on the inside of your bow arm, and keep the bracers for the look.
Questions people ask
Do bracers come in pairs?
Most of ours are sold singly, and photos showing two are for styling. Order two for a pair. The Embossed Cuff Bracers are the exception and come as a pair.
Which arm do archers wear a bracer on?
On the bow arm: the left arm for a right-handed archer.
