Leather-look armour turns a simple outfit into a warrior, a guard or an adventurer. Before you buy, it helps to know the names of the pieces, what they're made of, and how to fit them over your clothes. Here's the plain-English version.
In short
- Start with one shoulder piece and a pair of bracers. Add a breastplate later.
- Fit armour over the clothes you'll actually wear on the day.
- Our armour is faux leather: light, flexible and easy to wear all day.
- Combat sports and some LARP systems have their own armour rules. Always check.
The pieces, from head to toe
- Helm: covers the head. See the Faux Leather Great Helm.
- Pauldron: a shoulder guard, worn on one or both shoulders. See the Layered Single Pauldron or the Layered Double Pauldrons.
- Breastplate: covers the chest. See the Double-Layer Half Breastplate.
- Bracers or vambraces: forearm guards. See bracers vs vambraces.
- Tassets or strip skirt: hang from the belt to cover the hips and thighs. See the Faux Leather Roman Strip Skirt.
- Greaves and gaiters: cover the shins. Lace-Up Studded Gaiters give the look over your boots.
Three kinds of armour
- Costume and display armour is made to look right in photos, at faires and at LARP events, and it is light enough to wear all day. All of our armour is in this group.
- LARP-safe gear for foam-weapon combat has rounded edges and no sharp hardware, and many LARP groups check kit before play. Ask your organiser what they allow.
- Steel combat armour for sports like SCA heavy fighting and buhurt is built to strict, inspected standards for thickness, padding and rivets.
Faux leather or real leather?
Our armour is faux leather, and every product page names the material. Faux leather is light, holds embossed designs well and wipes clean. Real leather armour is heavier, moulds to your body over time and needs more care. Both look good at a faire.
How to fit armour
- Dress first. Put on the tunic or padded coat you'll wear underneath, then fit the armour over it.
- Shoulders before chest. Fit the pauldrons, then the breastplate, so the straps don't fight each other.
- Check strap lengths. The Fur-Look Single Pauldron's chest strap adjusts from 75 to 93 cm, for example. Measure your chest over your clothes before you order.
- Move. Raise your arms, sit and bend. Nothing should dig in.
Shop armour
See all armour.
Build your kit in steps
- A pair of bracers and one shoulder piece.
- A breastplate or a double shoulder harness.
- A helm, carried for photos.
Care
Wipe faux leather with a damp cloth and let it dry away from direct heat. Store pieces flat or hanging, not crushed under heavy things, and keep them out of hot cars and strong sun. More in our care guide.
Questions people ask
Can I wear this armour to a LARP game?
Yes. It is light and easy to move in. If your game includes fights, ask the organisers what kit is allowed.
What is a pauldron?
A piece of armour that covers the shoulder, worn on one or both sides.
