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In our group we mainly use protection vest for horse riding, similar to these: http://www.airowear.co.uk/reiver.php

However, we turn these around, back-to-front. Personally, I have also removed the padding on the backside. The protection is quite good and the price as well. However, the shoulders could be better protected. But, that is an option for this particular brand. http://www.airowear.co.uk/accessories_p ... .php?id=41

I have also been looking at the Kali and riot gear by KMNW. http://www.kmnw.co.uk/torso.htm and http://www.kmnw.co.uk/public_order.htm

The clever thing about the riot gear, is that it is modular and the price is great considering how much protection you get. But, it also looks a bit too militaristic.

I am very curious to know if that full body riot gear is a feasible alternative protection for armoured combat. Still needs gauntlets, gorget and helm but it could save some money. Has anyone out here had success with this?

I was considering this kit myself for polearms practice, but our head trainer hates them so I am a bit ambiguous since our club is still deciding on a policy with regards to what gear to use in public and in videos...

But, I had the same thought. However, when using harnischfechten techniques you really need an inversed armour that protects your simulated armour's "weak spots". So, perhaps it would be necessary to decide on what the targets are for practicing harnischfecthen and use appropriate protection for, for example the groin, the throat and neck, the heel tendons, the insides of the arms and legs etc. Especially the tendons would need protection for hookings, I think.

Thinking like this, you would actually need less protection for much of the body. Sounds crazy perhaps, but there is a certain logic in this...

Still, it seems like a good kit for sparring with various polearms and the price is great too.

This thread evolved into a discussion on harnischfecthen and was split with a new thread here:
http://hroarr.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=177

Hmm.. just an idea. I haven't really tried it out yet but if one would want to simulate armour, especially harness, woulden't it be possible to make it in har plastic? I mean, it would not be historically accurate in any way apart from the shape of it. But it will definately be cheaper than buying a full suit of armour (wich you really can't get for less than 10000 euros or so for good quality) and the thickness and weight is not really a problem. You could easily tape down small leadstrips on the inside to get the weight up. Surely this would still cost you a bit unless you makeit yourself. Was thinking och using the blue plastic grainbarrels used for horese etc. Just cut the peices wit a saw and then heat them a bit and shape it.

Do not misunderstand me here, I really prefer using real armour but I can't afford to buy and don't have any place to build either. But just for training purposes plastic should work just fine. And it's very low maintenance.. What do you guys think?

Roger Norling wrote:I was considering this kit myself for polearms practice, but our head trainer hates them

Hates them for historical reasons or functional reasons?

Eric Hejdström wrote:Hmm.. just an idea. I haven't really tried it out yet but if one would want to simulate armour, especially harness, woulden't it be possible to make it in har plastic? I mean, it would not be historically accurate in any way apart from the shape of it. But it will definately be cheaper than buying a full suit of armour

My understanding is that there are people experimenting with this. I've not investigated the quality or functionality. Check out these places:

http://darkvictory.com/html/catalog.html

http://www.eggarmor.net/07.htm

Shay Roberts wrote:

Roger Norling wrote:I was considering this kit myself for polearms practice, but our head trainer hates them

Hates them for historical reasons or functional reasons?

Neither. He thinks they're damn ugly.

Shay Roberts wrote:
My understanding is that there are people experimenting with this. I've not investigated the quality or functionality. Check out these places:

http://darkvictory.com/html/catalog.html

http://www.eggarmor.net/07.htm

Hmm. Not exactly what I had in mind. But similar. What I thought was to use a more historical 15th century style as reference. I have no idea what the costs would be but I doubt it would be possible to make a full suit of armour for less than say.. $5-600. But who knows. I wonder if possibly Terry English might have something that would be usable for HEMA? I think I'll send him an email and ask...

/Eric

Eric Hejdström wrote:What I thought was to use a more historical 15th century style as reference. I have no idea what the costs would be but I doubt it would be possible to make a full suit of armour for less than say.. $5-600.

I believe that Alchemy Armory used to do this, but their main website doesn't come up anymore. Here's a generic info page: http://www.aboutus.org/AlchemyArmory.com