Gambesons

[Sir Ulrich]

All right considering Christmas is around the corner I decided to treat myself to a new gambeson as a gift.

I could go for the Jolly Knight one but I don't know if it will come in time for wicked faire:
http://jollyknight.com.ua/armoury/product_info.php?cPath=23&products_id=88

I could go for this as well but same issue as the Jolly Knight one:
http://armstreet.com/store/armor/european-underarmor-gambezon-padding-jack

I ain't going for the GDFB stuff because I heard it's got poly in it which is exactly what I DON'T want. Plus they only come in size large and I don't want super baggy clothing.
I could go for this though: http://www.revivalclothing.com/14thcenturylinengambeson.aspx

But thats extremely expensive and probably could get the other 2 cheaper than this even with the international shipping. I sorta want linen because of my issues with the other gambeson I have which is way too hot and poly stuffed, I can't even fight in it without getting heat exhaustion even in COLD weather, though I got punched right in the chest at full force with it on and it protected me rather well. Main type I do want is 13th century and all the nice places that make nice gambesons are in Europe while us Americans get mass produced crap made of poly sh**. Making one myself is out of the question as I don't have the skills needed and most store bought linen is too loosely woven for use under maille. Any suggestions?

[Sir Wolf]

http://www.matuls.pl/index.php?IDP=1&Lng=en&IDKategoria=4 these! they will make custom fit 2 u

[Ian]

The Revival Clothing linen gambeson is an excellent off the rack choice, they also have a more inexpensive cotton version.

If you really want to treat yourself, contact Jessica Finley of Fuhlen Designs, she can be found on Facebook, and she does excellent custom work.

[Sir James A]

I've heard good things about Matuls, but no experience with them myself.

As Ian said, you can get the cotton version in the same style for less than 1/2 the cost of the linen one: http://www.revivalclothing.com/cottongambeson.aspx - and you can get it in lightweight or heavy. Revival makes some very nice products, I've had their pourpoint but no experience with their gambesons.

I've got an MRL gambeson, which works okay for what it is (a cheap starter gambeson - I think it was $79 on sale years ago). I've also got an IceFalcon gambeson, and he is *great* at exchanges or trades if it doesn't fit right, though they're about the same price as the Revival cotton one. The IceFalcon does seem more uncomfortable than the MRL one I have, but I think it's from not wearing it much (just test fitting) and the 45* angled sleeves (the MRL are standard/straight).

I'd like to try one of the Historic Enterprises doublets. They have a Charles de Blois copy, which is very popular, and very well fitted - http://historicenterprises.com/doublet-of-charles-of-blois-circa-1360-p-893.html?cPath=99_108. It's more expensive than the MRL or IceFalcon or Revival Cottons, but looks to be well worth the extra cost - with international shipping costs, it might be close to comparable to places overseas. Also, unlike MRL or IceFalcon, Historic Enterprises (Black Swan Designs is the "soft kit" division) will make you a custom-sized doublet based on your specific measurements. It says 3-4 weeks turnaround time, I'm not sure if that would be in time for Wicked Faire.

One note - if you do get it, be very patient, or get a few friends - it's got about 60 buttons on it.

[Thorsteinn]

Have you checked out http://gambesons.com/?

[Sir Edward]

Revival Clothing has some really nice stuff. Just be aware that not all of the linen is highly durable in the long-run, if armor will be rubbing on it in places.

Their 14th century linen gambeson is fantastic for WMA/HEMA use. It fits and moves wonderfully. It's not really intended for use with armor, unless you want to add all your own arming points, but you often end up doing that anyway since they can only guess at where you need them positioned.

I haven't tried the cotton ones.

But their arming doublets and pourpoints work very well. But you MUST reinforce the points. Otherwise they rip through before long.

[Ian]

I wear the revival linen gambeson under maille, and it's very comfortable.  I added leather points to the shoulders for attaching my arm harness when not in maille and it makes a great foundation garment.  I learned the hard way on their pourpoint that the 'point' holes require reinforcement as well, as I blew one out with my leg harness.  Just added some leather with holes punched and it works great now.

If you're considering getting a separate pourpoint for leg harness beneath your gambeson, be advised that it must fit very tightly around the hips to support the weight of leg armor, otherwise the weight will be transferred to your shoulders and be much more fatiguing.  The problem I had, is even the small from revival clothing is not really designed for someone with a lean build.  I have a 31'' waist and athletic build and it's hard to get it to fit snugly in the hips without the center seam meeting (which defeats the purpose).

The best way to go if you're willing to save for it, is custom.  Then you know it will fit and function properly.  Arming clothes are the foundation for your armor to work FOR you not against you.  Even though the revival stuff is built tough and made the function, it may not fit perfectly, and for the price, you can step in to something custom if you wanted.  Unless you happen to have the body type that a manufacturer had in mind when they designed an off-the-rack item, you'll ultimately be hampering yourself.  For some reason, the medieval re-enactment world seems to frown upon making off-the-rack designs for people who are lean and in shape or skinny, and you'll have a hard time finding things that function seamlessly with your armor.

When it comes to normal clothes you can get away with a less than ideal fit.  When it comes to arming clothes, poor fit means fatigue, armor that feels cumbersome and uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous if it limits your movement.

This is Jessica Finley's custom garment shop, and she does outstanding work on gambesons and arming clothes of all varieties.  If you're in it for the long term, she's worth the wait.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/F%C3%BChlen-Designs/107298642681955

[Sir Ulrich]

Well the kind of gambeson I want is something that can be used under flat ring riveted maille that wont wear out quickly. Problem with me is I mull over which one to buy for it. My budget is under 200 bucks for this preferably 100 or 150. The revival one looks well tailored though which is really tempting.

[Ian]

my avatar photo is the revival linen under flat riveted maille and it's comfortable and resilient to the maille.  It fits a little puffy in the chest, but otherwise very nice for off the rack.  I've worn it under maille for long periods of time and have no abnormal wear or damage.

[James Barker]

Matuls are the nicest of all the gambeson mentioned and I have never heard any complaints on service from them. I know three reenactors who one a gambeson from them.

[Sir William]

I have an IceFalcon one that I am not in love with how the arms hang...there's some extra material under the arms which James just clarified for me- it is the way they made it to hang.  So, I'm going to be in the market for one, but may opt for the lighter arming cote that IceFalcon sells as I have no real need for the thick one.

[Sir Ulrich]

Currently I am tied up between the revival linen one and the Matul's ones. Just don't know how to order things from Europe, seems ALL the good stuff is sold in Europe including bingo wing free maille. I may just go for jolly knight because they're the cheapest and seem to be similar to Matuls. Revival's one seems a bit.... expensive compared to the rest. Otherwise I could go for a custom made one, I don't really know anyone who could make one though so I'm out of luck there. I WAS gonna go for Icefalcon but I wanted linen not cotton or poly. After wearing cotton filled with poly I know why they made them out of linen and not cotton.

[Sir James A]

Otherwise I could go for a custom made one, I don't really know anyone who could make one though so I'm out of luck there.

Also, unlike MRL or IceFalcon, Historic Enterprises (Black Swan Designs is the "soft kit" division) will make you a custom-sized doublet based on your specific measurements.

In case you missed it earlier.

[Sir Ulrich]

Yeah, is that actually a gambeson to wear under maille or just a linen garment? Either way as long as it's custom made I would like it because I've grown tired of tube sleeved gambesons like my current one. I should be fine with a layered linen gambeson because I don't want something too stuffed because it will get hot as hell in the summer.

[Sir Brian]

Revival Clothing has their Model-T cotton gambeson on sale for $139.00
http://www.revivalclothing.com/onsale.aspx
They are only available in black but that is your preferance anyways.