Gambeson Quest.

[Sir Brian]

I’m thinking real hard on having another go at finding the perfect yet reasonably priced gambeson. I’m seriously considering this one from Steel Mastery but this discussion over at the myarmoury forum tells me I might want to order it soon if I hope to have it in time for the start of the next faire season. 
http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=21801

Just invert the colors of the sample picture to get an idea of what color mine will be. 
The options I want with shipping brings the price to approximately $180.00

[Sir William]

Considering how high I've seen some, $180 including shipping is a good deal.  Steel Mastery...for some reason, I always thought he was the same guy as Armstreet...guess cuz they're both in the Ukraine.  I like it man...so are you gonna get it?

[Sir Edward]

From the photo it looks pretty decent. The armpit looks like it'll let you raise your arms to at least horizontal without much fuss.

[Sir Brian]

Not sure now that I just found out I'll probably have to replace the refrigerator. It is 17 years old and probably beyond repairs at this stage. I might have to hold off getting it until February or March after working some extra overtime. 

[Sir William]

Part of the fun is the assemblage of the many items that go into making a kit.  No worries Sir Brian, yet another thing to look forward to in 2011!

[Sir Brian]

Well I guess this is another addition to that wish list of 2011 because I’m seriously considering on picking these up and trying my hand at Cuir Boilli, after I dye them green and edge them with gold paint of course.   
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=541

[Sir Edward]

Believe me, I understand. I got about half way through my mid/late 14th C kit, and have to put it off for a while now due to a whole string of things, including making wedding plans.

[Sir James A]

I have the gambeson I picked up off of the MRL site for $99, and thus far, just with test fitting, it's done well. I modified it by splitting the front completely so it isn't a pullover, and adding some grommets for points. I have a size large, and am also picking up a medium in the next few weeks since I think it might fit better. You're welcome to try them on if you stop by.

[Sir William]

Well I guess this is another addition to that wish list of 2011 because I’m seriously considering on picking these up and trying my hand at Cuir Boilli, after I dye them green and edge them with gold paint of course.  
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=541

That would be ambitious, and from what I hear, quite messy.  The wax...you need lots of it, or so I've read.  Still, if you decide on doing it, you have to do the step by step w/pics!

Sir Edward, what else could you possibly need?  lol

Sir James...which MRL gambeson do you have?  The quilted one, or the shirt with the padded arms?  The latter...that's what I have...strictly for show.  lol

[Sir James A]

Sir James...which MRL gambeson do you have?  The quilted one, or the shirt with the padded arms?  The latter...that's what I have...strictly for show.  lol

I have the quilted one here: http://www.museumreplicas.com/p-363-gambeson.aspx

The one thing I've noticed is that with the heavy cuirass, the shoulder will need some additional padding. Just walking in the house, I can feel the weight of the leather straps digging into my shoulders, but it's an excellent starting point for the price (I got mine 10% off, too).

[Sir William]

Yea, the shoulders take a beating in a kit; I thought of putting a thick handtowel across my shoulders to alleviate that issue; I layer up for the moment (thick undershirt, reg shirt then gambeson) and it seems to work well, I guess because I'm not wearing a cuirass, only a few plate pieces and a haubergeon.

[Sir Edward]

Sir Edward, what else could you possibly need?  lol

Well, I had gotten the plate arms/legs from MercTailer, and I have a pourpoint, and the MRL bascinet with aventail. But I still need the coat of plates, a set of Wisby gauntlets, and I need to make a new surcoat/jupon for it as well, and figure out how I want to point the arms and add the besegews. So lots to do before it's wearable.

[Sir Edward]

Yea, the shoulders take a beating in a kit; I thought of putting a thick handtowel across my shoulders to alleviate that issue; I layer up for the moment (thick undershirt, reg shirt then gambeson) and it seems to work well, I guess because I'm not wearing a cuirass, only a few plate pieces and a haubergeon.

I've started putting bits of blue camp-foam inside the arming doublet over the top of my shoulders so the straps rest on that. It helps a lot. Not exactly period, but an easy hack when the straps just aren't sitting right (historically, if you could afford it, everything would be shaped to you and wouldn't have that problem).

[Sir Brian]

I have the gambeson I picked up off of the MRL site for $99, and thus far, just with test fitting, it's done well. I modified it by splitting the front completely so it isn't a pullover, and adding some grommets for points. I have a size large, and am also picking up a medium in the next few weeks since I think it might fit better. You're welcome to try them on if you stop by.

Thank you James for the kind offer! I may eventually pick one of those up to use in WMA class at a later date but probably not for wearing under the haubergeon because I suspect they use synthetic fill material for the padding which doesn’t breath well at all. I have a similarly made gambeson (the discontinued KOH one) which as the same problem. I heard that linen breaths very well and I suppose I will just have to save up for one. 

Yea, the shoulders take a beating in a kit; I thought of putting a thick handtowel across my shoulders to alleviate that issue; I layer up for the moment (thick undershirt, reg shirt then gambeson) and it seems to work well, I guess because I'm not wearing a cuirass, only a few plate pieces and a haubergeon.

I’ve found my pourpoint provides just enough additional padding on top of my shoulders beneath even my marginally padded wrestling jacket from revival clothing. 

[Sir Wolf]

i often hesitate on ordering over seas. dunno why but i still do.
my arming jacket has padding in the chest, back and shoulders. i need to make a aketon so as to use for earlier time periods than 15thc.