As one other member here was asking help about choosing medieval 14th century gambeson I would like help with choosing a gambeson that would fit for period 800-ca 1200.
Best would be if it would be made of leather from one side and linen/fabric from inside. Buth linen/woolen is fine too.
I prefer if it would be made in Europe, since I am living in Estonia.

Thanks,
Juhan

Use several woolen tunics ^^

Works well with maille.

Its too few for our fighting style.
I once had a bruise with a pattern of a maille on my hip, because I didnt have my gambeson with me and had to use 2-3 woolen tunics instead. It hurt.

Ave!

You may have to add some non-period protection. For most of the timespan you mention, there is practically no evidence for a padded garment worn under mail. Here, try this thread:

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=123775

There's also a long thread on this board about Viking-era organic defenses. It's a lot more talking than evidence, unfortunately!

After 1100 or so, no problem, though I suspect gambesons were usually not made with leather.

Good luck!

Matthew

Not sure what you are talking about Jojo. By 1200 there seems very little evidence textile/padding was not being worn in conjunction with armour or mail and plate. Ever near layer by layer account I know of from the 13th on to the 15th has some form of padding or textile under armour.

J.,

I know what you mean. I got loads of nasty bruises when I fought just in mail and decided I was going to do something about it. Period or not I just felt like I knew I could do something about it without changing the historic look so I added padding. Now I am working on a multi-layered undertunic. It may end up being a liner but I am still deciding. It does not provide quite the same impact protection as my padding from what I can tell but it seems to be working just as well in most aspects.

RPM