[Jojo Zerach]

Has anyone worn armour in cold weather with historically-accurate under-garments? (ie. not ones that could double as artic gear.)
Does the metal get cold, or does it still get you toasty?

[Michael B.]

DON'T LICK THE METAL!!


But in all seriousness, I don't know. I would imagine it's freezing cold. I've only worn my suit down to about 34 degrees, and it wasn't insanely uncomfortable. I would go give it a try if my armour wasn't in pieces on the floor right now.

[Jojo Zerach]

[Michael B.]

I was just notified by my beautiful wife to be that I have worn my armour down to around 20/25 degrees F. I was ok in this weather, little brisk in the voids, also, my soft kit is not wool, it's linen, however, the metal was very cold to other people touching it, and I would start to steam if I walked next to the fire some people had going.

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Michael B.]

Hmmmm, I smell another mini doc brewing...

[Michael B.]

I found some artwork that depicts a knight in a cold weather environment. He seems to be ok. I'm having a hard time pegging the time period here, but perhaps some people more versed in art can zero in on the century, seems a bit transitional.

[Tjarand Matre]

I spent a day wearing riveted maille and a bascinet in -15C just before christmas. As long as your arming clothes are warm and there is no steel to skin contact, armour or maille won't make much difference. If you're wearing a full suit of armour you might have condensation that freezes on the inside of the steel. I would anyways make sure I had a layer of wool under any arming clothes.

[Aleksei Sosnovski]

Wore my armor (maille + plate arms and legs + bascinet) in around -5 C. Nothing bad as long as you move. Though probably if you get sweaty and then don't move for a while you will freeze. Two main problems are:

1) to put on enough clothing under armor (it is especially valid for plate armor which is fitted and thus will not allow too much clothing to go under it).
2) when wearing armor you generate a lot of heat so you are warm even if you have little clothing under the armor, but you also get sweaty quickljy. And after your clothes get damp, you freeze very quickly if you don't move.

[Christian G. Cameron]

Wore my full plate (milanese) over correct wool garments--padded arming cote, 14th c. shirt, braes, and wool hose with leather shoes. I've worn this in -20C and it is cold, but the plate completely cuts the wind. But steel gauntlets over heavy gloves are miserable in -25 but not at all bad in -10 when actually moving. The rest is absolutely fine.

I DID make a correct hood--a liripipe--to wear under my Bascinet and maille because the maile on my face was--REALLY COLD. With the hood buttoned to the chin, it's quite comfortable.

Also noted that when outside I really, really wanted a wool cap to wear when unhelmed. Sally Pointer made me a 14th c. cap--superb.

Hey--I live in Canada. If you couldn't wear armour int he cold, we wouldn't ever have any fun.

To sum up, just yesterday we had a long sparring session outside. We all agreed that plate is actually warming, and mail is freezing--extra wait and cold retention against yr under garments but wind goes right through it. I wonder if it would act as a great air barrier if you completely covered the maille in cloth?

[Audun Refsahl]

every february we arrange a training weekend in norway, reenactment fighting outdoors. 130-150 men and women fight in lines in the snow in the forest, and there are roman soldiers, vikings, 15th c knights in full plate and everything in between.
the soft kits are more or less modern (think of the poor romans), but the plate harnesses dont seem to be a problem for anyone. they come back every year with the same, or more, metal to wear.

If anyone wants to try out their kit and wants an invitation just let me know.

[Jojo Zerach]

Interestring, I thought it would be warmer to wear then it seems to be!
On another forum I remember it being proclaimed that wearing a greathelm in cold weather would still result in excessive heat buildup.

[Jojo Zerach]

[David Clark]

Here is SCA fight practice that took place in snow that reached up to at least the belly:
http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewto...ctice+snow

They seemed to be ok.

[Paul Hansen]

Handy site for those of us who can't follow a conversation about degrees F (or C):
http://www.digitaldutch.com/unitconverter/temperature.htm

Another point to consider: in cold temperatures, say -20C (-4F), which steel gets more brittle: the kind used in weapons or the kind used in armour? Of course both the steels used in weapons and those in armour vary greatly, but can we say something in general?

[Timo Nieminen]

[Thom R.]

steel is not a very good insulator. however, the cold can in my experience affect the leather used to articulate the plates and it can adversely effect any residual oils or grease that is on the steel to either prevent rust or help with articulation. i think that the effect of freezing temperatures on steel plate armour down to about -20C is quite minimal.

the comment about the plate cutting the effect of wind is one i haven't thought of or experienced directly. thats an interesting comment and makes some sense...........

[Larry Bohnham]

As far as flexibility of the steel, you shouldn't have any worries until you approach -40F which conveniently is also -40C. At those temps and lower steel can get brittle very fast and instead of just yielding (bending) it will jump right to its ultimate load (snap-bang) point. Of course specialty alloys such as inconel and others are capable of large thermal swings without loss of strength or flex.

As far as comfort, most of the other posts are good and based on direct observations but I'd like to offer these general priciples based on my experience and knowledge as a mountaineer and dog musher (both cold weather prusuits indeed).

First, your base layer against your skin is the most important thing. Cotton kills. It holds water against your skin and does not easily evaporate so you spend your metabolism heating both the water and the skin and it will drag you into hypothermia faster than you can say Stonewall Jackson. If you're going to be exposed for a long period of time and or exerting yourself you must use a good wicking base layer made of polypropylene or some of the other hydrophobic synthetics on the market. If you insist on natural materials then silk is the best. The Samurai used it for their base layer and I've read that some arming jackets were lined with the stuff.

Second, the steel plate will act as a conductor of heat away from your body so you want a good amount of insulation between your pink bod and the steel. People's suggestion of wool is very good since it continues to insuilate pretty well even when it gets damp or wet, not as good as the synthetics such as Maulden's Polar Fleece, mind you, but it worked well enough for centuries.

A fur cloak would also help, and would look cool too.

[Joe Fults]

[Ed Toton]

Well, I can tell you that my inaccurate aluminum mail kit is not a good thing to wear in the cold. Aluminum is a better heat conductor than steel, and even with padding under it, it tends to act as a heat sink and leach the warmth out of you. If it's a chilly day, I'll feel warmer as soon as I take it off.