[Jean Thibodeau]

Basically the rotella is a round steel shield and can have different names like " rondache " in French and I think rotella is the Italian name for it.

Other names like targe or target for basically the same thing: Medium sized steel shield in some cases very heavy and meant to be musket of at least pistol proof.

Late 15th, 16th and early 17th century mostly.

[Elling Polden]

1. Bring a horse. Or a ship, if you are scandinavian.

2: if not, bring a heater shield on a shoulder strap, light kettlehat, thin shafted spear and sword.

3: take lodging at farms whenever possible. food is heavy, and you can't carry much without horses anyhow.

[Jean Thibodeau]

Yes horse or pack horse/mule change how much stuff you can carry around as spare equipment: What you can comfortably carry over long distances on foot limits all the fun choices of extra armour and weapons.

What you can fight with and what you can have on your belt at the same time that won't slow you down or get in your way is also a factor I think ! I certainly want to have a good selection of weapons available, close by, but how much on one's body during a fight can be counter productive if you are tripping over a sword scabbard during a fight.

With a long weapon like a spear, halberd or Poleaxe back up weapons that aren't too long would seem to be a good idea compared to a sword on one's belt with a 40" blade ...... in that case the scabbard suspension better be well designed to not make the sword a hindrance while using a primary weapon like a spear.

A shorter sword or long dagger should not be a problem and even extra weapons aren't a problem if they are compact enough.

[Nathan Quarantillo]

Well, if this really covers into the 1650s, I'm getting myself a buff coat. Nice thick leather, warm in the cold, able to be rolled into a backpack when not needed &/or too warm weather, protective of most cuts and does a decent job on thrusts.
Also, I'd go for that rotella. light versions, ease of carry, protective, maneuverable. Throw in a nice hanger/messer. Heavy cutter, compact, quick, also can be used for brushcutting/ general purpose.
I'd throw in a mace/warhammer for those that you'd encounter who would be wearing armour.
For helm I'd go w/ a light burgonet.
Bucket top boots. Folds up almost to mid-thigh (a layer of leather no matter how light can't be a bad thing when needed), good for riding commandeered horses. Fold down when unnecessary.
I'd also pack a flintlock caliver/carbine and a few pistols. Dispatch foes at a range and easier to carry than a bow.
My thoughts.

[Colt Reeves]

Don't forget, you've got to lug all your other gear and food/water too. I was in Boy Scouts when I was younger, and we did a few trips where we had to haul our own stuff needed to survive for one week. At the time I was a short little thing and skinnier than I am now (anyone who has seen my Youtube videos knows I'm rather skinny now too), and this meant carrying a significant fraction of my body weight.

This was not easy, and what the OP is suggesting is throw armour on as well. It would be a tad easier now, with my increased size, and skipping things like tents and roughing it, but still...


Mikko Kuusirati said:

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Stefan Rasmussen]

The reason for this discussion is also (in part of the fun) because of a project I have next year, where i have to gather a fighting group for a fantasy Larp. But we would go to great lengths to keep equipment and fighting styles rather realistic.
Most of us are well trained in longsword and messer techniques, and also spear and and staff. We need to be able to move fast, but still be well protected. The scenarium is a whole week long, so choosing a full harness certainly won't make us very mobile. And the area is covered with lots of scrub, have lot's of hills, bumbs, and irratating potholes

[Wayne Norman]

If it was me, I'd be travelling in a mail Haubergeon, kettle helmet to keep off the rain and sun, decent boots that go over the ankle, a pilgrims bag over my shoulder for all my food and travelling kit, rolled up cloak tied to my belt at the back (serves as a blanket too)

as for weapons, would have to be a 160-180Ib English Longbow, couple of sheaves of arrows, and a sword and buckler for a last resort weapon.

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Mikko Kuusirati]

[Hendrik De Coster]

what a coincidense to have a topic like this when i'm in fact going to do a thing like this at the end of this month. me and other 15th century reanactors will be dropped into a military domain(quite a big one, with even some wild animals such as boars etc in it) with only upon us what we can carry. we will be facing other groups of fighters, cold(maybe even some snow with some bad luck) and most likely rain. on the topside of this we will be on the move all day only to make camp in the evening.
so far the only "modern" thing allowed is toilet paper.
facing such conditions we actually prefered to be packed "heavy"(eg padded jack some arm protection if possible and maybe even a breastplate) instead of light. just like you want to be packed when facing hostile ground. think of it, either you will have to fight or, more preferable, flee. due to our "objective" so to speak fleeing isn't an option so you'll want the best armour you can get. for a professional pikemen this would still be just some arm protection, a breastplate, helmet and bevor and offcourse pike, sword and dagger

[Jean Thibodeau]

Hendrik, sounds interesting I hope you keep a daily log of events and thoughts and report back to us what happened and what ended up being good kit decisions and what you regret lugging around.

Well are the weapons all going to be blunts ? I assume yes if you are going to do some simulated fighting although I think you will need knives that cut and real axes if you are having to live of the land. ( In any fighting keeping the real stuff separate from the blunts would seem like a good idea: A bit like not mixing real bullets with blanks when shooting a movie ! ).

Real boar spears with sharp edges might be comforting if you have to deal with real wild boar: They won't be playing if they get too close.

How real is the experience going to be ? Will you be able to actually hunt the boars or kill rabbits or deer to eat or would that be a legal problem assuming legal hunting seasons or other laws you have to take into account ?

I guess it all depends on the rules of the game and objectives what you can do and what has to be cheated like having someone bring food to you or carry all your food and the duration of the event/competition.

[Hendrik De Coster]

i'll try to think of it, but i'm pretty sure i'll remember the bad choices(although i hope i've made none)
fighting weapons indeed will be blunt. utility tools(such as knives, axes) will offcourse be sharp. we've all reached an age we should be responsible enough to know not to weild sharp weapons and if someone does i'm affraid he'll face serious charges(assault/attempted murder). the main idea is to represent the common soldiers' life when on campaign during fall.
i believe boar killing is out of the option(and who would try that with only a bow or spear?), not sure about the rabbits however i believe the chances of us catching a rabbit are rather slim.
as far as "cheating"; i believe it was likely back then and even now for soldiers to help eachother, especially on campaign. that's one of the reasons why we're splitting up different items. for example a friend of mine will bring a cooking pot while i'll be carring a small awning to protect us at night from heavy rainfall/snow/cold. since there's only 1 water source in the area i do believe there will be various encounters around that place

[Mikko Kuusirati]

[Hendrik De Coster]

[David Clark]

I would merely have a langseax, a spear that would double as a walking stick, and a woolen cloak if it was cold. If I felt I had a high probability of being attacked, then I would have all the above, with a spangen helm with cheek plates, a maille byrnie, and a small-medium shield with a guige for ease of carrying. I have walked for hours at renfairs and through the woods surrounding my property with this loadout, so I know that I could manage quite a distance with such gear. I feel it isn't too over the top if one were going on a quest or what have you.

[Scott Hrouda]

[Thom R.]

Your range of dates is probably too wide to get any kind of consistent answer....... post 1550 one would have a firearm and probably would not be using much in the way of armour other than maybe extra clothing and maybe a jack or buff for the torso. maybe some gauntlets or splints on the forearm... think Tyrells raiders in the 9 years War in Ireland or the border fighting between Scotland and England in Elizabethan times.

also seems like you are assuming that you have to be self sufficient while you travel with your armour and gear. thats a bit of a contradiction imho. Within period one would have a retinue tagging along to carry stuff. If you had the means to own a bunch of armour you had the means to be on horse and/or have hired help carry stuff for you, cook for you etc. Even archers had helpers.

I know this is one of those fun "what ifs" but we do have to be careful about mapping our modern sensibilities to our living history portrayals. tr

[Benjamin H. Abbott]

[Hendrik De Coster]