christain
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It's the steel on the inside that counts.
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Post by christain on Oct 4, 2019 4:25:44 GMT
I invite you to a meeting in South Texas...for a drink...in August...after a hurricane...in armor...buttercup.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Oct 4, 2019 9:53:10 GMT
You're on, Christain. When alcohol is involved, everything seems like a good idea My last thoughts on this topic: comfort isn't a consideration when it comes to soldier gear. Armor is designed to protect and provide mobility to fight. The wearer's comfort is a distant consideration after the first two requirements are settled. Armor (modern and old fashioned) is uncomfortable to wear. It's bulky, hot, and if you have to scratch yourself... well, that's not happening. The only way to make it more comfortable is to train in it. Wear it all the time. Get used to it. Hit the gym and work on your personal physical fitness. A stronger, healthier body can adapt to the discomfort faster than one that is out of shape. Other than that, buttercup, you're just going to have to deal with it best you can.
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christain
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It's the steel on the inside that counts.
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Post by christain on Oct 4, 2019 10:25:16 GMT
I do deal with it. And, yes, wearing armor is not meant to be comfy like your favorite pair of jeans and t-shirt---but it doesn't have to be unbearable. That's why I post the tips and suggestions I do. I can't speak for everyone, but my armor is about as comfortable as it will ever get---given the environment where it is worn. Ancient-and modern-soldiers don't/didn't have many options when it comes to such matters. I do. Will I use those options? Hell yeah. And the whole 'buttercup' thing is a moot point now. I have a long-time alias. They call me.....'Nanner-Puddin'. -----------
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Post by MOK on Oct 4, 2019 11:03:12 GMT
My last thoughts on this topic: comfort isn't a consideration when it comes to soldier gear. Sometimes it isn't, but it absolutely should be! It's all fine talking tough and telling people to suck it up like Real Manly Men (tm), but in reality ergonomics is functionality and ignoring comfort of use creates serious performance bottlenecks and health hazards, so every actually good piece of combat gear, from guns through body armor to boots, is designed with quite a lot of thought given to the user's comfort. It's one of the main reasons why some military surplus items are so popular. Now, sure, prolonged physical activity like marching, working, waiting and occasionally fighting in all kinds of weather is inherently uncomfortable to some degree, but that's just all the more reason not to exacerbate it with bad gear. If you push your soldiers too far, you won't have soldiers.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2019 17:44:34 GMT
Me thinks gealic style armour would be best in heat 😎
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Post by Cosmoline on Oct 4, 2019 17:52:22 GMT
The key is to set up your kit to allow your body to sweat freely, and to drink alot. That's your natural cooling system. And my experience is summarized in one word--100% LINEN. Get rid of cotton, wool, leather and above all non-permeable synthetics. Linen wicks sweat and allows you to breath. The difference in heat load between my HEMA leather and synth gambeson and my linen one is night and day. Of course, layering steel on that will add to your heat load. But at least you'll have a fighting chance. If you have the option, having an open-faced helmet also helps both keep hydrated and O2 flow.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Oct 4, 2019 19:18:45 GMT
Mail and partial plate are really not bad at all even in hot (90 degrees+) weather. If you are wearing linen or cotton clothing underneath, they may get sweat-soaked--but will actually keep you cooler. I’ve packed my cotton skivvies shirts away and don’t intend to wear again, at least not here. I’ve found that 100% polyester is much better. The last that I bought was from the PX a few years back when visiting. I think that I’ve seen the stuff online, those maybe seconds. This is designed to be worn under body amour and has a wicking effect. When wet it’s more comfortable than cotton and dries much, much faster. It also out lasts any cotton T shirt I’ve had. This stuff is ideal for the tropics where rain and sweat are almost constant. I think that I wore similar stuff as my cold gear but that was too far back to remember exactly. I only remember the word poly. That also had a wicking effect like wool. I had used wool up to that point but on my return one time the wife, now X, went through my kit and washed, something she had never previously done, and then put them in the dryer. They were special and not replaceable so out of necessity I went to the poly and it worked just as well.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Oct 5, 2019 2:31:54 GMT
If any military accidentally makes a piece of kit that is comfortable, it will be taken out of the inventory within a year of first issue. Comfort comes after functionality, after cost, after transportation/logistic considerations, and after durability. Comfort is the last and least important thing. Take the HMMWV for example. If you find a place where you can lay down on it to take a nap, then there will be a mounting bracket attached at the point where you kidneys would be. The bracket does nothing, it's just there for no reason other than to poke you in your kidney. Truth. And don't even think about being comfortable in a C-130 seat while wearing a parachute (even though the C-130 is designed to be a jump plane). Then again, nobody ever accused the government of forward thinking and efficiency.
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christain
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It's the steel on the inside that counts.
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Post by christain on Oct 5, 2019 4:31:39 GMT
Just lay down and go to sleep with the military aspect. For God's sake---we are talking about Ren-Fest/LARP armor here. We are not going into combat, we are going into it to look cool, drink beer, and have FUN. In that aspect, COMFORT is THE NAME of the GAME. Comfortable armor CAN be had, if you know where to look, and where/how to shop. Strange, isn't it, Red, that several people here have PM'd ME (not YOU) asking for advice??? Wonder why, huh? You just land harder in the dirt when you fall off the high horse. I hope you have good padding under your armor when you do...and you will. Good night.
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Post by MOK on Oct 5, 2019 10:19:08 GMT
Be nice, folks. If any military accidentally makes a piece of kit that is comfortable, it will be taken out of the inventory within a year of first issue. If a piece of kit is uncomfortable, it will be unceremoniously ditched or modded in the field. Double plus supertruth!
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Post by RufusScorpius on Oct 5, 2019 11:53:42 GMT
Christain: No worries, my friend. I have double butt padding in my armor. I've fallen from my horse many times.
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christain
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It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Oct 5, 2019 14:00:31 GMT
Be nice, folks. If any military accidentally makes a piece of kit that is comfortable, it will be taken out of the inventory within a year of first issue. If a piece of kit is uncomfortable, it will be unceremoniously ditched or modded in the field. Double plus supertruth! Thank you.
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Oct 5, 2019 14:31:46 GMT
Christain: No worries, my friend. I have double butt padding in my armor. I've fallen from my horse many times. Red---Unless I missed it somewhere, I have yet to see your armor. Post a pic or two. Especially if you're wearing it lawn-mowing.
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Post by nerdthenord on Oct 5, 2019 15:05:43 GMT
I take a break from the forum for a few days and my thread blows up. Without wading into combat, I will just reiterate this is about danger, not comfort. I wasn't asking about what historic kits would be most comfortable, I was asking which would be legitimately dangerous in the heat, humidity, and sun here. My questions have been answered though, so that is nice.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Oct 5, 2019 15:07:14 GMT
Yeah, still need to do the armored lawn mowing. It will have to wait a while, my knee is acting up again so it's back to the hospital next week for me. I'll get the photos done, along with my third installment of my three part vids on technique- scout promise!
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christain
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It's the steel on the inside that counts.
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Post by christain on Oct 5, 2019 15:53:24 GMT
I take a break from the forum for a few days and my thread blows up. Without wading into combat, I will just reiterate this is about danger, not comfort. I wasn't asking about what historic kits would be most comfortable, I was asking which would be legitimately dangerous in the heat, humidity, and sun here. My questions have been answered though, so that is nice. Sorry if I messed up your thread, Nord. I guess I just get overly enthusiastic about such things. It's a passion. Having a heat-stroke is serious s**t. I've had one. Not fun. ( NOT while wearing armor.) The overall answer to the original post: Don't do it.......unless you just reeeeeeaaaalllly want to. Wearing armor in a hot and humid environment is not going to be a pleasant experience, no matter what one does to try and make it better. Fact. You're gonna sweat. Fact. The underclothes you wear are your saving grace. Fact. People did it hundreds of years ago. Fact. We do it by choice, not because we have to or need to. The answer is simple---do what you gotta do to be safe and have fun.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 18:06:38 GMT
I take a break from the forum for a few days and my thread blows up. Without wading into combat, I will just reiterate this is about danger, not comfort. I wasn't asking about what historic kits would be most comfortable, I was asking which would be legitimately dangerous in the heat, humidity, and sun here. My questions have been answered though, so that is nice. Sorry if I messed up your thread, Nord. I guess I just get overly enthusiastic about such things. It's a passion. Having a heat-stroke is serious s**t. I've had one. Not fun. ( NOT while wearing armor.) The overall answer to the original post: Don't do it.......unless you just reeeeeeaaaalllly want to. Wearing armor in a hot and humid environment is not going to be a pleasant experience, no matter what one does to try and make it better. Fact. You're gonna sweat. Fact. The underclothes you wear are your saving grace. Fact. People did it hundreds of years ago. Fact. We do it by choice, not because we have to or need to. The answer is simple---do what you gotta do to be safe and have fun. This is why the armour of th Gaelic is most ideal 😎
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Post by nerdthenord on Oct 5, 2019 18:23:30 GMT
No worries guys. I think this question is answered pretty definitively by now though.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 18:45:02 GMT
No worries guys. I think this question is answered pretty definitively by now though. And the answer is gealic armor
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christain
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It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Oct 5, 2019 19:14:41 GMT
Sorry if I messed up your thread, Nord. I guess I just get overly enthusiastic about such things. It's a passion. Having a heat-stroke is serious s**t. I've had one. Not fun. ( NOT while wearing armor.) The overall answer to the original post: Don't do it.......unless you just reeeeeeaaaalllly want to. Wearing armor in a hot and humid environment is not going to be a pleasant experience, no matter what one does to try and make it better. Fact. You're gonna sweat. Fact. The underclothes you wear are your saving grace. Fact. People did it hundreds of years ago. Fact. We do it by choice, not because we have to or need to. The answer is simple---do what you gotta do to be safe and have fun. This is why the armour of th Gaelic is most ideal 😎 What, exactly, is your view of 'Gaelic armor' ? Gaelic is an early Celtic language, not necessarily a form of being. When I think of 'Gaelic' armor, all that comes to mind is mail. Or nothing at all. Ancient Celtic-Age warriors were known, historically, to fight completely naked. Paint some blue woad stripes on your face, bleach your hair white, grab a sword, get down to bi'ness.
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