The Aketon / The Gambeson 

I would have to say that the gambeson would be my favourite armour. I'm not at this time a soldier or police officer and would probably not have been one in the middle ages either but having a gambeson for protection when travelling seems like a good idea. Easy to wear, cheap and reasonably effective are all traits I'd look for in somethig I'd wear every day while going about my business.

I am a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, portraying a 14th Century English Archer. I found this video to be very informative. Archers from my time period most often wore aketons/gambesons as their primary armor, with only the weallthiest able to afford a layer of maile over it. My list of preference (when actually *wearing* armor: 1: Chainmaile (beautiful armor) 2: Aketon (cheap and effective, freedom of movement, handsome appearance) 3: Plate (gorgeous, but too expensive and restrictive IMO) Thank you for sharing this video with us!

I own a gambeson, and i have to say i am very fond of it. it does work to dampen blows rather effectivelly, and it doesnt cut your mobility all too much. also i find it makes you look larger and more intimidating, especially ones with sleeves.

I'm actually sewing a gambeson while watching this. ^^

Cloth is seriously underestimated when it comes to resisting cuts. Just try cutting through a simple kitchen towel when it's backed by something cushion-like.

My mail shirt was indeed surprisingly light when worn over a gambeson. Wonderful video series.

Amazing piece of equipment. SImple and ingenious

Snape talking about muggle armour...

I'm a fan of gambesons. I have made an imitation of a gambeson out of quilted cotton that I'm rather satisfied with, seeing as its made for looks and not for wearing underneath actual armour. When the day finally comes though, when I'll seriously consider acquiring plate armour I'll definitely get a good gambeson to wear underneath. And by that I mean the later type, maybe from the 1600s. That's also a topic to cover; the historical development of the gambeson as plate armour became a thing. As far as I've learned, it went from a multilayered cloth armour that could stop sword cuts to a thinner, practical and comfortable piece of clothing to wear underneath the actual armor, and they added arming points and maille gussets.

NO NO NO!!! and NO! if you put your mail under your aketon, the mail WILL CORRODE much faster than outside, regardless of heavy rain. because you SWEAT, and your sweat is HIGHLY CORROSIVE, no match to the rain water.

Salve Metatron! I have been enjoying your videos and was wondering, will you ever make any videos on Medieval Roman (Byzantine) armor, weaponry, culture, etc? thanks!

Another great upload. Thanks for sharing!

I greatly enjoy the gambeson for it's affordability, decently easy maintenance, and coat-like style (especially the longer ones). I can also put my sewing skills to use if I felt like making one.

Aw man! You started out the video wearing the item of discussion! I always look forward to the end of the video where you don your equipment. In other news: great segment as always, Mr. Tron, keep it up (I know you intend to)!

Looks bad ass I would wear it.

The bottom sword reminds me of Dawnbreaker.

My favorite armor personally (being an SCA fighter and other groups that use blunted steel) is Lorica Segmantata. I find I still have full range of movement, and good protection from cuts, stabs, blunt force trauma, and projectiles (with the acceptation of the armpits, but I have yet to get hit there.)

Nothing is cooler than a heraldry-covered knight in chainmail carrying a heater shield and wearing a great helm.

My favorite armor is probably the M1A1 Abram Main battle tank.

Nice video, thanks for sharing......

Starts talking about games gambeson immediately reacts "How much is Shad paying you!?!"

it with that one has a gambeson of your armor to prevent it from rusting, but in your video about the care of your equipment, you said that the constant friction between the rings prevent rust

Actually, gambeson is the only kind of armor i've had an opportunity to wear. And my impressions are positive. It really is lightweight, actually it felt lighter than my leather jacket, both when donned and in hands. Didn't have the opportunity to measure it against cuts, but it deflected steel training sword hits quite effectively.

Really good overview of the use of the gambeson. I've worn a Churburg #13 style breastplate over a padded gambeson and I can't even notice the weight. I've seen manuscript illustration of gambesons over what is likely breastplates, so wonder why they seem to favor the latter.

What about wearing aketon+mail+full plate together? by the way if I was asked about my favourite armor I would say: 1.chainmail 2.plate 3.this or any kind of leathar armor :)

Scale, combo of rawhide & bronze, I like the idea of bronze armor.

I was under the impression that wearing mail under your aketon was a bit dangerous since if you armour doesn't hold up and you get wounded the rings of the mail that busted open could enter the wound and make it worse.

bel video come al solito, grazie! :)

That has to be warm in the winter.

good job

VIDEO SUGGESTION ON ARMOUR: Hey, just curious about greek hop light armour. In it's era did it stand up to the weapons of the time? Seen a few poor-average vids done on it. but nothing I would like to draw much conclusion from. Also did the Spartans (as professional solders) have different armour? and was the linen armour standard across Greece? Basically curious about the armour used by greeks from the period of King Xerxes failed invasion to Alexander the great eras. Many thanks if you can make the time to do this video suggestion. :-)

When gambeson became popular as a fashion item, did people wear them in various colours?

at first I thought u were that butter jelly guy, haha good stuff man

I'm interested in how it was constructed, how many layers it used and how they were put together and how well they protected. I'm also wondering if the Italian merchants didn't wear gambesons for regular self protection.

My favourite armour is first the Italian plate, (amazing for mounted knights), then the English plate (comfortable for fighting on foot, pair it with a poleaxe and you are beast), and the gothic and maximilian as a good in-between. As looks are conserned i think the Italian is the most imposing

Seems like it'd keep you nice and warm on campaign, particularly through snowy regions such as crossing mountains, although one would assume that on very hot days (particularly around the Mediterranean) soldiers would get overheated very quickly. Were gambesons used by other cultures as well or was it strictly a Medieval/Dark Age European thing? Also, are the armpits missing from yours? I've seen plenty of gambesons without armpits because the stiff material restricts mobility otherwise.

Anyone have recommendations on the best place to get medieval clothing (1150-1335AD) for men (English), women (Iberian) and children that also doesn't look out of place in the modern world? I was thinking that footwear like the following could suit (whilst not necessarily being perfect) Men: Sandals, Espadrilles, Ropes Sandals, Empire Sandals, Leather Thongs, Menorcan Sandals, Gladiator Sandals, Clogs, Monk Strap, Moccasins, Woven Sandals, Suede Loafer, Chukka Boots, Chelsea boots, Plimsolls, Cuban Heel Chelsea Boots, Chukka Desert Boot, Driving Shoes, Women: Strappy Tie-up Sandals, Knotted Suede Toe Post Sandal, Cross Strap flat sandals, Raffia double strap slide sandals, woven leather tie leg sandal, Mules, Clogs, Over the Knee Boots, Ballet Flats, Lace Up Knee High Boots, Stirrup Boots, Slouch Boot, Desert Lace Up Shoes, Cuban heel western Chelsea boot with buckle detail. Likewise, Quilted Clothing (like Quilted Sweatshirt, Quilted Puffer Coat, Quilted Coat, Quilted Tracksuit Pants, Quilted Tracksuit Top, Quilted Jumper) could suffice for Civilian Gambeson. I’m also thinking that Tunics (Knee, Cocktail, Midi or Maxi Length), Leggings, Tights, Long Sleeved V Neck Shirt, Tank Top, Henley Shirt, Track Pants, Hoodie, T-Shirt with Notch Neck, Driving Gloves, Suede Gloves, Leather Gloves could be used. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Thanks Metatron, I'll post a video on my channel if I get anything from those sites. :)

Was the thing that King Arthur wore in that shoddy recent King Arthur film a gambeson? Cause I got to admit, it looked pretty cool

To me plate armor always seemed kind of unnecessary and overly protective to the point it's detrimental. My favorite armor is maille and lamellar armor, gambesons seem like an essential item to me. As you can imagine from my armor preferences the Varangians are some of my favorite warriors!

I've never worn armor but I would assume that the order you put it on in would be linen tunic, gambeson, chain mail. That just sounds right to me is that historically correct?

I'm curious about the function of the buckles. Do they just close the front, or do they function to cinch the garment as well?

I really like gambisons but mail is my favourite type of armour.

Interesting but I would have thought sleeve length would have been more useful just above the wrist not just above the elbow it looks wrong on you, no protection to lower arm at all. Can you tell me how many layers the Gambeson has please, and are the 4 leather straps and buckles in front authentic, does not look medieval? oh the strap ends seem loose no loops to hold ends. like your vids, I would like to see more about this type of "armour" please it is very interesting. as this must have been worn by "everybody" for centuries.

So people wearing the aketon is kind of like people wearing military camo like crye multicam who arent in the military? also couldn't you wear gambeson mail AND plate?

Hello Serverus Snape!

Ciao! finalmente qualcun altro che supporta la possibilità realistica della maglia sotto il gambeson :D da dove viene l'iconografia? ^^

In Puerto Rico it's called a quilted armor.

Could you do a video with you wairing the gambeson with the mail armor over it and with the leather armor over the mail at the same time?

I have never worn armor of medevil or renaissance origin. When I can afford to buy a suit, I believe I will purchase a gumbenson over fitted mail. Did the "Vikings" use a form of padding under their mail armor?

Erm, very minor complaint. When you were showing the aketon it was too dark to see the channels. Also, a lot of troops were simply too poor to afford anything heavier than a gambeson.

ORCRIST!!! THEODINS SWORD!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHAAH!!!!!! YOU TAUNT MEEEEEEE!!!!!

I just ordered a set of Lorcia Segmentata - would you recommend wearing gambeson underneath it for extra protection/padding and coverage of the arms, butt, lower abs & genitals? I feel like the armor in itself won't be sufficient for protection in HEMA/sparring, which involves full contact with training weapons, and even some demonstration with actual weapons, such as sharpened daggers and hunting knives.

What would you consider a good way to represent the effectiveness of a gambeson against weapons of the thirteenth century?

How reasonable would it be to wear gambeson under plate as 'winter' armour?

Just by now i can´t remember if I have asked that before, probably I may have, but what is the difference between an Aketon and a Gambeson?

For a gambeson worn under armor, how many layers of linen would it have? 20?

Man. I always think: ''If I was going to a battle and I had to buy my things, and I'm not that rich, what would I choose?'' It results in : Crossbow,and some bolts for it, a shield, a knife ( A sword if I had the money,or even a spear,why not?), a cheap helmet and a gambeson ( and a mail armor if I had the money,too). That would cost me a lot but I hope I could survive the battle and never more involve me in any other hahaha. Can you make a video on cheap helmets that a ''newbie'' would buy? Or even a cheap weapons that a ''newbie'' would buy?

Is a half sleeve gambeson compatible with plate armor I ordered or does it need to have full sleeves to work? If yes, which is better suited?

When you say it got the most popular in the 15th century that means not everyone was wearing it. Yet I usually hear about gambeson or gambeson and mail or gambeson and plate armour. And leather armour is mostly fantasy stuff. What were the others wearing?

You should do a video on Arabic weapons and armor

Is there a leg part of a gambeson? Do you wear padded gambeson-style pants for leggings, or? I never see people who show off a gambeson wearing pants to it!

is there a sewn pattern for the aketon ? iam intrested in making one myself :-)

How do gambesons hold up in the sun and heat? Are you gonna have a heat stroke or something while wearing it in warm climates lol.

Metatron where do you get all of your armor and weapons? Also was it cheapish?

1 : Aketon 2 : Chainmale 3 : Platearmor

I've been wearing (a cheaper version of) this, while larping and while it did provide the weight distribution etc, I've found that the long sleeved one, was not that good, as for elbow restriction and overall comfort, when using arm guards. Too poor for full plate :D

is it made like a pillow or just multiple layers of cloth?

is it to warm, i mean, i imagine people on middle ages on the italian summer wearing this all day, isn't' it a bit unconfortable? well, in Brazil at least i think it would be very unconfortable to wear during the medieval expositions in São Paulo, so, if you can answare Metatron, there is a thing that looks like a real aketon but will not cook me alive inside :P? maaaan i know i already said, but, you are awesome, i learn a lot with your videos and improve my english listening skills(no, i'm not making fun of your accent, i'm just getting out my confort zone listening someone with another accent that isn't the american, sorry if i was rude).

Is that dawnbreaker on your wall?

Ah the lighting! Bad light and dark clothing. You might as well be wearing an invisibility cloak.

Binged video 61

Teacher Snape?I thought you die in the last episode of Harry Potter?

A medieval tradesman or merchant wearing gambeson could also be compared to a comparable modern individual wearing the "gear" of his or her favorite sports team as the athletes could be considered the modern knight. sites.google.com/site/grreference/

short sleeve is so dum. U block with those un armed arms. unless I'm missing something

How can someone watch this? This guy has no speech or vocal skills. Shame, wanted to know more about gambenson.