Armor and Protection
How to Put On Armor: Fitting Protectors So They Stay Over Your Joints
Putting on armor the right way: match protectors to pockets, close them, add a back protector and check the fit while riding, plus how knights armed.
To put on armor that protects you, start with protectors that fit the garment's pockets, seat each one over the joint it is made for, close the pockets, then check the fit in your riding position. A protector only does its job when it covers the body part named in its standard. Medieval knights followed the same logic: a padded layer went on first, and helpers fitted the plate over it.
This page covers wearable riding armor. If you meant equipping armor in a video game or the "armor of God" passage, those are outside this guide. For armor levels, see our armor and protection guide.
What you need
- The jacket, suit or pants with armor pockets
- The protectors for shoulders, elbows, knees and hips, plus a back protector if you use one
- A tape measure, to compare a replacement protector with the stock one
- A mirror, or a friend to check how the armor sits
Steps
1. Read the protector label
Find the standard and level on each protector. EN 1621-1 covers limb joints, EN 1621-2 covers the back and EN 1621-3 covers the chest. A T+ or T- mark means the protector also passed the optional hot or cold test.
2. Match the protector to the pocket
A replacement should match the stock protector's length and width, or be a bit smaller. Sizes differ: in a Rider Magazine armor test, a smaller D3O shoulder protector fit the pocket and a larger one did not. For what D3O is, see what D3O armor is.
3. Slide the protector in the right way round
Line the protector up with the joint, using any top or body-side mark the maker prints on it. Push it fully into the pocket so it has little room to shift.
4. Close every pocket
Check that each pocket closes securely; most use hook-and-loop. A loose flap lets the protector slide away from the joint.
5. Add the back protector
Back pockets vary a lot in shape. If a back protector does not fit yours, strap-on back armor is an alternative. Back protectors come in full back, central back and lower back types.
6. Dress, then check in your riding position
Put the gear on and sit as you would on the bike, arms forward. The shoulder and elbow armor should still cover the joints. SATRA's EN 17092 summary says garments must fit as their size information says, and testers must be able to make all the essential movements in them.
Check the waist too. Pants should sit high enough at the back that no gap opens between jacket and pants.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why it matters | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Oversized replacement armor | It will not sit flat in the pocket | – |
| Pocket left open | The protector can move off the joint | – |
| Checking fit only while standing | Armor must cover the joint in the positions you ride in | – |
| Gap at the waist | Skin is exposed in a slide | – |
| Folding soft armor for storage | One maker says never fold its protectors | – |
How knights put on armor
Plate was not worn against the skin. According to World History Encyclopedia, under mail knights wore a padded tunic called an aketon, wambais or pourpoint. In the plate era, that layer became the padded arming doublet.
Arming took help: two squires could dress a knight for combat in about 10 minutes. A full suit weighed 20 to 25 kg (45-55 lb), spread over the body. Leather armor was also used; see what hardened leather is. For other kinds, see types of armor and their uses.
In this video from the Modern History TV channel, Jason Kingsley arms himself in a reconstructed 15th-century harness, starting with the padded arming jacket and leg armor and then taking a helper's aid for the breastplate, arms and helmet. Note one difference: he says his armor takes 25 to 30 minutes to put on properly, longer than the roughly 10 minutes with two squires given above.
Armor pockets in leather riding gear
Many Leather Collection motorcycle jackets have inner armor pockets at the shoulders and elbows, and some race and touring styles add a back pocket. The store says the supplied armor differs by style. A custom-size order cuts the jacket to your measurements, which the store says helps the pockets sit at your shoulders and elbows.
FAQ
What is the clothing over armor called?
In medieval Europe it was a surcoat, a cloth garment, typically sleeveless, worn over everything. By the 15th century knights rarely wore one over plate.
What does "donning armor" mean?
It means putting armor on. For a knight, that meant the padded layer first, then the plate with a helper's aid.
Can you put on plate armor alone?
The sources we checked describe knights being dressed by squires, two of them in about 10 minutes.
HitKB Editorial Team
HitKB articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.