Quote:
Originally Posted by DouglasCole
While some of this happened, the vikings were a swing in the heavy-light-heavy trend in infantry. They wore very little armor, it seems. Of course, we're very very limited in the physical archeology for those guys.
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Most period illustrations of battle show what appears to be chain for the leaders, and ring on leather* for the less affluent, with shields and conical helms, usually with nasals and an aventail of chain or leather.
The archaeology sometimes shows the holes for the aventail. The tales tell of armor being passed from father to son or grandson. Bracers are almost always shown, usually over the shirtsleeve.
* literally, brass or copper rings sewn onto heavy leather. It's actually better than chain at spreading the energy density. Add some whale-baleen underneath, and wear it over a wollen shirt... it'll make a steel rebate at full speed merely painful. I know from personal experience.