Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
You may have seen leather helmets in movies, video games, or other fantasy scenarios and thought to yourself "that wouldn't do much". So have I, but let's find out by practical testing...
A viewer sent in a helmet made of 4mm thick boiled leather ("cuir bouilli") for that purpose. Not historically accurate by any means, but that would be tricky anyway due to how few examples of leather armor are preserved. It's about the material itself. Keep in mind by the way that it's produced and treated with modern methods and different from what they'd make in medieval times.
Either way it's interesting to see what leather armor could be, particularly when thinking about fantasy worlds with some degree of realism.
What we used here:
Custom katana from Swordis (crucible steel blade)
swordis.com/custom-katana-builder
LK Chen Munich Town Guard sidesword
kultofathena.com/product/lk-chen-munich-town-guard-sword/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Rutger (Bauernwehr "peasant's defense") by Landsknecht Emporium
kultofathena.com/product/landsknecht-emporium-rugger-with-sheath-and-belt/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Rugger by Adam Bodorics
kultofathena.com/product/adam-bodorics-rugger-landsknecht-short-sword-with-long-grip-byknife-and-scabbard/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Hawaiian stone headed war club by Koa Studio
koastudio.net/shop
Flanged mace from Wulflund
wulflund.com/weapons/axes-poleweapons/european-mace-with-wooden-handle-replica.html
The video in which I tested a riveted maille ("chainmail") coif:
youtu.be/7x6ntkIZuDw
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #armor #test #medieval #history #fantasy
You may have seen leather helmets in movies, video games, or other fantasy scenarios and thought to yourself "that wouldn't do much". So have I, but let's find out by practical testing...
A viewer sent in a helmet made of 4mm thick boiled leather ("cuir bouilli") for that purpose. Not historically accurate by any means, but that would be tricky anyway due to how few examples of leather armor are preserved. It's about the material itself. Keep in mind by the way that it's produced and treated with modern methods and different from what they'd make in medieval times.
Either way it's interesting to see what leather armor could be, particularly when thinking about fantasy worlds with some degree of realism.
What we used here:
Custom katana from Swordis (crucible steel blade)
swordis.com/custom-katana-builder
LK Chen Munich Town Guard sidesword
kultofathena.com/product/lk-chen-munich-town-guard-sword/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Rutger (Bauernwehr "peasant's defense") by Landsknecht Emporium
kultofathena.com/product/landsknecht-emporium-rugger-with-sheath-and-belt/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Rugger by Adam Bodorics
kultofathena.com/product/adam-bodorics-rugger-landsknecht-short-sword-with-long-grip-byknife-and-scabbard/?koa=259 (affiliate link)
Hawaiian stone headed war club by Koa Studio
koastudio.net/shop
Flanged mace from Wulflund
wulflund.com/weapons/axes-poleweapons/european-mace-with-wooden-handle-replica.html
The video in which I tested a riveted maille ("chainmail") coif:
youtu.be/7x6ntkIZuDw
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #armor #test #medieval #history #fantasy
