Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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The myth of overly heavy medieval armor has been thoroughly debunked. But have people over-corrected? It seems like some opinions are now going in the opposite direction, downplaying the encumbrance of a full suit of plate, and imaging that it hardly limits mobility and flexibility at all.

That's going a little too far. Also, there WERE heavy breastplates and helmets in history. Not just relative to what you might expect, but straight up heavy AF. Let's look at a few examples.

Background music:
"Messenger Part II" by Elegh
opengameart.org/content/elegh-epic-soundtrack
Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)


*** Sources / Credits ***

"Can You Move in Armour?" by Medievalists
youtube.com/watch?v=q-bnM5SuQkI

"Mobility in Medieval Plate Armor/ Armour" by Conncork
youtube.com/watch?v=qzTwBQniLSc

"Budget armor update mobility test" by KeomegaManAtArms
youtube.com/shorts/w1mMjYmsvQY

"Plate Armor Mobility" and "Leg Armor is Uniquely Fatiguing" by Robinswords
youtube.com/watch?v=d8-Rp6ugcx4
youtube.com/watch?v=3-Ls2W-1akM


armeemuseum.de/images/publikationen/2020_Forms_of_War_online.pdf

Partial armor:
525 - 1530
https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org:443/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60521&viewType=detailView
1550
https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org:443/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60532&viewType=detailView
1550-1570
https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org:443/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60525&viewType=detailView
1610
https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org:443/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60559&viewType=detailView
1620
https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org:443/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60556&viewType=detailView


Full suits of plate:
1485
https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org:443/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60512&viewType=detailView
1550 - 1570
https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org:443/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60525&viewType=detailView
1580
https://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org:443/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=ExternalInterface&module=collection&objectId=60530&viewType=detailView




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