Other equipment/ body armor

[Admin]

As someone who's done live combat in chain mail, I can tell you that it will be okay for preventing a serious injury, but a striking blow to anything will impart some level of damage.

People wearing bullet proof vests still break ribs, because while the vest spreads the impact, the bullet still expends the same energy when it strikes.

Chain mail is the same basic principal, and if you get hit by something while you're wearing chain mail, you'll end up with what we used to call "waffle *insert whatever body part got hit*" and have bad bruises that will limit mobility if the strike was hard enough.

What I took to doing eventually was lining my chain mail with Kevlar fabric, it added a layer of padding, and spread the impact that much more. (not to mention being resistant to cuts and punctures as well)

I think for me, I'd choose a Kevlar lined overcoat over a chain mail lined coat, but more for the practicality than anything else. Even a reasonable amount of kevlar would add a few pounds to the weight, and a lot of extra bulk. Chain mail would add more weight, more bulk, and not stop as much from hurting you.

Of course, you can't make Kevlar at home, and you don't get nearly the same points at the sci-fi convention for it. If Kevlar isn't an option, then chain mail will work, but if I have the choice....

Just my $.02

[Robin Holmes]

Kevlar is expensive, and I don't have the tools to work it. So I had to use cotton. The undercoat was designed specificly to cushion the chain.

[Admin]

Kevlar is expensive, and I don't have the tools to work it. So I had to use cotton. The undercoat was designed specificly to cushion the chain.

Yup, makes sense, I was actually talking less about your specific coat, and more about the general idea, so that people wouldn't think that they could just use the stuff with impunity. if you don't pad chain mail, you can end up with an injury almost as bad (from a blade) or worse (from a blunt object)

[Robin Holmes]

I'm well aware of what happens if you take a blunt object wearing chainmail. Pain. Lots of it. It's not amazing at turning blunt objects, but turns just about any blade.

[Admin]

I'm well aware of what happens if you take a blunt object wearing chainmail. Pain. Lots of it. It's not amazing at turning blunt objects, but turns just about any blade.

Yup, but like I said, this is mostly for the people who don't have the experience, I'm just trying to prevent them from having a false idea of what chain mail would do for them.

[OVERKILL]

 But if it will help prevent injury from sharks with their pointy teeth, it should completely prevent a zombie from breaking the skin, right?

[Robin Holmes]

Having not actually run into a zombie, I can't say. But it does turn away most animal teeth.

[OVERKILL]

 Humans are animals, and zombies were human, so let's hope it works.

[Robin Holmes]

If it works the way I suspect it does, which I'm not sure it does, it would break a zombies teeth.

[†CrimsonKing†]

Shark suit sound good? Its built so as to not cause much damage to the skin when bitten so it should be great to wear under your clothes right? Just minus the scuba equiptment and flippers 

[Robin Holmes]

Little heavy if you ask me. There's a reason that they're only useful underwater. Besides the obvious fact that sharks only live underwater. But other then that, there's the weight issue.

[OVERKILL]

 I think 'OL Crimson meant that if it will stop a sharks sharp and pointy teeth, it should do good against the relatively less sharp (and flat in the case of molars, not to mention most likely worn or broken) teeth of a zombie. But land sharks are something that you need to take more seriously

[†CrimsonKing†]

A cousin of mine lost a leg to one......poor Clemm