The Armour Archive

What does everyone use to carry their armor to and from practices/events? I had an old leather gym bag but I tore out the handles and I really dont want to repair it. I was thinking of using one of those military canvas duffel bags. Any input would be helpful.

Iohn deMar

I have a paratrooper's bag from the mid-70s. It's a very strange pack, actually: it unfolds completely and buckles up like a burrito, which is a design i've not seen elsewhere.

I really, really like bags with backpack straps.

I have a wheeled plastic tub from Lowes. With 14th century armor it's worth every penny.

I have an old milsurp canvas bag. When I get more plate armor, I'll switch to a box, but for now, it works very well.

Hockey gear bag with wheels. Opens with a zipper flap but has a second compartment for marshal paperwork etc so it doesn't get sweaty. Opens on 3 edges with a zipper rather then up the center for easy loading (or drying). Middle straps can be used as backpack straps but likely uncomfortable as armor inside is bumpy.

Only problem: Hockey gear has re-sale value so they attract thieves where as military bags tend to hold clothing and belong to people with guns. I've used both and if you live in a good neighborhood and don't leave your armor bag in an open bed pickup then the wheeled Hockey bag is (IMHO superior) but the military bags are a good 2nd place.

Sean

I suppose i should mention that i fight in maille and leather; the only thing that's not a little squishy is my helm.

My master, who fights in cap a pie, has a large plywood box for storage and transport.

Sean Powell wrote:Hockey gear bag with wheels. Opens with a zipper flap but has a second compartment for marshal paperwork etc so it doesn't get sweaty. Opens on 3 edges with a zipper rather then up the center for easy loading (or drying). Middle straps can be used as backpack straps but likely uncomfortable as armor inside is bumpy.

Only problem: Hockey gear has re-sale value so they attract thieves where as military bags tend to hold clothing and belong to people with guns. I've used both and if you live in a good neighborhood and don't leave your armor bag in an open bed pickup then the wheeled Hockey bag is (IMHO superior) but the military bags are a good 2nd place.

Sean

I'd be safe, I'm from Texas, they wouldn't know a hockey bag from anything else.

Depends on what's available and how much room you need.
Turn out bags, golf o hockey bags, mil surplus bags are common.
I use a wheeled tool tote, about the same size as a 30 gallon tote.
Hard shell Golf bags are a lot more common for rapier folks but work for heavy kits that flex.

I have a fiberglass military 6 cube. It has a rubber seal with a slide on top. It has dividers that I use to corral armor inside. I have also used military sea bags. Cheap and easy to find. Check the fea markets near you.

One more for the duffel/seabag. Hard to beat the price, and it's durable, surviving scuffs and years. While those straps can really dig into you if you've stuffed an entire harness into it, for most of the usual distances to schlep, they are still a godsend for packing most of it along in a single trip.

The strapped seabag is particularly good for harness that is mostly flexible/quilted/mail/just plain soft. Or for the soft components, lanky weaponry, and ancillaria of cap-à-pie plate which is being carried or carted by another means.

I use a golf case for rapier and a big plastic storage container for my heavy kit. I'm thinking of making a lockable plywood box for heavy since I'd cry if someone stole my heavy helmet.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/drums-pe ... rdware-bag

Percussion hardware bags, the particular one listed might be a bit on the short side, but you can get longer ones. They're usually very well built, have wheels, and have plenty of room for pretty much everything. I haven't picked one up yet, waiting till my nasty duffel dies, but it will be my next purchase for a gear carrier.

All the guys I event with use the same style plastic tote. They are essentially plastic footlockers that latch shut. We not only keep armour in them, but feast gear, tents, garb and whatever else as well. All of them being the same size makes it much simpler to load into whatever vehicle we are taking. They are also short enough they can stow under a cot, and strong enough you can sit on them.

either a rubbermade bin on a my hiking backpack. depends on whether or not i'm taking transit.

Iohn deMar wrote:What does everyone use to carry their armor to and from practices/events?

My Jeep! Which also carries the wooden trunk with all my armour and the hand cart I use to bring it from vehicle to practice room.

Milsurp canvas bag...my first wife was a vet, I just appropriated it from her; hasn't let me down yet and I've had it near 20 years now. Backpack straps are your friend.

I have been using one of my old firefighter turnout bags for the last few years, plenty big enough and decently strong.

Big blue duffle bag. I think it's a softball/baseball "team bag" I bought it from an Army/Navy store many moons ago. If I know I'm going to be schelping stuff long distance I switch to my AF duffle, it's smaller, but it has backpack-ish straps. Plus I've accumulated or 7 over my career, so if I wear it out, I can replace it.

I use a Baseball catchers bag (had one) a friend uses a hay bale bag like they use for horse shows.

Firefighter turnout gear bag.

My old armor folded up into a single bundle to carry- but I intend to make a wheeled wooden cart/chest for the future after seeing a really nice one.

I can sew up canvas bags in any size I could conceivably need..But I really prefer more secure methods.
Though now that I think about it....Would folks pay for heavily sewn armor bags made up in heavyweight upholstery fabric?

-Badger-

I use a Stanley wheeled toolbox (tough plastic). At an event I'll usually armour up except for helm and gauntlets, then carry those, along with tools and odds & ends, in a duffle from an Army/Navy store.

Olive drab sea bag is the most common. more modern ones (still mil spec) have padded backpack straps and cut in to the shoulders less. Pluss you can get lock kits for them if you're worried about it. not that the lock cant be foiled but a knife up the side of the bag.

plus it's small pocket is good for your membership card and any medical/contact info that might be needed in an emergency.

olaf haraldson wrote:

We need a like button.

Christophe de Frisselle from here on the Archive made it. I have since started making trunks and boxes, but not the hardware like he put on this.