Gambeson batting

Edric · Post by **Edric** » Mon Apr 02, 2001 1:33 pm

Ok I wasn't sure which board to post this one on but I figured that this one would me more appropriate.

I am going to make a gambeson in the not to distant future and I am trying to weigh my options on batting material. Let me first say I am going to be in the boiling heat of Texas. I am building it with lace on arms so they may be removed for hot weather, and sewing button holes every 2 or so inches along the quilting. Now for the part I need the help on.

Option 1
Cheep wal-mart batting with 80% cotton, 20% poly. Would this be sufficient to let the fabric breath, wick the sweat away, and not shift?

Option 2
Expensive Warm and Natural Batting, which I just noticed that walmart is now selling by the yard, but it is still expensive since I will need several layers. All cotton, and is ideal answer, but it is expensive, and if other options will work, I will use them.

Option 3
This weighs in right between the previous 2 on cost. 75% wool 25% camel hair blanket weight fabric. This option is good because it eliminates the need for multiple layers, won't shift, and will suck away sweat. But would it be too hot??

Well there is the question, please post all opinions, experiences or observations.

Edric

Dwarlock · Post by **Dwarlock** » Mon Apr 02, 2001 1:45 pm

i've never found wool to be too hot, but I know nothing about camel hair.

I'd go with either the all cotton, or the wool/camel hair blend, or as a third option I'd try to find some cheap all cotton towels and cut them up
you realy want to avoid the 20% poly stuff

JGraham · Post by **JGraham** » Mon Apr 02, 2001 2:09 pm

Edric -

Stay away from the poly blends!

I'm in the process of making a gambeson (hand-quilted, none-the-less!) from linen ($10 on-line) and 100% cotton batting from our local Jo-Ann Fabrice ($5). Not too expensive, and quilting it means it won't shift (much). I'll bring out what I've got done to the shop next time I'm out there so you can take a look.

Jim

Garridan · Post by **Garridan** » Mon Apr 02, 2001 2:14 pm

Camping, I love wool. Best stuff in the world. Wearing wool, you can take a dunk in water, climb out, and not cool off very much at all (unless you get your head wet... 80% of body heat loss is from your head). Wearing cotton in the woods, on the other hand, will kill you if the temps drop and you're a bit damp.
The reason? Cotton wicks water away very well. Wool doesn't at all.
When I'm in a full heavy suit, I'd REALLY prefer cotton over wool, unless I'm fighting in the snow.
--tom (actually wears wool head to toe in 90 degree weather, but not in armour)

Gaston · Post by **Gaston** » Mon Apr 02, 2001 2:36 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by JGraham:
Edric -
I'm in the process of making a gambeson (hand-quilted, none-the-less!) from linen ($10 on-line) <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's a lot more expensive than http://fabric-stores-online.com/ unless it's something special.

And, I'll agree with the %100 cotton. Any amount of synthetic makes a gambeson miserably hot to me.

[This message has been edited by Gaston (edited 04-02-2001).]

schreiber · Post by **schreiber** » Mon Apr 02, 2001 2:54 pm

My wife made me a gambeson with the 80/20 stuff, and it worked great: the reason was that the gambeson, as well as my coat armor, are velcroed shut in the front. That way I just have to work a buckle or two, then RIP and my chest is in the air. I wore it two Pennsics with ne'er a problem (it also had no armpit covering for breathability).

Unfortunately, my mother got a hold of it, and she sent her fifth or sixth garment to the doll garb graveyard. Don't ask me how she shrank a preshrunk cotton gambeson.

My wife's making me a new one, and I'm going wool this time. I regularly wear wool socks in the summertime: it keeps you warm, but it keeps you really comfortable too.

HELMUT

white mountain armoury · Mon Apr 02, 2001 5:18 pm

i would avoid poly even in blends, 100% cotton is nice, wool, linnen, all good
http://www.thegreenman.net/wma/lentner.jpg
here is a pic of one of mine, 100% cotton brocade on the outside cotton broad cloth liner and inside 100% cotton batting, its comfy, nice in the fall, tolerable in the summer, im willing to put up with the heat in exchange for being able to point armour to it, even when i wear my early kit with my spang and my lamelar i still wear an arming coat. My other is double breasted more like a fencing coat, its canvas with cotton batting, i have a couple hardned leather plates pointed to it for additional protection, over this i wear a tunic then my lamelar, people think i must be hot, and sure im soaked through with sweat, but i dont overheat, and everyone else ends up just as hot and sweaty as me.
Also i have one with removable sleeves, i never remove them, personally id have the arms attatched but leave a big arm pit vent.

Thaddeus · Post by **Thaddeus** » Mon Apr 02, 2001 8:13 pm

Adam, love the stripey pants with the lenter, what a look

.
My new gambeson is many layers of cotton batting between cotton twill, with pockets to hold hard points for the important bits. I have a purpoint similar to Adams tho less spiffy looking that breaths very well and can carry the weight of arms and such pointed to it. It laces together down the front under my old globose breast I would get a super cold chill from the area where the purpoint would gap. My chest would be dry as there was sufficient air space for the sweat to evaporate and my back would be drenched where the back plate made contact. On the whole it works really well.

David Hagler · Post by **David Hagler** » Mon Apr 02, 2001 10:30 pm

Actually, it's good to have something to absorb the sweat so you can feel it. It will keep you cooler the more sweaty it gets. Thats one of the good things about gambesons.