The Armour Archive

So I'm working on getting my kit back into working order after about 2 years of inactivity with SCA. As we speak my wife is sewing a new shell for my CoP and I really know the direction I want my look to go. Being so out of practice with the combat I want some inexpensive yet protective leg armor. Since I'm going early-mid 14th century I'm thinking a gamboised cuisses look but I remember reading some people here had used garden hose instead of batting. How did this work for you and would you recommend it for someone in Meridies who will probably get wacked in the leg a lot.

I know someone who used heater hose with great success.

My new kit is has a kilt with garden hose slipped into pockets. It works great. The flex of the hose takes most of the sting off.

nkante wrote:My new kit is has a kilt with garden hose slipped into pockets. It works great. The flex of the hose takes most of the sting off.

Sounds interesting, how about some pics!!

My knight Sir Flanagan uses garden hose legs and loves em. I'll be making my own set very soon:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/10199806@N06/4859706903/" title="Gardehoselegs by ethanandannie, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4859706903_1df101c224.jpg" width="500" height="406" alt="Gardehoselegs"></a>

WOW a great idea.

Hey this would be a good, cheap idea for hidden leg armour for us early people to.

The garden hose is fully round or is it sliced in half?

I believe it is cut in half. I am making a set for hidden leg armour for a 16th century kit I am working up. I have a pattern in pdf format I can contribute, just not sure how to post it.

Cilléne mac Conghalaigh wrote:I believe it is cut in half. I am making a set for hidden leg armour for a 16th century kit I am working up. I have a pattern in pdf format I can contribute, just not sure how to post it.

Thanks for sharing the pattern. That is a major step in what I needed.

This would be a nice tutorial for the new guys.

My leg armor is also the hose style but it is the clear, heavy duty water hose. It is the whole hose and it is not cut in half (if it was cut then the raw edges would eventually tear through the cloth). Each piece was roughly measured out and cut and then tossed in the dryer for about 10-20 minutes. Once the plastic was warm a dowel was inserted into each piece to straighten it (since the hose is usually in loops when purchased).

It makes for light, flexible, sturdy, and safe leg armor.

What material are you using to encase the hose? Canvas?

My knight uses a heavy twill. I will most likely use the same as it has a tighter weave than canvas.

Sir Garrahan here in the Mid did up an article on making garden hose cuisses. It was published in the Pentamere A&S "magazine" - http://www.midrealm.org/pentamere/pdfs/Gauntlet_Jan-Mar08.pdf

Katheline wrote:My leg armor is also the hose style but it is the clear, heavy duty water hose. It is the whole hose and it is not cut in half (if it was cut then the raw edges would eventually tear through the cloth). Each piece was roughly measured out and cut and then tossed in the dryer for about 10-20 minutes. Once the plastic was warm a dowel was inserted into each piece to straighten it (since the hose is usually in loops when purchased).

It makes for light, flexible, sturdy, and safe leg armor.

Katheline, what diameter hose and how many feet did you buy, if you don't mind me asking?

I believe that it was 5/8th inch water hose that was used.

The process was that a pattern was made for the leg shape out of canvas (two pieces - an outer piece and an inner piece). Channels were sewn into the canvas for the hose and then the hose was stuffed in it. Another pattern piece was cut out of cotton quilting and that was sewn onto the back (inner portion) of the leg using bias tape along the edges. That puts the quilting closes to your leg with the hose canvas on the outside. The legs lace up along the inner thigh.

On the outside top corner of the leg (at the hipbone) there are grommets. There are also grommets along the waistband of the doublet that I wear. I tie the legs into the waistband and the legs are nicely supported by my entire torso and not just the waist (if a belt is used) or shoulders (if shoulder straps are used).

Think its time I got me some fabric and a decent hose here soon. *grins*

Thanks for this thread ya'll!

I'm so happy with the replies everyone gave. After a 2 year Hiatus during which half my armour had to go away I'm back rebuilding torso armour and definitely trying to get "period plausible" for 1330-1340's. That's to the amazing people at this site I know what I want and how to get most of it for a reasonable price.

I'm going to start on a pair of these next month (11/10). Any new info, suggestions, tips, or ideas before I do?

Snaebjorn Hakonarson wrote:Hey this would be a good, cheap idea for hidden leg armour for us early people to.

The garden hose is fully round or is it sliced in half?

Super cheap easy way to do it if it's hidden is to find a pair of lined basketball shorts. Sew lines up to separate it into 1 1/4"+/- tubes. Cut a hole in the top of each and drop a piece of hose in. It took me about a half hour to make a pair like this and they held up until I switched to McDavid hex pad shorts.

I've been searching all over the archive for a thread talking about soaker hose pants/pattern. A friend in Chicago wears them, and has body armor made from them. He said he used soaker hose because you can wash the armor still (big plus).

I was looking for more detail, cause all I remember him saying was he took a old pair of jean shorts, sewed the pockets into them, dropped in the hose, and closed the pockets.

Thank you all for the posts....this will help tons!

These have been used by folks for years in my area.

Use the CHEAPEST garden hose you can find - the more expensive is designed to be "softer" so it is easier to roll up. Cheap stuff is stiffer. use the whole hose - cutting it in half reduces the effectivness as armor.

5/8" diameter works really well and stays low profile.


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