Matt Easton takes 16 min to say he wants a smaller waist and bigger chest.

I'd pay good money for Matt to film bringing that brigandine to a local tailor, and ask him "could you please bring in the waist a bit?"

The aesthetic of brigandine and lamellar is very attractive.

Armour being supported from the waist is consistent with how you wear a larger backpack- it feels odd at first but it is so much more comfortable over time and slows greater freedom of movement.

There's a simple solution to fixing the waist. Just get fatter.

Legos can explain so much.

Any other backpackers have a "duh" moment listening to this bit about the waist taking the load off your shoulders?

French guild regulations and ordinances stipulated that brigandines should be proof against crossbow bolts and they should be tested by being shot at with a crossbow much like breastplates were later proofed by being shot at with a musket or a pistol i.e. these things are pretty proof against arrows and bolts.

I imagine that this would be a common dilemma for soldiers during a siege. Slim rations, possibly diarrhea, losing weight and the armor doesn't fit so well anymore.

That explanation of the wasp-waisted shape taking pressure off the shoulders hasn't been mentioned by most of the other KZfaqrs. Thank you for this excellent video.

My first thought was that bringing in the waist would allow more of the weight of the armour to be carried on the hips rather than on the shoulders, but you covered that just before the 13 minute mark!

Brigandines obviously contains brigands in them

To think that Dungeons and Dragons (and most RPGs after it) rank brigandine _below_ chain mail in protection, when it clearly should be at the same level as plate mail.

I got myself a coat of plates replicated after a Find from the massgraves of Visby. The Platemaker made it absolutely clear that I should take my measurements with everything I want to wear beneath. I am glad he did, because now it fits even on my Spes AP Jacket. I never thought there was any need for your video, but I think it was very good for us all that you did. Thanks a lot. 😊👍

I like the outside videos because you do not pace your normal "2-steps-towards-the-camera-then-2-steps-away-from-the-camera" over and over and over again like you do indoors! :) Great content also ofc!

One additional thing to mention about it opening to the front, is the ability to simply open it up to cool off. I've seen US soldiers open up the older body armor when relaxing at ranges, taking naps when out in the field and still being able to quickly get ready when the need arises. I would assume those soldiers and knights would have done the same. Whereas with plate, you would need someone to assist you every time.

I was initially a little surprised to see the direction of overlap at the front of the brigandine. However, it is clearly authentic as shown in the contemporary illustrations you have used. As a former fencer, I automatically think of right hand and right foot forward and would therefore want the right front panel to overlap the left front panel to reduce the risk of a weapon slipping in through the gap. However, I guess that fighting with either a shield or with a 2 handed pole arm, much of the time your left shoulder and left foot would be forward in which case left front overlapping makes sense. It looks like a nice piece of kit.

Hey it's that studded leather armor we see in films!

The look and materials have changed but armor sizing and layout hasn't changed much over the years. We still stop at our natural waist, even today, for the same reasons they did then. We also want it tighter, rather than loose, for similar reasons. If you look at modern plate carriers the cumberbund is often reinforced, especially on larger plate carriers, so it makes a solid loop. Which helps to distribute weight. Although on the larger carriers that can reduced mobility, similar to s full brest plate. So now lightweight carriers are growing in popularity. However they don't usually have the rigidity needed for support. This is why sometimes the lightweight plate carriers tend to be more uncomfortable in the shoulders than the heavy duty plate carriers. This usually leads to people tightening their cumberbunds even more making light carriers even more uncomfortable. However some more recent lightweight designs have plastic or metal reinforcements in the cumberbund to add back that rigidity that was lost when they reduced the bulk. Which gives it the support of the heavy duty carriers without the bulk. This is usually the ultimate in Comfort. Lightweight and rigid while still remaining flexible similar to a brigandine.

Wow, those pauldrons and that arm armour looks amazing! I'd love to see more of it, I don't remember you showing them before. Keep up with the amazing videos!

It's a fortunate coincidence that I'm listening to this video while working on the details of a fantasy character design that wears a sort of hybrid cuirass/lorica segmentata right at the stage where I can adjust the waistline of the armor.

I've always wondered how the repair effectiveness and maintenance is with brigandines. If a plate assembly is damaged so is the fabric (or leather?) covering. Would one remove the rivets and damaged plates and then have a cloth patch sewn over the damaged fabric then reassembled?

I'd love to see a more in depth discussion on fashion and armor design. How civilian dress influenced armor, how armor influenced casual clothing, etc. I'm fascinated by the idea of certain concessions made in the name of looking swag on the battlefield.

It is interesting to note that brigandines seem extremely uncommon in the HRE in the 15th century, especially the german parts. This also goes for areas influenced a lot by the HRE, for example scandinavia. Brigandines are hardly ever depicted there (in fact, I have yet to stumble across one) and the very very scant references to them when they are used suggests import from Italy, but even this is exceedingly rare. There can be many guesses as to why. My personal speculation is that germany already had an established munitions breastplate industry which either actively suppressed brigandine making (since guilds can be very competitive) or by its mere existence just didn't give any need for the brigandines to exist. From the second half of the 15th century we already have a bunch of german munitions breastplates, and while barely any survive from the first half of the century the art depicts quite a few of them on infantrymen as well. Regardless of what the actual reason is the sources point to it being extremely rare bordering to nonexistent there, which definitely should be kept in mind. They're very common in flemish lands, especially in burgundy and the french lowlands, but this doesn't carry over to germany... I should also throw in an edit. A lot of french and flemish art depict covered breastplates rather than brigandines on men-at-arms. It's a common mistake to assume that everything fabric-covered with a dotted pattern must be depicting brigandines (one I am guilty of myself). One can see clear cases of this in more detailed art, where the rivet patterns on the brigandines are distinguishable from the different patterns on the textile covered breastplates/cuirasses.

Brigandine may be less protective than a plate armour, but it is the coolest of them all! ;)

A combination of plate and brigandine.........now that's what my next mount and blade character will aim for!

Excellent points on an often overlooked topic. Thank you for the great video!

Just put an internal belt in it. Put small loops of leather around the rivets and run a belt through them. Thats a relatively easy fix that won't be visible from the outside and I bet it was a common practice in the past.

Don't know how I missed this video last month. Very I informative as usual . I've become very interested in the brigindine recently so excellent timing. 👍✌

LOVED this, I've always wondered about mixing brigandine with plate harness for shoulders, arms, legs. Thanks Matt!

I'm kind of warming up to the look of the brigandine lately, it really is pretty cool looking, especially with that black plate harness, looking very slick Matt!

Great stuff! A one on blade types and their evolution would be a nice thing:)

My very first thought was, “Matt’s honesty comes back to bite him” (i.e., actually giving an accurate waist measurement, without caring what anyone thinks of it). :)

Brigandine is believed to have developed around the 13th century or earlier from East Asia, and was brought over to Europe by the Mongol invasions. The first European kingdoms that used brigandine were those in Eastern Europe.

It raises me a question, maybe the pigeon shape you talked about would not only allow for more movement, but also creating a space for more padding in the ribcage and sternum, where you would need more to protect the bones and vitals.

Very educational. Thank you.

I'm lining up a brig and doublet buy and this video probably saved me your same regret. Thank you!

Another great video by Matt "my body can still take it in" Easton

Thanks for sharing!

I've never clicked so fast guys. Damn Matt you're awesome man!

tl,dr: man feels like his armour makes him look fat

I wonder if anyone ever put small metal plates on the leather straps prevent them being cut. Probably not now that I think about it; if you're getting repeatedly slashed down the middle then you've got bigger problems to worry about.

I have seen the ears and now I cant unsee them. My dude is officially bald Legolas.

Awesome video! Make sure and get a tailored fit thanks for the info.

Very nice looks a quality item

Plate arms look really cool with your brigandine.

I fell in love with the brigandines, really classy

I would love to see the video of you taking that to a seamstress to have it altered. The blank/shocked look on their face OR the blank/shocked look on your face as they start pulling out a grinder and box of rivets would be priceless.

Such Pretty Armour!

Quick glance at the video thumbnail made me think Matt was getting into some Hellraiser S&M type of stuff.

a special request: can you please make a short video describing what the job of a Raider was in norse / scandinavian warfare middle ages? Also could you include or expand on what the term raider actually entails. thank you immensely I am aspiring researcher I watch your channel consistently for years

This has been very very useful thanks. Just got the patterns for the cloth and the plates to make my own. OMG! there are over 700 rivets

@scholagladitoria This is great as I'm in the process of purchasing a full plate harness and have really been wondering about my measurements, especially because I'm going to start powerlifting and also to take into account my doublet/maille.

The Classic Studded Leather Armor.

The wasp waisted shadow is really interesting. As well as reenactment I also spend a lot of time lifting weights. Compressing your gut is really helpful - which is why weightlifters use belts- it takes strain of the back and makes you more stable. In the art their armour looks tighter than it needs to be for mobility - it looks like it's actively constricting their waists. I wonder if it's also to reduce back again and provide strength and stability.

Soldiers today still struggle with armor weight distribution, specifically related to the ratio of weight on the shoulders to hips. One of the best things you can do for your own endurance and long term spinal health while wearing armor is to tightening it down on your waist as much as possible so the weight distributes itself more to your hips. Would a hefty belt solve your problem by chance? Perhaps thats a bit anachronistic, but I cant imagine there wasn't the odd unfortunate man at arms who had to work around sub-optimal armor fitting.

OH man, that arm armour (insert french names here that I always fail to remember) on the brigandine looks really good!!!

Is brigandine that buckles at the side common or even historically accurate at all? It seems like it wouldn't be that much harder to put on and it would be easier to get more overlap on the one side where it buckles. Which would be less of a weak point and a smaller one at that. Plus not right in the middle of your chest. I'm going to assume I'm some how wrong. :)

I remember Lindybeige getting a suit of plate armor made somewhat recently. I think I can speak for all of us when I say "Ir would be awesome to see Matt Easton, Lindybeige, Shad, Metatron, and Skallagrim together, in their best armor. Although, admittedly, I'm not sure what Skall is working with these days in terms of armor. I remember seeing him put on some decent armor some time ago.

Shad forgot to get his Brigandine domed.

This brings to mind the belts worn by Roman (and other) soldiers to bear the weight of chainmail upon the waist

I take it that the steel elements of the brigandine prevent from punching more holes into the leather strapping and simply “ratcheting” it tighter around the middle.

Glad I watched this before ordering a gambeson and later brig

The tightened waist looks nicer, IMO

You could have someone move two bottom straps 5cm away from the middle and rivet it. Possibly leave the original strap and have second strap not to have hole left, or have them duplicate the flat rivets that are around the armor to mask it. You should get the same effect as you would get with a belt, you will still have extra overlapping, but it would be hidden.

I saw a thing on early 20th century army webbing - French and British, I can't remember if they were 1st or 2nd WW, where the being able to carry the weight on your waist made it so much more comfortable. Those lessons were learnt 500+ years ago.

Matt. When you were tightening with the rope, it looked like the straps were starting to bind. You MIGHT still be able to get a tighter waist with an exterior belt by loosening the waist strap a good bit and the neighboring straps just a little.

Aesthetically brigandines just looks great.

I suspect that the medieval solution would be to make adjustments to the waist cinch strap, so that at the waist the overlap in front becomes more pronounced. Should be accompishable without altering plates, just re-affixing the belly/waist cinch slightly further from the buckle

I feel like this is a tendency that the creator should be aware of and ingorm the buyer ahead of time

That's tough. It actually does look much better with the tightening at your waist. You really should reconsider having your brigandine tweaked.

Matt what's your opinion on the middle eastern ''Qarqal ''which is a type of brigandine worn by the Mamluks in the 15th -16 th centuries ?

I literally have a brigandine from the same maker. I've worn heaps of different types of armour both of larp and replica quality and this is the most comfortable armour I've worn. I also have the same regret though. I also wish I had of been tighter with my measurements, especially around the waist

this is a great video matt, very informative and helpful. i have recently taken a great interest in 15th century fashion and armour. one question for you (if you see my comment) or anyone else reading this. where can i find a good arming doublet? i have had a small look around and i can find all kinds of gambesons but nothing like what i see more experienced (and better equipped) members of the community have. do you make them yourself or have them made alongside the armour? any help would be greatly appreciated as i am rather new to all this and still quite ignorant. i look forward to your next video.

im gonna wear this in the uk now

the look in the original artwork was probably just the art style of the time and not how they actually looked

Hey Matt, how about a stylish silk sash instead of the downright pedestrian rope? I have to assume your problem was not entirely uncommon back in the day - it's not like everyone had bespoke kit. Surely many people were making do with ill fitting second hand.

Yeah, taking in a brigandine properly would take 1) punching out most or all of the rivets and sort the separated plates. 2) Take the cover apart at the seams 3) Take the cover in as desired and re sow it to the new measurements. 4) Re attatch the plates that still match their original holes to the reduced cover. 5) Reforge or replace those plates where the rivet holes didn't match the original holes in the reduced cover. OR, use the easier method: 1)Have a brand new cover made to the new measurements. 2) Separate the plates from the old cover. 3) Arrange the old plates on the back of the new cover and reforge or replace individual plates too big or the wrong shape to accomodate the new size. 4) Punch the rivet holes in the new cover so that the holes match the rearranged plates. 5) Rivet the old plates to the new cover and have a child apprentice wax or flax oil all of it as a preservative coating unless the customer has ordered tinned plates, then the tin is applied prior to riveting to both plates and rivets.

A brigandine is nice, I guess. (Matt puts on arm armour.) YES! Now I'm getting it. Is it possible to replace the plates at the waist with plates that are a bit shorter?

Remember pull it like a back brace

What about moving towards the back the two lower buckle pins? This way you could have the same effect you get from the rope, and the steel plates will overlap so no problem on their side...

HELL JA MORE PEEPS DOING BRIGANDINE ARMOUR VIDEOS!

I bought a set of arms from forge of svan, wish I had gone for a custom size, the small is big enough for me to use on my legs lol

Mail sleeves, mail skirt, mail collar and a female waist? Another fascinating video. As I have the heroic physique of Sir John Falstaff, I would look rather more Pigeon Stomached than Pigeon Chested.

Why aren't there any brigandine-plate hybrids? For example, you could probably have two thick and solid plate pieces for the pecs since that is a relatively large area with little motion. That would reduce the need for riveting many smaller plates. Other area with relatively less motion could also see larger pieces of brigandine plates. And further....were the plates of different thickness depending on the need and value for protection of specific areas? And why were brigandines riveted to leather rather than directly to mail? It seems much easier and more effective to use wire to fasten little plates to mail than to deal with leather and rivets.

So with a suit jacket, the way you would take it in is at the seams under the arms. Could you remove a row (or column) of the narrow plates there to bring the waist in?

Is it feasible to move the riveted attachments of the buckles outward a bit and put up with the extra overlap at your abs? Would that restrict bending forward?

I'm puzzled by something - if you're also wearing a piece of plate on the chest, why the brigandine up above and the plate around the waist? Wouldn't it make more sense to have a solid breastplate higher up and the more flexible brigandine around the stomach and waist?

Were keepers (loops like on modern belts) not used to hold the tab ends of the straps flatter? It seems like they would get in the way a bit sticking out like that.

Can you make video about Brigandine vs Plate? (vs warhammer sword spear etc.)

I note the brigandine is really noisy when you're handling it, but much less so when you're wearing. Not sure how well you could sneak in it, but seems possible. The plate arm at the end is really noisy again, though.

forget the brig i want one of those sweaters....

What about the Chalkis type 2 brigandine from around 1400? It’s basically made from rectangles with little regard for the waist. It’s form isn’t really shown in art except for the rivet pattern.

Matt Easton, khajiit heavy armor trainer.

String belt = Fast Show's Jesse.. This week I'll be mostly be wearing a medieval brigandine

Would a tighter waist also improve flexibility? It seems to me that it would allow more movement before the armor started to bind.

Would it be possible to just move the mounting point of the strap and/or buckle to allow a tighter waist?

I forget the reason, but why are the straps at the front not a big safety concern? I remember you talked about it, but I can't recall which video it was in. So I am asking the silly question what stops an attacker from slicing your straps and stabbing you in between your now loose fitting armor? Because the brigandine looks awesome and I can't remember this part about it.

Hi, you said it was made from carbon steel plates inside and could even get them tin plated to stop them rusting, but what is the outside part of the brigandine made from?

Why were the plates riveted on the inside instead on the outside of the fabric? Would it make it more difficult to push a blade through in between the plates? Or does it help to protect the steel from the elements? (even though there is more contact with saline sweat)