Are VAMBRACES practical in the REAL WORLD? [in-depth look]

If you've ever worn a fantasy costume, you've probably worn vambraces, but have you ever wondered what they are actually for other than looking cool? Watch this video to find out
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Thank you ALL for 100 subscribers!
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Links you should check out:
The forum thread that inspired this video:
www.middleearthrangers.org/fo...
My video on how to tie a vambrace:
• Ever Wondered: How to ...
Living Anachronism shows you a different (better) way to tie a vambrace:
• Video
Image Source, Chain-mail, Bayeux Tapestry:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_mail
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Chapters:
0:00 introduction
1:20 Disadvantages
4:24 Advantages
7:22 Conclusion
9:51 What type of Vambrace is best?
12:40 Archery with thick vambraces experiment
14:36 Thank you all for 100 Subs!
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Music: KZbin Audio Library - Yonder Hill and Dale, By Aaron Kenny

[@LivingAnachronism]

Hi Iodo! Good video, thought I'd throw in my two sense! Firstly, I really don't like wearing vambraces, I have terrible wrist mobility with them on and it is always painful at the end of the day. That combined with the heat, You'd pretty much have to pay me to wear them, which was actually the only reason I wore them as Robin Hood, because they paid me. My opinion might change if I custom made them to fit me though, so mayhaps I will give them another shot. As for the best type of bracer, having owned ones with laces, I HIGHLY recommend using buckles instead. Easier to put on and take off if nothing else. I generally think the cons out weigh the pros, but that is personal preference. And especially in a case like your dwarven ones, those are important to help tell the story and culture of your persona as a dwarven ranger. For me the practicality is more important than my look. At the end of the day you should love your kit and it should work for you not against you. Real quickly, something that dawned on me while watching this was, as an adventurer in a fantasy setting, if you couldn't make your own and money was scarce, even if we would choose to buy them because of the rule of cool, would our characters spend time/money/resources on vambraces if they weren't protective? Sorry for the absolute book. Looking forward to the next one. Cheers.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

The heat where you are would likely make vambraces a terrible choice for most of the year, so I agree with you on that, but a comfortable well made set might do you well for the winter? It's interesting that you prefer buckles (it shows how much of this is personal preference) because I've always preferred laces, they sit flatter on my arm and catch on stuff less. Yes, you're point about telling character story makes sense, I don't wear the hardened leather vambraces very often because they are meant to be battle wear and are much more a part of my characters past, I don't think they would be practical for her role as a "fells-ward" but the weather in the UK lends it's self towards making thinner, more comfortable vambraces useful, the weather around Erebor would likely be similar so I guess that it my logic behind it I had never thought about the money question much with regards to a fantasy world, my dwarven character had grown up learning many dwarven trades in the Iron Hills, so she would have made them herself, and her choice to stay at Erebor after the battle was because of the wealth of the dragons gold, so she would not be poor as such, but a traveling "adventurer" in the sense of a D&D like world, especially early on a quest, would probably have very little in the way of gold, it's almost like a video needs making on this topic? Thank you for your comment :) and don't worry about it being long, it's short compared to some comments I have written on your channel ;)

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

@@neoaliphant yep, a video of that sort is on the drawing-board at some point

[@AdamMclardy]

Hi L.A good to see you here!! :)

[@cortharynvinthorian4450]

I had buckles first. Because as you said, easy in easy off . However the buckles caught on the pommel of my swords more than once. The last time causing me to stab my self in the leg. So no more buckles for me.

[@mrkultra1655]

Brilliant. This is a great presentation of most all the intricacies of vambraces. Good show. Nice shooting as well.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Thank you! my aim was to do the video kinda like a review of how useful they are as a piece of kit, I was actually surprised how much there was to say about something so simple

[@jeffersoncarlisle3125]

I have something like Vambraces made out of wetsuit material that I purchased at a commercial fisherman's supply store. I am a vegetable farmer and go year-round. These insulated "vambraces" are incredible in very cold, wet weather at keeping you warm. So I imagine in the winter, fantasy vambraces would be very good at keeping you warm, like you said. Plus they are cool!

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Very cool! thank you for your comment, I didn't know there was a modern equivalent of vambraces that's intended for warmth, the only thing I have ever come across is leather sleeves for keeping welding sparks off your arms, that's interesting to learn :)

[@jeffersoncarlisle3125]

@@IodoDwarvenRanger thanks for the reply!

[@AdamMclardy]

The weight on the ends of your arms is why I ended up cutting the ends of my chainmail back to the elbows. Great video. I’ve just found you channel and it’s great. I’ll be watching them all :)

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

yeah, I have worn long sleeved chain and I can absolutely understand that Thanks so much :)

[@sonny2593]

Samson: at your service. Proud to say I'm your 112th subscriber. Best of luck with the channel. 👍

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

awesome, thank you :)

[@Stephens8x6Workshop]

AKA Nerd: At your service. An excellent in depth cogitation of the pro's and con's of Vambraces. Do they look cool? Oh yes. Looking forward to the continuing adventures of Iodo

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Thank you so much for your comment :)

[@carlericvonkleistiii2188]

"...charity shop leather jackets..." I was just going to make this recommendation! You can get a very wide range of colors, weights, and textures in leather from what we in the USA call "thrift stores," and you call "charity shops." Also, high topped boots can provide some serviceable pieces of leather from the uppers. You can practically build a fine leather quiver from a pair of ladies' high-topped boots! Such stores can be a great source of leather for projects. Also, WOOLEN FABRIC! Mens coats, ladies pants, skirts, jackets, etc. in fine woven wool can be purchased for small prices. They can be disassembled, and washed and dried several times on hot cycles (with tennis balls in the drier to beat the woolen fabric) to create "boiled wool," a very densely felted woven wool that is great for making outdoor clothing. Do check the label in woolen clothes before buying them for felting. Felting requires many tiny fibers extending from the wooden threads in order to lock the woven fabric together during the felting process -- "WORSTED WOOL" is UNSUITABLE for felting. The threads of worsted wool are, essentially, shaved smooth during their manufacture, and are not "hairy" enough to bond together in the felting process.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

some very good advice :) the words Thrift store and charity shop are mostly interchangeable over here, but thrift store usually means a second hand store that doesn't raise money for a charity, and they are a brilliant resource My first quiver was made from a pair of my mum's old leather boots LOL

[@Tolabay]

Great points! I also have a vambrace bought from a festival, barely fits my forearms. By the way, a good mail armour was also made like a tailored suit. Fitting perfectly, so the sleeves wouldn't swing much around. Also, I agree on ponchos. They are like a modern cloak, but sometimes you get weird looks while wearing them. I have a 100% wool poncho. I like to wear it while walking my dog during cold nights, or just sitting in front of my PC. Perfect protection against rain and wind.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

"a good mail armour was also made like a tailored suit" interesting, chain bought on the internet is not made that way :) I guess that proves that I was right to suspect that the "cuffs to stop mail armor from swinging" was probably incorrect, thank you for your comment

[@Tolabay]

@@IodoDwarvenRanger most mail armour you can find on internet are made in india. They are mass produced for the fantasy reenactment market. 12th century and later mail armour were most of the time tailored like a swimming suit. Pictorial evidence from the era shows this in detail. However, as you said, the vambraces can help with swinging mail sleeves if you haven't got a proper armour. You should make a camping video with that gear. Rainy or snowy weather. Test your kit, but do not die hahaha :)

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

@@Tolabay Thanks for the information :) I would like to do a camping video but I don't have enough kit or anywhere to make such a video, or the skills required, so maybe one day :)

[@Tolabay]

@@IodoDwarvenRanger more reasons to learn how to make a dwarven ranger tent and survival equipment! I hope you hit that goal one day. Cheers!

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

@@Tolabay yep, always more stuff to make, and thank you :)

[@LuxisAlukard]

Great video! I believe you'll have more followers soon! =)

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

thank you :)

[@oneparticularlysmartape]

Also, Ticks. If you've ever spent time in the brush or tall grass you know a tick. Just like leg-wrappings keep your legs and feet warm, they also prevent ticks and other bugs from crawling up your trousers. Braces do the same. If you're sleeping in "dispodable" shelters made with the leaves and branches you find as you travel... You don't want bugs crawling into your clothes. Or if you're hiding in tall grass as you stalk a pack of orcs or wandering goblins... Again. Bugs. Also, they might help prevent minor wrist injuries. Like tall ankled basketball shoes held prevent twists. I think the right kind of bracers can be as useful as any winingas.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

very true :)

[@pemo2676]

fantastic, im remarked you dont have thousands of subcribers right now

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you liked the video :)

[@musikSkool]

Travelling through a thick forest with branches that get in your face vambraces will keep your forearms from getting cut, and if you hold up your forearms you can protect your face with them. Also, whilst not a huge amount of armor, if most small skirmishes with bandits involve knives and in some parts of history only knights could carry a sword, any armor whatsoever that would give you an advantage in a knife fight makes sense. Whosoever haveth the vambraces, after one trade thy would expecteth thynself to be bleeding the lesser.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Some cool thoughts :) I had never thought about them being useful for dealing with sharp undergrowth even tho I have probably used them for this without stopping to think LOL, it is smart, thanks for the comment

[@raffaeleparise6321]

The most important pro of vambraces: they look cool!

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Always :)

[@AzraelThanatos]

One other thing they're useful for is if you use wraps as part of the gear, for a lot of similar reasons to the chain mail one in keeping it in place. They're also useful for leading edge armoring which isn't as common as a full set of armor, but there's the style that one side has heavier armor, namely the side you lead with most stances. A vambrace along with the arm covered with the sword in the other, normally the armored side will either be letting you do more with polearms or larger weapons, or with a buckler...I've also seen something that points to that as something for archers as well for the leading edge and armor since that's the side closest to the enemy there, but it's not, normally, used with a larger shield because the shield is as protective there, but can have issues if you want a polearm or similar

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

interesting, thank you :)

[@Cascadejackal]

Great video. Really covers pros and cons of vambraces, goes over almost everything someone might want to know. I particuarly enjoyed your insights into making a set of vambraces from different types of leather. About the only thing I found odd was when you were discussing weight. It might just be that I'm used to the weight of my steel vambraces and leather gauntlets, but I've barely ever noticed the weight of my leather bracer when I'm shooting a bow. Would using a thicker, harder leather, more suited to use as protection, really make that much difference in how much it can fatigue your arms?

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Thanks for your comment :) I didn't explain myself well on the bit about weight, it was a comment on the fantasy barbarian trope (in melee combat not archery) where often someone is wearing almost no armor at all except for vambraces, adding the weight to your arms will leave you more fatigued and less protected, but if you added the weight instead to your shoulders and torso you would be better protected and reduce the chance of being slowed down by the weight because you don't need to move the weight as often, shad explained it better in an old video (I can't remember which one)

[@janinejohnstone468]

I can think of a huge advantage for vambraces; they'd be a brilliant passive defence against my cat! 😀

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Very true!

[@Tennouseijin]

I think in many situations it's very reasonable to break symmetry, and only wear a single vambrace. In archery, obviously, but also when fighting sword and board, you may choose to only wear one on your sword arm. When wearing a cloak, if you keep one of your arms exposed and the other one under the cloak, again a single vambrace is enough. As such, going asymmetrical has its charm, in my opinion. Just like some armors were asymmetrical for practical reasons (lance rest, asymmetrical pauldrons).

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

very true, thank you for your comment :)

[@fintonmainz7845]

Your outfit looks good. By the way, for Asian type archery with a thumb release, you don't need an arm guard because the arrow is on the other side of the bow.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

cool, thanks :)

[@MarcAlexandreDube]

The pros and cons of vambraces are well made and the comments add good additional informations to the video. I would like to explore two points to add the discussion : 1. It seems to me that the vambraces could be shorter on the forearm and/or with different materials. First example : if the vambraces are shorter (not to the point of being a bracelet), about half the current length, it could be less hot to wear while keeping the utility value you mentioned. Second example : if the vambraces were covering only half of the arm (round wise), then half of the arm could be laces, thus decreasing the heat retention. 2. Would it be hard to hard accessories on the vambraces? Like a holster for a small knife, a small pocket for keeping some things handy, or even maybe a small string to hold the cloak while keeping the hands free. Thank you for your videos, they are quite enjoyable.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

in response to point 1: yes, that works, the set I made for my witch garb (seen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKm4Znamf7tkgtk ) fit that description, they were made so the baggy tunic sleeves don't get in the way, and to keep cold air from getting inside, they work in response to point 2: I don't like to add unnecessary weight to my arms, knives and stuff are usually better kept on a belt, but that is up to the personal preference of the wearer Thank you for your comment :)

[@tyronelikeaboss350]

I know it’s not medieval/fantasy era but The cowboys used to wear leather wrist cuffs 2 protect the wrists from rope burn barbed wire and spike plants and protected there sleeves

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

cool, thx for the info :)

[@fintonmainz7845]

Interesting.

[@Ozarkwonderer]

I really like how you covered this. Could you cover your belt pouch on a later video as well.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

I'll add it to the list of future video ideas ;)

[@fredsuper6792]

I really like this video! I do have a note for presentation (I don’t mean to be too critical. My intention is to give some beneficial feedback). Your vocal delivery and physical demeanor were pretty stiff most of the video, when you were showing the braces I thought you loosened up a bit. The more you do this the more comfortable you get typically, but if it’s in your mind it might go quicker. I hope I was able to say that nicely.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

thank you for your comment :) I know I'm not good on camera but I am gradually improving ;)

[@fredsuper6792]

@@IodoDwarvenRanger I don’t think it’s bad necessarily, just imperfect (which applies to everyone)

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

@@fredsuper6792 No worries, I don't mind, I am learning

[@marcusfridh8489]

i made my own wambraces, two pairs, one pair with throwingknife scabbard on it, and one pair with arrow loops as armquiver. and i make my wambraces with handprotection, like samurai kote.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

that sounds awesome, and thx for the comments :)

[@marcusfridh8489]

@@IodoDwarvenRanger my wambraces is a part of my homemade leather lamellar steppewarrior style armour, consisting of a leather lammelar quirass, leather greaves, wambraces and a mongolinspired hardleather helmet.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

@@marcusfridh8489 you should make a video about that :)

[@marcusfridh8489]

@@IodoDwarvenRanger i have never made a single youtubevideo myself, mostly only watching others and commeting, both from my own exsperiences and giving some facts, philosophical inputs, and giving advises.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

@@marcusfridh8489 two years ago I had never made a single KZbin video my self ;)

[@AndersWatches]

I’m so interested in fantasy reenactment and ren faires and stuff like archery, but I have no idea where to go or where to start because I don’t have friends into it all that live close by. Do you have any information on events and stuff in UK? Especially the Midlands? How did you get into it?

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Hmmm... other than historical reenactment and the odd LARP event there is basically nothing here in the UK, I'm a member of a forum that is mostly about middle earth trekking (linked on my channel banner) so much in the way of someone who does historical trekking the challenge is to create a kit that actually works out in the wild, most of the stuff is done solo maybe reenactment is the wrong word to use?

[@mokujin29]

thanks Lil girl

[@BillyBOB-sm3rl]

Cowboys wore them to keep dirt and bugs, from going up their sleeves.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

cool to know :)

[@jonanderson3050]

I feel like you go through a 'decision tree' every time to determine whether you're going to wear vambraces or not. Is this the case?

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

no, not really, I like them because I'm one of those people who just think they are awesome looking, so I will wear them with my kit most of the time unless the weather is too hot for them, I just went through all the advantages/disadvantages I could think of for the video, Thx for your comment :)

[@stormlewis5214]

My goodnes when I was 15 I couldn't even talk on camera let alone right a script

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Thanks for your comment :) I'm older than 15 tho ;)

[@drewsteffen8166]

Hay are ment to protect your forearms like gloves.

[@TexasJack1886]

Do you mind my asking why you cant get brain tanned leather in the UK? Is it a matter of legality and customs/importing? Or is it simply a lack of availability? By the way i just stumbled onto your channel accidentally and I can't get enough of your videos. I love everything about what you do here.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

Thanks so much for your comment/sub, and i"m glad you like my videos ;) just a lack of availability, I haven't yet managed to find a supplier

[@TexasJack1886]

@@IodoDwarvenRanger if you'd like (and assuming I bag a buck this year) I could send you some this coming winter. It wouldn't be a whole lot but surely enough for some vambraces. Since it's deer hide though it would most likely only be 2-3oz leather. I'm not sure if that's thick enough for your needs.

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

@@TexasJack1886 hey cool, thanks a lot for the offer, keep me posted and if you do, let me know, I could use it to make a video on how to make vambraces :) I think I need to set up a channel e-mail address for this kind of thing but for now I'm off on holiday so I won't be around to reply to comments for a week

[@TexasJack1886]

​@@IodoDwarvenRanger No problem I'll keep you posted. I joined the Middle Earth Rangers forum if you'd rather stay in touch that way instead of having to make a channel e-mail. Until then have a nice holiday and "Farewell, wherever you fare till your eyries receive you at the journey's end!"

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

@@TexasJack1886 Thanks a lot, cool that you joined MERF, I haven't had time to log on over there since getting back, I'll do that later ;)