Is It REALLY Impossible To Put On Plate Armour On Your Own?

[@ModernKnight]

Impressive flexibility. I really can't put on mine without help, and certainly can't take it off myself either. Your pauldrons attached through the straps like that look like they work very well.

[@MrDaewen]

Awesome to see you here sir!

[@metatronyt]

Thanks Jason! Always a pleasure to have you here :) And of course there are so many different kinds of plate armour and configurations that really what works with one armour set, might not work with another one, it really depends. Really, what I'm doing here is just saying that the statement "putting on plate armour on your own is impossible" CAN be true, but isn't always true :D

[@Intranetusa]

Imagine it's 80'F-90'F out and the sun is up, but it feels like over 120'+ F inside the armor. You've been wearing the armor and exerting yourself for a while, but are now suffering from heat stroke, feel dizzy, and fumble clumsily with the straps. If you're not able to take it off or don't have anyone to help you take it off, then it sounds more like a booby trap with a timer from the horror movie Saw at that point.

[@metatronyt]

@AileDiablo I've tested It on the video "corazzina destruction test" It took me really MANY cuts against a non resisting mannequin to cut One single leather strap.

[@metatronyt]

@@Intranetusa You can Always cut your points, It was done historically. That quickly removes your arms and shoulders. In an Emergency removing the armour Is a matter of seconds

[@TraditionalAnglican]

I imagine knights & men-at-arms would’ve practiced doing this, because although situations where people would need to do this would be rare, they would happen.

[@Debilinside]

Also I dont see why knights and especially man-at-arms couldnt help each other with the more difficult pieces. I know nobility and whatnot, but people were practical back then.

[@SampoPaalanen]

@@Debilinside Not mention even nobility wouldn't be stupid enough to not wear armor they had because it was a bit awkward to put on. People during these times weren't stupid they knew perfectly well how vital having an armor in a fight was and IIRC squires trained to be a knight from fairly young age, early teens unless I'm mistaken and would also aid the knight they were serving under to dress to they'd learn how to put on an armor anyway, so it's not much of a leap that they'd also practice putting their own armor in case they was no-one present who could help them and it was needed.

[@m0nkEz]

@@SampoPaalanen I mean, stupid people aren't a recent invention. I'm sure that there was a range of examples back then.

[@SampoPaalanen]

@@m0nkEz Obviously I was just referring to the stereotype that people in medieval Europe were total idiots who couldn't have figured out things what modern people can in less then a minute (like that sharp blades work better for cutting things).

[@PJDAltamirus0425]

Yeah, but military shit then to weed out moronic designs and behavior very quickly, unless reason is budgetary.

[@madbrosheo1514]

*Puts armor on by himself* “He’s too dangerous to be left alive!”

[@enoughofyourkoicarp]

Yeah but he's too well protected to kill so..

[@sowianskizonierz2693]

Great reference

[@rollochairbreaker230]

Execute order 66 (likes).

I'll do the most illegal move ever existed *Grabs Musket*

[@polishFantasyEN]

I'm quite certain that the one who figured this method out originally was an introvert who didn't want to ask anyone for help.

[@niclasjohansson5992]

Timothy the shy knight

[@bintjbeil7892]

Dark Souls

[@galadballcrusher8182]

or a poor medicant knight who didnt have the resources to pay a squire... not to mention mercenaries likely would learn be self reliant too

[@Tennouseijin]

Nah, it was a squire who wanted to try on his master's armor in secret without anyone knowing.

[@richardmiranda640]

Saturday night and I just got paid!

[@youvebeengreeked]

*A Roman soldier juggling pizza might just be the intro every video on KZbin needs.* 🍕

[@MrMetonicus]

That's not racist? Asking for a friend.

[@youvebeengreeked]

@@MrMetonicus No.

[@SagaceFallito]

@@MrMetonicus as a fellow Italian, no.

[@JDKDKDLDKDKDKDKKKDERYY]

@@MrMetonicus tell me real quick, how could it be racist?

[@MrMetonicus]

@@JDKDKDLDKDKDKDKKKDERYY I don't know, but someone will say it is.

[@spiffyracc]

Pretty sure you can swap one set of plate armor for another in between sword swings. I learned this from several RPGs.

[@elirantuil5003]

Depending on your strength, you may even be able to replace one with bikini armor, I learned that from some mmoRPGs.

[@vksasdgaming9472]

Of course you can as there is no time limit between those swings.

[@Tennouseijin]

Although occasionally you need to swap some amulets or other magic trinkets as well, to meet the strength requirements for the other set of armor. ... and then, if the armor itself gives you a strength bonus, or if there's an exploit that allows you to keep wearing the armor even if you no longer meet the requirements, you may swap back to your original magic trinkets.

[@erneizhyde2660]

History aside, the realism of the fantasy lone knight/adventurer in full plate armor just went up.

[@1IGG]

Just take easier to wear plate armor like brigandene.

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

@@1IGG Or mail, since it's also (mostly) self cleaning when worn.

[@yoshi658]

@@1IGG a brigandine wouldn't protect you too well against a warbow or a musket something that bandit could use

[@blackdeath4eternity]

@@yoshi658 ? what?

[@yoshi658]

@@blackdeath4eternity if you see the tests against brigandines by Todd form todd workshop they don't fare well

[@svagglaorde4387]

Finally some proof of Shaggy hiding in plate armor by putting it on himself quickly without help when a monster from Scooby Doo is chasing him in a haunted castle.

[@BrazenBard]

Funny thing, this pretty much happened in the first published Conan story, The Phoenix on the Sword; Conan, king of Aquilonia, had a vision in a dream, and got up to put on his armor. Four assassins entered his bedroom, expecting a soft target, and finding an angry barbarian in almost completely donned plate armor. Predictable consequences follow. Well, up to the point of the demon ape's arrival, that is. ;)

[@mr.gunzaku437]

The best fight seen *ever* at the story's end! I could visualize everything so vividly because Howard was and still is a *GENIUS* ! And I thought it was like 7-8 assassin's🤔

[@LordVader1094]

I loved that Conan used armour in the original stories.

[@itsapittie]

Knights were professional soldiers. I'd be amazed if they didn't envision a scenario in which they had no retainers immediately available and having envisioned it, I'd be very surprised if they didn't practice it. Modern soldiers practice for all sorts of "what if" scenarios which are unlikely and our ancestors were no less intelligent or serious about their craft.

[@TheMattsem]

They're not soldiers they are nobility and they're the only one who can afford full body armor beside they are always on a horse even if they get captured they will not be harmed because the ransom

[@m0nkEz]

@@TheMattsem they were both. How do you think nobles became nobles in the first place? That being said, like any other group they presumably would have had a wide range of competence. From skilled, pragmatic soldiers, to, for example, the knights at agincourt who leroy jenkins'ed through mud to get at the longbowmen.

[@limonbattery]

@@m0nkEz The French knights in the Hundred Years War were in general a joke for a long time. Partly because they had to stand out somehow to have any chance at inheriting something decent after the war was over. But then again, it takes a very twisted definition of honor or self-promotion to intentionally cut down friendly soldiers like at Crecy.

[@chargingnoisesintensify6335]

@@m0nkEz and failed

[@arnowisp6244]

But But...Our ancestors are STUPID!

[@SwitchFeathers]

Thank you so much for this video! I've always taken issue with the idea that plate armour is "impossible to put on by yourself" - I've asked a few other historical YTers about this hypothetical scenareo where a knight or man-at-arms needs to armour themselves without help, and I was always told that such a situation just "wouldn't happen", and that such a fighter would "always have a page or squire to help them." So seeing somebody actually use a set of historically accurate plate armour and arm themself almost entirely in it (possibly entirely depending on the style) is fantastic! Excellent video.

[@metatronyt]

My pleasure. Technically their answer Is correct. But for those 1 or 2% of extravagant situations you now have your answer

[@erobwen]

Putting on plate armor without help is impossible. Metatron: Hold my pasta

[@dynamicworlds1]

It seems to me the obvious answer would be "depends on the contex-I mean harness" Idk why we'd assume a binary answer here.

[@husariatowarzysz4924]

Based Metatron

[@Sigismund-von-Luxembourg]

Ive seen videos on youtube of people putting on 1450's era plate without help years ago

[@nullifier_]

Metatron, i know this may be really off topic, but could you some day talk about battle injuries, how soldiers was scarred during battle and the physical and mental trauma after them? I feel this is a really unexplored topic that could get some coverage.

[@titus4440]

I second this

[@edi9892]

There are many indications for PTSD and showing weakness was a taboo, but on the other hand, you would have your full support of your people and wars were not quite as extreme as today regarding the fact that you can die anytime anywhere... Amputees without family support had it super tough and either begged or became criminals.

[@talosvalcoran8730]

Concerning emotional trauma i remember that Guy Halsall shares some thoughts about it in the book "Warfare And Society In The Barbarian West 450-900", going through something like a diary written by a (as far as i recall) frankish nobleman. I've read that there is a controversy about some of his publications, but i enjoyed eyeing through this book and found especially this part really interesting. (Haven't read it completely yet tho, as i was mostly interested in the carolingian army around the year 800)

[@TheMattsem]

Just drink it off boy I think that was the medicine back in the day

[@pavolverescak1712]

I recommend reading wikipedia page about the battle of fontenoy (The one in the year 841, not the one in 1700s) one of the soldiers wrote a poem about how horrible the battle was, there is also a book by a french knight geoffroi de charny, who among other thing wrote how uncomfortable and tiering war is

[@Overonator]

The strap in the back that's the hardest because of flexibility issues. I love when people say something is impossible because that's an absolute and all you have to do is to show one time that you can do it, and then it automatically makes the statement "it's impossible" false. (Having said that, free energy machines are impossible, so not everything that people say is impossible is actually possible.)

[@knightshousegames]

My perception has never been that it was IMPOSSIBLE to suit up without squires, so much that the armor was designed with the idea that a knight would have help suiting up in mind, which made certain strap and fastening methods which offer better protection but are a pain to fasten alone more viable. It would be cool to analyze different surviving examples of armor that exist to see if anyone did have a suit designed with features more suited to donning armor singlehandedly, like easier to reach buckles or different fastening methods more conducive to putting armor on without servants in a rush.

[@jakobknudsen3296]

You could also have a situation where your squire has other things he needs to do, so you put on whatever armour you can while he is otherwise occupied and then when he returns helps with the last pieces and final adjustments.

[@talosvalcoran8730]

Something i just realized watching this (as always amazing) video: thanks to you and the other guys of the community of the sword i went from thinking that Braveheart depicts the whole middle ages accurately to knowing that there is so much that i don't know in nearly no time. You (and others) provide us with knowledge we otherwise maybe wouldn't even be aware of its existance and present it in such an entertaining way that we learn effortlessly from it. And whenever you come up with something completely new to me that i find particularly interesting, your videos motivate me to investigate further. Thank you so much for your work.

[@Goldenleyend]

I went through the same when I found the community. So much misinformation going around!

[@BarokaiRein]

I would assume that this was more commonly done by very successful mercenaries rather than nobles. This is just an assumption but I can think of many,many scenarios where a mercenary captain would have to spring up at moments notice and quickly put his armor on while those who would usually help him would be too busy putting their own gear on or already fighting an ambush.

[@tonberrytoby]

I wonder if there were man-at-arms doing this to show off or to win bets with each other.

[@wilkogniawilkwody3434]

Probably do

[@jooot_6850]

Next time he's gonna get on a horse without a crane winch guys!!!

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

Whoah, let's not get too outside the realm of possibilities. Next you'll tell me they could pick themselves up if they were knocked over.

[@wayner396]

Love the warhammer minis and board games in the background. This video was great. You always make the best content

[@richarddelotto2375]

Ohyoudambetcha they did it alone... I suspect this was a standing "Bar-bet"... "I can not only get harnessed faster than you I can do it ALONE faster than you can with help..."

[@GuruThesla]

Armor: exists Metatron: impossible is just a state of mind

[@_aideoakshot_9620]

Amazing topic to make a video on an perfect timing for me. I was writing a character yesterday who wears medieval-like armor with the straps and all, this is an amazing reference thank you!

[@badgamemaster]

Saying: Rome wasn't build in one day Metatron: hold my Gladius....

[@MaxHohenstaufen]

"I am flexible. That helps" -Metatron

[@bknight045]

I'd love to see soon a collab with an Armourer where you reinvent the design where you can wear armour solo easily.

[@ThatDjinn]

This reminded me of this one scene in Game of Thrones where Jorah Mormont is asked by Danny to put on his armor when the ritual to heal Drogo was about to start. It's never shown how he manages to do this and if anyone helps him, but I always thought he put it on by himself. Considering he experienced banishment for a long time already by this point in the story, and probably didn't have a squire or anyone helping him, he probably would have had to learn to armor up by himself. Great video.

[@TrungNguyen-du9cn]

Jorat was a poor, homeless knight. 🤪

[@clothar23]

@@TrungNguyen-du9cn What are you going on about. Ser Jorah was a spy on a Royal mission. He was the furthest thing from poor or homeless. A deluded fool perhaps but homeless not a chance.

[@ThatDjinn]

@@clothar23 Jorah was disowned by his family and, from what I remember, wanted in Westeros for slave-trade. The mission was probably given by Varys with absolution being a likely reward. By the purest definition of the word he was indeed homeless. What he had on his person is likely everything he owned when he entered Danny's service.

[@RandyKalff]

I can put on my set in full all by myself without much of an issue. I just piece half of it together beforehand and worm my way into the upper body. Not convenient of a way, but if you don't have anyone to help, it's a viable strategy.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, I'll put myself on fire!"

[@elliotward8163]

the enemy shall be slain at noon! Hurrah!

[@2bingtim]

Many if not most men at arms/knights would've served as pages & squires earlier in life, so would be intimately trained already how to put armour on another at the very least. Probably (Boys will be boys) tried putting it on yourself too, when nobody was looking. Breast plate-plackart & helmet are the most essential. Thought I'd always read that you start with the feet & legs, then presumably cuirass, plackart, tassets, arms, spaulders, bevoir/gorget, helmet, lastly, gauntlets. Reaching down for leg armour & sabatons would be harder with breastplate & plackart/faulds already fitted. A mail shirt first, or at least voiders attached to your arming jacket to cover the gaps between the plate.Then of course most of the time there'd usually be someone else about or at least other knights/men at arms & you'd help each other.

[@crozraven]

What if the knights are helping each other while wearing the armors instead of the need of squires?? also, in emergency situation, the knight can also just equip breastplates only or with helmet, instead a full armor. Although the popularity of brigandine armor, even among royalty seems to be one of evidence that some people prefer easy & fast equip on their own. You can most certain wear brigandine armor on your own.

[@rileyernst9086]

Well I remember watching a lecture by Dr Tobias Capwell and he managed to get into his gothic harness by himself.

[@pavolverescak1712]

Yeah

[@torjones1701]

No. Roll Credits. I frequently put on my set of armor without assistance. It's all in the strapping. I'd wager mine wasn't as authentic as yours, nor from the same period, but it was full coverage. I would also point out that everyone else who had full suits of armor also put theirs on usually without assistance. Yes, assistance sped up the process, but it wasn't difficult to armor up on your own. And yes, as a fellow long-hair person, pony tail definitely makes the process easier. My armoring process was basically bottom up rather than your top down. Partly, it was like shingles on a roof, everything overlapped whatever was below it so rain wouldn't wind up in my boots. Legs, skirt, chest & back, pauldrons & arms went on as one step, gorget, helm, gloves. My pauldrons were also smaller than yours, they never overlapped. Anyway, thank's for helping dispel the various myths around armor, it's always an up hill battle.

[@TheRewasder97]

you should consider being an air guide, the way to give the indications to put on the life jacket (call it breastplate if you want), is fantastic. I would pay attention for once.

[@SpiderboyN2Jesus]

This reminds me of when I was in Marching Band in high school and college. A lot of people acted like it was impossible to put on the uniform without help, but I was almost always able to do so, lol. I guess some people just aren't as flexible as others, lol 😅.

[@roseandthornarmory]

I love how you dashed the myths here that you can't dawn your own armor. does it require flexibility? Sure a little bit of time absolutely. But you did a fantastic job with this video!

[@lm5085]

Seeing you manipulate your body and armor was amazing. I have wondered abt that solo knight wandering if he could maintain his armor and put it on without help. It pretty much proved some of the points I made abt knights and training. They had to be flexible, agile, and strong. Similar to today's US Marines or elite forces. Wonderful video thank you.

[@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

The first few straps would be easier in reverse with the clasp at the front and the rear claps if lower down would also be a lot easier to fit yourself. An excellent video explanation as always Sir Knight.

[@wallaroo1295]

From a "Modern Knight's" perspective: Even though centuries of technology separate us - putting on a full kit of modern armor, is *still* a pain in the back to put on, but can mostly be accomplished on your own. The flexibility in the chest armor helps, and the gunbelt is something like the placket. I had to chuckle at some of the awkward reaching, because we still have to do some of that today. Even though the Velcro, elastic, and plastics for straps exist now - modern police belts use little snap-loops called "belt-keepers" to do just that, keep your gunbelt attached to your pants belt. That *same* awkward twisting Metatron has to use for his straps, and the visible frustration that comes with them - still applies! Try getting all of that off when your stomach suddenly says, "Break time! NOW!" 😁

[@jswets5007]

Great stuff Metatron, keep it up. It is absolutely probable that knights knew well how to do it and would have put their own armor on if they had to. As you have done well to help educate the masses about, medieval people were far from ignorant buffoons.

[@AspiringKnight]

I put full plate on without help regularly. The main trick is pre-assembling as much as possible. Padded chausses pointed to arming cote. Arms tied to Cote. Pauldrons tied to cuirass straps. Placard and cuirass buckled. Maille sleeves on the cote (and not snagging!). I put on padded chausses first, arms in the cote. Now my arm harness is dangling. It should be at this point. Lace the cote. Add sabatons, greaves, and cuisses. If you use a gorget/mantle/standard now is when to add it. Same with a maille skirt, but if you point the skirt, point it when you add the maille sleeves. Now strap the arms on. Put on the cuirass assembly next. Buckle/pin the side and buckle pauldron straps. At this point add the tabbard or surcote if you use one and all that are left are gaunts and helm. Done. The only think I can't do myself is buckle the safety strap that connects the back of my helm to my back plate. (Not necessary unless fighting in IMCF/ACS events). In fact... I'll be arming up like this around 3pm today.

[@victoriazero8869]

Of course the answer is "Depends on the design of the plate armor"

[@bunnyonabunwithagunnicepun5689]

Okay, NOW you're just showing off! Jeez! Seriously though, this was actually very informative!

[@mikurusagawa6897]

I think that a lot of this myth comes from tournament armours which can actually be impossible to fully put on by yourself, some of them actually required blacksmiths to tap pins into them to lock some elements firmly into place.

[@audiogus2651]

This is great reference for designing video game armour! I love seeing how all the components interconnect and strap together within the range of motion. Thank you!

[@n3zyd]

leather cords and a few more holes I can Imagine a "Quick wear" self Harness armour.

[@Duke_of_Lorraine]

It reminds me of the myth that you can barely move in armour, which has been utterly debunked. It really shows that practicality came first when designing a suit of armour, then the question is how much protection could be added without sacrificing practicality.

[@InfernosReaper]

Yeah, it's honestly baffling how long it took for people to question that enough to get it tested. If the armor was that terrible, anyone not on a horse would be useless in a fight and people on a horse would be pikes set for a charge away from being useless in a fight. It's similar with weapon weights. For years, people assumed those weapons weighed a lot more than they do and were generally very cumbersome. The reason for both is that non-functional display pieces were used for reference. Of course something no one was meant to wear or use in combat's going to weigh more, because no one's going to take the time to shave-down the excess weight.

[@justaghost3285]

Putting on my one piece motorbike leather suit on my own is a nightmare, I can only imagine the struggle with that 😂

[@redactedcanceledcensored6890]

next vid: "How to protect yourself from a home invasion if you are a medieval noble/knight (and you forgot to buy machicolations)?"

[@levyata8964]

But Metatron, you're the highest angel in Biblical history. Surely having godly powers helps remove this armor

[@Debilinside]

Cool video. Interesting to see how the "clunky knight" myth is getting debunked by the YT historical community.

[@rayquinn1974]

Nicely done. Even if awkward it was fun and satisfying to see you demonstrate the capability while also challenging some entrenched thinking. Perhaps with the assumption of help being readily available the armourers of the day deemed it unnecessary to emphasize self-reliance. Such armour (as seen by me, a layman noob), is 'pretty' - even simpler designs, yet clearly highly functional while focusing on the status of the wearer. But I can't help think that if you weren't concerned with appearance (straps pulled forward instead or a deliberate lack of symmetry in the plates) you could dress yourself easily and quickly - if that was the paramount goal of a redesign. My only trouble with the thought is that trial of donning or doffing armour is such a small consideration compared to focusing on 'while worn' ergonomics and requirements that they never thought it was worth it. Maybe the notion of wandering implausibly wealthy warriors who have no need of followers or companions is more reasonable in a fantasy medieval European setting, like clam-shelled ronin.

[@Lttlemoi]

I guess technically speaking, drinking from a bowl using your tongue like a cat is not impossible to do, but drinking from a cup is still so much easier and faster. *edit:* Don't get me wrong, this is not an attempt to dismiss anything you said or did in this video.

[@10THPROPHET]

I want him to combine his brigandine with the rest of his plate armor

[@maddie9602]

I don't think the sizing would work there. Brigandine is fairly bulky, and his late-style breastplate is pretty closely tailored.

[@LeonidasSparta-Fun-History]

I think it would have happened. I don't own knight armour but for my hoplite gear, I put it 9n by myself quite often. If n9 body is around to help, I don't see why they wouldn't. Great vid

[@sgregg5257]

I can. It is tricky and basically like Metatron. The hardest parts are the upper arm harness. What I did for the arms, is attaching them to the arming points while it is on a mannequin. This is for the spaulders and all the lower arm harness. I do not have pauldrons. Then I can put the arming jacket on with the arm harness attached similar to a coat. Then I put on the mail skirt, cuirass. It is certainly easier with another person. But by myself I can do it in about 10 minutes from sabatons on up.

[@SackRingDice]

What a NOVICE attempt at putting armor on by yourself. Henry of Skalitz can remove & put on whole sets of armor within SECONDS... Gotta work on your time, Metatron 😤😤😤😤

[@chrispe82]

A question (myself knowing very little about armour historically or otherwise), Would it be too anachronistic to attach the buckles & straps around the other way (ie buckles at the front where it’s easier to reach them). Is there a reason the buckles are at the back?

[@Vlad_Tepes_III]

That is precisely why it's a bad idea to place the buckles facing outwards: it is easy to access them. I'm sure there were other reasons, but one of them is that combat in full plate armour often ended up as grappling matches with daggers involved, and the combatants would cut the leather straps to get beneath the armour. In this scenario, it would be far easier to open up the straps if the buckles faced outwards.

[@vioectrolysis]

This is crucial information for my role campaigns. Thank you for doing this.

[@Athalfuns]

Wether it is impossible or not it is highly idiotic to believe that no one ever tried it before since there's almost an infinite number of situations that could've happen and force a knight or someone else to try to do such a thing. But this's definitely an interesting video to share.

[@dogmaticpyrrhonist543]

While it might be hard to come up with convincing reasons for some lord knight to need to do this, it's pretty easy to think of a reason for a professional soldier, aka man at arms. Yes, it's preferable to help each other, but the enemy will always be trying to prevent you doing what you want to do. It's the nature of warfare really. The capability, however awkward, seems worth investigating. On flexibility: My left arm is at least as flexible, there's basically no-where on my back I can't get my left hand to. My right arm is like all those people commenting that your arm is amazingly flexible. :D So, maybe not everyone could do this *as you did it*. But you can be damned sure a man at arms who's been campaigning for ten years will find a way to don at least half their armour.

[@tbrminsanity]

The method you used to put on the breast plate is the same method I used to put on my body armour during an attack when I was on tour.

[@SneakyTogedemaru]

The buckles on the shoulder and side also could be placed on the forward part to make it easier, although they may interfere a little with movement that way. Don't know what kind of complications that may create.

[@neptunenx01]

You should record audio books. Ngl I love falling asleep to your Q&A vids! But really interesting video!

[@abytemonkey]

if the straps are not tight, I can crawl into my late medieval armour (brigandine is to be closed on the back), I tried it serveral times to get trained with it. it takes twice as long to get in, but have more troubles to get out, and always not fits properly. hardest thing is to grab from above into the bevor to get the strap of the helmet, cause the arms and pauldrons already attached. helpful is that the arms are already bind at the aketon and I put it on like a jacket

[@GeldtheGelded]

That Harness is beautiful

[@Xener09]

I've got a full brig set with low profile splint arms and pauldrons, I keep my pauldrons and arms attached to my gambeson and just put it on like a coat, then tighten all my straps. Then I can just put my brig on like a vest since its a center strap closure. Only thing I can't do myself is my visor strap.

[@Dominator046]

This was an awesome test, and both confirmed as well as disproved some of my concerns about attempting to point articles of plate armor to an arming garment. That being said, I think there's more to be said about certain configurations of armor - as you demonstrate in this video - being impossible to do on your own. I think there was probably even a social element to armor that was inherently more difficult to put on yourself. As a wealth / status statement.

[@craigcoombes3141]

I have just found out about you and I am really enjoying your videos I have always wanted to know how a knight put on his armor, this one really helped him make some sense of it

[@candleman2123]

One of the ways we get round the arms problem is you attach the pauldrons/arms onto the Gambeson first then put the gambeson on (this only works with a gambeson you don't pull on but instead tie closed).

[@joeyvanhaperen7715]

I actuely made my fullplate armor adepted to be able to put it on by myself sow I can train solo without needing anyones help. I actuely made a lot things in such a way that it can be pre pointed to my padding before I put it on. Spaulders, my arm harnas (there jackchains and I know this isn't fully historical, but with cowters, spaulders and gauntlets that get atteched over them I would still call it fullplate arm harnas), mail patches covering the inside of joints all are already hanging from my padding before putting it on. Then what ever is left is connected by streps that I can easly buckel myself. I keep the top streps of my cuiras closed and because the buckels aren't atteched to the backplate directly, but are atteched with a relativly long strab aswell I can just lift up the backplate, stick my head true and let it close around me, sow the cuiras is easy enough to get around my body. Yes this sits thight enough cause without pushing the backplate out and pulling it of the same way I went in I can't get out. Even for the only thing I guinely can't do myself cause I can't get them tight enough and there placed to high up for me to reach propperly with the cuiras on the side streps of my cuiras I created a different way of tightining it by having a belt around the wast line of the armor that does the same thing as the sidestreps. You even see people wear belt around there wasts while wearing a cuiras the same way in periode art. I near weekly put my armor on and off by myself, sow I know with 100% certainty you can put on fullplate by yourself, but it depends really on your armor. I won't lie though it takes a lot of energie to put it on and it isn't exactly easy to design a armor like this either cause you make one flaw in your design and you will not be able to make it work anymore.

[@donaldclark2735]

Now you have no excuse not to wear full plate in every video :)

[@grbdevnull5611]

I know a fellow named Josh Warren who owns a Milanese harness that he has put on by himself several times over the years. Even with years of practice, I remember it being noticeably faster (2 or 3 times faster) for him to have help. As a result, my opinion of putting on a full harness by yourself is that it was almost certainly done at some point, but probably not by choice. If you could get help, you would.

[@myutube5882]

I bet knights back then learned from a young age how to put their own armor on. I'm sure they used squires when they had them but I bet they also learned how to put on their own. I would like to get that helmet. Where did you get it? Thanks!

[@leftwardglobe1643]

It would probably be more likely to run into this scenario if you're on campaign and the enemy ambushes your camp. You may not go through the effort of putting on a full suit, but the breastplate and leg armor would be prudent. It's less a matter of "all your squires are dead," more so "shit, I need to hurry and everyone's probably busy fighting or trying to get armed themselves."

[@baryonyxwalkeri3957]

The way you narrate the otherwise silent demonstration does remind me of the safety presentation before each flight in an airplane. :D

[@TheAssassin409]

this is definitely dependent on your kit. some configurations are totally possible. Other configurations absolutely not. I know that i cannot put my armor on myself, trust me, I have absolutely tried. My kit uses turn pins and other methods of fastening (nothing gets pointed on my kit) for the arms and pauldrons, and they just cant be done solo. the pins on the side of my breastplate/backplate are bigger as well. while its possible to get it together, ive squirmed and wiggled and reached for 10 minutes trying to do it solo before.

[@ShagadelicBY]

When my squire eats our last potato... *choke squire* "shhh shhh sleep now... Dammit now what about my armor!"

[@larsrons7937]

Skyrim: Open your backpack, select amongst your 60 different pieces of armour, click the chosen pieces and they are equipped in an instant.

[@rileyernst9086]

Very good work Raph, Maybe in those situations the knight might opt to put his beautiful front opening brig on instead ;) . If time is pressing it's a good idea to have something like that.

[@madao7865]

In the scenario you described, the cost of trying to put on armor is that you may have to engage in combat stuck in with a half open brestplate.

[@mattg9270]

Idk if this was your intention but these videos are so relaxing for some reason.

[@historicarmourer]

If armour is sized and built correctly, with this style of armour you’ll _always_ need help arming. This video is very misleading because this armour doesn’t fit properly.

[@iniabifreely2352]

The fact that some gothic armors had a long strap that buckles in the front, rather than short straps that buckle on the side, for the cuirass tells me that they at the very least they considered the scenario of putting on their own armor.

[@KnightsWithoutATable]

Legionnaire Pizzeria! Try our new Testudo stuffed pizzas today!

[@CSSVirginia]

Pilum perperoni

[@KnightsWithoutATable]

@@SimuLord With anchovies!

[@Adam-hs9ft]

Havent watched the video yet, my guess is that putting it on is possible but taking it off might be much harder

[@clothar23]

I would argue if by battle's end you can't find either your squire or a friendly fellow knight to help you take it off you're somewhat up shit creek without a paddle.

[@martinvandenboorn]

so to recap, in theorie you can, however it takes so long you wil not only miss the battle, you'll miss the whole war :P

[@Intranetusa]

Imagine it's 80'F-90'F out and the sun is up, but it feels like over 120'+ F inside the armor. You've been wearing the armor and exerting yourself for a while, but are now suffering from heat stroke, feel dizzy, and fumble clumsily with the straps. If you're not able to take it off or don't have anyone to help you take it off, then it sounds more like a booby trap with a timer from the horror movie Saw at that point.

[@thebigone6969]

What kind of question is this? Everyone knows that nothing is impossible for the Metatron!!! He’s the greatest historian and expert in ancient weapons and armour who’s ever lived! He can even clap historical cheeks with his eyes closed! You da best Metatron!!

[@stevohisroyalhighness9265]

Hey, I haven't seen very much about the Teutonic Knight Order(The Brothers of the German House Of Saint Mary) and the armor and weapons they used. This is an interesting topic due to the polarizing commercialization of the equipment seen in recreations. PLEASE DO A VIDEO ON THEM

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

Your demonstration style reminds me of a flight attendant going through the preflight safety beiefing.

[@GhostbustersXX13]

Love This Video. But can you do a video for mix-matching armors. What is Realistic, what is plausible, what is pure fiction, and so on.

[@valandil7454]

I can only imagine how stupid I'd feel if I went "oh no a fight and I can't put on this armour I've been lugging around with me" 😒 I prefer my brigandine cuirass with plated vambraces and mitten gauntlets anyway, I've always been curious whether the full fluted globular breastplate and fold are actually more protective 🤔

[@phillipgraf4856]

They would both protect from cuts and thrusts about equally, but the dome shape of plated armor absorbs more blunt force then brigandine. Shad has done several tests on that.

[@heideknight9122]

I would prefer to design a plate armor set specifically for quick solo equipping. I have some good ideas but have yet to test anything.

[@emmanueleustache179]

Whatever you may think, this video is NOT sponsored by Nesquik

[@fuferito]

Next video, Metatron in melee combat against himself.

[@anthonypantano2627]

i put my armor on by myself all the time i tie the shoulders to the gambeson and use my teeth for my arms too

[@Goldenleyend]

I think that takes a level of flexibility not a lot of people have. Still, great video!

[@ricka3856]

The same as the average surfer