Chain Mail: What You Should Avoid

One month ago I decided to start my TH-cam channel about knights and swords, and I have some costume mail to review today. To be honest, it's the only "chain mail" that I currently own, and I'm pretty sure it's complete junk. It was not worth the $400 that I spent, either. Also, is it supposed to weigh this much?
Leave a comment if you think that it was well worth the money and just needs a little work to fit right. If you want to make me an offer to buy the mail shirt, I'm sure we could work something out.
Or leave a comment to let me know what I should review in the future! I'd love suggestions since I'm a newb here.

[@jacobharris3208]

The fact is that a modern reenactor or hobbyist might think 26 pounds is "heavy" and yet that's pretty light for armor

[@SaladDressing69]

Cumbersome, sure, but heavy to the point of noises for every movement? My backpack for all of High School was 60lbs because I didn't have access to a locker. Come now.

[@matilija]

26 lbs is light for a hauberk, I have one that weighs almost 38 lbs and it has larger rings with 7 mm interior and 9 mm exterior diameter, also riveted is typically heavier than butted by a marginal amount. You are supposed to wear a padded gambeson or arming doublet under the hauberk and use a tight belt around the waist just above the hips so that the weight is mostly resting on your hips rather than on your shoulders......……..

[@Danthar]

Not sure if you've ever seen his channel, but a fellow that goes by Lindybeige uploaded a video about maile and one of the best points he illustrated was how a good belt helps with weight distribution. Wear the belt at your midsection, 'blouse' the maile to where the belt takes some of the weight off from your shoulders.. You'll be amazed the difference.

[@Evan-rj9xy]

As the others have already said, those rings are a perfectly fine size. The thing that is making the shirt weigh too much isn't the size or gauge of the rings, it's the terrible tailoring. What you have there is essentially three large tubes of mail that have been stitched together into a "T" shape. This creates a shirt that is incredibly easy to manufacture but you end up carrying an extra 5-12 pounds of metal that simply doesn't need to be there. If you're feeling brave, it is very easy to re-tailor a butted shirt. You may even be able to lengthen the sleeves with the scraps.

[@ListersHatsune]

>Stainless steel

[@thejackinati2759]

From what I understand, rings with an internal diameter of 5mm are perfectly acceptable. There were finds of Lorica Hamata with an internal diameter of 5mm, as well as medieval finds with an internal diameter of about ~5-6mm.

[@TheRedwolf495]

the way he's putting it on its ridiculous

[@stonedape3285]

People see fake armor and say stuff like "look how heavy it is, knights had limited motion" as a owner of a high quality custom made chainmail i can say that proper made chainmail that has been made for your body does not limiti your motion and it feels like a second skin! Ultra light!

[@grayman7208]

there is no reason to coat stainless steel with zinc.

[@neutralfellow9736]

I get your point but 12kg is really not heavy.

[@navigatorofnone]

Aside from the chainmail, you need to wear a gambeson underneath the mail.

[@darney555]

Dude they called chainmail the magical armor, because the 26 lbs gets distributed on you’re shoulders and all that weight goes away, also it helps to be standing when you can it it on.

[@lolroflpmsl]

My butted spring steel hauberk is about 50 lbs...

[@TheStonehammerFiles]

I made a short sleeve hauberk that I can get on and off by myself. and once belted around the waist, you hardly notice.

[@jackhackadayapiwata2068]

26 pounds should not wind you ma boy.

[@berndmaier915]

Wearing a belt which puts the weight on your hips would make it considerably lighter

[@pinklady7184]

I wonder how long it took Medieval craftspeople to make chain mail suits for their warriors. They must have some methods to make themselves fast and efficient.

[@NEOMNIMON]

26lb is light. I've seen plenty of mail that's 60lb+. I personally wear 40lb 10hrs a day.

[@SharkWrestler]

26 pounds is a normal weight, your maille will be the heaviest part of your full kit, if you had enclosed body protection, meaning you have a breastplate and backplate then a pair of maille sleeves and a skirt would replace the full shirt.