HEMA style gambeson

HEMA style gambeson is a type of modern gambeson designed especially for fighters, who take part in Historical European martial arts.

You give us your specific measures and wishes - we make you a completely custom gambeson that will bring you joy and comfort for a long time! 

This long gambeson has some feature of its medieval ancestors, for example, natural fabrics, wadding, stitching (for example – diamond stitching), and lacing for fastening. But, cut of this padded gambeson is adapted for HEMA standards.

Base price includes following options:

1. 1-2 layers of padding (natural sheet wadding 50% cotton, 50% wool);
2. Natural (uncoloured) cotton for outer and inner shell;
3. Standard sleeves’ attaching (closed armpit);
4. XS-size;
5. Black leather straps;
6. Straight bottom edge;
7. No fastenings for steel arms.
8. Paint stamping – no

Additional options allow you creating of unique model of padded gambeson coat. We offer linen, wool or firm leather for your gambeson armour. Among our customers, black, green or blue colors are the most popular. However, such colors as wine-red and even white are available for order. If you choose half-coloured or quarter-coloured gambeson, please inform us by e-mail, what colours you prefer and its exact disposition.

Quantity of padding layer depends on the main armour. If you plan to wear HEMA gambeson under the chain mail, so 5-6 layers will be fine. If there will be usual plate armour or brigandine, so 2-3 layers of natural wadding for this quilted gambeson is enough.

We offer great choice of fastenings and festoons for decoration of your gambeson jacket.

If you plan to use plate arms or spaulders over your gambeson, we recommend you to order leather fastenings for steel arms in black, red or brown leather.

There are two layers of padding in sleeves by default. If you want to change it, please contact us [email protected]. Option “Laced sleeves” allows you transforming this padded armor into sleeveless gambeson.

Main photo shows gambeson with following options:

• Color – royal blue
• Fabric – cotton
• Layers of padding – 3;
• Color design – one color
• Egde with contrast color – yes, white color 
• Standard sleeves’ attachment
• M-size;
• Fastenings – brown leather straps with steel nickel-plated buckles;
• Straight bottom edge;
• Fastenings for steel arms – 4 pieces.
• Paint stamping – no

Benefits, which you’ll get, if you buy gambeson at Steel Mastery:

1. Custom-made high-quality padded underarmor, made of natural fabrics by your individual parameters;
2. Reliability and comfortable wearing for years;
3. Product made by experienced tailors, who really know how to make a good armor;
4. Convenient payment systems (Paypal, Skrill, Visa, MasterCard, American Express);
5. Flexible return system in case if you don’t like an item.

Check out these models of long gambesons: Eastern gambeson, long gambeson of the XI-XV centuries.

We offer to complete your body protection with padded chausses, arming cap and quilted mittens.

In section “Gambeson”, you can see all models that we offer for ordering. If you did not find any for your taste and wish, please send us photo and description of the required model and we will make it for you.

In this article, we're telling how to choose a gambeson.

Made-to-measure gambison may be sewn by two ways:

• Machine manufacturing. Tailors will make padded armor by your parameters, using sewing machine.
• Hand sewing. Custom gambeson will be completely sewn by hands of our tailors. Such type of manufacture is historical one and is offered for additional costs.

And….some story! 

HEMA style gambeson

or

Gentlemen prefer leather laces

First of all, have a look at HEMA gambeson in front of you. Do you know, what makes it as it is? That nice overlap of flaps on the chest part. Firstly, there is always additional protection of body. As even if two layered gambeson was ordered, you will get four layers of protection on the chest. Secondly, there is a severe conformity to HEMA standards. We will talk more specifically about it.

In case, two honorable gentlemen have a modicum of free time, desire to warm-up and specific knowledges about Historical European martial arts, so why would two honorable gentlemen and their comrades, having discussed about martial arts a little bit, not to rough up each other with bats. Without evil intent, but as a part of historical experiment only. 

That’s how a soldier, writer, swordsman and true gentlemen Alfred Hutton were considering in the 1862 year, when he organized his own Cameron Fencing Club and published 12-page manual for historical fencing “Swordsmanship”. HEMA enthusiast existed before Mr. Hutton, however we owe just to him modern golden age of this sport historical movement.

And, in order to have still gentleman look after such experiment, but not be like lower class, covered with grazes and bruising, these gentlemen will require such a little as padded gambeson.

It is worth to notice that primarily HEMA gambeson was not aimed for reconstruction of historical protecting clothing. It had being designed just as functional protecting clothing, which was providing proper protection of blows of dull steel sword. Gentlemen have chosen gambeson armor in particular instead of common fencing protection, because it proved successful during the centuries.

However, modern padded jacks shifted away from the forefathers so much that now have even zip fasteners. Think it over! Zip fasteners! I just choke with a piece of pudding! No, no, and no! So what if zipper is much faster and easier in use, than strings. We suggest such choice non-gentleman, criticize it in every way and insist on the using of leather strings in particular. That allows your HEMA style being HEMA jacket and classy medieval gambeson at the same time, in which it is not a shame for any gentleman to take a walk at the presentable event among other ladies and gentlemen in historical clothing.

Our tailors were working hard, studying HEMA manuscripts, ancient tapestries and gravures, and created really cross-functional aketon armor. The one, which allows not only fencing, but also making wonders of acrobatics. It looks decent, but may complete even royal armor at the highest level. It is cut according to the HEMA rules, but definitely unique. Classy pass to the courteous community ;) 

When you will be ordering your gambison, you may choose not only fabric and color (or color combination, as we offer half or quarter-colored padded protection as well), leather, type of stitching and size. It is up to you what quantity of layers will be in your padded gambeson, whether it will be sewn or laced sleeves, or will they be absent at all.

You will get real custom gambeson, made only for you, which will serve you for years, protecting good and delighting an eye.