Vambraces are one of the first bits of Larp kit that many people buy. They can change a charity shop shirt with the collar cut off into a sturdy adventurers tunic. They can also keep your arms functioning in a fight, always a useful feature, as the bits that wave around in the breeze are always the first to get hit. Just as there are many choices in the styles of vambraces there are multiple names that these lower arm defences are known by, but using bracers, vambraces or even arm armour are all equally valid in Larp.

Our leather arm armour has many options available allowing you to choose the style that would suit you and your character best and are available in a couple of sizes.

There are decisions whether to just protecting the lower arm such as the Decorated Heavy Leather Bracers or covering the lower arm and hand, Articulated Vambraces or adding a hand armour to an exiting pair of vambraces with Mitten Gauntlets.

Then there are two different leather weights used in the construction, medium weight leather which is 1.8-2mm thick, as used in Dome Studded Vambraces and heavy weight leather which is 3.2-3.5mm thick, as used in Splint Vambraces. In some cases this thickness is increased when secondary layers are added, either by stitching, Plain Lined Bracers or riveting on Leather Plate Bracers.

Fastening on vambraces can be done a couple of ways. The simplest is laced through eyelets such as Laced Leather Vambraces, or with strap and buckles such as those on Superior Studded Bracers.

Depending on the rules system decoration of vambraces can make a difference to the armour value they're given. Added plates on Plated Arm Bracers can change it from light to medium or the added domes on the Superior Studded Bracers might give you no advantage apart from looking cool.

Rules for the main systems in the UK are

Empire Light armour, leather thickness 1.5-3mm, can be made of more than one layer of leather

Medium armour leather thickness 3mm plus, can be made of more than one layer of leather

Lorien Trust Light armour, leather thickness 1.8-2mm,

Medium armour leather thickness 3mm plus or 1.8mm with 50% rigid supports or rigid additions over at least 50% of the surface.

Menhir’s Fate Light armour, leather thickness 1.5-3mm, can be made of more than one layer of leather

Medium armour leather thickness 3mm plus, can be made of more than one layer of leather

Curious Pastime Light armour, Leather, fur or padded armour.
Medium armour, Thick leather armour, or light armour with substantially overlapping scales or added metal studs or plates.