Padded Armour

[Dan Howard]

I cant say I have any evidence of straw as padding instead of anything else although I should mention that before this I had made a similar padded garment using the cotton wadding used as stuffing in pillows and duvets. I found that this was quite heavy (4 Kg) while my recent straw on is only about 1.8kg.

What is the point of this? If the garment only serves as light padding to reduce chafing then there are plenty of alternatives that weigh even less and are far more comfortable. If it is to provide some additional protection then this straw proposal will not work.

Straw has been used as armour in the past - on some Pacific Islands for example. But it was made from heavily matted straw. Typical weights just for a breastplate are over 20 lbs. This is the only way that straw will offer any protection from spears or arrows. It is thick, heavy, uncomfortable, and cannot be layered with any other kind of armour.