10-13-2007, 06:45 PM
What I gathered from a LOT of threads is that there is evidence for the use of leather under the hamata, but I do not think it is a question of OR. It is very plausible to have leather as a waterproof outer garment (under the hamata) over a linen or felt or whatever subarmalis. A subarmalis made of a single sheet of leather will not absorb shocks the way a good quilted subarmalis will, so I am OK with the assumption one was worn over the other in battle conditions. Me, for comfort reasons, as no one is hitting me or shooting me, settle for just the outer garment of leather under my hamata, keeping the heat down. In case of the more waterproof seg (it's shaped like rooftiles!), the linothorax type subarmalis is a very good choice.
