Armour Flexibility

[Gaius Colletti]

How flexible is Roman segmented armour ? (Lorica Segmentata specifically) Does it impede movement in any way ? Are stabbing and slashing movements made more difficult, like an overhand strike ?

According to what I've read the segmented armour didn't impede movement at all, whilst providing superior protection to chain mail from pretty much any sort of attack. Is this true ?

Segmentata is quite flexible, I can still easily throw a pilum (spear), withdraw my sword, stab, even hack and slash (although slashing and hacking left the armpit exposed), bend over and touch the ground, and raise my arms most of the way over my head. Still it is armor and does restrict movement in some way, but you learn to work around it.

I have handled 6mm riveted chain, while it no doubt would offer more mobility, it is quite heavy. Most people would agree that chainmail would be more expensive to make given that steel has to be formed into wire, made into rings, and riveted. Now do that for what 10,000 rings? 20,000 rings? Segmentata was most likely quicker to produce, and most likely less expensive