By Mykola Avenirov, Founder of MedievalExtreme
First things first.
If your team has that saint who cleans and repairs your armor for you, close this article, go hug them, and never let them go.
For the rest of us mortals, it’s time to learn the basics of keeping your gear alive and shiny. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be overcomplicated.
Just simple, fighter-proof advice that will save you time, money, and headaches in the long run.
1. Gambeson & Fabric Gear
Your gambeson is one of the most important parts of your kit — it protects you, holds your armor in place, and takes the brunt of the sweat. Give it some service from time to time: wash it, dry it properly, and it will serve you much longer.
The real rule: don’t forget it in a bag after the tournament – otherwise, mold will claim it faster than an enemy poleaxe.
Small tears and stitching holes? Fix them early. A 5-minute needle job saves you hours later.
And don’t forget the arming points and laces. If they snap mid-fight, your armor piece can come loose at the worst moment. Check them regularly. Durable fabric laces often last longer than leather ones – keep spares ready.
👉 Related read: How to Pack Your Armor After a Buhurt Tournament
2. Leather Straps & Buckles
Most of your armor lives or dies by its straps. Check them after each tournament.
If a strap cracks – replace it before it betrays you mid-fight. Oil or wax them lightly from time to time to keep them from drying out.
A snapped strap might cause a piece of armor to fall off, which can often result in injury or even disqualification.
Don’t gamble on old leather.
3. Chainmail Add-Ons
We don’t use full hauberks in buhurt, but riveted chainmail is often attached to helmets or stitched to gambesons. It’s tough, but not invincible.
Golden rule: fix broken rings immediately. One ring takes 30 seconds. Ten rings take an evening. A hundred rings, and suddenly you own a chainmail torn rag.
Quick trick: spray paint can protect mail from rust, but once you start, maintain it regularly. Otherwise, it’ll peel and look like crap.
4. Regular Cleaning and Rust Prevention
Armor may look tough, but even steel needs regular care to stay battle-ready. Rust never sleeps — and once it gets deep, it becomes much harder to remove. Keep your plates clean after every training or tournament, and you’ll save yourself from costly repairs later.
- Cracks or splits – even small ones will spread under stress. Fix them early.
- Broken or loose rivets – replace before they fail mid-fight.
- Deep dents – dents weaken plates and trap moisture. Hammer them out or repair properly.
Rust Control Tips:
- If you see surface rust, remove it right away with a Scotch-Brite pad or another gentle abrasive. Don’t just paint over it — clean the metal first. Only then repaint or seal the interior sides of plates, since bare metal inside is an open door for corrosion.
- For a longer-lasting finish, mirror-polishing the outer surface will make it smoother, shinier, and less likely to catch moisture or dirt.
Titanium-Specific Care:
Titanium itself won’t rust, but don’t ignore the small details. Rivets, buckles, and hinges are usually made of steel — they can corrode. Wipe them dry after use and add a little oil from time to time. A few minutes of care here will prevent big failures later.
5. Helmets
Your helmet isn’t just armor – it’s your life insurance. Treat it like one.
Refresh or replace the padding each season. Sweat, impact, and time compress it until it stops doing its job. Upgrade with isolon foam for extra comfort and shock absorption. Add it to the helmet, elbows, or hips — but don’t overdo it, or you’ll lose mobility. Replace the isolon every so often; it’s cheap insurance for your body.
And don’t skip eye bar checks. If cracks appear, fix them immediately. A missed crack here can ruin more than your weekend.
6. Footwear & Sabatons
Shoes are often overlooked – until they fail you. Check soles and stitching. Dry and condition leather to prevent cracking.
Sabaton care is where many fighters struggle. Steel sabatons rust fast, and cleaning them is a nightmare. That’s why titanium sabatons are the only no-brainer upgrade – they save you time and last longer.
Pay attention to laces or leather loops attaching sabatons to shoes. If they fail, you’re fighting barefoot protection-wise. Reinforce and replace them before they give up.
Traction hack: wide plaster tape on the outsole adds grip and keeps soles in place. Technically a “temporary fix” — but let’s be real, some of us have run three seasons straight on it.
👉 Related read: How to Start Buhurt on a Budget
7. Storage Matters More Than You Think
Cleaning your armor after a fight is great — but if you toss it into a damp basement corner or leave it sweating in the trunk of your car, you’ve just invited rust, mold, and warped leather to join your team.
Armor deserves a decent place to rest: a dry, ventilated space where plates can breathe, straps won’t rot, and padding won’t turn into a science experiment.
Pro tip: hang your gambeson on a sturdy hanger, lay plates out where air can move around them, and never seal wet gear in a bag. The difference between “armor that lasts years” and “armor that crumbles after a season” is often just proper storage.
👉Want more buhurt wisdom? Check out our guide: How to Survive Your First Buhurt Tournament
The Armor Maintenance 101 Checklist:
Armor care doesn’t need to be complicated. Build a routine:
- Wash and dry your gambeson and paddings overall.
- Check straps and laces.
- Fix chainmail rings early.
- Scan plates for cracks, rivets, and dents.
- Repaint the insides and oil outside.
- Refresh helmet padding, check eye bars.
- Inspect shoes and sabaton attachments.
- Store your kit in a dry place
It’s a simple habit, not rocket science. Do it, and your armor will serve you faithfully fight after fight.
Final Word
Your armor is more than gear – it’s your partner. Respect it, care for it, and it’ll stay with you for years.
And remember — if you’ve got that one teammate who takes care of everyone’s armor, cherish them. They’re worth their weight in gold (and probably deserve free drinks for life).
👉 Related read: Top 5 Mistakes New Fighters Make
— Mykola Avenirov
Founder, MedievalExtreme