General Recommendations for Measurements for Legs Armor:

Clothing: Measurements should be taken wearing the padded chausses you intend to wear with the armor. Sweatpants or jeans will not accurately reflect the thickness of the padded chausses and could lead to ill-fitting armor.

Bare Legs If you are ordering both legs and padding together, measuring your bare legs is acceptable. However, please clearly indicate on the measurement sheet that the measurements are for bare legs.

Measurements: Take all measurements with a flexible measuring tape, snug but not tight.

Additional Notes:

• Take all measurements with padded chausses or similar under-the-legs armor and shoes on.
• Ensure you or the person being measured is standing straight and relaxed with feet shoulder-width apart.
• Use a flexible measuring tape for accurate circumference measurements.
• Consider additional measurements if specific armor requires them (e.g., knee joint width, foot length).
• This table provides a basic guide and adjustments might be necessary based on individual body shape and specific armor design.

Required measurements:

A. Weight: Measure your weight in kilograms or pounds without wearing any armor.

B. Height: Stand tall and measure the distance from the top of your head to the soles of your feet.

I. Maximal thigh circumference: Find the widest part of your thigh, usually just above mid-thigh. Wrap the tape measure snugly but not tight.

J. Thigh circumference above knee: Measure the circumference about 10 cm above your kneecap with the tape snug but not tight.

K. Calves: Measure the widest point around your calf muscle with the tape snug but not tight.

L. Ankle: Measure the narrowest part of your ankle just above the ankle bone with the tape snug but not tight.

AA. Hip to Knee: Stand with your leg relaxed. Locate the bony bump on the side of your hip bone (greater trochanter) and the center of your kneecap. Measure the distance between these points while keeping your leg straight.

Z. Knee to Ankle: Stand with your leg relaxed. Locate the center of your kneecap and the highest point of your ankle bone. Measure the distance between these points while keeping your leg straight.

Wear fitted padded chausses or dedicated under-armor padding that cushions the shin, calf, and ankle without creating excessive bulk. The padding should remain stable during movement and prevent direct contact between the metal plates and your leg. Use the same padding for measurements and combat. If purchasing new padding with the greaves, provide bare-leg measurements so both pieces can be adjusted as one system.

Take measurements while wearing the exact leg padding you currently use. Provide your height, body weight, widest calf circumference (K), narrowest ankle circumference (L), and knee-to-ankle length(Z). Keep the leg relaxed and the measuring tape snug without compressing the padding. If you order padding and greaves together, measure your bare legs and mention the included padding in the order notes. MedievalExtreme will add the required allowance.</p>

Titanium greaves are generally 20 to 40 percent lighter than an equivalent hardened-steel model. The exact reduction depends on the construction, size, number of plates, straps, and additional components. Brigandine greaves usually remain closer to the lower end of this range because their fabric shell, lining, straps, and hardware retain the same weight. For example, MedievalExtreme brigandine greaves weigh approximately 2.71 kg in steel and 2.05 kg in titanium for XL size.

Yes, but their legality depends on the historical period of the armor kit. Current Buhurt International rules classify open, one-panel greaves as half-greaves. They are approved for 14th-century and Transitional armor but denied for 15th-century armor. The greave must cover the entire front of the lower leg, follow its anatomical shape, protect the ankle bone, and be supported by appropriate historical sources.