Armor Type:  Under armor jacket

Brief Description:  A gambeson is a thick, quilted, padded garment worn either as standalone armor or under chainmail and plate armor. Crafted from layers of linen, wool, or canvas and stuffed with scraps, it absorbed blunt force, prevented chafing, and distributed the weight of heavy metal armor.

Core Characteristics and Construction:

Materials: Typically made of sturdy natural fibers like linen, cotton, or wool. Inner stuffing consisted of raw wool, horsehair, or dense layers of scrap fabric.

Quilting: The fabric layers were quilted and heavily stitched together in vertical, diamond, or rectangular patterns. This technique ensured the internal padding remained evenly distributed and didn't bunch up.

Versatility: Depending on the era and the wearer's budget, gambesons varied in thickness and length, ranging from waist-length to reaching the mid-thigh.

Variants: Historically, it was also referred to as an aketon, arming doublet, padded jack, or pourpoint.

Functionality
Impact Absorption: The dense layers acted as a critical shock absorber, mitigating the crushing impact of maces, hammers, and swords.

Cut Prevention: When worn on its own or beneath metal armor, it provided robust protection against slashing cuts and prevented mail links from being driven into the flesh.

Under-Armor Support: When worn under chainmail or plate, it prevented metal from pinching the skin and provided friction and a structural base for attaching outer metal armor pieces (such as pauldrons or tassets).

Standalone Defense: It was often the only armor poor foot soldiers or archers could afford.