Armor Type:  Shoe armor

Brief Description:  Sabatons (also known as sollerets) were medieval plate-armor shoes designed to protect knights' feet while maintaining mobility. Made of overlapping steel or iron plates called lames, they fastened over period footwear using leather straps and were particularly favored by mounted cavalry.

The design of sabatons closely followed the civilian fashion trends of the era:

14th to Early 15th Century (Pointed/Poulaine): Imitating crackows or poulaines, these featured long, tapered toe points that often extended well past the wearer's actual toes. These long spikes were sometimes removed when the knight dismounted.

Mid to Late 15th Century (Milanese/Gothic): Toes became slightly shorter and rounded, or featured distinct spikes and ribbed laminations to deflect blows during combat.

Early 16th Century (Bear Paw/Duckbill): Styles shifted to broad, blunt-toed sabatons—known as Barenfube (bear feet) or duck-bill armor—which matched the wider shoe shapes popularized at the time.

Functionally, these plates were riveted together with sliding rivets or internal leathers to allow the foot to flex. Because they did not usually have metal soles, they were worn over padded leather or fabric turnshoes.