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Jeff Mills





Joined: 17 Apr 2015

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Mon 06 Jul, 2015 10:37 pm    Post subject: New gambeson too stiff, best remedy?         Reply with quote

I bought a gambeson from Kult of Athena and it is very stiff. It can stand on its own. It really hampers movement. Washing sounds like a good solution, but that would be pretty rough on the leather closures.

Any suggestions?
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Edward Lee




Location: New York
Joined: 05 Jul 2013

Posts: 393

PostPosted: Mon 06 Jul, 2015 10:50 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

My gambeson was stiff when it arrived, it softened up after a while of use.

Is your gambeson poly filled? I also had a poly filled one made by GDFB, that one was stiff as rock, couldn't fix it.
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Johannes Zenker





Joined: 15 Sep 2014

Posts: 159

PostPosted: Tue 07 Jul, 2015 3:43 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

It will soften and adapt to your body with time. I would not recommend washing it unless it is absolutely necessary.

Training with your gambeson and moving with it will reduce the material's stiffness and make it more comfortable to wear soon.
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David Lewis Smith




Location: NC
Joined: 26 Aug 2003
Likes: 4 pages

Posts: 506

PostPosted: Wed 08 Jul, 2015 1:20 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

well.....

You could let your friends hit you with blunts while you wear it.........

Big Grin

'Joke, heheheheeheh

Mine was pretty stiff as well, it got better with time, the inner elbow still sucks though.

David L Smith
MSG (RET)
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Jeff Mills





Joined: 17 Apr 2015

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Wed 08 Jul, 2015 9:36 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

"You could let your friends hit you with blunts while you wear it....."

That may be the quickest way, but....
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David Lewis Smith




Location: NC
Joined: 26 Aug 2003
Likes: 4 pages

Posts: 506

PostPosted: Thu 09 Jul, 2015 4:42 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jeff Mills wrote:
"You could let your friends hit you with blunts while you wear it....."

That may be the quickest way, but....


You will also learn to be much quicker MWahahahahahahahahhahaha.

on a serous note, you could put it in the dryer on No heat with some tennis balls

David L Smith
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Jeff Mills





Joined: 17 Apr 2015

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Thu 09 Jul, 2015 6:25 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

That I can probably do. When the wife isn't home.
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David Lewis Smith




Location: NC
Joined: 26 Aug 2003
Likes: 4 pages

Posts: 506

PostPosted: Thu 09 Jul, 2015 6:53 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Jeff Mills wrote:
That I can probably do. When the wife isn't home.


I actually learned the trick from my wife, they also have 'dryer balls' that are hard plastic with tiny spikes. Just a couple of them and it should be fine.
Reviews are mixed
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/ga...5/4334763/

David L Smith
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Gerald Fa.





Joined: 29 Aug 2008
Likes: 1 page

Posts: 58

PostPosted: Thu 09 Jul, 2015 11:43 am    Post subject: Re: New gambeson too stiff, best remedy?         Reply with quote

Jeff Mills wrote:
I bought a gambeson from Kult of Athena and it is very stiff. It can stand on its own. It really hampers movement. Washing sounds like a good solution, but that would be pretty rough on the leather closures.

Any suggestions?



I was wondering which one you got? Are they all like that?

It is because I was thinking of getting this one very soon:


Edward Lee wrote:
My gambeson was stiff when it arrived, it softened up after a while of use.

Is your gambeson poly filled? I also had a poly filled one made by GDFB, that one was stiff as rock, couldn't fix it.

After reading this I was wondering which one? So I do not get it LOL
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Jeff Mills





Joined: 17 Apr 2015

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Thu 09 Jul, 2015 3:45 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

This link should go to the one I have.

http://kultofathena.com/images/SNMC7102BK_l.jpg

It is so stiff as to almost be inflexible. I put it in the dryer with an old boot and no heat this morning, but haven't checked it out yet.
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S. Sebok





Joined: 13 Jan 2011
Likes: 9 pages

Posts: 82

PostPosted: Sun 12 Jul, 2015 12:59 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I got their 13th century gambeson and it's a bit on the stiff side. I also have an arming cap by them but I washed that and it made it less stiff. Maybe washing it would do the trick to make it much less stiff. Tumbling it might work too. They're felt on the inside which is why they're so stiff and hard to get on and off. I literally need help putting on both my maille and gambeson which I cant do myself. I do recommend washing then tumbling it. Makes the felted stuff much softer but still able to stay together so probably that could help. Those arent poly filled at all they're natural cotton felt so they're not as hot as other stuff I've used.
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Jeff Mills





Joined: 17 Apr 2015

Posts: 5

PostPosted: Mon 13 Jul, 2015 8:47 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Tumbling it in a no heat dryer made some difference. Still pretty restrictive. Another part of the problem is sleeve length and shoulder width. The shoulders are a little too wide and the sleeves are the right length arms at the side. Since the sleeves are only attached at the top of the shoulder, raising your arm lengthens the sleeves. Sleeves are also quite generous in diameter.

Makes you look like a little kid wearing an older brothers heavy coat before he grew into it.

I plan to detach the sleeves, put in grommets and tie them a little closer to the top of my shoulder.

We'll see how that works.
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Mike Ruhala




Location: Stuart, Florida
Joined: 24 Jul 2011

Posts: 335

PostPosted: Tue 14 Jul, 2015 10:45 am    Post subject: Re: New gambeson too stiff, best remedy?         Reply with quote




I have that one in natural/white, love the cut but wish it was made of higher quality materials. It provides minimal padding but moves very well. It's also not as long as you might expect, it ends about where your natural waist ends but it also doesn't move up on me very much when I raise my arms over my head. With modifications this would be my dream KDF jacket.
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Edward Lee




Location: New York
Joined: 05 Jul 2013

Posts: 393

PostPosted: Tue 14 Jul, 2015 12:13 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I also have that arming doublet, but mine had very stiff lumps in both armpits, I guess it's a hit or miss.
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Matthew P. Adams




Location: Cape Cod, MA
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Likes: 8 pages

Posts: 462

PostPosted: Sun 19 Jul, 2015 3:07 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Fabric softener?
"We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training" Archilochus, Greek Soldier, Poet, c. 650 BC
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Tom King




Location: florida
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
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Posts: 429

PostPosted: Mon 20 Jul, 2015 1:52 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I too have the same gambeson Mike Ruhala and gerald Fa. are talking about. Mine is the plain white version and works rather well as an arming garment for my 15th century harness (not needing a belt to hold up my leg harness/having it supported by the shoulders and tightness of the garment are a real boon). The one modification I intend to do is add some brass eyelets to the arming points I actually use.

It was not overly stiff in the arms or torso. I wouldn't use it standalone without maille below it, but thats why it is an arming garment, not a gambeson. Their earlier pieces like OPs are probably much thicker and meant as semi standalone armor components. I'd suggest giving it a break in period by wearing it around the house/for personal practice before "using it" just so the padding has time to shift a bit away from the elbow joint and such.
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Jason Wang




Location: Portland, Oregon
Joined: 05 Aug 2015

Posts: 2

PostPosted: Thu 06 Aug, 2015 12:40 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I bet if you wear it around enough it will break-in by itself with enough time.

Or do you mean it is stiff because it is too small?
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