Arming Caps

What an arming cap does

Metal helmets are hard and often slide around, and wearing one bare-headed can hurt after a few minutes. An arming cap fixes both problems by adding a layer of padding between your head and the steel. It also soaks up sweat so your hair stays out of your eyes.

The shape is simple and close fitting, like a snug beanie, with ties or seams that hold it in place. You put it on first and the helmet goes over it.

The quilted option

The Quilted Arming Cap is black, so it disappears under a helm and goes with almost any costume. Quilting means the fabric is stitched in rows over a soft filling, which spreads the pressure of a helmet across your whole head.

Pair it with the helmets in the wider armor section. Check the fit of the helmet with the cap on, because even a thin layer changes how a helmet sits.

Arming cap or coif

People often mix up the two. An arming cap covers the top of the head and stops short of the neck, and it exists for comfort. A coif is a hood that wraps the head and neck, and a medieval fighter might wear one made of mail or cloth for protection.

In practice many wearers use both. The cap goes on first for padding and the coif goes over it, then the helmet finishes the stack. That layered approach is why a single cap is so useful.

Fit and care

Measure around your forehead before you buy and choose a snug fit, because a loose cap bunches up under the helmet. Wash it gently by hand and let it air dry. Bring a spare if you will wear armor all day, since a dry cap feels far better than a damp one. Sweat breaks fabric down, so a clean cap lasts longer and smells better at the next event.