Chain bonnets
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The chainmail coif – known in Latin as a coif or camail – was the most important component of head protection for warriors from the Early Middle Ages through to the Late Middle Ages. Anyone looking to buy a chainmail coif today is faced with a surprisingly wide range of materials to choose from: ring types, wire thicknesses, weave patterns and surface treatments all have a significant impact on weight, protective effectiveness and historical accuracy. This guide will help you make the right choice – whether for LARP, exhibition combat or historical re-enactment.
What is a chainmail coif? – Definition, historical origins and purpose
A chainmail coif is a head covering made of interlinked metal rings that protects the wearer’s head, neck, cheeks and often the chin as well. In historical usage, the word ‘coif’ refers to the headpiece alone; the term ‘camail’ or ‘avental’ often refers to the chain curtain attached to the helmet that covers the neck and shoulders. The term ‘chainmail coif’ is also common in German-speaking regions and is often used synonymously.
As a protective component, the chainmail coif was exceptionally well-suited against slashing and cutting wounds. Against straight thrusts or blunt force trauma, however, the mesh offered only limited protection – a reason why it was almost always worn in combination with padded linings and additional helmets. Typical helmet combinations included the spangenhelm in the Early Middle Ages, and the pot helmet and basin-shaped hood in the High and Late Middle Ages.
Ring types, wire and workmanship: the technical aspects of a chainmail coif
| Feature | Variant | Suitability | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ring shape | Round ring | LARP Reenactment | Classic, widely used, good value for money |
| Ring shape | Flat ring | Historical | Flat cross-section, tighter fit, historically documented for the late Middle Ages |
| Workmanship | Unriveted | LARP / Re-enactment | Lighter, cheaper; approved by many re-enactment groups for re-enactment only |
| Workmanship | Riveted (round or wedge rivets) | Exhibition fighting / Re-enactment | Significantly sturdier; essential for contact combat |
| Ring diameter | 6–8 mm | Historical | Tighter, heavier, offering greater protection; closer to historical originals |
| Ring diameter | 9–10 mm | LARP / Beginners | Lighter, cheaper, easier to make |
| Material | Carbon steel / Structural steel | Stage combat | Robust, prone to rust; requires regular oiling |
| Material | Spring steel | Exhibition match | Harder and more resilient than structural steel; suitable for non-riveted hoods |
| Material | Aluminium | LARP | Very light, rust-free; silvery in appearance, not recommended for contact combat |
| Material | Stainless steel | Description | Stainless, easy to maintain; heavier than aluminium |
| Weave pattern | 4-in-1 | Standard | Each ring is threaded through 4 neighbouring rings; classic and common |
| Braided pattern | 6-in-1 | Historically dense | Tighter weave, more rings, heavier weight, better protection |
The choice of wire for a chainmail shirt or coif depends on the intended use: for exhibition combat, riveted steel or spring steel constructions with a ring diameter of 8 mm and a wire thickness of 1.4–1.8 mm are recommended. Those wishing to save weight and not expecting combat stress should opt for aluminium or unriveted spring steel rings.
What was the chainmail coif like in medieval history?
First chain mail
The earliest evidence of chain mail comes from the Celtic region. The technique spread rapidly and was adopted by the Romans as the lorica hamata – a coat of mail made of interlinked iron rings, which became standard equipment for many legions.
Early Middle Ages
Chain mail was valuable and expensive – chain mail tunics and simple hoods were reserved for warriors of the upper classes. The hood was often worn beneath a spangenhelm or Norman helmet and covered the head and neck. Combined with a gambeson and a wams, it formed an effective protective system.
High Middle Ages – The heyday of the chainmail coif
The chainmail coif reached its peak popularity in the High Middle Ages. Designed as a one-piece coif with mouth and chin protection or as a coif de mailles over a linen lining, it covered the head, neck and shoulders. The transition to the camail – a chainmail curtain attached to the helmet – allowed for more flexible protection. The pot helmet was often worn directly over the chainmail coif.
Late Middle Ages – Replaced by plate armour
With the advent of improved weapons – particularly crossbows and early firearms, as well as lance-shaped thrusting weapons – chain mail increasingly showed its limitations. Plate armour offered better protection against piercing and impact. The chainmail coif evolved into a supplementary element worn beneath a basin helmet or visor helmet and was eventually largely supplanted by plate armour. The reason chainmail was no longer used is therefore less a matter of craftsmanship than of tactics: the three-quarter armour made of hardened steel simply withstood the new weapons better.
Face guard variants: triangular, square or open?
- No fixed mouth or chin guard
- Historically more common in the Early Middle Ages
- Greater freedom of movement for the jaw and neck
- V-neck variant ideal for combining with a breastplate and armour
- Suitable for long periods of wear and warm environments
- Historically documented in the High Middle Ages (11th–13th centuries)
- Triangular shape covers the chin and mouth, slim fit
- Square shape offers wider coverage
- Usually fastened with straps, buckles or hooks
- For exhibition fights: greater protection for the lower jaw area
For re-enactment combat, a coif with a mouth guard is generally preferable – many combat groups even stipulate this in their safety rules. For pure re-enactment and LARP events without contact combat, the open version is significantly more comfortable. Those wearing a chainmail coif in combination with a closed helmet can often do without the mouth guard, as the helmet itself covers the chin and cheeks.
What do you wear under a chainmail coif? – Underlay and combination with armour parts
Wearing a chainmail coif directly against the skin is neither historically accurate nor practical: the metal rings dig in, the coif sits poorly without padding, and the impact energy is barely absorbed during blows. The classic historical solution was the linen or woollen gambeson – a close-fitting fabric tunic that reduces friction, distributes the load evenly and provides additional cushioning upon impact.
Underneath or over this, the gambeson completes the system: the padded doublet protects the torso and shoulders and forms the base upon which the hauberk or haubergeon is worn. Depending on the type of helmet, the chainmail coif is either pulled directly over the helmet (less common) or – the more common variant – placed over the linen or woollen coif, with the helmet then placed over it. A chainmail collar can provide additional protection for the neck and collarbone without requiring the full hood.
What is generally worn under chainmail also applies to the hauberk: the longer the planned use, the more important the padding layer becomes. During camps or re-enactment battles lasting several hours, a good hauberk makes the difference between a comfortable appearance and a real loss of comfort. Depending on size and link density, a chainmail coif typically weighs between 1.2 and 3.5 kg – this should also be taken into account when choosing a helmet.
How effective is a chainmail coif – and for which activities is it suitable today?
Historically speaking, the chainmail coif was an effective protective solution against the main threats of its time: slashing and cutting wounds from swords, axes and knives. Against straight thrusts – such as from daggers or arrows – the mesh offered significantly less resistance, as the ring tips can be pushed apart under direct pressure. Against blunt force, such as blows from a mace, the coif provided protection practically only by transferring the energy to the padding beneath.
For modern re-enactment combat, the following applies: riveted round rings made of steel or spring steel are significantly more stable than non-riveted variants and reliably withstand repeated blows from training weapons. Many exhibition combat groups permit non-riveted helmets only for purely visual display, not for active contact. In LARP – where foam weapons are generally the only ones used – lighter aluminium or spring steel constructions are entirely sufficient and noticeably reduce the weight.
Care: Steel helmets will rust without regular maintenance. Oiling after every use and storing in a dry place are essential. Burnished surfaces (chemically blackened steel) and galvanised rings offer a certain degree of basic protection, but do not replace active maintenance. Stainless steel and aluminium are rust-free, but also require occasional cleaning to prevent oxidation and staining.
Chainmail hoods by price range and intended use – which one suits you?
Unriveted round rings made of galvanised or burnished steel or spring steel, ring diameter 8–10 mm. Well suited for LARP beginners, costumes, visits to medieval markets and first outfits. Not recommended for display combat. Lightweight and affordable, sufficient for visual representation.
Riveted round rings made of steel or spring steel, optionally with or without a face guard (triangular or square), ring diameter 8 mm, wire thickness 1.4–1.6 mm. Aluminium variants are also available in this range for those conscious of weight. A solid choice for active exhibition fighters and re-enactment groups with moderate requirements.
Riveted flat rings with wedge or round rivets, ring diameter 6–8 mm, wire thickness 1.0–1.8 mm, handmade. Maximum historical accuracy for demanding re-enactments and museum displays. Special titanium variants for extreme weight optimisation whilst maintaining robustness. These helmets are true masterpieces of craftsmanship – and consequently time-consuming to produce.
A chainmail coif is far more than an accessory – it is a functional piece of protective armour with a long history and a range of uses that remains relevant today, from LARP to historical re-enactment. Take your time to browse our range, compare ring types and materials – and if you’re unsure, simply give us a call or drop us a line: we’ll help you find the right chainmail coif for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
A chainmail coif is a head covering made of interlinked metal rings that protects the head, neck and cheeks. Historically also known as a coif, camail or aventail, it was the most important head protection for warriors from the early to the late Middle Ages. Today it is used for re-enactment, exhibition combat and LARP.
The chainmail coif provides good protection against slashing and cutting wounds, but offers limited protection against straight thrusts or blunt force trauma. Historically, it was therefore always worn with a padded coif underneath and often combined with a helmet as well. In modern exhibition combat, riveted versions are considered significantly safer than non-riveted ones.
Historically correct is a linen or woollen coif – a close-fitting fabric cap that reduces friction, distributes weight and provides additional cushioning. It prevents the metal rings from rubbing directly against the skin and is essential for comfort during prolonged wear.
That depends on the intended use: for stage combat, riveted steel or spring steel rings with a diameter of 8 mm and a wire thickness of 1.4–1.8 mm are recommended. For LARP and re-enactment without contact combat, aluminium offers significant weight advantages. Stainless steel is rust-free and easy to maintain, but heavier than aluminium. All steel variants must be oiled regularly.
With the advent of improved weapons – particularly crossbows, early firearms and thrusting and cutting weapons – chain mail increasingly proved inadequate for protection against stabs and blows. The evolving plate armour offered significantly better protection against these new threats. Chainmail coifs were therefore gradually replaced by closed plate helmets and armour, but remained in use for some time longer as a supplementary element beneath helmets.