Gambesons
Gambesons are worn under armour and come in a large range of quality and accuracy. If you are looking for something inexpensive you can try Museum Replicas but if you want something of the highest quality you really don't have many better options than Medieval Market. My bespoke gambeson from Medieval Market is one of the finest garments I own and was made to my specifications, I cannot recommend them enough.
Leather and Buckles
It is inevitable, the leathers on your armour will at some point need to be replaced or a buckle will fail. When that happens it can be an easy at home fix with a little bit of effort and a call to Tandy Leather. This is where we get all our leather and buckles, the rivets we do ourselves and you can see a video on how to pein your own rivets and do minor repairs at home just like us.
Plumes
Plumes are the decoration seen at the back of some helmets. These brightly colored feathers served to identify the wearer to friend and foe across the battlefield. These feathers can be found at some hobby shops but if you want a large selection of quality plumage you should really check out Feather Palace. This is where I get my plumes and while sometimes a bit more costly than the local guy the selection and quality are worth the extra expense.
Where to fight
Often we are asked where to find a group to fight with. While we do not suggest doing something which puts you in harms way even if you are wearing armour these are some of the places in South Texas that you can enjoy hitting people at.
Amtgard, is a live action role playing game which is available nation wide. This is as close to D&D as you can get with dragons and wizards as well as a good hearty knight fighting it out for king and Kingdom. If you are interested in a magical world with some fun combat give this a shot.
Belegarth, is a live action role playing game which is available nation wide. In addition to their fighting on the field they have a fantasic artificer's guild which is a great place to build and exchange knowledge.
Dagorhir, is a live action combat game which is available nation wide. If you are looking for a fighting sport that is safe and fun you should check them out.
HEMA at Sword to Sword, If you are looking for something a little more historical, realistic, and controlled you should really check out HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts). This is as close as you can get to real combat with real longswords and not end up in the hospital.
