The armet and the close helmet are the two great fully enclosed helmets of the late medieval and Renaissance knight. From the outside they look almost the same: a rounded skull, a visor with a narrow eye slit, and protection that closes around the chin and throat. Even people at the time often used the word "armet" for both. The real difference is hidden in how they open.
In this article, we explain how to tell them apart, where each came from, and which one fits your LARP character. For an overview of all medieval helmet types, see our guide to Types of Medieval Helmets.
Armet and Close Helmet at a Glance
| Feature | Armet | Close helmet |
|---|---|---|
| Main period | c. 1410 to early 16th century | Late 15th to 17th century |
| Origin | Italy, earliest example c. 1420 from Milan | Developed from late sallets and armets |
| How it opens | Two cheek pieces hinged at the sides open outward | Bevor and visor pivot up on the same points |
| Visor | On a double pivot, one at each side of the skull | From the 1520s often split into two parts |
| Extras | Wrapper and rondel at the back | Laminated gorget plates from the 1520s |
| Typical look | 15th-century Italian knight | 16th-century Renaissance knight |
The Armet
The armet is a 15th-century combat helmet. The earliest surviving example dates to about 1420 and was made in Milan, which points to an Italian origin. It was the first helmet of its time to enclose the head completely while still being compact and light enough to move with the wearer.
A typical armet has four main parts: a skull, two large cheek pieces that are hinged at the sides and lock together over the chin, and a visor on a double pivot. To put it on, the cheek pieces swing open sideways; once the head is inside, they close and are fastened with a spring pin or a hook. A wrapper, an extra plate for the lower face, was sometimes added, and its strap was covered at the back by a metal disc called a rondel.
The armet was most popular in Italy, where it was the standard helmet of mounted soldiers from about 1410 to about 1510. In England, France, and Spain it was worn alongside the sallet, while in Germany the sallet was much more common. Surviving originals show the weight: an armet with rondel from Milan, about 1460 to 1475, in the Cleveland Museum of Art weighs 3.1 kg, and an Italian armet of about 1430 to 1440 in the Metropolitan Museum of Art weighs 4.29 kg.
The Close Helmet
The close helmet developed in the late 15th century from later sallets and armets. It was worn by knights and men-at-arms in the late medieval and Renaissance periods, and some pistol-armed cuirassiers still used it into the mid-17th century.
Instead of side-hinged cheek pieces, the close helmet has a bevor that covers the chin and lower face and pivots on the same points as the visor. To put it on, the bevor and visor are swung up, and the helmet goes over the head from the front. From the 1520s, the visor was often split below the eye slit into two parts that could be lifted separately, and laminated plates were added to protect the neck.
Regional styles developed from about 1510 to 1525. Italy, England, and France favored rounded skulls with pointed "sparrow's beak" visors, while Germany produced fluted helmets in the "Maximilian" style. Some close helmets for parades had "grotesque" visors shaped like animals, demons, or caricatures.
How to Tell Them Apart
- Look for the hinges. Vertical hinges at the sides of the face mean cheek pieces that open sideways: an armet.
- Look at the pivots. If the visor and the chin defense rotate on the same pivot points above the ears, it is a close helmet.
- Look at the back. A disc on a short stem at the back of the skull is a rondel, typical of the armet.
- Check the period. A 15th-century Italian knight usually wears an armet; a 16th-century knight in fluted or etched armor usually wears a close helmet.
Pros and Cons for LARP
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Full protection and the most impressive knightly look | Limited vision, hearing, and ventilation |
| Visor up for talking, visor down for battle | Harder to put on and take off than an open helmet |
| Perfect for champions, nobles, and commanders | Hinges and pivots need regular checks |
| Strong base for crests, etching, and paint | Some events have special rules for closed helmets |
Which One Fits Your Character?
- Armet: 15th-century or Italian-inspired knights, condottieri, noble champions, and heavy cavalry.
- Close helmet: Renaissance knights, commanders in full plate, tournament fighters, and characters from a world of early firearms.
- For a lighter, open alternative of the same periods, look at the sallet and the burgonet.
See our Knight and Paladin collections for armor to match.
Order a Custom Armet or Close Helmet
We do not have an armet or close helmet in our shop yet, but we can make one to order, with your visor shape, crest, ornament, and colors. A polyurethane helmet is much lighter than a steel one: our helmets weigh about 1 to 1.5 kg. We usually start with a 2D concept, then a 3D sculpt, and then make the mold and the helmet. Tell us your idea on our Custom LARP Armor page, or see our Group Orders. Our closed fantasy helmets, such as the Chaos Warrior Helmet, are in the LARP Helmets collection.