The kettle hat is the helmet of the medieval foot soldier: a steel hat with a wide brim, simple to make, comfortable to wear, and practical in battle and siege alike. It appears in countless manuscripts and was worn for centuries, from the Crusades to the end of the Middle Ages. In LARP, it is one of the best helmets for anyone who wants to see, hear, and breathe freely through a long day of play.
In this article, we look at the history of the kettle hat, how it was made, and how to use it for your character. For an overview of all medieval helmet types, see our guide to Types of Medieval Helmets.
What Is a Kettle Hat?
A kettle hat, also called a war hat, is a helmet made of iron or steel in the shape of a brimmed hat. Its English name comes from its resemblance to a metal cooking pot, the original meaning of "kettle". In German it was called Eisenhut and in French chapel de fer, both meaning "iron hat". There were many variations, but they all share one element: a wide brim that gives extra protection.
The brim protected against blows from above, such as from cavalry swords, and against projectiles shot or dropped from above, which made the kettle hat very useful in siege warfare. Unlike closed helmets, it did not interfere with the wearer's vision, hearing, or breathing.
History of the Kettle Hat
Brimmed helmets reappeared in Western Europe in the late 12th century, at the same time as the first enclosed helmets. Brimmed helmets also appear in 12th-century Byzantine art, and a Byzantine origin has been suggested.
Early kettle hats were made in different ways. Some took a single-piece iron bowl and riveted on a brim, as seen in early 13th-century examples from Wilnsdorf Castle in Germany and from the Saranda Kolones fortress in Cyprus. Others were built in the spangenhelm way, from a framework with separate plates. By the end of the 14th century, kettle hats were commonly raised from a single piece of iron. A kettle hat from about 1375 to 1399 in the Rijksmuseum, found in the Rhine in the Netherlands, is wrought from a single sheet of iron and lined with leather.
The kettle hat was worn most commonly by infantry, but it was also used by cavalry and men-at-arms. Some were made extra heavy for sieges: an Italian war hat of about 1460 weighs about 5.7 kg / 12.5 lbs, a weight needed by men climbing the walls of a defended town. In 15th-century Spain, a local form of the kettle hat became the ancestor of the 16th-century morion.
The idea never fully disappeared. When steel helmets returned in the First World War, the British Brodie helmet and the French Adrian helmet were essentially kettle hats.
Kettle Hat Shapes
| Shape | Period | Look | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowl with riveted brim | Late 12th to 14th century | Rugged, visible rivets | Crusade-era soldiers, militia |
| One-piece rounded or pointed | 14th to 15th century | Smooth, classic war hat | Hundred Years' War infantry |
| Deep, with eye slits in the brim | 15th century | Closer to the face, more protective | Late medieval soldiers |
Pros and Cons of a Kettle Hat for LARP
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Does not block vision, hearing, or breathing | The face stays open |
| Comfortable for a whole day of play | Less impressive than a knightly helmet |
| Brim also shields from sun and rain | The brim can limit your view upward |
| Perfect for equipping whole units | Needs a coif or hood for neck protection |
Which Characters Fit a Kettle Hat?
- Foot soldiers and militia: the classic choice for any medieval infantry unit.
- Siege engineers and defenders: the helmet made for fighting under the walls.
- Mercenaries and sergeants: pair it with a brigandine or a breastplate. See our Landsknecht collection.
- Knights on campaign: men-at-arms also wore kettle hats, especially in sieges.
A medieval hood or a mail coif under the kettle hat protects the neck and completes the look.
Order a Custom Kettle Hat
We do not have a kettle hat in our shop yet, but we can make one to order: rounded or pointed, with a wide or narrow brim, with eye slits, plain or decorated, in your colors. A polyurethane kettle hat is much lighter than a steel one: our helmets weigh about 1 to 1.5 kg. Kettle hats are a great choice for a whole unit, so take a look at our Group Orders. 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. Our ready-made helmets are in the LARP Helmets collection.
Related reading: the kettle hat was the ancestor of the morion, and its brimmed idea also shaped the sallet.
