Kit Acquisition

What to Look For

For starting kit, you don’t need to go crazy – the oldbies are generally happy to lend things out, although this does mean that you might not always have access to the kit. What you do need to think about is the following:

Base Layers

• No jeans, as when they get wet they get cold and soggy and ’orrible and can look awful.
• No sloganed or band t-shirts, as they look very OOC.
• No high-heels, smooth-soled shoes or sandals, because you will break your ankle/fall over.
• Walking/army boots both support your ankles and look reasonably IC, especially if they’re plain leather styles.
• A plain, baggy shirt or long-sleeve t-shirt will hide a multitude of sins.
• Plain walking trousers or similar will also hide a multitude of sins; leather trousers are quite popular, but bear in mind that tight ones will almost certainly not survive.
• Goth-wear can work, but it’s not advised until you get a feel for what’s appropriate.

Warm/Dry Layers

• Thermals are wonderful, as you can alter how many layers you have without changing the look of your kit.
• Big wool or other thick material coats will keep you warm and dry no matter what the weather throws at you.
• Cloaks made of sensible materials (like wool, leather or moleskin) are good; cheap dressing-up cloaks are bad.

Accessories

This is what will really make a character, and will give you the most distinct look for the smallest outlay.

• Big, overenthusiastic leather belts always help, and give you something to attach weapon-loops and the like to.
• A bag of some sort is very handy for carrying your lunch, a drink, and any small props about.
• Scarves/pashminas can be used as scarves, headscarves, sashes, impromptu bandages…
• Cheap jewellery makes for excellent holy symbols/talismans – or just showing off.
• Hats will keep the rain off, but try not to get carried away…

Armour

If you want your character to be armoured, depending on what it is, you may be better off asking for a lend. However:

• Fake-fur generally counts as fur
• Leatherette and clothing-weight leather can count as thin leather
• Good suede or biker-leather can count as thick leather
• Knitted woolly chain-mail and cheap dressing-up plastic plate don’t generally count as anything.

Where to Look

Traders

On the Traders page you’ll find a reasonably up-to-date list of LARP kit traders of all shapes and sizes, as well as some that don’t know they sell good kit. Not always the cheapest option, but a good way to get distinctive kit in distinctive styles; a number of them do custom work as well.

There are also various kit fairs throughout the year; BathLARP generally tries to arrange for a single trader to come down towards the beginning of the year.

Shops in Bath

Bath being what it is, there are a lot of charity shops and purveyors of oddities that are really good places to find kit on the cheap. We keep an up-to-date map of places we know – please make suggestions if you find anywhere else.

Club Commissions

Various members of the club are willing to make kit on commission; if there’s something you’re interested in, ask around. The following people have asked to be made known in particular:

Louisa – clothing and misc. accessories (if they can be sewn she’ll have a go).

DIY

Making your own kit is a lot easier than it sounds. The Useful Websites page has links to some fairly simple and straightforward kit-making sites including Daisy’s No Excuses page, which explains how to make a simple tunic/robe/cloak/coat set for under £15.

As for fabric, charity shop curtains are a cheap way to get a variety of fabrics, or there are fabric and haberdashery shops around Bath (also on the map.