LARP chest & back armor
I used to wear a steel breastplate that was homemade by another larper. It was being sold for 25 gold in game or $100 out of game. As a poor college student / wealthy adventuring warrior, I paid the gold. I liked the 9 armor points (3 locations - chest, stomach, back) but I couldn't bend over. Articulated metal breast plates are expensive but a big metal plate with no moving parts gets tiresome (I endured it for a while though - it can be done).A friend of mine had an awesome-looking suit of scalemail. The steel scales were attached to leather. However, this thing was heavy. The lightest steel armor I've seen took canvas and sewed in 18 gauge steel plates. That's great, but I couldn't find any for sale and wasn't about to make my own. I ended up with chainmail. Obviously leather and studded leather are also strong conteders here (except I don't like leather). I did briefly consider pickle barrel plastic armor, but decided against it. However articulated plastic breast plates and even full suits can be had on Ebay fairly cheap.