Do you like to get from point A to point B very fast? Do you despise heavy armor that keeps you safe, but makes you slower than a tortoise? I’d like to present you with an article with the best light armor possible in the wonderful world of Kenshi.
There’s not much to explain here - some armors will have better damage resistance, different coverages, and bonuses. Let’s start with…
10. Leather Hive Vest
Best for Hivers.
This is a vest that was designed for Hivers. If you are a stubborn little Shek or a Human, you can also wear this but I see no reason why you choose this over a normal shirt - like a Dark Leather Shirt or something else..
So if you’re an Hiver and you’re in a dire of an extra layer of protection, this thing is most definitely for you. Protect your little Bugman heart and lungs!
Why this armor is great:
- Excellent, if you’re an Hiver
- There’s rarely a time where you can find this kind of armor
- Surprisingly effective
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Leather_Hive_Vest
9. Drifters Leather Jacket
The cool jacket.
You can find this thing in every clothing/armor shop. It makes you look pretty dope, doesn’t hinder your movements, and gives you a hefty defense bonus. This jacket is ideal for creatures such as Beep - it makes him look a million times cooler!
Why this jacket is awesome:
- +5 defense bonus
- Unique look
- Covers a good chunk of your gorgeous body!
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Drifters_Leather_Jacket
8. Dustcoat
What’s acid?
Dustcoats are for teenagers suffering from weltschmerz and for those who wish to not melt during acidic rains, in places such as the Sonorous Dark, Vain, and other hellholes. It’s just simply a must-have if you’re a light armor enthusiast choosing to go to the more dangerous zones!
Why this dustcoat is awesome:
- 80% acid resistance
- Also protects you from burning, whatever that is!
- Covers most of your body, including legs!
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Dustcoat
7. Drifter's Boots
For driftin’.
I wanted to include wooden sandals but I realized that they don’t fit in the light armor category. That’s why I found those - they are very common in armor shops and boot shops and goddamn it, you can find those boots on most bandits under the sun. They cover 40% of your legs and make sure your feet won’t melt(to acid) too fast!
Why these boots are cool:
- Look like military boots(+5 to coolness)
- Extremely common in shops
- Decent coverage of legs
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Drifter%27s_Boots
6. Drifters Leather Pants
The pantaloons.
These pants are for those who need that little bit of acid resistance and some cutting/blunt damage resistance. They are pretty common in shops and fit well with the Drifter’s Boots. For some reason, they cover only 90% of your feet but it’s not that big of a deal if you have a set of boots.
Why these pants are gucci:
- 10% acid resistance, lol
- Okay’ish damage resistance
- I dunno, man. They look cool?
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Drifters_Leather_Pants
5. Cargopants (reinforced)
These look even cooler than the previous ones.
These pants don’t offer any acid resistance at all but they offer more resistance to cutting and blunt damage. They also look cooler and cover 100% of your feet this time. They’re not that common and can be found in armor shops in the UC territories. Fancy!
Why these pantaloons are better than the previous ones:
- More damage resistance
- Black pants vs jeans - you decide which is cooler
- 100% coverage this time
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Cargopants_(reinforced)
4. Dark Leather Shirt
Light shirts. Since when shirts can be heavy?
These shirts are perfect for those who prefer sneaky activities. It’s also perfect if you want to negate the stealth debuff from the Drifter’s Boots. You can also find it in armor shops pretty much everywhere, from the Shek Kingdoms to the UC territories. Excellent if you’re gonna go to the ancient labs or workshops!
Why this shirt is awesome:
- 10% stealth bonus
- Doesn’t have any debuffs
- Decent armor for lightweight
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Dark_Leather_Shirt
3. Ninja Rags
For thieves and other degenerates.
If you are looking for armor that will allow you to break into shops at night or you need AI Cores from ancient labs, then Ninja Rags is for you. They will make sure you can sneak without getting spotted and even if you do end up getting seen, you might beat the crap out of your enemies due to how many positive buffs this armor has. Common in UC armor shops and at Shinobi Thieves!
Why Ninja Rags is awesome:
- A long list of buffs
- Decent coverage
- Decent buff to stealth
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Ninja_Rags
2. Assassin's Rags
For thieves and assassins.
Well, these rags offer little coverage and some armor, but the buffs are even more powerful than those on the Ninja Rags. You can get rid of this problem by wearing a decent masterwork-grade shirt.
In total, this thing has 9 positive buffs - it’s excellent for martial artists and katana users. Put these rags on and start slicing some kids today!
Why these raggity-rags are awesome:
- 9 buffs?
- 1.30x stealth buff
- 1.20x buff to dexterity
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Assassin%27s_Rags
1. Fog Mask
Doesn’t help against the fog.
But it helps you against duststorms and gas - quite effectively, may I add. If you happen to be fighting in territories that are known for duststorms, you need to have this mask, even if it’s some piece of crap prototype.
Also, for some reason, this mask has a ridiculous resistance to harpoons(the highest one is 171 pts). This is pretty much the best armor for your head - if you’re a Skeleton or an Hiver, FEEL ENORMOUS ENVY!
Why the Fog Mask is dope:
- 100% resistance to duststorms
- High resistance to harpoons
- Cutting/blunt damage resistance is superb!
More info:
https://kenshi.fandom.com/wiki/Fog_Mask
