Costume & Equipment

One of the most common misconceptions about LARP is that it must be expensive. Scrolling through social media, you'll see chainmail hauberks and hand-embroidered elven robes that clearly represent months of work — but many of the most respected players started with a wool tunic from a charity shop and a leather belt bought for under twenty euros. What matters isn't the price tag; it's coherence. A character whose clothes fit the setting and show visible effort reads as convincing, whether that costume represents a hundred hours of crafting or two hours of market stall browsing.

What does "costume" actually mean in LARP?

In LARP, costume (German: Gewandung) covers everything your character visibly wears: clothing, shoes, headwear, jewellery, pouches, and bags. Equipment refers to everything your character uses — weapons, shields, healer's kits, writing tools, magical props. The boundary is blurry; a sword at your hip is both costume and equipment at once.

The minimum for your first event

For a fantasy setting, your baseline kit needs:

• A top layer — a simple tunic, linen shirt, or loose robe in natural tones (beige, green, brown, rust red). Nothing with modern logos, zips, or synthetic sheen.
• Trousers or a skirt — linen trousers, breeches, or a long skirt in natural colours.
• A belt — a wide leather or cloth belt transforms almost any combination of clothes into a passable medieval silhouette.
• Shoes — ideally without visible modern branding. Brown leather lace-ups or simple boots work well; rubber soles are accepted at most events.

That's your foundation. Cloaks, accessories, pouches, armour — all of that comes later.

Layering: the easiest way to look more authentic

A single garment rarely reads as convincingly as several coordinated layers. Medieval and fantasy-inspired clothing gained its depth from exactly this: a fitted undershirt peeking out beneath a looser tunic, a surcoat draped over the shoulders, a belt pulling it all together. Three simple rules for effective layering:

• Vary the lengths — if your undershirt, tunic, and outer layer all end at the same point, they blur into one. Aim for contrast: a short jacket over a long shirt, a brief surcoat over a knee-length tunic.
• Coordinate natural colours — earth tones work together easily. Mix beige, dark green, grey-brown, and rust red in one outfit; just avoid anything that reads as synthetic or overly bright.
• Mix textures — rough-woven linen over finer cotton, a leather belt over soft fabric, a wool overpiece above a linen base. Even inexpensive fabrics look considered the moment they sit alongside a contrasting material.

Where to find kit

Secondhand and upcycling are massively underrated. Flea markets, charity shops, and online platforms regularly turn up linen shirts, wool fabrics, leather belts, and sturdy boots at low prices. With a bit of patience and a pair of scissors, you can often do more with secondhand finds than with cheap online orders.

LARP shops such as Andracor, Epic Armoury, and Black Boar have solid beginner ranges. Starter bundles (tunic, trousers, belt) are competitively priced and designed to work together.

Community swap markets — LARP groups on social media and at events themselves constantly sell, give away, or trade used equipment. Always check there before buying new.

Weapons and combat gear

Foam weapons (also called latex weapons, after the coating material most commonly used) are the backbone of LARP combat. They often have a fibreglass core with a foam padding, covered in latex or silicone, which makes them look remarkably real — but causes little pain on impact.

For beginners: you don't need an expensive weapon. A starter weapon is perfectly fine at first, or you can play an unarmed character (merchant, healer, diplomat) and skip combat entirely. If you do want to buy a weapon eventually, a few guidelines:

• Entry-level swords from around €30–50 are perfectly adequate for occasional players.
• At some events every weapon must pass a weapon check before play — safety staff inspect the foam and coating for damage. Damaged weapons cannot be used.
• Don't buy weapons from Temu or other cheap marketplaces. Stick to established retailers (e.g. Andracor, Epic Armoury, Black Boar).

Armour: impressive, but optional

Chainmail, plate elements, and leather armour look great and at some events have a game mechanic attached (more hits before going down). They're also expensive, heavy, and absolutely unnecessary at the start. If you want to add something armour-like early on, a padded gambeson or a simple leather bracer is affordable, looks the part, and upgrades a plain costume noticeably.

Care and storage

Linen fabrics can go in the washing machine at 30–40°C; air dry to avoid shrinkage. Latex weapons last longest when stored cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight — heat and UV accelerate surface cracking. A light coat of silicone oil or latex milk every few months keeps the finish supple.

What actually matters

Authentic expression, not authentic materials. A plainly dressed character who is fully present in the game is more convincing than an elaborately costumed one who keeps checking their phone. Your costume is the first signal you send to everyone around you: I'm here, I take this seriously, and I respect the shared fiction we're all building. Everything else follows from that.

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