# Plate Armor vs. Grizzly Attack **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 7, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891 "2005-02-07T23:10:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/1 "2005-02-07T23:10:32Z")
Could a man in the finest plate armor of the late middle ages withstand a grizzly bear attack? If you gave him a decent polearm, say a halberd, would he have a decent chance of killing the beast? Or would the bear have a “knightly” feast? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/2 "2005-02-07T23:15:05Z")
I would guess the armor would protect him from the claws. But not much from the force of the blow. ---
**Author:** ![klintypooh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3da27b/32.png) [@klintypooh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/klintypooh)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/3 "2005-02-07T23:21:08Z")
Or a kick to the nuts. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/4 "2005-02-07T23:23:20Z")
With some skill on the part of the vict…I mean, knight, I think he could handle an enraged grizzly. You got a combo spear/axe, and some decent amor (with padding) so I’d give odds on the human. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/5 "2005-02-07T23:37:45Z")
I guess the question is “how fast can a human run wearing the finest plate armor money can buy?” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/6 "2005-02-08T00:08:51Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > I guess the question is “how fast can a human run wearing the finest plate armor money can buy?” I don’t have to outrun the bear… I just have to outrun _you_! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/7 "2005-02-08T00:34:11Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > I would guess the armor would protect him from the claws. But not much from the force of the blow. Plus the fact that the bear could tear your arms and legs off while they are still in the armor. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/8 "2005-02-08T00:38:51Z")
Wasn’t this more-or-less exactly a bit in a recent _Simpsons_ episode? My guess is that the bear couldn’t make any headway and was getting a few metal-covered punches for its trouble, it’d give up. Call it a draw. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/9 "2005-02-08T01:14:59Z")
I wouldn’t think a man in plate would stand a good chance. The bear would probably just run in and maul him. Once on the ground, the armor would be too heavy for any real manuvering. Try poking him with a polearm, watch him swat it out of the way like a toothpick. People have unloaded rounds onto charging bears (Granted Grizzlys) and have them still charging on. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/10 "2005-02-08T03:36:49Z")
> [@Burrido](#): > > Once on the ground, the armor would be too heavy for any real manuvering. Coincidentally, I was just watching a show on TV on this very subject (not bears, just guys in armor). For the show, about half a dozen guys were fitted with authentic style plate mail armor. They then specifically tested how well these guys could move around and do things while wearing armor. These guys were reasonably fit, but hadn’t trained their entire lives in armor like a real knight would have. They were still able to run all around, manuever quite well, and were even doing things like running across balance beams and doing a dive while running, rolling across their back, and leaping back to their feet. One guy did sprain his ankle performing the last feat, but they pretty much busted the myth that guys in armor are helpless on the ground. Does anyone know if Troy Hurtubise ever tested his suit out on a real bear? ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/11 "2005-02-08T06:16:21Z")
If you had a short lance I would think you could use the bears own weight to impale him by crouching on the ground and hoping he pounces on you at a downward angle. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/12 "2005-02-08T06:23:00Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Does anyone know if Troy Hurtubise ever tested his suit out on a real bear? Yes. I saw his video. The suit failed miserably. For those who don’t know what we’re talking about: > **[Project Grizzly](https://www.nfb.ca/film/project_grizzly/)** > > In this feature-length documentary, Troy James Hurtubise goes face to face with Canada's most deadly land mammal, the grizzly bear. Troy is the creator of what he hopes … Anyway, Hurtubise came across as a poseur, big time (one lengthy scene in the video featured him out in the woods shaving with a buckknife, which approximately NO ONE ON EARTH TODAY would choose as a real life activity (when compared to (1) not shaving, 'cause you’re in the woods; or (2) shaving with at 29 cent Bic disposable, which fits in any knapsack)), and the rest of the video displayed a similar affinity betwixt Troy and the camera. His “obsession” may or may not be genuine, but it’s certainly become his meal-ticket shtick, and he is ever-conscious of his audience. ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/13 "2005-02-08T06:26:38Z")
> [@Huerta88](#): > > Yes. I saw his video. The suit failed miserably. I should point out that he tested it (and proved its inadequacy) without himself in it. He is not that “obsessed,” despite his self-propagandizing . . . . ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/14 "2005-02-08T08:36:13Z")
Withstand the attack as in survive by taking smart actions once you start losing? Sure… unarmoured people do it all the time. Walk in and go toe-to-toe with the bear and kill it alone? Highly unlikely. A few people with lances/spears would stand a MUCH better chance than one guy. With 3 spears jabbing from 3 different angles, the bear (or any other animal that for reason hasn’t run away) will have to choose one attacker to maul leaving the others a few extra seconds to get a couple more jabs in. I think such a case is the only realistic scenario to win without getting _really_ lucky, and I’d even say the armour wouldn’t be necessary. 3-4 unarmoured guys would do just as good a job as 3-4 armoured guys since the strategy would be “distraction and stabbing from behind” rather than “walk straight in and see who’s tougher” I think armoured or not, whoever gets tackled by the bear is pretty much finished unless the bear was killed pretty quick or the downed guy knew how to play dead… actually the armour would help a lot if he were smart enough to give up the struggle. Again barring a really lucky jab just before being plowed, what can you do? Experienced hunters/outdoorsmen with high-powered rifles and enough time to fire multiple shots at a charging bears fail regularly, so how likely is a guy with a 6-foot sharpened stick, no experience, and 1/10 of a second to act while the bear is in range to stop it dead? My prediction: You screw up and miss you heart jab, and Smokey swats at the lance and/or your face. You’re either killed with a broken neck or TKOed on the spot. Smokey simultaniously bowls you over and while pinning you starts chewing on your head/neck. He/she’ll either decide it’s not worth the effort to do anything further, or if really pissed just keep wrenching at your armour suit like a car door until your appear dead. ---
**Author:** ![GomiBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/15 "2005-02-08T13:38:05Z")
I’d think it would depend on the bear. A big sucker, like a Kodiak, Polar, or Grizzly, if it was pissed enough, would simply tear the armor apart. These animals have been known to tear cars apart, after all, to get to the juicy centres. A black or North American brown would have a tougher time; I would give roughly even odds for a fully armoured and armed human; the poleaxe would make things more even by keeping the bear at a distance. I’d give great odds for someone taking on a panda or cinamon bear, though 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jester21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ed655f/32.png) [@jester21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jester21)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/16 "2005-02-08T13:55:59Z")
> [@GomiBoy](#): > > I’d think it would depend on the bear. A big sucker, like a Kodiak, Polar, or Grizzly, if it was pissed enough, would simply tear the armor apart. These animals have been known to tear cars apart, after all, to get to the juicy centres. > > A black or North American brown would have a tougher time; I would give roughly even odds for a fully armoured and armed human; the poleaxe would make things more even by keeping the bear at a distance. > > I’d give great odds for someone taking on a panda or cinamon bear, though 🙂 Koala bears are mean little suckers. Even if you hit them w/ a car, they can do a lot of damage… especially if they are still in the tree! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GomiBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/17 "2005-02-08T14:02:40Z")
> [@jester21](#): > > Koala bears are mean little suckers. > > Even if you hit them w/ a car, they can do a lot of damage… especially if they are still in the tree! 😃 Still no match for a cinnamon bear, though. When those suckers get in your teeth you’re digging them out for weeks! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![dasgupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e56c9b/32.png) [@dasgupta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasgupta)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/18 "2005-02-08T14:06:05Z")
Depends. Does the bear have a can opener? ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/19 "2005-02-08T14:35:51Z")
I don’t think a halberd and armor together would be a very good combination. After all, once the bear gets close enough to make the armor matter, the halberd is no longer any good - it’s not a close-quarters weapon. It’s going to be very awkward to try to swing it around as a staff once the bear is too close to use the blade. I think the halberd alone would work just as well to try to hold the bear at bay – brace it against the ground for a charging bear, for example, and start praying. As for the original question, armor - even plate armor - is designed to stop cutting blades. If a bear comes and swats you, it’s not going to absorb that much force – and you’re going to get thrown against the ground or a tree, in which case you’re still going to get hurt. Bears are very strong and, while plate armor might protect from claws or glancing blows, it’s not going to matter against an enraged bear unless the guy kills it quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plate-armor-vs-grizzly-attack/288891/20 "2005-02-08T14:46:17Z")
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