# Why does the Night King wear boots and a jacket? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 27, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140 "2019-04-27T19:42:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Dodgy_Dude)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/1 "2019-04-27T19:42:12Z")
Is he afraid he’s going to catch a chill? I was just being a smartass when I was wondering that last night, but now the question won’t leave my mind. Why\* does\* he need clothes? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/2 "2019-04-27T19:49:22Z")
In order to look more badass? I assume that, for any king, perceptions are important. And I take it that this thread is about Game of Thrones? Show or books, and what level of spoilers are you looking for? (see the sticky about Game of Thrones threads) ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/3 "2019-04-27T19:50:35Z")
Maybe he doesn’t need them, and just likes them. Or maybe the design team doesn’t care and felt he looked more menacing in boots and a jacket than without? Maybe the boots are to keep his frozen toes from accidentally breaking off if he stubs his foot? Maybe the jacket covers up an unfortunate tattoo? ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/4 "2019-04-27T22:09:53Z")
Its a well-known telefact that when people die / zombify / become super-heroes / teleport in space or time, their clothes also do that. I am pleased to see that it happens in the Game of Thrones Universe. And being GoT we’d not be spared from seeing what extreme hyperthermic shrinkage could do a man. Even the undead need some dignity. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/5 "2019-04-27T22:19:49Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > Is he afraid he’s going to catch a chill? > > I was just being a smartass when I was wondering that last night, but now the question won’t leave my mind. Why\* does\* he need clothes? That’s not a jacket, it’s [armor.](https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2017/08/18/got/got-706-21.w700.h700.jpg) And[all the White Walkers](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gameofthrones/images/c/c7/WhiteWalkersHorseback.png/revision/latest?cb=20170823220942) wear the same style. I’ve wondered who makes it, especially since the [Night King was shirtless when he was created from a First Man.](https://imagesvc.timeincapp.com/v3/fan/image?url=https://winteriscoming.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/385/files/2016/05/GOT605_102615_HS__DSC24691-630x947.jpg&c=sc&w=630&h=947) Did the Children of the Forest make it for him? Now the Walkers seem to be virtually invulnerable to ordinary weapons, but shatter into a million pieces if hit with Valyrian steel or dragonglass, even when wearing armor. So you wonder what exactly is the armor supposed to be protecting them from. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/6 "2019-04-27T23:03:07Z")
However, when they first began being seen in the first few seasons, they were nearly naked. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TwDIbHQQE4) one is at the Fist of the First Men (starting about 2:50). The [one that Sam killed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAfdHNjbYHU) was also only wearing a loin cloth and was barefoot (1:59). By the time we see[Craster’s Last Son being made into a White Walker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es9Q81MwPkQ) they are wearing armor. Somewhere between the third and fourth seasons they started wearing armor. Maybe because of the one killed by Sam. But both the White Walkers killed by Jon were heavily armored and it didn’t protect them at all from Valyrian steel. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/7 "2019-04-27T23:11:40Z")
However, when they first began being seen in the first few seasons, they were nearly naked. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TwDIbHQQE4) one is at the Fist of the First Men (starting about 2:50). The [one that Sam killed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAfdHNjbYHU) was also only wearing a loin cloth and was barefoot (1:59). By the time we see[Craster’s Last Son being made into a White Walker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es9Q81MwPkQ) they are wearing armor. Somewhere between the third and fourth seasons they started wearing armor. Maybe because of the one killed by Sam. But both the White Walkers killed by Jon were heavily armored and it didn’t protect them at all from Valyrian steel. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/8 "2019-04-27T23:12:24Z")
However, when the White Walkers first appeared in the first few seasons, they were nearly naked. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TwDIbHQQE4) one is at the Fist of the First Men (starting about 2:50). The [one that Sam killed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAfdHNjbYHU) was also only wearing a loin cloth and was barefoot (1:59). By the time we see[Craster’s Last Son being made into a White Walker](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es9Q81MwPkQ) they are wearing armor. Somewhere between the third and fourth seasons they started wearing armor. Maybe because of the one killed by Sam. But both the White Walkers killed by Jon were heavily armored and it didn’t protect them at all from Valyrian steel. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/9 "2019-04-28T00:38:15Z")
I’m thinking the armor protects against dragonglass weapons, but Valyrian steel cuts through it like butter. Not all armor, obviously, but that rickety mesh thing they wear? Sure. This would work with your timeline, if the armor was a response to being killed by a dragonglass dagger. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/10 "2019-04-28T00:40:39Z")
> [@A\_Dodgy\_Dude](#): > > Is he afraid he’s going to catch a chill? Well if he wore cargo pants and flipflops, he’d be the Day King, now wouldn’t he? ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/11 "2019-04-28T01:00:49Z")
He doesn’t want to accidentally step on an obsidian flake or some such. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2019, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/12 "2019-04-28T02:24:44Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I’m thinking the armor protects against dragonglass weapons, but Valyrian steel cuts through it like butter. Not all armor, obviously, but that rickety mesh thing they wear? Sure. > > This would work with your timeline, if the armor was a response to being killed by a dragonglass dagger. Actually, this does seem to be the case. [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lmnEbJyM8A) is a compilation of all White Walker deaths. The fight in the Cave of the Three-eyed Raven starts at 4:20. The Children of the Forest are able to kill some wights with what must be dragonglass-tipped weapons. But when one tries to spear a White Walker with one, the armor stops it and he kills her. Then Meera picks up what is the same or a similar weapon and manages to spear him in the throat where the armor doesn’t protect him and he explodes. So the armor protects against normal weapons and dragonglass but not Valyrian steel. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/13 "2019-04-30T18:14:48Z")
Style still means something after you’ve been alive eight thousand years. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/14 "2019-04-30T18:27:13Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > And[all the White Walkers](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gameofthrones/images/c/c7/WhiteWalkersHorseback.png/revision/latest?cb=20170823220942) wear the same style. If they’re White Walkers, why are they all riding horses? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2019, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/15 "2019-05-01T11:26:45Z")
**Why does the Night King wear boots and a jacket?** His Mother was cold. Don’t look at me like that. I don’t care if the Children of the Forest created him. They would’ve created a Night King Mother, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/16 "2019-05-02T04:52:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > **Why does the Night King wear boots and a jacket?** > His Mother was cold. I think you’re on to something. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/17 "2019-05-02T06:20:26Z")
White Walkers may be hard to kill but having bits hacked off them is probably inconvenient so they wear armor to protect against that. Also, if you die by being barely hit by dragon glass (aka obsidian) or Valerian steel then pretty much anything between you and that is welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/18 "2019-05-02T13:45:55Z")
Maybe this is a good a thread as any to hijack for this: NK can whip up a blizzard for a battle. So he can control the weather to some extent. I’m wondering if he might be involved with the crazy and unpredictable winters. Like, maybe he migrates periodically. Get’s tired of the tundra and wants to hang out near the wall for anywhere from 1 to 8 years and the cold weather just follows him around? Sounds wacky, but Old Nan’s bedtime stories suggest considerably evil and unpleasant stuff accompanies the cold that might be attributable to the NK’s pranks. So…no more stupid long winters, no need of the southern kingdoms, independent north. And the NK wears clothes because he’s modest. “shrinkage” ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/19 "2019-05-02T14:00:39Z")
In a deleted scene, a naked NK walks into a bar and beats up a biker for his boots and jacket. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140/20 "2019-05-02T14:46:34Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Well if he wore cargo pants and flipflops, he’d be the Day King, now wouldn’t he? Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-night-king-wear-boots-and-a-jacket/833140.md?page=2)