During the [[Early Middle Ages|Early Medieval Period]], the majority of the leidang would have been unarmored. Some of the wealthier men may have worn gambesons and [[spangenhelm]]s, while the wealthiest might wear [[mail (armour)|mail]]. As the [[Viking Age]] began, the leidang slowly began to improve in terms of armor as their areas became richer. By the ninth century, most members of a Leidang would have had helmets of iron or leather construction, either of the spangenhelm or [[Nasal Helm]] design. [[Thegns|Drengrs]] would have worn mail, while wealthier freemen may have worn leather or padded cloth/gambesons. Spears were common to all men, and many would have had short hand axes. Nobles and wealthy freemen would have had swords. Shields were used by all, and were usually round and of wood and leather construction, sometimes with leather or iron binding around the rim. By the 12th century, helmets and padded gambesons were very common, the [[Kettle hat]] type of helmet now being used alongside the earlier [[Nasal Helm]] and [[Spangenhelm]] types. Padded armour and mail were also more common among ordinary men.
