If you think a pricey tailored suit is expensive today, consider the armor back in the Middle Ages. Needless to say, protection came with a hefty price tag but in comparison, so did death in the grueling blood-soaked battle fields.

In order to become a walking fortress, you’ll need to take a trip back 4th century in Japan. Here you’ll find horsemen bearing keikō and foot soldiers with tankō. Though different, both sleeveless designs followed similar standards with leather thongs and iron plates.

After reaching Italy the iron plate armor surged in popularity and eventually replaced chainmail for a good reason. Following the Black Death labor prices were at an all time high, which in return, made the less labor intensive plate significantly cheaper to produce. Yet, even well beyond the 15th century mail still had a place in the armpit and elbow areas where flexibility was required.

With the new armor among the battlefield, any man could be certain of protection from swords, spears and of course punches to the gut. However, it didn’t make a knight truly invincible. The pollaxe, long tapered sword, and halberd still meant death among impact.

By the 17th century, the popularity of plate armor had fallen, making it more or less reserved for the cuirassiers and nobility. It stood no chance against the invention of the flintlock musket, though it did make for revisions in the breast plate design during the Napoleonic wars.

As time progressed towards World War II, you could find flak jackets with plates of steel sewn inside of them. Next was fibre-reinforced plastics which emerged around the 1950s. The rest is history..

With that in mind, I’ve put together a collection of the top 90 best armor tattoo designs for men. You’ll find bold ideas featuring more than just armor plate. I’m talking about things like shields, gauntlets, helmets, and more. Most of these military themes are based around larger portions of the arm, however some are small in size and just as intriguing to look at!