Subarmalis or gambeson?

[Dan Howard]

There is no evidence at all for a separate padded garment under mail during the period in question. All we have is speculation and guesswork. Anything that makes the armour comfortable is as likely to be as accurate as any other suggestion. Most mail doesn't really need padding underneath at all. Plenty of re-enactors reckon that their mail works fine with nothing but a woollen tunic against both SCA sticks and blunt steel weapons.