Forget shining knights in full plate! For the early, struggling colonists of Jamestown and Plymouth, heavy armor was more burden than boon. While some wealthier gentlemen might have arrived with a breastplate or helmet, useful perhaps against an unexpected arrow, the dense forests, humid climate, and constant need for manual labor quickly rendered such cumbersome gear impractical. Survival demanded agility, not rigidity. Instead of gleaming steel, the true "armor" of these pioneers was their grit, adaptable clothing, and the muskets they used for defense and hunting, making practicality a far greater virtue than traditional martial display in the harsh reality of the New World.