Early knights mostly wore mail armor. Mail was flexible and provided good protection against sword cuts, but weak agaist crushing blow. Padded undergarment known as aketon was worn to absorb shock damage and prevent chafing caused by mail. In hotter climates metal rings became too hot, so sleeveless surcoat was worn as a protection against the sun. Later, they started to wear plate armour which offered better protection against arrows and especially bolts than mail armour did. Their horses also wore armor, called barding.