Quote Originally Posted by Unoriginal View Post
In real life, a mail shirt wouldn't affect how you move significantly more than a backpack of the same weight.
Not so sure.

A backpack is usually going to put the weight on the inside of your shoulders, whereas a mail coat because the weight is all hanging down your sides will put more weight on the outside of the shoulders where it will feel heavier.

Backpacks designed for long term use also tend to have belly and/or chest straps built in which help to distribute the weight more, you can do some of that with a cinch at the waist on a mail coat but because it's not attached to the mail it isn't as effective.

In terms of distribution of weight and how it affects mobility and ability to wear the armour long term, mail is about the worst.

(And yes, you wouldn't wear mail on its own, not just because you need other forms of protection but because it would be unwearable long term. Any serious impact on mail without anything under it would drive it into your flesh.)