Self-explanatory, I'm asking you what kind of armor class you prefer, and why.
For me it's light armor, for several reasons.

1. I think the Reinforced Leather Armor is the single best looking peace of clothing in the game
2. You can just run faster, even moreso with Travel Light as a perk. I'm so used to it, that I can't just bear the slow movement of heavier classes anymore.
3. When it gets to weapons, I'm mainly a Guns/EW hybrid, who really despises getting his hands dirty in ugly melee scenes.
Therefore of course, my build is set around crtitical hit ability, making Light Touch as a perk a no brainer.

To make up for my DT deficit, I can rely on chems and a high survival skill.
With some proper buffing I can nearly reach Power Armor levels of DT, while not losing my Light Armor advantages.
The only downside is having to see a doctor every couple of days to get of my shakes, but that about it.

Light armors, such as Leather Armor, Enclave Officer Uniform, Chinese Stealth Armor, various mod outfits.
Reasons:
- Faster running
- More challenge without making the game too annoying.
- Generally more aesthetic
- Cheaper repairs

I prefer medium armors. Combat armors of all stripes, and the various ranger/riot armors. My preference is the basic Riot Gear w/ Elite helmet for aesthetics, and the US Army Combat Armor is just plain awesome for a starting character. I prefer mediumweight for it's balance of mobility and protection, and the ease of repair due to just how common medium armor is with Jury Rigging. Also, I enjoy medium range combat that easily and quickly becomes close-quarters combat and dislike the use of chems. so I need the extra protection.

Heavy is simply way the hell too slow and clunky for my tastes and light...simply lacks the protection I desire. However, my next Courier is going to be a Light Armor skirmisher/commando with all the attached lightweight perks, so I'll be able to see how light armor really rolls.

Question for Pistol: Can the helmet on the Chinese Stealth Armor be removed? Not being able to do so is the only thing that kept me from loving it in FO3.

Medium... heavy is just a bother. It's a pain to travel in, and just having it around for battles weighs you down a lot. And then there's the 20% damage bleedthrough, which makes heavy armor largely pointless against fast as well as heavy hitters. Combat armor has been around since the dawn of Fallout, and is cool to look at. Recon armor needs no introduction. And many faction armors are medium.

Leather Armour Reinforced is what I use the most, then I use Joshua Graham's Armour when I finish Honest Hearts.

Heavy.

I almost always play a shocktrooper. In order to make up for the weight requirement, I usually only carry one weapon and one type of ammo (since I use energy weapons).

My characters typically wind up in Medium Armor, usually Combat Armor Mk 2, though never the pointless faction outfits or the [censored] ugly Riot Armor. Medium armor provides a balance of protection & speed, which works for most of my characters since the first thing I mod away is DT bleedthrough. Medium works the best for me. Particularly on my energy weapons playthroughs. Gannon Family Tesla Armor is probably the best armor in the game.

That said, my first playthrough was a Guns shocktrooper with All American & Remnants Power Armor. I have a lot of love for the heavier armors & my combat-focused characters always wind up in Power Armor.

Light Armor seems kinda pointless to me unless it's the Sierra Madre Security Armor, which looks awesome and is extremely protective.

-Nukeknockout

Personally I either go Heavy Paratrooper/ Energy Weapons

Or uber-light recon with clothing protecting little more than dignity/Sniper Rifle

I prefer to use Light armors, but sometimes things like Deathclaws or another strong monsters force me to use Medium/Heavy if I feel like getting up close.. Except for when I picked up the Riot armor from Lonesome Road. Use it on my main now, and any other accounts after I finish LR XD.

My newest account is a Fallout variant of Stormtroopers from Star Wars (Energy Weapons, heavy armor... The goods XD). So Heavy Armor for now

I don't think that there is enough variation of Heavy Armour to really warrant it's use.

I was able to get 34 DT in light armor, and that's not even taking into account Travel Light and Light Touch, so yeah Light armor.

i often wear heavy armor. i just like power armor.

I use Reinforced Leather up until I get PA/RA and training, and then when I do Honest Hearts I wear Joshua Grahams armour from there to the end.

The majority of the time I use medium armor, but every once and awhile I'll switch it up between light and heavy just to have a change.

The only thing that makes me really dislike light armor is aesthetics. The best looking light armor is the Assassin Suit, and it's virtually all one color. Not to mention that unless I feel like going through what I consider the worst gaming experience ever or use console commands, I can't get it. The Chinese Stealth Suit would be something I'd use every time, but not being able to remove the ugly as sin helmet makes it a no-go.

On the flipside, I just snagged some US Army Combat Armor from LR very early on in the game, and in better light it looks beyond awesome.

Paratroopers in Fallout?

Heavy paratroopers?

I typically wear Space Suit for most of the game. Currently playing Explosives so I'm considering upgrading to heavier armors like Combat Armor MK2 and eventually Elite Riot gear.

We jump out of planes and kill people.

In heavy armour.

Wearing "heavy armor" when jumping off that plane will not go well. I'm not an expert on modern military but at least WW2 paratroopers had to rely on light, compact equipment to survive the trip down.

I'm not an expert in physics, but gravity plus a guy several thousand feet above the ground in heavy armour is not a good mix.

Yeah you can, you need to go in the GECK and uncheck the helmet piece it has IIRC.

Oh you could land the jump without breaking your bones for sure(Otherwise there wouldn't be any offerings of tandem jumps).
Thing is, why would you want to encumber yourself with some armor that couldn't protect you anyway?
People don't have a clue how powerful a 7.62x52 NATO (or .308) round really is, in RL.
It would penetrate your Power Armor like butter, you can easily kill people through walls with it.
In addition there's usually lots of other stuff going on a battlefield, like artillery shells left and right of you.
To make a long story short: In modern warfare you WANT to be as agile as possible to increase your chance of survival.

As heavy as I can get at first most of the time. As heavy as possible for fighting and major things. But medium or light for walking round and not as hard fights. I wear the stealth suit mk 2, Joshua Grahams armour, Daniels outfit and hat, and formal wear and clothes a lot too. I would wear Vera Keyes outfit. But I can't. Not got Vera Keyes outfit out of dead money yet because it bugs out and won't let you complete it.

It depends on the character. Heavy armour works well for unarmed and melee fighters but but not as well for gunslingers and energy weapons fighters sometimes.
With unarmed and melee the more layers between you and the enemy you're hitting the better.

Heavy armour contributes to lag sometimes too. A reason to wear medium or light armour sometimes.

The stealth suit mk2, joshua grahams armour and daniels outfit and hat are awesome.

I've been harping on this very thing since I came to the forums. It's a lost cause.

Well...As an Unarmed/Melee player who always puts at least 50 points in one of those, I have to say that it's more of a personal debate between trying to absorb enemy fire long enough to get into range(not worth it without a DT bleedthrough mod) or attempting to get into range fast enough to put the enemy off balance. Without a mod that eliminates bleedthrough, and against Deathclaws, the latter is vastly superior IMO.

In my experience as a Guns/Energy Weapons character, heavier armor is better because you don't need to be anywhere fast, your speed isn't going to affect your ability to hurt the enemy unlike with Melee/Unarmed. I find Remnants PA goes with a Plasma Caster better than it goes with a Ripper anyway.

-Nukeknockout