Holy shishkabob , I didnt know clover had power armour training. And also Jerico but I dont think he's any better except he has a chinese assualt rifle with unlimeted amo.
So the only reason Fawkes is better is because of his gun. But he wont use any armour , even the Tesla armour.

So my point ... Clover is the best follower you can get. I would keep her wearing pwr armour except she looks so hot in the pain spike armour.

Tip to the wise ... give your follower the big guns , like mini and flame , but keep the missel and fat man for your own discretion

One more thing , their guns and armour dont seem to deteriorate. no repairing

Every character in the game besides the Lone Wanderer does not require power armor training.

I don't like Clover so much. Sometimes I hire her, usually not. I like Charon and Jericho. They both look awesome in Hellfire Armor, Charon with the Shady Hat and Jericho with the Boogeyman's Hood. You might want to check on their inventory every once in a while, as they will sometimes drop gear you give them if it gets damaged beyond a certain point. Never give them grenades, as they will eventually kill you one day. And to keep them alive, give them buffout, two food items and some stims, and keep their med packs updated at all times. These guys in particular seem to chug Buffout like they were giving it out free, especially during hardcoe battles.

Hmm I didnt consider any chem's or food beyond stim paks. But I have yet to see them use one.
I could swear I havent seen their weapons or armour deteriorate. Maybe im wrong? Not saying they've never died. And I always keep them on the ranged flanking strategy.

Fawkes (with my good char) Jerico and clover are the only followers Ive found. I suppose Ill find the rest later though.

Im guessing they have a hidden inventory ... seeing how they whip out weapons that arent in the one I can see. Fawkes has the gatling laser , Jerico the chinese assault rifle , and clover a chinese officer sword ... But I did see her whip out a sawed off shotgun once while she was equiped with the flamer. She even had it holsterd after the battle. I thought maybe she had picked it up on her own cuz their were dead raiders that had one. But it didnt show in her inventory.

Followers have their own versions of unique items which aren't visible in the inventory. Fawkes also has a Super Sledge, if I'm not mistaken, but you can get that off him before he joins you when you first meet him. Clover's shotgun, sword and dress are all unique and hidden in the inventory. I usually let her wear that to battle since it looks good on her. Add some Tortoiseshell glasses and a pre-war bonnet and she really looks nasty despite the bright colours! Now if there was a way to stop her going on about Eulogy every 5 minutes I'll be a happy man.

The followers all come with their own unique weapon, except maybe Star Paladin Cross, though I can't remember her because she is so annoying I never hire her.... but I digress.
If you don't give them any weapons, they will use their default. Charon's Combat Shotgun, which I've heard is unobtainable, is the probably the best weapon for small guns in the game. Shotgun with zero spread... Because of his awesomeness with this weapon, I usually leave him with that.
Clover has a unique sawed off, but seems better with ranged weapons.
Jericho, is an amazing beast with a Heavy Incinerator. Honestly, it took forever to level, as he kept stealing all my kills. The best I could hope for was a lockpicking or hack challenge, I NEVER, ever needed to get a weapon out.

This is all my own experience of course. Just sharing. And another thing, I give them all melee weapons. But there's a catch:

I used to give them all Shiskebobs. All three: Clover, Charon and Jericho would own enemies with this. I mean OWN. But all of a sudden, they would all stop using their ranged weapons, and instead of taking shots, they were all running across fields of glory to tackle mutants and whatnot with the Shiskebob only. And all dying as a result. So I try to give them high-end combat knives, trench knives, stabhappy, jack, things like that. They all seem to now take more appropriate action, and whip out a ranged weapon rather than just the melee. I don't give anyone the Ripper, as the noise is amazingly annoying to me.

Ok this in an interesting thread, how do you give all this stuff to your followers? Is there an option or is it all reverse pick pocketed?
And if you give them chems and stims they will use them too by their own accord? I really never used followers before only dogmeat and Fawkes.
Although my experience with Fawkes was short-lived as he fell ( suicide maybe?maybe something i said) of a cliff not long after recruiting him and I hadn't saved for a while and refused to load my last save, was quite annoyed. Again I regretted this later.

I hooked Butch up with Enclave power armor, a Chinese Assault Rifle, and Stabhappy for when he wants to be stupid and melee. He lasted a good 10-11 level ups before becoming Deathclaw nail polish.

When you hire your companion, stop and talk to them. You can "trade equipment" which opens up his inventory. You can make them your personal packmule, which is a great draw for me in hiring a companion, you can tell them to follow you close by, or farther away, I do the latter usually, as it allows me the first shot, instead of the companion screaming "For Kvatch!" and running off to their deaths, without any regard as to who is up there.
Frankly Fawkes svcks imo. Every time, for every character since the beginning of time, Fawkes randomly turns and tries to kill me. I hire him for a one-way trip (if I have the right karma) from that one spot in the upper NW to my house with all my loot, then I fire his green ass on the spot. Good riddance.

Charon's my hero she's da best sidekick killer in the wasteland once u give her orders 2 flank the enemy not even a horde of 5-6 talon scum can get close 2 u...well providing u knock a few down wit victory & dogmeat tears em up. & if u give her terrible u don't have 2 fire a shot. it svcks tho if ur still trying gain experience cus she'll mow em all down like grass.

charon is a dude

I hate Clover, she's annoying, stupid and creepy. I had her for 5 minutes, from curiosity, then she said I love you creepily, standing so close I could feel her, for the 3rd time, I said frag it! And killed her.

My followers have the armour they come with and no more, usually.

Jericho does'nt like power armour helmets, or power armour collars, so I don't give him them much.
The power armour looks good on him, though. And stops him dying as much when he walks into every single mine and trap possible.
I do give him big guns though, he likes them.
Fawkes does'nt need anything.
Star Palladin Cross has great armour and weapons and does'nt need anything.
Sergeant RL-3and Dogmeat don't use anything.
The only person who I give armour to is Charon. And that's rarely.