I know there have been several topics, and numerous posts, relating to the preference by some (perhaps many) of us for the low-level, simple iron and steel gear over the more elaborate, pricey, higher-rated upper-level equipment out there.

Especially with the existence of the fortify restoration glitch, it's easy to make iron and steel gear the equivalent of their higher-level counterparts--or superior to them, if you're into overpowering yourself. This has been my approach with my past couple of characters--grab a follower and gather all the necessary equipment I want to upgrade, then duplicate the materials/ingredients I need, and make myself some gear that is perfectly endgame viable. It's a little putzy, and I tire of it quickly, but it's over quickly and the results are well worth it.

The models for iron and steel equipment, to me, are the best-looking in the game. I feel less silly and I think my characters look their best in simple equipment. With the fortify restoration glitch, AR and damage output are not a problem, and I can choose equipment based solely on aesthetics and RP value, and tweak things as necessary.

So, what are your favorites? Not just iron and steel and leather, but that which uses iron or steel or leather for upgrades (banded iron counts too, even though the upgrade material is corundum)? Do you use mixed or straight sets? Do you use the fortify restoration glitch, the legit method of looping enchanting and alchemy, or just what you can do at a workbench/grindstone? Do you not care for some of the pieces? How about the archery weapons (long bow, hunting bow, iron/steel arrows, crossbows)?

For me, it goes:

Cuirass: iron for Ulfius (sleeveless macho armor FTW), Stormcloak or studded for Narienne. Ulfius has sleeveless Steel, Stormcloak, and studded on standby, while Narienne has one each of the fur armors in case I get bored; leather looks nice on her, but not nearly as flattering.

Bracers/gauntlets: steel Nordic for Ulfius (LOVE the interlace), leather for Narienne. I like the iron for Ulfius, but the Nordic steel looks much nicer, and it's nostalgic of my first times playing Skyrim. Narienne sometimes uses enchanted gloves instead of bracers.

Boots: Steel cuffed for Ulfius (same reasons as the iron; why couldn't they be called "Steel Nordic boots"?), leather for Narienne.

Helmet: iron for Ulfius (really has that rustic Nordic warrior appeal), with a plain Steel helmet on standby for serious real-world good looks. Narienne uses a hide helmet on occasion, though I don't care to hide her under anything more than a circlet.

Shield: iron for Ulfius; it's one of the few shields that doesn't look like an unwieldy hunk of metal but instead looks like a shield ought--the steel and banded iron shields look too thick and bulky. Hide is a runner-up, for the same reasons; never use the others. No shields for Narienne the spellsword.

I feel my characters look their best in this and I certainly have more fun this way; I appreciate the effort Beth put into the higher-end gear, but it looks better on NPCs, or even better in my inventory prior to being hawked at Warmaiden's or Belethor's or wherever. Much like in Morrowind (for me, anyway), Beth's best work was largely in iron and steel.

Personally, Iron, Steel, and Leather look much more realistic. They look better than th3 higher tier weapons.

Good ol' Steel is one of the best looking sets in the game.

Naked/shiv ftw

Ugh I hate the steel armor look. Banded Iron isn't so bad. Steel Plate is probably my favorite that you can get early on, but I for one actually like my higher tier ebony and dragon armor (not a fan of daedric though). Dragon especially makes me feel like I've reached the pinnacle of being a dragon slayer. If we include the expansions than I like Stalhrim, there's just something about frozen crystal/ice armor that I like even if it is unrealistic.

For weapons though I do prefer more basic styles and I think iron is one of my favorites in the base game, but steel isn't bad either.

Steel Plate is easily my favorite armor in Skyrim.

Yeah, i think the steel, banded iron, and the fur armors look great. whenever i roll a warrior character i pick on of those. i barley touched higher gear, like ebony, daedric, dragonbone etc.

The steel and iron weapons is what i mostly use too.

I love the steel with all the mystical writing on it but I also think everything else is great. The variety gives a sense of choice and depending on my character is what will be my favorite at the moment. Right now am playing a good character so steel is where am at while avoiding sinister stuff like ancient nord weapons and anything daedric.

Yes I much prefer the hide, fur, basic steel and iron armors. With the Immersive Armors mod, there are variants that are even better looking and more viable. Only higher order armor I like more is the Dawnguard set.

The steel plate and ebony are unuseable to me because boob plate. Don't like the spiky death lord look of daedric and dragon.

I like leather armour but I would have like the version without the shoulder thingy that sticks up on 1 side.
I like steel armour with pauldrons but hate the one without. I dont like steel imperial boots and gauntlets. I like the Nordic gauntlets and cuffed boots.
I love banded iron but hate normal iron. I hate the female iron helmet.

I like the lower-tier armors of the game, they just look better to me. So we're alike there. Though my favorite armor is a mid-tier armor; steel plate. I have taken an increased liking to the regular steel armor lately though, with the paulfdonless body armor, cuffed boots, nordic gauntlets and the non-horned helmet(for combat usage).

The steel armor with shoulderpads looks really nice on a high elf woman with 0-30 weight.

I don't like iron armor on ladies but on a Nord male it's just epic. Better than the studded leather that the Promokiin wears.

Not a fan of leather armor though. Steel plate is cool with aMidianborn's textures but with vanilla I think it looks goofy.