I'm not sure if I should stick with sturdy combat armor or upgrade to heavy combat armor. How does the weight affect sneaking? I understand that the more weight I have, the harder it is, but how do I gauge exactly how much weight is too much?

There is no real telling until we can get the exact numbers from the GECK. In the meantime, I suggest you just experiment with it. I think the biggest gap is going from leather to combat armour anyways, so don't think that normal vs heavy combat armour make much of a difference. I have done sneaking in power armour (lots of magazines tho) so hvy. combat armour should be possible.

Yeah, you're probably right. The G.E.C.K is coming later rather than sooner. I'll try testing some armors.

You could try go to a raider place like the quarry, where they don't have a lot of movement options. Fire a shot near a raider, without hitting him, just alerting him. See how fast or slow, you regain hidden status. Not perfect, but it would give a hint.

the difference actually feels huge :/

wearing light leather armor, I could shoot the enemies and see them wandering off in my direction and basically standing 20m in front of me and starring at me and it still said 'caution'

now that I changed to the heavy leather armor and even power armor sometimes, getting in sight almost always means 'danger'