Sons of the Forest Armor Guide: Every Piece Location

Updated 6 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide lists every armor piece in Sons of the Forest and exactly where to find or craft it. Armor reduces damage taken, but each piece has limited durability and breaks after absorbing a set number of hits, so you will need to replace it regularly.

Armor Basics: How It Works

Armor in Sons of the Forest acts as an extra health bar that absorbs damage before your actual health is affected. Each armor piece has a durability value (shown as a number on the armor icon in your inventory). When that number reaches zero, the piece breaks and disappears. You can carry up to 10 pieces of the same type in one inventory slot, and you can mix different types. Armor does not slow you down or affect stamina, so there is no downside to wearing the best you have.

To equip armor, open your inventory (press I on PC), select the armor tab (the shield icon), and click on the piece you want to wear. The game automatically equips the highest-durability piece in your inventory when you pick up a new one, but you can manually swap between types if you prefer.

All Armor Types and Where to Find Them

There are seven armor types in the game (as of the latest update). Below is each one, how to get it, and its durability.

Hide Armor – Durability: 30. Craft from 1 Deer Hide and 1 Cloth. Deer can be found in most forested areas, especially near the starting beach and the snowy mountains. Cloth is found in crates, suitcases, and abandoned camps.
Bone Armor – Durability: 40. Craft from 4 Bones and 1 Duct Tape. Bones drop from cannibals and mutants when they die. Duct tape is common in toolboxes and maintenance rooms.
Tech Armor – Durability: 100. Found in two fixed locations: inside a cave near the maintenance hatch on the west side of the map (requires the shovel to dig out the entrance) and in a locked room in the underground bunker beneath the golf course (requires the maintenance keycard). This is the strongest armor in the game, but it is not craftable.
Leather Armor – Durability: 50. Craft from 1 Leather and 1 Cloth. Leather is obtained by skinning deer, moose, or goats with a knife. Moose are found in the northern snowy regions; goats are on cliffs and rocky areas.
Golden Armor – Durability: 80. Found in the gold room at the bottom of the cave system that leads to the final bunker. You need the shovel and the maintenance keycard to reach it. It is a one-time pickup; if you miss it, you cannot get it again in that save.
Makeshift Armor – Durability: 20. Craft from 1 Duct Tape and 1 Cloth. This is the weakest armor, but it is easy to make early on because both materials are abundant in crates and suitcases.
Creepy Armor – Durability: 60. Drops from mutants when they are killed. The drop rate is random, and it is not craftable. You can also find it in some mutant camps, but those are rare.

Detailed Locations for the Best Armor

Tech Armor is the most sought-after because of its high durability. The first piece is in a cave on the western side of the map, near the small pond that is south of the snowy mountain. You need the shovel to dig out the collapsed entrance. Inside, follow the cave until you see a glowing orange container; the armor is inside.

The second Tech Armor is in the underground bunker under the golf course. You need the maintenance keycard, which is found in the maintenance shed near the helicopter crash site. Once inside the bunker, go to the room with the large circular door (the one that requires the keycard). The armor is on a table in that room.

Golden Armor is located in the cave that leads to the final bunker (the one with the gold room). You need the shovel to dig out the entrance, which is on the eastern side of the map, near the beach. Follow the cave until you reach a large open chamber with a golden structure in the center. The armor is on a pedestal.

How to Craft Armor Efficiently

To craft armor, open your inventory and select the crafting tab (the gear icon). If you have the required materials, the armor recipe will be highlighted. You can craft multiple pieces at once by holding down the craft button.

For early game, focus on Hide Armor because deer are plentiful and cloth is everywhere. Once you have a good supply of bones (from cannibal raids), switch to Bone Armor – it lasts longer and is easy to make. Save your Tech Armor for tough fights like the final boss or large mutant hordes.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Mistake: Wearing armor that is almost broken. If your armor has 1 durability left, it will break after one hit. It is better to swap it out for a fresh piece before a fight. To remove a piece, drag it out of the armor slot in your inventory.

Misconception: Armor stacks with other armor. No, you can only wear one piece at a time. The damage reduction is based on the durability of the piece you are wearing. When it breaks, the next piece in your inventory is automatically equipped (if you have one).

Mistake: Thinking Tech Armor is indestructible. It has 100 durability, but it still breaks after 100 hits. It is the best in the game, but not infinite.

Armor Comparison: Which Is Best?

Tech Armor – Best durability (100), but only two pieces exist in the game. Use for the final fight.
Golden Armor – Second best (80), but also one-time. Great for mid-to-late game.
Creepy Armor – Good (60) and renewable via mutant kills, but random drop.
Leather Armor – Decent (50) and craftable, but requires leather which is less common than hide.
Bone Armor – Good (40) and easy to craft after fights.
Hide Armor – Basic (30) but very easy to make.
Makeshift Armor – Weak (20) but you can spam-craft it if you have cloth and tape.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I repair armor?
No, armor cannot be repaired. Once it breaks, it is gone. You must craft or find a new piece.

Q: Is there a way to carry more than 10 armor pieces?
No, the inventory slot for each armor type is capped at 10. You can carry multiple types, but not more than 10 of the same type.

Q: Does armor protect against fall damage?
No, armor only reduces damage from attacks (melee, ranged, and mutant hits). Fall damage and environmental damage (fire, cold) ignore armor.

Q: Can I get Tech Armor again if I miss it?
No, the two Tech Armor pieces are one-time spawns. If you miss them, you cannot get them again in that save file.

Q: Does armor affect stealth?
No, armor does not affect stealth or movement speed. You can wear the heaviest armor and still sneak the same as without it.

Q: What is the best armor for the final boss?
Tech Armor is the best because it has the highest durability. If you have only one piece, save it for the boss fight. Bring extra Bone or Leather armor as backup.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.