There are neck and head covers for mail. Mail is heavy, but not as heavy as you might think. A person of reasonable health and fitness would be able to perform most normal non acrobatic functions with only a slight decrease in endurance. Actual defensive mail is expensive and uncommon. It requires maintenance. “Fake” mail would protect you somewhat- but the main danger would be the links being pulled apart or the metal being soft and giving out. It would still be possible in anything but a very tightly looped mail to have your skin broken by teeth or nails since zombies usually don’t see or care about pain in most adaptations. Unless the mail secured in numerous places it could be displaced or even pulled up or off by a zombie swarm. Like a “mail tunic” for example is like a short of armor- if you lift the shirt you’re still flesh. Mail is overall a better choice than plate for zombies. It would generate noise though.
Motorcycle leathers are a good modern choice. Relatively common, affordable, made for comfort and protection. Thick motorcycle leathers would protect from multiple human bites and good ones are designed to cover any skin that could be exposed to the road.
Good motorcycle gear is designed to stay on the body even if you fall off a bike at high speed, to stay in place and protect you. A jacket for instance may have straps at the wrists, forearms, and upper arms, chest, and waist. The odds of getting it pulled off or “up” to expose skin are low. A good jacket is often made so it securely attaches to matched pants so your mod section isn’t exposed when the top and bottom meet. A one piece leather riding suit is harder to get off and requires more exposure to do something like use the bathroom- but has fewer seams.
Materials like Kevlar and “knife vests” or “stab resistant” clothing exist and offer excellent penetration protection but wear almost like normal clothes. Many motorcycle garments like “motorcycle jeans” are designed like normal clothes but with Kevlar lining and additional pads and securing as well. Kevlar is a solid choice but it needs to be cared for and kept cleaner than leather to maintain its effectiveness, and Kevlar doesn’t remain as effective as it ages as leather.
Never actually thought about that. I always thought the people in zombie films wore leather to be flashy or display their power in comparison to the other people in the group, not for actual functionality.
If one anticipated a hostile encounter some type of “padding” or hard armor is recommended between the protective layer and the skin. Even if a zombie bite doesn’t penetrate, the force of the bite can injure you, and small digits like fingers can be severed by the force. This is another place motorcycle gear shines as it tends to have built in hard armor and padding that is designed to protect from forces in excess what a human body generally can apply. Motorcycle gear does tend to limit the range of motion, it is heavier than clothing, and it’s great for cold and wet but the most protective gear is not great for physical exertion in heat and long term direct sunlight as motorcycle gear is ventilated but designed to work at “riding speed” as opposed to normal movement speed.
Motorcycle helmets can decrease the ability to see and hear slightly in ways that usually don’t matter on a motorcycle but can compromise awareness or function while trying to survive a hostile environment on foot. You must be careful about dehydration or heat stroke in full gear. If you have portable power available- there are many gadgets that are designed for motorcycle gear that can be of help. Portable heaters and cooling systems, hands free radios and HUD displays etc. For practical purposes I’d look for motorcycle gear if you don’t already own it. Some sports gear might be better than nothing and even more common- but military/police grade armor or functional medieval armor tend to be unlikely finds for most people in their daily lives.
Silver isn't to werewolves what garic is to vampires.
Werewolves can only be killed by a silver bullet (or I suppose silver knife), it's not an allergy.
Well- I suppose it depends on the particular mythology being used. In some versions silver is used akin to an allergy but very severe. In others it isn’t that a silver bullet etc. can kill them Per se but that they cannot heal a wound caused by silver or that silver stops their healing (so sprinkling them with silver or contact with silver would allow them to be killed like any other giant animal beast thing.) Vampires are the same more or less with what exactly they can or can’t do or the effects and mechanisms etc. changing to the whim of the writer or in some cases to whatever a scene requires without continuity.
Werewolves can only be killed by a silver bullet (or I suppose silver knife), it's not an allergy.