Best armor sets?

[Archmage MC]

Title. What are the best armor sets/types? I know about Ballistic Weave on under armor and hat so no need to tell me about those ones.

Overall best
Best for melee
Best for ranged

[Archmage MC]

So what, any armor that isn't under/hat can only have 20 resistances more or less and weigh a reasonable weight? So basically outer armor is for its legendary mods more than its armor?

[Count Smashula]

Leather armor is light which is great if carry weight and stealth is a factor, and gives very high energy resist.
Metal gives very high ballistic resistance, but weighs a lot.
Combat and synth armor give great resistances to energy and ballistic (synth is heavier, but has more energy resist)
Raider, robot (automatron dlc) and trapper (far harbor dlc) are fairly in-significant.

If you're looking for the best damage resistance outside of power armor, combat marine armor (far harbor dlc) is the best. It gives the highest energy and ballistic resistance and can be modded to give very high radiation resist aswell.

The only differences in armor is the weight, resistances and looks. Legendary effects are a different matter. You can upgrade the arm pieces (usually) to improve recoil, melee attacks and so on, and legs to improve sprinting and sneaking using the armorer perk and blacksmith perk (3 and 4 strength)

Heres the wiki page on clothes and armor (including unique ones) http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Fallout_4_armor_and_clothing

[Robosium]

Use a green rag hat and military fatigues both with ballistic weave and heavy synth armor to max out your resistances but just military fatigues and green rag hat with ballistic weave also are great

[Othobrithol]

Originally posted by Archmage MC:

So what, any armor that isn't under/hat can only have 20 resistances more or less and weigh a reasonable weight? So basically outer armor is for its legendary mods more than its armor?

In the endgame, yes more or less, since they made weave OP. However, the heavy gear, if upgraded properly does provide a lot of DR as well and can be stacked with weave to make you a juggernaut.

Invariably, every playthrough, I end up with a weave underarmor and 5 or 6 hats/armor pieces picked solely for legendary effects.