An articulated wearable protective apparatus comprising: an impact shell having an anterior surface, an opposite posterior surface, a medial edge, an opposite lateral edge, a superior edge, and an opposite inferior edge; the impact shell further comprising: a medial shell element extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the medial edge to a medial hinge edge, a lateral shell element extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the lateral edge to a lateral hinge edge, a hinge component hingedly coupling the medial hinge edge to the lateral hinge edge; an impact attenuating structure having a posterior surface, an opposite anterior surface, a medial edge, an opposite lateral edge, a superior edge, and an opposite inferior edge, the impact attenuating structure anterior surface directly coupled to the posterior surface of the impact shell proximate a portion of the medial shell element and proximate a portion of the lateral shell element; a puncture prevention element; and an overlay strip coupled over the puncture prevention element; wherein the puncture prevention element is integral with the medial and lateral shell elements and the puncture prevention element is of a smaller thickness than the medial and lateral shell elements and wherein the hinge component comprises the puncture prevention element and the overlay. an impact shell having an anterior surface, an opposite posterior surface, a medial edge, an opposite lateral edge, a superior edge, and an opposite inferior edge; the impact shell further comprising: a medial shell element extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the medial edge to a medial hinge edge, a lateral shell element extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the lateral edge to a lateral hinge edge, a hinge component hingedly coupling the medial hinge edge to the lateral hinge edge; an impact attenuating structure having a posterior surface, an opposite anterior surface, a medial edge, an opposite lateral edge, a superior edge, and an opposite inferior edge, the impact attenuating structure anterior surface directly coupled to the posterior surface of the impact shell proximate a portion of the medial shell element and proximate a portion of the lateral shell element; a puncture prevention element; and an overlay strip coupled over the puncture prevention element; wherein the puncture prevention element is integral with the medial and lateral shell elements and the puncture prevention element is of a smaller thickness than the medial and lateral shell elements and wherein the hinge component comprises the puncture prevention element and the overlay. a medial shell element extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the medial edge to a medial hinge edge, a lateral shell element extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the lateral edge to a lateral hinge edge, a hinge component hingedly coupling the medial hinge edge to the lateral hinge edge; an impact attenuating structure having a posterior surface, an opposite anterior surface, a medial edge, an opposite lateral edge, a superior edge, and an opposite inferior edge, the impact attenuating structure anterior surface directly coupled to the posterior surface of the impact shell proximate a portion of the medial shell element and proximate a portion of the lateral shell element; a puncture prevention element; and an overlay strip coupled over the puncture prevention element; wherein the puncture prevention element is integral with the medial and lateral shell elements and the puncture prevention element is of a smaller thickness than the medial and lateral shell elements and wherein the hinge component comprises the puncture prevention element and the overlay.