Ichcahuipilli
The ichcahuipilli, known in Spanish as "escaupil" was a Mesoamerican military armor, similar to the European gambeson, which was commonly used by the Aztecs and the Tlaxcalans. It was constructed of unspun cotton stitched between two layers of cloth. The name is derived from the Nahuatl words "ichcatl" "cotton" and "huīpīlli" "shirt". Use. The armor was designed primarily to protect the torso of the warrior from obsidian swords, arrows and atlatl darts, a task that even European chainmail failed to do. It was made of successive layers of packed cotton and cloth, at least one inch thick, which would  slow and trap the arrows, rather than divert them, like European plate armour. Because this armor was padded, it protected well against the cutting blows of the macuahuitl and the heavy blows of batons. It was a light garment sewn in diamond-shaped patterns, and worn directly over the skin. Usually, the most experienced warriors, especially those of the orders of eagle and jaguar warriors used it to complement tlahuiztli suits. The garment was so effective at stopping arrows, and even musket shots, Spanish conquerors often adopted them instead of their own, heavier armor, which was not as cool in  the warmer, moisture-filled weather of Mexico. Variations. The Ichcahuipilli was made in different designs. The most common was a vest style that covered the torso down to the hips, but other designs were made and worn by Aztec soldiers of different ranks and warrior societies. The armor came in sleeved variations or in designs that covered most of a warrior's body down to the knees. Popular culture. For SpikeTV's reality program Deadliest Warrior, a piece of material designated as ichcahuipilli armor was tested against the iron-tipped arrows of the Azande pima and botto. The armor was  able to stop the arrows and even ward off some of them. It was later determined that although the arrows penetrated the material, it was minimal enough not to cause any serious injury.