Combat Leg Armor Variation
⚪ Last updated 2015⚠️ Install Order · 2 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 3.0% endorsement rate — high engagement, a strong quality signal
- 🏆 #119 of 214 Armour mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
This is a simple mod that changes the default Combat Leg armor for both male and female characters. Now, instead of a single thigh plate for both your legs, you get some shin/knee protection instead. The model used is from the Sturdy/Heavy Combat Leg armor, only you won't get the big thigh plate. Honestly I did this because:
1) Vanilla thigh plate looks silly on some outfits 2) Piper is my fav companion right now, and I really dig her coat - but don't like seeing big thigh plates clipping through. 3) Like the leather/metal/raider armors, the default combat leg armor starts at the shin, then goes up to the knee. And with the upgrade to sturdy/heavy, you get the addition of thigh protection. Found it strange that the Combat Armor didn't follow the same route. And that's why I made this !
Use Nexus Mod Manager !
Files included with the download:
4 modified Meshes (model) - 1 for each leg, and for each sex 1 modified Diffuse Map (texture) - covers all combat leg improvements, same as vanilla (i.e. reinforced, fiber, polymer, etc) 1 modified BGSM (material) - because I had to enable Alpha Transparency
There is no esp (plugin) file needed for this mod to work. If you haven't already, just be sure to make the appropriate INI changes like you would for all other mods that add new meshes/textures/materials
There is a version of this mod available for use with Endormoon's Custom Combat Armor (http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/4865/?), and the appropriate files are located on his mod page.
For higher resolution textures that support this mod:
4k Combat Armor Retexture by Leyr - http://www.nexusmods.com/fallout4/mods/7381/?
Tools Used: Nifskope Material Editor GIMP
Combat Leg Armor Variation replaces the default Combat Leg Armor model in Skyrim, swapping the thigh-only plate for shin and knee protection. This is a simple cosmetic mod for players who want more realistic leg armor. With over 8,000 endorsements, it's a popular choice for visual overhauls.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge community love (8,364 endorsements) — clearly fills a need for more realistic armor.
- Tiny mod that does one thing well: no bloat, just a better-looking leg piece.
- Over 275k downloads — proven track record of people grabbing this for their load orders.
⚠️ Cons
- Last updated in 2015 — might have issues with newer Skyrim versions or other armor mods.
- Only affects the Combat Leg Armor — if you don't use that piece, this is useless.
- No screenshots or detailed description — you're flying blind on the exact look.
For Skyrim players who care about armor aesthetics and want more realistic leg protection without overhauling the whole game. Skip if you're on the latest Skyrim version or use mods that already change combat armor meshes.
💡 Beginner Tips
- If you're using a mod manager like Vortex or MO2, just download and install — it'll handle the file placement automatically.
- Check if you have other mods that modify the same armor mesh; load order matters, so put this one after those to ensure it takes effect.
- Since it's an old mod, test it early in your playthrough to make sure it doesn't conflict with your other armor mods.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Fallout 4 Mods
- Author
- brokefoot
- Version
- 1
- Downloads
- 275,577
- Endorsements
- 8,364
- Category
- Armour
- Created
- 12/12/2015
- Updated
- 12/12/2015
🧩 Commonly Used Together
Users add these mods to the same collections — a real compatibility signal, not an AI guess.
🔧 How to Install Fallout 4 Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Fallout 4 →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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