Best overall shield

[wanteds]

I am looming or buying a loomed shield. I need your opinions on which is the best overall shield.
Taking resistance/hit points, coverage, speed and weight into consideration in this particular order. (I'm going for 8 shield skill)

[Pentecost]

Heavy Round Shield if you plan on fighting exclusively on foot, Elite Cavalry or Knightly Heater Shield if you plan on fighting as both infantry or cavalry or will otherwise be sharing the shield between an infantry and cavalry character.

Stay away from any of the metal shields; they're either very slow, very heavy (but not heavy enough to resist crushthrough weps at a reliable rate), or have poor coverage, and all of them have terrible HP.

[Latvian]

do you plan to use it on foor or on horse?

[wanteds]

on foot.

[Laufknoten]

Heavy round, elite cav and knightly heater are all good choices. You won't have a problem trading them away if you don't want to be shielder anymore. The huscarl shield is good aswell, but it's quite heavy and therefore not as fast as the other shields.
I would choose the elite cav shield, it's fast and offers good protection. 

[CrazyCracka420]

I always liked the knightly heater shields 33 resistance (plus when I lance from horse in first person it doesn't cover up half my screen, like a round shield does).  But if you're going footman only, there's some shields that can't be used from horseback that are probably better choices for you. 

Just look at the shield shop page and compare stats

[wanteds]

me myself I also like Knightly and Heavy heater shields and also Heavy Board shield but I wanted to hear what others prefer.

[buba]

elite cav shield is a good all rounder, no matter what you plan to do in the future.
You can always trade it away at any time as well.

[Boerenlater]

I had the same question not too long ago. Maybe you'll find some answers in my thread:
http://forum.meleegaming.com/beginner's-help-and-guides/what-shield-to-loom/

[Penitent]

Kite Shield is the best overall shield.
1 slot, tougher than the knightly shields, low upkeep, very fast speed.

It's the king.

[CrazyCracka420]

Kite Shield is the best overall shield.
1 slot, tougher than the knightly shields, low upkeep, very fast speed.

It's the king.

Shenanigans...

Kite Shield
weight: 6.5
body armor: 11
difficulty: 3
hit points: 385
speed rating: 91
shield height: 92
shield width: 22

Knightly Kite Shield
weight: 6
body armor: 31
difficulty: 4
hit points: 257
speed rating: 100
shield height: 66
shield width: 23

Knightly Heater Shield
weight: 6
body armor: 33
difficulty: 4
hit points: 232
speed rating: 100
shield height: 55
shield width: 25

I only have 4 shields kill and my knightly heater shield takes a beating and keeps on tickin (besides hits from axes)

[Latvian]

heavy kite shield is one i use   it takes a lot of punishment  it has not broken for me only on rare cases when i meet axe guys  it ussualy takes atleast 5 couched lances befor it breaks or even more.i do not say it is best shield to use but i just told u about my shield . Oh yes and it takes 2 slots but if you dont take spear or something with you so its ok.

[CrazyCracka420]

What's your shield skill LK?  16 Hit points (resistance) isn't very good (IMO)

[oprah_winfrey]

Kite shields are only good on horseback. On foot, you want a round (shaped) shield.

[Penitent]

Kite shield takes more hits than the knightly shields, and is a lot stronger than the elite cav shield, which is weak.  It has lower resistance, but significantly more hit points.  It is tougher...do the tests yourself!  I already have.  It also takes more axe hits.

The width advantage of the other shields is minimal imho.  You just turn a little to block a hit.  I've used all the shields and having just a couple points of width does nothing.

The larger round shields (large round, huscarl) have significantly more width, but they are slow.