In DayZ, you can only keep what you can carry. That includes your clothing and any equipment you stash in your pockets and backpacks. The longer you survive in DayZ, the more selective you should be with your loot. The lighter you pack, the more you can carry. So it’s always important to keep a clear overview of your inventory and, after many hours, commit to the best gear for your playstyle. Also watch your weight and stamina: lighter gear lets you sprint longer. Regularly repair damaged pieces with a sewing kit, leather sewing kit, or duct tape.
DayZ Armor & Clothing: The best gear for advanced players
With the right clothing, you immediately gain an edge over other players. It protects you not only from the elements but also from attacks and even infections. If you want to dive deeper into the various properties, check out our dedicated article (DayZ Clothing: Optimally Protect Yourself in the Survival Game) . Here, we’ll look at the absolute best gear pieces and where you can find them on official maps (e.g., Chernarus, Livonia).
There are three core damage types: bleeding, shock, and health damage. Each of these can come from melee, ranged, or infection sources. The best gear in DayZ covers all these angles as much as possible and protects you from almost anything thrown your way. Remember to repair your clothing frequently and replace pieces when needed.
DayZ helmets & masks: Protect your head from attacks and infections
The absolute best headgear is the Assault Helmet, which only spawns in military bases. It’s extremely rare and highly sought after. Alternatively, look for a Motorbike Helmet, which spawns widely in civilian areas and is much easier to find. At castle locations you may stumble upon the Norse Helmet to protect yourself against enemies.
You can also wear masks. Only the Hockey Mask provides protection against attacks, and it’s relatively rare in civilian residential areas. If you want infection protection, surgical masks are the better choice. You’ll find them in hospitals. For contaminated zones, you can’t do without a Gas Mask—military bases are your best bet for that, and you’ll also need extra filters.
Vests, jackets, gloves & backpacks: Protection, slots, and weather
In DayZ, properly outfitting your torso yields major advantages. Let’s start with vests, which provide both attack protection and extra carry capacity. For capacity, the Field Vest is your best option, adding 20 extra slots. It’s on the rarer side and found in military complexes. For combat, pick a Plate Carrier—the best bulletproof vest in the game. It’s rare and spawns in military zones and other high-risk areas. Alternatively, you can look for a historical Breastplate, found at castles and strongholds.
T-shirts and jackets also contribute to protection and are vital for your character’s health—you don’t want to get cold. There are several factors to consider here. Adaptability is crucial in DayZ. The best all-rounder that checks almost every box is the Firefighter Jacket. It’s easy to find in fire stations, offers solid rain protection, and helps you avoid getting sick. For pure combat protection, chainmail is your best bet, but it’s extremely rare and primarily found at castles—you’ll need serious luck.
You should also wear gloves. They protect against infections and injuries and can even mitigate a bit of damage. Combat Gloves and Tactical Gloves are your best choices. Both are somewhat rare and found in military buildings.
On your back, you should run a backpack. The Field Backpack offers the highest capacity with 42 extra slots. Many players prefer the Hunting Backpack because it’s far less conspicuous and still provides 30 slots—plenty of space. It’s also easier to find, for example in hunting cabins or camps.
Pants & leg protection in DayZ: Stats, camouflage, and crafting
You’ve got plenty of options for pants, but once again, chainmail comes out on top. Just like the chainmail shirt, these special pants are extremely rare. As an alternative, we recommend Firefighter Pants, which are easy to find in fire stations and offer well-rounded protection. A tier below, you can craft leather pants yourself or search military buildings for BDU or CUU pants, which provide solid stats and extra camouflage.
Additionally, we recommend a waist bag for extra capacity. They’re a bit rarer but can be found in cities and towns as well as in medical facilities.
DayZ shoes: Quiet footsteps, warmth, and combat boots
Shoes not only protect you from injuries—they also change how loud your footsteps are. Combat Boots are the best footwear in the game, offering top protection plus a slot for a concealed knife. They’re rarer military loot. More attainable alternatives are hunting boots or work boots, which have similar stats and are much easier to find. Hunting boots appear more often in military bases, and work boots spawn in civilian houses, on farms, or in fire stations.
DayZ loadouts: Best gear combinations for PvE & PvP
To wrap up, here are two kits so you know exactly what to look for. The first focuses on solid protection and items that are fairly easy to find. The second is for maximum protection with rare gear.
For strong protection and easy-to-find gear:
- Motorcycle Helmet
- Surgical Mask
- Field Vest
- Firefighter Jacket
- Tactical Gloves
- Hunting Backpack
- Leather pants
- Work boots
For maximum protection with rare gear:
- Assault Helmet
- Hockey Mask
- Plate Carrier
- Chainmail shirt
- Combat Gloves
- Field Backpack
- Chainmail pants
- Combat Boots
Conclusion: Optimal DayZ loadout for advanced players
As an advanced player, you should always maintain a solid baseline kit to protect against attacks, infections, injuries, and the weather. Weigh that against rarity and risk. Especially rare military loot can be very hard to find and often ends up in the hands of long-lived survivors. You can rent your own server from us (https://www.4netplayers.com/en-us/gameserver-hosting/dayz/) and hunt for rare gear with your friends. Maybe you’ll get lucky and find one of those elusive pieces on the map. Always remember: weight, condition, and repairs often decide whether you survive your next encounter.
