The Ostmen never adopted Irish dress, but literature has recorded some regional differences in fashion. When the Norwegian king, Magnus Barefoot, visited Dublin in 1102 he was prominent in his 'red surcoat over his mailshirt and clothes worn in Westland [Ireland] and had short skirts and overcloaks... so that men called him Barelegs or Barefoot'. Evidently he preferred a Gaelic kilt and ample cloak to the trousers and tunic favoured by Norsemen. King Magnus married an Irishwoman.

'Why should I return home
Since my heart is in Dublin';
There is an Irish girl whom I love
Better than myself.'

Among warriors chain-armour was probably only worn by chieftains; other ranks had leather armour and carried, in addition to their weapons, two kinds of shield, one circular and one long enough to protect a man when he knelt. Helmets were pointed casques. Later, Viking armour became more elaborate. Giraldus noted the amount that Ostmen wore during their attacks on the Normans outside Dublin in 1171. They fought in 'Danish fashion completely clad in iron; some in long coats of mail, others with iron shields painted red and rimmed with iron. Men with iron hearts as well as iron arms.' No armour has been found in the Dublin excavations and surprisingly few weapons. There is little evidence of 'hideous barbarous quivers and polished shining bows and strong broad green sharp rough dark spears' such as were used at the Battle of Clontarf. The arrow fragments, arrowheads, axeheads, javelin heads and spear butts discovered at the pre-Norman layer of excavation do not amount to more than a few dozen weapons spread over a couple of centuries. Could swords and Viking axes have been buried with their owners? The graves at Islandbridge containing weapons are dated to the ninth century and after the coming of Christianity the practice of burying a man's sword with his body ceased. However since Christianity was slow in establishing itself, it is possible that weapons were buried with corpses until a comparatively late date: no cemetery contemporary with the excavated Viking town has yet been found. At Clontarf neither King Sitric nor the people of Dublin actually fought on the battlefield. Although scarcity of weapons undoubtedly reflects the increasing tendency of townspeople towards peaceful pursuits, the town was in a constant state of war alert, and many male citizens must have possessed arms. Excavated material derives mainly from rubbish heaps which were not places where prominent things like weapons would end up. A brooch or a lignite bracelet could quite easily be lost in a basket of filth, but weapons were not so easy to lose. One sword pommel of Viking type dated from about the eleventh century has been found, in addition to a fine iron sword inscribed SINIMIAINIAIS and dated to the twelfth century.