


If you prefer to use console commands, point to the actor, open console with ~ and click on them with the mouse. If you're not familiar with creation kit, start here This also allows you to take it from them and upsmith or enchant it. Alternatively, you can leave default outfit at something light, like clothing, and just add the armor to the inventory itself, so they equip armor only when they're actively following you. If you have creation kit, and are familiar with it, you open the NPCs form, click on the "inventory" tab, and look at the dropdown box for "default outfit." You can select from an existing outfit, or you can go to items > outfits, right click and select "new" and drag/drop whatever armor you want into a form, name it, and use it as a custom outfit.
