The highest item level chest armor a level 31–40 character can wear start with Dreamweave Vest (item level 45, rare). 98 items fit the slot and band; the top 25 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | Armor | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Dreamweave VestCHANGED | 45 | 40 | 65 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 2 |  Brigade Breastplate | 45 | 40 | 248 | Found in Large Solid Chest (Blackrock Spire) at 0.7% (+498 more) (vanilla) | |
| 3 |  Cindercloth RobeCHANGED | 45 | 40 | 59 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 4 |  Embossed Plate Armor | 45 | 40 | 437 | Plate | Found in Captain's Chest (Tanaris) at 1.3% (+498 more) (vanilla) |
| 5 |  Ranger Tunic | 45 | 40 | 121 | Leather | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+496 more) (vanilla) |
| 6 |  Regal Armor | 45 | 40 | 59 | Cloth | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+495 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Regal Robe | 45 | 40 | 59 | Cloth | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+496 more) (vanilla) |
| 8 |  Shining Mithril BreastplateFOREVER | 45 | 40 | 437 | Plate | Crafted: Blacksmithing |
| 9 |  Stormcloth VestCHANGED | 45 | 40 | 59 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 10 |  Wild Leather Vest | 45 | 40 | 121 | Leather | Crafted: Leatherworking |
| 11 |  Overlinked Chain Armor | 45 | 40 | 224 | Found in Solid Chest (The Hinterlands) at 1.6% (+945 more) (vanilla) | |
| 12 |  Thick Leather Tunic | 45 | 40 | 109 | Leather | Found in Solid Chest (The Hinterlands) at 1.6% (+946 more) (vanilla) |
| 13 |  Polished Jazeraint Armor | 44 | 39 | 270 | Drops from Narillasanz (Alterac Mountains) at 0.0% (+343 more) (vanilla) | |
| 14 |  Captain's Breastplate | 44 | 39 | 245 | Found in Captain's Chest (Tanaris) at 0.8% (+495 more) (vanilla) | |
| 15 |  Field Plate Armor | 44 | 40 | 428 | Plate | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+494 more) (vanilla) |
| 16 |  Ravager's Armor | 44 | 39 | 245 | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+485 more) (vanilla) | |
| 17 | Silksand Tunic | 44 | 39 | 58 | Cloth | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+485 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 |  Silksand Wraps | 44 | 39 | 58 | Cloth | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+485 more) (vanilla) |
| 19 |  Tough Scorpid BreastplateCHANGED | 44 | 39 | 245 | Crafted: Leatherworking | |
| 20 |  Warden's Wraps | 44 | 39 | 120 | Leather | Drops from Helcular's Remains at 0.6% (+485 more) (vanilla) |
| 21 | Big Voodoo RobeCHANGED | 43 | 38 | 117 | Leather | Crafted: Leatherworking |
| 22 | Huntsman's Armor | 43 | 38 | 117 | Leather | Drops from Foulbelly (Arathi Highlands) at 1.1% (+525 more) (vanilla) |
| 23 |  Red Mageweave Vest | 43 | 38 | 57 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 24 |  Shadoweave RobeCHANGED | 43 | 38 | 57 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 25 | Sorcerer Drape | 43 | 38 | 57 | Cloth | Drops from Foulbelly (Arathi Highlands) at 1.1% (+526 more) (vanilla) |
Ranked by item level, then quality, among items with a known source: gear nothing drops, sells, rewards or makes yet (raids not yet open, the client's test items) is left out. The class filter keeps what the class can equip at level 40 (armor type, weapon skill, Dual Wield, the item's own class limit); the side filter drops items that only the other side's vendors and quests offer. Source: the best known drop first (a Forever rate at 10+ loots, else the vanilla 1.12 chance), then vendors, quest rewards and the profession that makes it.
Other slots: Head, Shoulder, Back, Wrist, Hands, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.