The highest item level chest armor a level 41–50 character can wear as a Hunter start with Warbear Harness (item level 55, rare). 100 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 |  Warbear HarnessCHANGED | 55 | 50 | 158 | Leather | Crafted: Leatherworking |
| 2 |  Crusader's Armor | 55 | 50 | 298 | Drops from Zaricotl (Badlands) at 1.0% (+629 more) (vanilla) | |
| 3 |  Duskwoven Robe | 55 | 50 | 71 | Cloth | Drops from Zaricotl (Badlands) at 1.0% (+628 more) (vanilla) |
| 4 |  Duskwoven Tunic | 55 | 50 | 71 | Cloth | Drops from Zaricotl (Badlands) at 1.0% (+632 more) (vanilla) |
| 5 |  Ghostweave VestCHANGED | 55 | 50 | 71 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 6 |  Righteous Armor | 55 | 50 | 144 | Leather | Drops from Zaricotl (Badlands) at 1.0% (+632 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Wildthorn MailCHANGED | 54 | 49 | 322 | Crafted: Leatherworking | |
| 8 |  Brightcloth RobeCHANGED | 54 | 49 | 70 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 9 |  Keeper's Armor | 54 | 49 | 142 | Leather | Drops from Zaricotl (Badlands) at 1.0% (+625 more) (vanilla) |
| 10 |  Protector Breastplate | 54 | 49 | 293 | Drops from Zaricotl (Badlands) at 1.0% (+625 more) (vanilla) | |
| 11 |  Radiant Breastplate | 54 | 49 | 293 | Crafted: Blacksmithing | |
| 12 |  Venomshroud Silk Robes | 54 | 49 | 70 | Cloth | Drops from Zaricotl (Badlands) at 1.0% (+625 more) (vanilla) |
| 13 |  Venomshroud Vest | 54 | 49 | 70 | Cloth | Drops from Zaricotl (Badlands) at 1.0% (+625 more) (vanilla) |
| 14 |  Laminated Scale Armor | 54 | 49 | 264 | Found in Solid Chest (Eastern Plaguelands) at 2.1% (+643 more) (vanilla) | |
| 15 |  Abjurer's Robe | 53 | 48 | 69 | Cloth | Drops from Foulmane (Western Plaguelands) at 1.0% (+529 more) (vanilla) |
| 16 |  Abjurer's Tunic | 53 | 48 | 69 | Cloth | Drops from Foulmane (Western Plaguelands) at 1.0% (+529 more) (vanilla) |
| 17 |  Chieftain's Breastplate | 53 | 48 | 139 | Leather | Drops from Foulmane (Western Plaguelands) at 1.0% (+529 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 |  Heavy Scorpid VestCHANGED | 53 | 48 | 288 | Crafted: Leatherworking | |
| 19 |  Lord's Breastplate | 53 | 48 | 288 | Drops from Foulmane (Western Plaguelands) at 1.0% (+529 more) (vanilla) | |
| 20 | Green Dragonscale BreastplateCHANGED | 52 | 47 | 311 | Crafted: Leatherworking | |
| 21 |  Cindercloth Vest | 52 | 47 | 68 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 22 | Formidable Chestpiece | 52 | 47 | 283 | Drops from Foulmane (Western Plaguelands) at 1.0% (+525 more) (vanilla) | |
| 23 |  Gaea's Raiment | 52 | 47 | 68 | Cloth | Drops from Foulmane (Western Plaguelands) at 1.0% (+525 more) (vanilla) |
| 24 |  Gaea's Tunic | 52 | 47 | 68 | Cloth | Drops from Foulmane (Western Plaguelands) at 1.0% (+525 more) (vanilla) |
| 25 |  Potent Armor | 52 | 47 | 137 | Leather | Drops from Foulmane (Western Plaguelands) at 1.0% (+525 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 50 (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. Reviewed picks: Hunter Best in Slot.
Other slots: Head, Shoulder, Back, Wrist, Hands, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.