As someone with a decade of medieval reenactment experience I can tell you right now, if you're serious about using chainmaile to protect yourself, ONLY BUY RIVETED. Seriously.
Actual maile back in the day was made this way for a reason. If you get cheap maile where the rings are just bent together to form a ring, that shit will fall apart. It happens so often we called it "metal moths". Also, bent rings will separate instantly if stabbed. Riveted maile holds together much better and offers at lot more real protection.
Here's what riveted maile looks like. (Check ebay or just search around, it's out there)
Lastly, maile will only protect you from slashes and a limited amount of thrusts. If someone hits you with a blunt object, it's still going to hurt like fuck and possibly break your bones. Only plate protects against that. Outside of wearing plates, the next best thing is to wear as much padding under the maile. A gambeson is a type of padded coat worn under maile for this exact reason.
I spent 15 years living in the remotest regions of Northern MX and in the rainforest. Light travel is essential since you could be in "el monte (the wilderness) for weeks at a time).
Absolute essentials:
--2-3 ways to start a fire
--An excellent knife--we carried small blade for fine cutting or something akin to the Condor Tool and Knife (https://www.amazon.com/Condor-Tool-Knife-Hardwood-Handle/dp/B007MC3ZNS/ref=sr\_1\_52?crid=WE1YTXSS2C7Z&dchild=1&keywords=condor+knives&qid=1630509718&sprefix=condor%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-52) which can also do fine cutting
--22 rifle (slingshot for us kids)
--horsehair rope (550 paracord in US)
--Emergency medical equipment
--container for water and cooking
That's it. With this we could survive in the backcountry for weeks.