This question was inspired by a trip that I had to transport a tuxedo with me.
How was chain mail historically packed for transport? Was it generally just thrown into a bag? Put in crates with straw? Oiled up and rolled up like a sleeping bag? Historically, what methods were used to move these heavy, metal armors outside of just wearing it? What precautions would have been taken to protect from rust and damage?
We know little about the transport of mail, other than by wearing it. In the Bayeux Tapestry, we have mail shown being carried by two men, with a pole through the sleeves. How it was stored in the ships for the journey, we know not. This is a good way to carry mail, since it spreads the load between two, and stops the mail from flopping over the wearer like it would if it was just carried by one person in his arms. If one person needs to carry a mail shirt a long way, the easiest way to do so is to wear it - this conveniently distributed the load, and is better than carrying it in a backpack, and much easier than carrying it in the arms (whether loose, bundled, or boxed).
It's very close to the middle of the whole tapestry, which can be seen at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tapisserie_de_Bayeux_31109.jpg in which helmets can be seen carried in-hand and on a wagon.
It is possible that mail was kept in chests or barrels or similar to protect it from water when transported by boat, but we don't have any good info, so we are just guessing.
We know that later armour was stored in chests and cupboards. The key for long term storage is keeping it dry, so chests should have feet to lift the bottom above the ground or floor. Hanging armour so that the pieces don't rest on each other is good, since this allows air floor and any moisture can evaporate. If armour is sitting against other armour, and organic components (or organic packing materials) are not well-ventilated, the build of of moisture, and the promotion of rust is possible.
Armour cupboard, with hanging armour, 15th century: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baccio_portelli,_le_armi_del_duca,_dallo_studiolo_di_federico_da_montefeltro.jpg
Armour chest, 15th century: https://www.marhamchurchantiques.com/antique/english-medieval-armourers-chest/
For long term storage of mail, hanging on a rack with poles through the arms would work well, so it's possible that the Bayeux Tapestry shows mail being carried like it was stored.
Related past discussion:
On storage, but u/KNHaw comments on transport: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3y8up2/how_was_european_armor_stored_when_not_in_use/
u/olemisscub comments on Roman transport (they wear their body armour): https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1k1raf/a_good_question_cropped_up_at_rtotalwar_did/
u/SoloToplaneOnly comments on cleaning of mail: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4gtor1/how_did_soldiers_clean_their_mail_armours_chain/ (and Thom Richardson's thesis is still available online at https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/3919/1/Thom_Richardson_thesis_final.pdf as linked therein)
