How do you get such high carry weight?
I'm currently using L45 Excavator armor. My usual carry weight in it is 320. Sometimes it starts at 420, but if I leave the armour and re-enter it it goes down to 320. I once saw it as 520 for a short period of time. I have 12 strength. The calibrated shocks should add another 100, but that would make it 420 normal.
The animation for getting in and out of PA isn't the main thing because you do it rarely. Movement in PA is slower and more cumbersome and head-bobbing than movement outside it, to the extent that I get out of my PA when I go to my camp just for the enjoyment of freedom of smooth movement.
I have no PA perks and I also have minimal PA degradation. I repair it maybe once a fortnight, if that. Power Smith is handy to swap in for repairing. I also have too many fusion cores, even after the nerf. It's not like FO4 - fusion cores last for ages anyway. The PA mods are useful, but not essential. For some builds, other mods would be better.
Surprisingly, Excavator power armour is quite bad as PA goes. It's better than unpowered armour (at least the L45 Excavator PA is), but it's pretty poor in comparison with other PA. It's only advantage is the +100 carry weight if you're wearing a full set. Oh, and it's pretty good for radiation resistance.
For example, L45 Excavator torso has 61, 60, 91 resistances (ballistic, energy, radiation). L50 X-01 has 98, 113, 113.
You can also mix and match pieces, since the only advantage to a matched set is the +100 carry weight on Excavator. I'm planning to mix X-01 with T-51b or T-60 legs so I can mod the legs with calibrated shocks for the +100 carry weight to bring the ensemble up to unmodified Excavator carry weight. I think that carry weight will be more useful to me than the relatively small extra resistances that X-01 legs have over T51b or T60 legs. The problem at the moment is that I don't have L50 T51b or L50 T60 legs or the plans to make them. I don't know if there are plans for crafting PA other than excavator, X-01 and Ultracite. Plenty of plans for crafting mods for them, but I haven't seen any for the armour itself.
It starts @ 380 for me then the Calibrated Shocks added another 100 so that takes it up to 480. There is a known long term bug where you also gain another 100 when you start a new session so that takes it up to 580 (if I exit the PA it drops back down to 480 until I server swap which I do not usually do unless it crashes). You need to constantly exit & re-enter the PA if you want to use workbenches like crafting or repairing weapons. This animation was clunky & slow before I bought both Calibrated Shocks now it seamless & way faster.
Then with my Perks & Buffs it boosts carry weight to between 635 & 705
I have 15 INT, 13 STR, 15 END these make a massive difference to Carry Weight
This is before the +2 INT boost from wearing an Internal Database PA Helmet. Then I have the Perks to give +3 END & +3 STR between 6pm-6am that also makes a big difference to carry weight. Most of the ingame time I have 20-22 INT, 18 END & 16 STR. I cannot respec any further although I really want to get to 15 STR but that would mean losing all LCK & swapping Perk Cards constantly (its already way too frequent for my liking!! without hotkeys is a real PITA & you are very vulnerable to instant death while doing this). Motion Assisted Servos also add another + 2STR!!
Also I boost my character with Buffs & Perks to 27 INT then repaired the Excavator PA all equipped pieces this makes it last even longer & its possible to get your INT up to 32-33 which makes weapons & PA pieces last for ages & stronger too
I am level 148 right now will be 149 later today after 3PM (no point before then so I gain another free n easy 10 Atoms!). ALL my perk cards are the Power Armour boosters for 60% Armour Durability, Fusion Core lifespan, anything Power Armour related I have fully maxxed out.
I have about 15 Level 50 Power Armours now the full set basically (except for Raider that is not even worth bothering with its ugly & no advantage to it I can tell!) many are also modded with decent mods like Calibrated Shocks & Internal Database on most & many different paint jobs (I have 5 of those).
IMO mixing & matching PA pieces from different armour does not work out at all & make the suit way less effective. Keep it to all the same type of pieces so All T51, T45,T60, X-01, Ultracite, Excavator pieces equipped only.
Excavator is best overall by far best carry weight & DMG resistance plus last forever its so strong with the right perks & buffs!
X01 is slightly better for RAD resistance but its minimal difference & 200 less Carry Weight.
T60 is good overall but more expensive to repair.
Ultracite is about the same as T60 but even more expensive to repair & requires ultracite so not worth using very often.
T45 is the weakest but also cheapest to repair.
Excavator is the best PA to use to gather resource. I find I rarely use other PA though once your in the suit there is little difference between them.
Forget the Jetpack mods or Plans each use of the jetpack drains the Fusion Core very fast so not very viable unless you have a few 100 lying around!
This is all subjective as well because I have such high INT, END & STR my values are amplified accordingly in the Excavator with the Perks I have to boost it further. My entire build has always been around Power Armour & Melee as I figured early on in the beta it was the best way to go.
Just stick with Excavator & ensure you buy the mods or Plans for Calibrated Shocks (2 mods 1 for each leg or 1 plan which is very expensive!). Then its also essential to buy the Internal Database mod or plan for the Helmet as this adds +2 INT. Finally the Motion Assisted Servos mod or plan also add another + 2STR!
