As long as future patches are going to happen, it would be nice if we could change out the armor worn by companions (Lydia). As I, and the enemies, progress, the companion does not have the ability to improve the armor. We should at least be able to exchange armor for better armor...and then be able to take the old armor away, so she can still carry more weight.

We do have the option to equip them with various armours and weapons....Just select to trade with them and give them stuff...if the equipment/weapons you give them are more powerful than their current items, they will equip them.

I've got 'Alea the Huntress' fully equipped with glass armour and weapons...smithed to the max...looks awesome on her.

Earlier in my playthrough I had a contracted mercenary tagging along with me....I decked him out in Dwarvin armour.

Exactly, you need to make sure what you are giving them is better than what they are currently wearing. I do believe it also has to be of the same type. You cannot give Lydia a full set of Glass armor, as she is currently wearing heavy armor (happened to me), but she wears the ebony set I made her nicely.

Yeah...forgot to mention that. each companion will only wear a certain type of armour. 'Alea' only wears light...so the glass suits her.

One other thing...that mercenary I hired early in the game...and equipped with Dwarven armour, I fired him right before accepting 'Alea' as my companion. I made the mistake of leaving him with that equipement and later on I met him on the road somewhere...and he's not wearing the armour. I was like WTF...he must've sold it for some coin...bastard!

You can change their weapons and armor as long as its better then their default set

When your follower leaves your service they go back to their original armor, the armor you give them is still in their inventory though, they'll put it back on once you get them as your follower again.

Good to know...But I will stick with 'Alea' for this characters playthrough.

It's quite amazing how many different followers you can choose from throughout skyrim.

Can't you just take it all back before you dismiss them? I was under the impression the only thing you couldn't take from them was their default armor/clothes.

Thing is though, Lydia prefers a Thalmor robe over steel armor. Well, for me at least. But she's in pretty and completely in Dwarven armor now, so all is good. ^^

Equipping them in full ebony is interesting, as its like you have a shadow following you around.

But yeah, give them stuff. Weapons too.