diff --git a/src/npc.cpp b/src/npc.cpp
index 402147311529e..073b119cb658b 100644
--- a/src/npc.cpp
+++ b/src/npc.cpp
@@ -982,82 +982,42 @@ void npc::do_npc_read()
     }
 }
 
-bool npc::wear_if_wanted( const item &it )
+bool npc::wear_if_wanted( const item &it, std::string &reason )
 {
     // Note: this function isn't good enough to use with NPC AI alone
     // Restrict it to player's orders for now
     if( !it.is_armor() ) {
+        reason = _( "This can't be worn." );
         return false;
     }
 
-    // TODO: Make it depend on stuff
-    static const std::array<int, num_bp> max_encumb = {{
-            30, // bp_torso - Higher if ranged?
-            100, // bp_head
-            30, // bp_eyes - Lower if using ranged?
-            30, // bp_mouth
-            30, // bp_arm_l
-            30, // bp_arm_r
-            30, // bp_hand_l - Lower if throwing?
-            30, // bp_hand_r
-            // Must be enough to allow hazmat, turnout etc.
-            30, // bp_leg_l - Higher if ranged?
-            30, // bp_leg_r
-            // Doesn't hurt much
-            50, // bp_foot_l
-            50, // bp_foot_r
-        }
-    };
-
     // Splints ignore limits, but only when being equipped on a broken part
     // TODO: Drop splints when healed
-    bool splint = it.has_flag( "SPLINT" );
-    if( splint ) {
-        splint = false;
+    if( it.has_flag( "SPLINT" ) ) {
         for( int i = 0; i < num_hp_parts; i++ ) {
             hp_part hpp = static_cast<hp_part>( i );
             body_part bp = player::hp_to_bp( hpp );
             if( is_limb_broken( hpp ) && !has_effect( effect_mending, bp ) && it.covers( bp ) ) {
-                splint = true;
-                break;
+                reason = _( "Thanks, I'll wear that now." );
+                return !!wear_item( it, false );
             }
         }
     }
 
-    if( splint ) {
-        return !!wear_item( it, false );
-    }
-
-    if( !can_wear( it, true ).success() ) {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    const int it_encumber = it.get_encumber( *this );
     while( !worn.empty() ) {
         auto size_before = worn.size();
-        bool encumb_ok = true;
-        const auto new_enc = get_encumbrance( it );
         // Strip until we can put the new item on
         // This is one of the reasons this command is not used by the AI
-        for( const body_part bp : all_body_parts ) {
-            if( !it.covers( bp ) ) {
-                continue;
-            }
+        if( can_wear( it ).success() ) {
+            // TODO: Hazmat/power armor makes this not work due to 1 boots/headgear limit
 
-            if( it_encumber > max_encumb[bp] ) {
-                // Not an NPC-friendly item
+            if( !!wear_item( it, false ) ) {
+                reason = _( "Thanks, I'll wear that now." );
+                return true;
+            } else {
+                reason = _( "I tried but couldn't wear it." );
                 return false;
             }
-
-            if( new_enc[bp].encumbrance > max_encumb[bp] ) {
-                encumb_ok = false;
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-
-        if( encumb_ok && can_wear( it ).success() ) {
-            // TODO: Hazmat/power armor makes this not work due to 1 boots/headgear limit
-            return !!wear_item( it, false );
         }
         // Otherwise, maybe we should take off one or more items and replace them
         bool took_off = false;
@@ -1069,7 +1029,7 @@ bool npc::wear_if_wanted( const item &it )
             auto iter = std::find_if( worn.begin(), worn.end(), [bp]( const item & armor ) {
                 return armor.covers( bp );
             } );
-            if( iter != worn.end() ) {
+            if( iter != worn.end() && !( is_limb_broken( bp_to_hp( bp ) ) && iter->has_flag( "SPLINT" ) ) ) {
                 took_off = takeoff( *iter );
                 break;
             }
@@ -1077,10 +1037,11 @@ bool npc::wear_if_wanted( const item &it )
 
         if( !took_off || worn.size() >= size_before ) {
             // Shouldn't happen, but does
+            reason = _( "I tried but couldn't wear it." );
             return false;
         }
     }
-
+    reason = _( "Thanks, I'll wear that now." );
     return worn.empty() && wear_item( it, false );
 }
 
diff --git a/src/npc.h b/src/npc.h
index 38999dc1e167d..098cec5a93239 100644
--- a/src/npc.h
+++ b/src/npc.h
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ class npc : public player
         void update_worst_item_value();
         int value( const item &it ) const;
         int value( const item &it, int market_price ) const;
-        bool wear_if_wanted( const item &it );
+        bool wear_if_wanted( const item &it, std::string &reason );
         void start_read( item &chosen, player *pl );
         void finish_read( item &book );
         bool can_read( const item &book, std::vector<std::string> &fail_reasons );
diff --git a/src/npctalk.cpp b/src/npctalk.cpp
index b17101e27dc69..5bdf508c69bba 100644
--- a/src/npctalk.cpp
+++ b/src/npctalk.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ int topic_category( const talk_topic &the_topic );
 
 const talk_topic &special_talk( char ch );
 
-std::string give_item_to( npc &p, bool allow_use, bool allow_carry );
+std::string give_item_to( npc &p, bool allow_use );
 
 std::string talk_trial::name() const
 {
@@ -2243,7 +2243,7 @@ void talk_effect_fun_t::set_bulk_trade_accept( bool is_trade, bool is_npc )
 void talk_effect_fun_t::set_npc_gets_item( bool to_use )
 {
     function = [to_use]( const dialogue & d ) {
-        d.reason = give_item_to( *( d.beta ), to_use, !to_use );
+        d.reason = give_item_to( *( d.beta ), to_use );
     };
 }
 
@@ -3154,6 +3154,8 @@ static consumption_result try_consume( npc &p, item &it, std::string &reason )
         if( !p.eat( to_eat ) ) {
             reason = _( "It doesn't look like a good idea to consume this…" );
             return REFUSED;
+        } else {
+            reason = _( "Thanks, that hit the spot." );
         }
     } else if( to_eat.is_medication() || to_eat.get_contained().is_medication() ) {
         if( comest->tool != "null" ) {
@@ -3167,6 +3169,7 @@ static consumption_result try_consume( npc &p, item &it, std::string &reason )
                 return REFUSED;
             }
             p.use_charges( comest->tool, 1 );
+            reason = _( "Thanks, I feel better already." );
         }
         if( to_eat.type->has_use() ) {
             amount_used = to_eat.type->invoke( p, to_eat, p.pos() );
@@ -3196,7 +3199,7 @@ static consumption_result try_consume( npc &p, item &it, std::string &reason )
     return CONSUMED_ALL;
 }
 
-std::string give_item_to( npc &p, bool allow_use, bool allow_carry )
+std::string give_item_to( npc &p, bool allow_use )
 {
     if( p.is_hallucination() ) {
         return _( "No thanks, I'm good." );
@@ -3218,84 +3221,80 @@ std::string give_item_to( npc &p, bool allow_use, bool allow_carry )
         return _( "Are you <swear> insane!?" );
     }
 
-    std::string no_consume_reason;
+    bool taken = false;
+    std::string reason = _( "Nope." );
+    int our_ammo = p.ammo_count_for( p.weapon );
+    int new_ammo = p.ammo_count_for( given );
+    const double new_weapon_value = p.weapon_value( given, new_ammo );
+    const double cur_weapon_value = p.weapon_value( p.weapon, our_ammo );
+    add_msg( m_debug, "NPC evaluates own %s (%d ammo): %0.1f",
+             p.weapon.typeId(), our_ammo, cur_weapon_value );
+    add_msg( m_debug, "NPC evaluates your %s (%d ammo): %0.1f",
+             given.typeId(), new_ammo, new_weapon_value );
     if( allow_use ) {
         // Eating first, to avoid evaluating bread as a weapon
-        const auto consume_res = try_consume( p, given, no_consume_reason );
-        if( consume_res == CONSUMED_ALL ) {
-            g->u.i_rem( &given );
-        }
+        const auto consume_res = try_consume( p, given, reason );
         if( consume_res != REFUSED ) {
+            if( consume_res == CONSUMED_ALL ) {
+                g->u.i_rem( &given );
+            }
             g->u.moves -= 100;
             if( given.is_container() ) {
                 given.on_contents_changed();
             }
-            return _( "Here we go…" );
-        }
-    }
-
-    bool taken = false;
-    int our_ammo = p.ammo_count_for( p.weapon );
-    int new_ammo = p.ammo_count_for( given );
-    const double new_weapon_value = p.weapon_value( given, new_ammo );
-    const double cur_weapon_value = p.weapon_value( p.weapon, our_ammo );
-    if( allow_use ) {
-        add_msg( m_debug, "NPC evaluates own %s (%d ammo): %0.1f",
-                 p.weapon.type->get_id(), our_ammo, cur_weapon_value );
-        add_msg( m_debug, "NPC evaluates your %s (%d ammo): %0.1f",
-                 given.type->get_id(), new_ammo, new_weapon_value );
-        if( new_weapon_value > cur_weapon_value ) {
+        }// wield it if its a weapon
+        else if( new_weapon_value > cur_weapon_value ) {
             p.wield( given );
+            reason = _( "Thanks, I'll wield that now." );
             taken = true;
+        }// HACK: is_gun here is a hack to prevent NPCs wearing guns if they don't want to use them
+        else if( !given.is_gun() && given.is_armor() ) {
+            //if it is impossible to wear return why
+            ret_val<bool> can_wear = p.can_wear( given, true );
+            if( !can_wear.success() ) {
+                reason = can_wear.str();
+            } else {
+                //if we can wear it with equip changes prompt first
+                can_wear = p.can_wear( given );
+                if( ( can_wear.success() ||
+                      query_yn( can_wear.str() + _( " Should I take something off?" ) ) )
+                    && p.wear_if_wanted( given, reason ) ) {
+                    taken = true;
+                } else {
+                    reason = can_wear.str();
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            reason += string_format(
+                          _( "My current weapon is better than this. \n(new weapon value: %.1f vs %.1f)." ), new_weapon_value,
+                          cur_weapon_value );
         }
-
-        // HACK: is_gun here is a hack to prevent NPCs wearing guns if they don't want to use them
-        if( !taken && !given.is_gun() && p.wear_if_wanted( given ) ) {
+    } else {//allow_use is false so try to carry instead
+        if( p.can_pickVolume( given ) && p.can_pickWeight( given ) ) {
+            reason = _( "Thanks, I'll carry that now." );
             taken = true;
+            p.i_add( given );
+        } else {
+            if( !p.can_pickVolume( given ) ) {
+                const units::volume free_space = p.volume_capacity() - p.volume_carried();
+                reason += "\n" + std::string( _( "I have no space to store it." ) ) + "\n";
+                if( free_space > 0_ml ) {
+                    reason += string_format( _( "I can only store %s %s more." ),
+                                             format_volume( free_space ), volume_units_long() );
+                } else {
+                    reason += _( "…or to store anything else for that matter." );
+                }
+            }
+            if( !p.can_pickWeight( given ) ) {
+                reason += std::string( "\n" ) + _( "It is too heavy for me to carry." );
+            }
         }
     }
 
-    if( !taken && allow_carry &&
-        p.can_pickVolume( given ) &&
-        p.can_pickWeight( given ) ) {
-        taken = true;
-        p.i_add( given );
-    }
-
     if( taken ) {
         g->u.i_rem( &given );
         g->u.moves -= 100;
         p.has_new_items = true;
-        return _( "Thanks!" );
-    }
-
-    std::string reason = _( "Nope." );
-    if( allow_use ) {
-        if( !no_consume_reason.empty() ) {
-            reason += no_consume_reason + "\n";
-        }
-
-        reason += _( "My current weapon is better than this." );
-        reason += "\n" + string_format( _( "(new weapon value: %.1f vs %.1f)." ), new_weapon_value,
-                                        cur_weapon_value );
-        if( !given.is_gun() && given.is_armor() ) {
-            reason += std::string( "\n" ) + _( "It's too encumbering to wear." );
-        }
-    }
-    if( allow_carry ) {
-        if( !p.can_pickVolume( given ) ) {
-            const units::volume free_space = p.volume_capacity() - p.volume_carried();
-            reason += "\n" + std::string( _( "I have no space to store it." ) ) + "\n";
-            if( free_space > 0_ml ) {
-                reason += string_format( _( "I can only store %s %s more." ),
-                                         format_volume( free_space ), volume_units_long() );
-            } else {
-                reason += _( "…or to store anything else for that matter." );
-            }
-        }
-        if( !p.can_pickWeight( given ) ) {
-            reason += std::string( "\n" ) + _( "It is too heavy for me to carry." );
-        }
     }
 
     return reason;