By the armor cap, heavy armor is arguabley the less effective armor to fight in due to the light armor perk Wind Walker (Stamina regenerates 50% faster in all Light Armor: head, chest, hands, feet).

Cushioned was useless (Half damage from falling if wearing all Heavy Armor: head, chest, hands, feet).

Conditioning (Heavy Armor weighs nothing and doesn't slow you down when worn) would inadvertantly, nonsensically affect the player's ability to sneak by making his shoes weigh less, despite wearing a suit of armor.

Reflect Blows made no sense at all (10% chance to reflect melee damage back to the enemy while wearing all Heavy Armor: head, chest, hands, feet).

--THE MOD--

Now, heavy armor is much harder to sneak in due to not making any changes to it's weight. It retains being slower to move in, but protects
the wearer a lot better than light armor.

Cushioned: 10% resistance to the elements (fire, frost and shock).

Conditioning: +100 carry weight (which should cover the weight of equipped weapons and armor).

Deflect Blows: 20% chance to deflect physical damage (weapons and bows, not from falling).

All the perks except Juggernaut and Deflect Blows: 5% chance to deflect physical damage (weapons and bows, not from falling).


--All together, that comes to a 50% chance to deflect physical damage (it may sound like a lot, but it is effectively the same as atronach is for magic)

(The steed stone still changes equipped armor to weigh nothing, so allows unrestricted movement and bonus to sneak if you feel that way inclined).