If you are level 29 you can do the hard raid, don't worry about your armor, what matters is your level. You can't treat the hard raid like the normal one though, you need to be cautious and have some skill to do it at 29. Basically just try not to get hit and you'll do just fine. I've done the hard raid 12 times at level 29 with minimal issues. Just recently got to 30 and it helps a ton, but it's not necessary for a completion.