装備を身につけると**さんの部屋へと向かった
This implies the subject did nothing but the protasis before achieving the apodosis. In other words, they headed to XYZ's room as soon as they were in the equipments.
装備を身につけて
This phraseology is more unmarked than the above. If, however, I try to be very picky, I might say that wearing the equipments was a very important condition for visiting XYZ in their room.