Gaiters are garments worn over the shoe and bottom of the pant or trouser leg and used primarily aspersonal protective equipment, in particular againstsnakebite. They are also commonly used to keep the bottom of the pant-leg dry when hiking in snow. Similar garments used primarily for display arespats.
Originally, gaiters were made ofleather orcanvas. Today, those forwalking are commonly made of plasticized synthetic cloth such asnylon orpolyester. Gaiters for use on horseback continue to be made of leather. They are made to cover the gap between the pants and boots, rising to just below the knee, and usually have drawcords for tightening.
Common materials for leg gaiters on the market are canvas, nylon,Cordura,Kevlar, and leather.
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Beginning in 1700, most infantry in European armies adopted long linen gaiters, or spatterdashes, as a protective leg covering to be worn over the woollen stockings that were a common feature in both military and civilian dress. By the 1770s military gaiters were often shortened to mid-calf length ("half-gaiters") for convenience in the field.[1]
In army parlance, a gaiter covers leg and bootlacing; a legging covers only the leg. InRoyal Air Force parlance, gaiter includes leggings. TheUnited States Army duringWorld War I[2] andWorld War II had leggings, which were gaiters. Above the knee spatterdashes were cotton or canvas, as were many gaiters of varying lengths thereafter. Leather gaiters were rare in military usage, though sometimes a calf-lengthcotton gaiter had leather kneecaps added. Leggings, however, were very often made of leather, but alsocanvas.
Gaiters are a type of protective clothing for a person'sankles and legs below the knee. Gaiters are worn whenwalking,hiking,running (especiallyorienteering androgaining) outdoors amongst dense underbrush or insnow, with or withoutsnowshoes. Heavy gaiters are often worn when usingcrampons, to protect the leg and ankle from the spikes of the opposite foot. Gaiters strap over thehiking boot and around the person's leg to provide protection from branches and thorns and to prevent mud, snow, etc. from entering the top of the boot. Gaiters may also be worn as protection against snake bites.[3]
Gaiters fill the same function asputtees, a part of numerous military uniforms. Gaiters known asjambieres (derived from the French wordjambe for legs, hence leggings) were part of the uniform ofZouave infantry regiments.
During the 19th century gaiters for riding typically were known asriding gaiters, distinguishing them from the other gaiters that were in general use.[citation needed] Today,half chaps are a type of gaiter worn byequestrians. Most forms fit over the calf. These are intended to protect the rider's leg from wear by the stirrup leathers and other saddle parts.[citation needed] Modern styles usually have a zipper orhook and loop fasteners on the outside of the leg.
Gaiters formed a part of the everydayclerical clothing ofbishops andarchdeacons of theChurch of England until the middle part of the twentieth century. They were also worn by some cathedraldeans. They were made of black cotton, wool, or silk, and buttoned up the sides, reaching to just below the knee where they would join with black breeches. Gaiters would be worn with a clericalapron, a type of shortcassock reaching to just above the knee. The purpose of this vesture was originally practical, since archdeacons and bishops were presumed to be mobile, riding horses to various parts of adiocese or archdeaconry. In latter years, the clothing took on a more symbolic dimension.[4]
Media related toGaiters at Wikimedia Commons
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