US canvas gaiters

Let me see if I can explain it

Right way of putting them on, is laces and hooks on the outside of the leg, hooks facing backwards (or you'll be collecting all kinds of grass and guy-ropes)

tie a knot a the start of the lace and feed it through bottom eye of the legging from the inside out. (on the side with the hooks).
Then feed it through the bottom eye of the side with all the other eyes, from the inside out.
Feed the lace through all the eyes (except the top one).

Now you are ready to put it on.
Put it around your leg and close the stirrup strap at the bottom (not to tight yet, in case you need to adjust it a bit)

Pull the bottoms of the leggings together with the lace.

Then get the first loop between two eyelets and pull it over the hook (some people twist it once to prevent it from coming undone).
Pull it tight but not so tight that it becomes uncomfortable.

Repeat for all the other loops until you get to the top.

ways of tying them at the top

then tighten the stirrup strap.

I hope that makes sense.

They're a pain at first, but after a few times you'll get the hang of it.

Thanks, Flib, that's exactly what I needed. Which book did you take the pic from?

No idea, it's been lurking on the web on quite a few sites now.
I first saw it on WW2reenactor.proboards.com back in 2003.

thats spot on I was haveing the same problem thanks for the post

P

Yeah, and he's right, too - once you've done them a few times, they get really easy.

I keep em laced up, and just hoop the draw string around the clasps and pull at the top.

On and done in about 20 seconds

ahh so the hooks go through the lace on the Outside! no wonder I was struggling. will have to re-try it once i get back home

Sorry to drag up an old thread but Im a little confused about the stirrup clasp. Which way round does the strap go into it?

This way?

or this way?

also are the teeth on the clasp supposed to be a very very tight fit over the metal end to the strap?

The first way, as far as I'm aware. And the teeth were very tight with mine, too, but a bit of running around in them getting shot at loosens them up nicely.

I'll help you put them on saturday night if you're coming along to the camp old chum

Yes, the first way. Though I've seen some interesting ways of putting them on before....

I do have some modern white ones (for my MP-snowdrop get-up) where the buckles are reversed so the end of the stirup strap ends up on the inside of the leggings.

Some of the repro gear I have has some tight teeth on the buckles, I've flattened the tips with a vice, or used a screwdriver to widen the gap a bit

I saw a pair on a chap on sunday with only about 6 loops fastened. I cried a little inside. I mean, I have huge calves (thanks to rugby and American football), and I can get mine on properly!

Cheers for the info lads. I'll have a stab at it tomorrow and you can laugh at my efforts on Saturday Kav

one other thing of note is to make sure the stirup straps VERY tight around your foot. mine wasnt at dday and when i went through a bush iy got caught and ripped the buckle out the gaiter

Crappy Repro stitching! The Styrups do come loose after a while, i tighten them up at the start of each game.

I have huge calves too, but I got the 7R gaitors, so theyre plenty big enough!

I have long laces in mine, they end up looping a lot at the top!

Oo thats a point. I've not even checked if they fit yet. I got 5Rs but I do have huge calves too.

i really dont get how to put them on at all...how do you lace them up ? im new so thats why i havent really got a clue...would really really apprichate it if someone could give me a step by step guid or even better some pictures...

cheers

The step by step guide is at the top of the thread.

I just used it and now know how to put them on. I just got my 42 dated original leggings today!

It couldn't be made much simpler!

ohh well ill have to try lol

nvm

Its a bit hit and miss at first, but once you get it, its a doddle.( well kinda)