Puttees and Gaiters: The Unsung Heroes of Military Uniforms

Written By Katie Shipman

When we think of military uniforms from the First and Second World Wars, we tend to picture helmets, webbing, and boots. But often overlooked are the puttees and gaiters — those tightly wound or strapped coverings around soldiers’ lower legs.

Though simple in design, these humble items played a vital role in keeping soldiers moving, dry, and protected on the battlefield.

The word puttee comes from the Hindi paṭṭī, meaning “bandage” or “strip of cloth.”
They were long strips of woollen fabric, usually about two to three inches wide, wrapped spirally around the leg from ankle to knee.

Adopted by the British Army in the late 19th century, puttees became standard issue during the First World War. Soldiers wore them with their ankle boots to provide extra support and protection.

In the muddy trenches of the Western Front, puttees offered several key benefits:

  • Protection: They kept mud, stones, and debris out of the boots.

  • Warmth: The thick wool added insulation during the cold, damp winters.

  • Support: When tightly wrapped, they helped reduce fatigue in the calf muscles and provided ankle support.

  • Uniformity: They gave soldiers a neat, smart appearance — an important morale booster amidst the chaos of war.

However, they weren’t perfect. If wrapped too tightly, they could restrict circulation, and when soaked, they took ages to dry.
Still, most men agreed — they were better than bare boots in the trenches.

By the Second World War, many armies began replacing puttees with gaiters — shorter, easier-to-fasten fabric or canvas coverings that buckled or zipped around the lower leg.
They served the same purpose but were quicker to put on and more practical for mechanised troops who needed to move fast.

For example:

  • The British Army introduced web anklets made from canvas with metal buckles.

  • The U.S. Army used M-1938 leggings, made from khaki canvas with laces running up the side.

  • Many German troops wore leather gaiters (known as Stiefelhosen) later in the war when tall boots became less common.

Beyond their practicality, puttees and gaiters became a visual symbol of the early 20th-century soldier.
In WWI photographs, the woollen spirals instantly mark the era — just as the web gaiters do in WWII imagery.

Collectors today often seek them out as part of uniform displays, and reenactors know the familiar struggle of wrapping puttees neatly without wrinkles or uneven folds!

After WWII, gaiters largely disappeared as modern combat boots evolved to provide full ankle and leg protection.
But these simple accessories remind us that warfare isn’t just about grand strategy — it’s about the small, practical details that keep soldiers on their feet.

From the muddy fields of the Somme to the beaches of Normandy, puttees and gaiters carried men through the toughest conditions.
They might not be glamorous, but they were essential.

Katie Shipman