Gaiters are garments worn over the shoe and bottom of the pant or trouser leg and used primarily as personal protective equipment, in particular against snakebite. They are also commonly used to keep the bottom of the pant-leg dry when hiking in snow. Similar garments used primarily for display are spats.
Originally, gaiters were made of leather or canvas. Today, those for walking are commonly made of plasticized synthetic cloth such as nylon or polyester. 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. Wearing gaiters, while preventing most snake bites, does not provide complete protection.
Common materials for leg gaiters on the market are canvas, nylon, Cordura, Kevlar, and leather. Nylon is better at preventing snakebite than polyester, canvas, or Cordura.[citation needed]