Swiss leather gaiters, used

Like most European post-war armies, the Swiss believed in low shoes and gaiters. Unlike most European post-war armies, the Swiss actually put some thought in the design of the gaiters.

Very often accompanied by the Alpenflage uniform, these gaiters and sturdy low shoes were the main footwear of the Swiss army until the early 90's, when a modernization of personal equipment took place. Along with a new uniform and web equipment, this included high combat boots, so the combination of shoes and gaiters was finally discarded. The Swiss were smart to sell their surplus to civilians - it would be a shame to throw away such good gear! Many countries, Finland included, would benefit from this mindset.

The Swiss gaiters are surprisingly simple, yet still stay firmly in place and are quite fast to don. Just put the shoe on, wrap the gaiter around and tighten the four leather straps. These are designed to be used with the Swiss combat shoes, but can be worn together with most other boots, if additional support and protection is required.

As is the Swiss way, the materials and workmanship are top notch: thick leather, strong stitching and metal buckles. These are definitely made to last. If made today as a new item, you could probably multiply the price by ten.

Size info

Two sizes available: 1 and 2. Minimum width for the smaller one is 38 cm, and 40 cm for the larger, so we're not talking about huge differences here. Both can be adjusted upwards about 4 cm.

Condition

In used, but serviceable condition. Might look a bit rough, but some proper cleaning and greasing will help a lot. This might be the last restock we will ever get.