Why were foot wraps better than socks?

Until recently, foot wraps were one of the symbols of our soldiers. They served to wrap legs and were used instead of socks. And in our time, even the concept of “footcloth” is practically disappearing from everyday life. Modern uniforms for fighters involve the use of black socks. However, men often express the opinion that foot wraps were much better and more practical. Is it really?

What are foot wraps

Footcloth is considered to be a single piece of cloth designed specifically for wrapping legs soldier They prevent chafing of the skin when wearing shoes for a long time.

For the summer period they were made of cotton material, and for the winter from cloth or flannelette fabric.

Reference. The average size of one canvas was approximately 40x90 cm (the statutory size was 35x90 cm).

Manufacturing Features

• The canvas must be solid. It was forbidden to sew separate pieces of material together.
• The fabric must be only white. This allows you to quickly notice contamination and eliminate it if necessary.
• Was allowed use only new and high-quality fabric. Otherwise, it will not last long and will tear.

Advantages and disadvantages of foot wraps

To assess efficiency, reliability and practicality, it is worth considering the main advantages and disadvantages of wraps.

pros

• Versatility of use. The fabric can be wrapped around the foot so that even large shoes fit.
• An additional pair is stored in the bosom. This allows if necessary, replace uniforms and wrap your feet with warm cloth.
• There is a quick way to put it on, when the fabric is placed over the boot in a wound state.

Reference. Quick donning is suitable for getting up in an emergency. But then you will have to rewind them in the usual way.

• Usually the footcloth is wound in several layers. Therefore her difficult to get completely wet.
• If this did happen, the soldier It will be enough to rewind the fabric with a dry edge to the leg.
• Medically, foot wraps have been proven to be hygienic, which socks cannot boast of.
• Cotton fabric is able to wick away moisture and retain heat. When using it, there is no unpleasant odor due to sweat. That's why legs always rest even after heavy physical activity.

Minuses

We were able to identify only two disadvantages. These include difficulty in winding fabric on the leg and outdatedness method.

It was the complexity of the winding technology that caused indignation and controversy. After all if foot wraps were worn incorrectly, a soldier could rub his feet and even get injured. However, following the technique made it possible to avoid these troubles, which made the footcloth an indispensable thing for a soldier.

Can modern socks fully replace foot wraps?

The creators of soldiers' uniforms try to complement them with comfortable socks made from modern fibers.

But so far, according to experts, it has not been possible to create socks that have become an equivalent substitute for fabric. So far, the socks have several disadvantages:

• They too thin, which creates additional friction for the skin. This leads to damage to the skin and infection.
• Socks are very quickly deteriorate and tear, and replacing them in the field can be problematic.
• The fabric of socks gets wet very quickly. And there is no way to dry them before returning to the barracks.
• Worth it from socks bad smell, especially after prolonged physical training.
• When using foot wraps, it was possible to adjust the shoe size to fit the foot. This will not work with socks, and shoes in the army almost always do not match the size of the soldier’s feet.

However, all of the above did not become a reason to return to foot wraps. We can only hope that we won’t have to wait long for reliable soldiers’ socks.