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Gaiters are garments worn over the shoe and lower pant leg, and used primarily as personal protective equipment; similar garments used primarily for display are spats. Gaiters used in equestrian riding are known as riding-gaiters.^{[citation needed]}

Originally, gaiters were made of leather. Today, gaiters for walking are commonly made of plasticized synthetic cloth such as polyester. Gaiters for use on horseback continue to be made of leather.

In Army parlance, a gaiter covers leg and bootlacing; a legging covers only the leg. In RAF parlance, gaiter includes legging. The American Army during World War II had leggings, which were gaiters. Above the knee spatterdashes were cotton or canvas, as were many gaiters of varying lengths thereafter. Leather gaiters were rare in military, though sometimes a calf-length cotton gaiter had leather kneecaps added. Leggings, however, were very often made of leather, but also canvas.

Gaiters are a type of protective clothing for a person's ankles and legs below the knee. Gaiters are worn when walking, hiking, running (especially orienteering and rogaining) outdoors amongst dense underbrush or in snow, with or without snowshoes. Heavy gaiters are often worn when using crampons, to protect the leg and ankle from the spikes of the opposite foot. Gaiters strap over the hiking boot and around the person's leg to provide protection from branches and thorns and to prevent mud, snow, etc from entering the top of the boot.

Gaiters are similar to puttees, a part of numerous military uniforms. Gaiters known as jambieres (French for shin or shank) were part of the uniform of Zouave infantry regiments.

Gaiters worn by equestrians have a wide variety of styles in two broad kinds: over the knee, and over the calf.

In Latin America, from Chile to Mexico, gaiters extending over the knee are traditional and are in wide use today. Some polo players' kneepads resemble these gaiters in that they extend down the calf. Over-the-knee gaiters are intended to protect the rider's leg from injury by vegetation and other animals. Usually, they lace, buckle, or zipper behind the leg.

Gaiters extending over the calf are a less expensive and often more comfortable or practical alternative to tall boots. Historically, such gaiters were a part of numerous cavalry field uniforms. In the United States today, gaiters known there as half chaps are widely worn over short boots by English-style riders while not at shows. Over-the-calf gaiters are intended to protect the rider's leg from wear by the stirrup leathers and other saddle parts. Usually, they have a zipper or hook and loop fastener on the outside of the leg.

Gaiters formed a part of the everyday clerical clothing of bishops and archdeacons of the Anglican Communion until the middle part of the twentieth century. They were made of black cotton, wool, or silk, and buttoned up the sides, reaching to just below the knee where they would join with black breeches. Gaiters would be worn with a clerical apron, a type of short cassock reaching to just above the knee. The purpose of this vesture was originally practical, since archdeacons and bishops were presumed to be mobile, riding horses to various parts of a diocese or archdeaconry. In latter years, the clothing took on a more symbolic dimension.

On a motorcycle, pleated rubber gaiters protect the sliding front fork shocks from the entry of dust and dirt.

• Greave
• Leg warmer
• Polo wraps
• Puttee