Bowyangs

[vicrev]

Just wondering.....does anybody walk with bowyangs?..I sometimes do,they seem to work ok,I wear them under the knee,some say they should be above the knee......for each his own,I suppose ....

[Franco]

As a new Australian (sort of used but in good conditions) I had to ask my digital friend, he knows everything .
We use gaiters and they do come in different sizes however most are at below the knee height.
I use them on snow but do take them if I expect a bit of rough trail .

[stry]

Not sure why anyone would bother. The original intention was to stop dust going up the leg of long trousers. Can't see that with today's clothing and wearing habits that a need would ever arise.

They were fastened below the knee, above the calf

[vicrev]

Not sure why anyone would bother. The original intention was to stop dust going up the leg of long trousers. Can't see that with today's clothing and wearing habits that a need would ever arise.

They were fastened below the knee, above the calf

Not quite right...they were to stop the restriction of heavy canvas trousers above the upper calf....

[Moondog55]

Served the same purpose as belled knees too
Wore them once for fancy dress [ they work] but these days my gaiters do exactly the same job

[stry]

Not sure why anyone would bother. The original intention was to stop dust going up the leg of long trousers. Can't see that with today's clothing and wearing habits that a need would ever arise.

They were fastened below the knee, above the calf

Not quite right...they were to stop the restriction of heavy canvas trousers above the upper calf....

Well, actually I think our folk lore sources may have been singing to the same tune, but perhaps in different keys

The full explanation given to me at the maternal knee was that the dust led to chafing. So certainly reducing restriction could be expected to reduce chafing, and the presence of dust or grit would make restriction or chafing far more unpleasant. MDs reference to "balloon knees" also fits.

I have never seen them in use, but have seen a few old photos in which the subjects were wearing them, so apparently they were effective.

I still don't think I will bother with them

[ninjapuppet]

modern day clothing has evolved, and many brands of trousers (eg westcombe) now have gusseted knees. This extra material at the knees allow easy climbing and squatting.
other brands like arcteryx Gamma AR patns, have a hook at the botttom of the pants, where you hook it to your laces, and this is fairly effective at stopping rocks comming up into your shoes.
Theres also loops either side of the pants to attach extra cordage to secure the bottom of the pants to your shoes, and I have seen many other brands have this too.



Then theres always gaiters too.