Wearing socks in boots made of chrome or tarpaulin is very problematic. Within a few days, due to the very rough composition, the socks are worn out and come into a form unsuitable for use. Another thing - footcloths. Few people think about what they should be, what their advantages and disadvantages are. What should be the size of the footcloths? This will be discussed.
The history of footcloths
Footcloths from antiquity are associated exclusively with the army. They take their history from Ancient Rome, where they were used by Roman soldiers. For many, footcloths are associated exclusively with Russia. Judging by many sources, Peter the Great brought them. Indeed, footcloths are an ancient element of Slavic clothing. They were used both when wearing boots, and when shoes were bast shoes.
After the end of World War II, footcloths were adopted for everyday use in all countries of the USSR and the Warsaw Pact. To date, they have begun to yield to socks, primarily due to the replacement of personnel shoes.
Size and composition of army footcloths
The size of footcloths in the army, according to the charter, is 45x90 cm. The material from which it should be made is different. It depends on the time of year. In the majority of cases, summer footcloths are made of cotton, but in winter, cloth made of cotton and wool is used in an equal percentage. Also in the latter can be used bike. This fabric is not overcast at the edges, it is solid so that there are no seams and scars that rub your feet.
What size footcloths should be, we already know. Now consider their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of footcloths
The advantages of footcloths include their durability and ease of use. In the manufacture, you can use any material that comes to hand. The main thing is that the size of the footcloths meets the standards. The wear on footcloths is an order of magnitude less than that on socks, because more worn places can be changed to less worn ones.
Their most obvious advantage is quick drying. Footcloths tend to dry out very quickly. And most importantly, their advantage, which will come in handy for long and prolonged wearing of shoes in hot weather, is versatility. The footcloth can be easily turned with the wet side out and the dry side inward. Thanks to this, the skin on the feet is almost always dry. When the shoes fall into the water, only the top layer gets wet, and the inside is still warm, which is especially important in cold climates to maintain the health of the soldier. Another useful attribute of footcloths is the fact that it fills more space in shoes, which is solely beneficial for the feet.
We highlight the main advantages of footcloths:
- durability;
- convenience;
- quick drying;
- Do not harm the legs (when used correctly).
Disadvantages of footcloths
The disadvantages include the size of the footcloths, because they are much larger than socks. They are also much more difficult to wear than a sock, which can be pulled very quickly on the leg. A sloppy footcloth can lead to abrasions on the skin. And if you use it for a long time, then to more serious consequences. The footcloth is inconvenient to wear outside of shoes, which makes its use appropriate only in shoes.
So, the main disadvantages include:
- the size;
- leaves scuffs on the legs (with improper winding);
- inconvenience of using outside shoes.
Rules for winding footcloths
Properly wound footcloth is the key to convenience. If this is not done as it should, then you can get a lot of inconvenience and problems. With incorrect winding, the footcloth will constantly slide, which greatly interferes with fast and convenient movement. Therefore, it is so important to do it right, observing the rules.
It is believed that winding up footcloths is a whole art that you learn exclusively over time. First of all, this is the size of the footcloths. It must comply with the standards.
The first thing you need to pay attention to the size of the footcloths. It must comply with the rules. The leg needs to be examined for wounds and damage. Also, it should not be wet, always clean and dry, to prevent the penetration of dirt. In summer, a cushioned insole should be used.
The footcloth is placed on level ground or stretched evenly by hand (if the winding is carried out on weight). The foot is placed closer to the right edge, after which the forefoot makes a wrap of the foot from above, while smoothing the resulting folds. The corner itself slips under the sole and remains in this position with the help of the free end, which is pulled by the other hand. After that, all folds that have appeared are thoroughly straightened and a foot and sole are wrapped with a full turn.
The most important thing when wrapping a footcloth is not to leave any creases. After all, they are the ones that cause the appearance of scuffs and calluses on the legs.
The footcloth, of course, has a large number of advantages over socks, which have recently replaced it from the life of soldiers. It can be said that her era is drawing to a close.
In this article, we found out what size footcloths meet the requirements, how to wear them correctly.