Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

CLOTHING 145ciall}^ for climbing. Knickerbockers are too baggyfor the woods: they catch on snags and tear, orthrow a man.Belts.— A belt drawn tight enough to hold upmuch weight is not only uncomfortable but dangerous.It checks circulation, interferes with digestion,and may cause rupture if one gets a fall. Ifcommon suspenders are objectionable, then wear the" invisible " kind that go under the overshirt. Theyprevent chafing, by holding the trousers snug up inthe crotch. For ordinary service there is no needof a belt more than an inch wide. A cartridgebelt should be worn sagging w^U down on the hips;or, if a heavy weight is to be carried on the belt(bad practice, anyway), by all means have shoulderstrapsfor it.Leggings.— Never buy leggings that strap underthe instep. The strap collects mud, and it is sooncut to pieces on the rocks. Any legging that lacesover hooks will catch in brush or high grass andsoon the hooks bend outward or flatten. The presentU. S. A. canvas legging (Fig. 91) has only oneFig. 91.—U. S. ArmyCanvas LeggingFig. 92.—StrapPutteeCanvasFig- 93—Woolen SpiralPutteehook, in front; it is quickly adjusted. The strapputtee (Fig. 92) is better for a woodsman or mountaineer.Leather puttees are suitable only for horsemen; in walking and climbing they cut one in frontand rear of the ankle joint. Genuine pigskin is theonly leather that will stand hard service and frequentwettings.