Viking leg wrappings, or Winingas, are an essential part of every Viking outfit. Leg wrappings were worn around the lower leg, over the trousers. The main function of these leg wrappings is a bit of a guess, since they seem to have been multifunctional. They kept your legs warm, protected your legs during daily activities, and prevented wide trouser legs from becoming a hindrance.
Leg wrappings can be a bit confusing at first, but once you know how to wrap them properly, it's really not that difficult.
How do you put on Viking leg wrappings?
You start by wrapping from your foot and work your way upward. Some leg wrappings have a straight end and a pointed end. If this is the case, the straight end goes around your foot. Keep the main length of the wrapping on the outside of your foot. Place the end of the wrapping under your foot and make sure you have enough length to go under and over it. The end of the wrapping should be tucked under the main length, on the outside of your foot.
Move the main length of the wrapping diagonally across your foot to the inside of your ankle. Make sure it's pulled tight against your foot so the end stays in place and the whole thing doesn't get too thick. From this point on, you continue wrapping the fabric around your leg while slowly moving higher up your leg. At first it will be tricky to figure out how much each rotation should overlap to end up in the right spot, but this will get easier the more you wear them.
The pointed end (or another straight end if both ends are straight) should come out on the outside of your leg, just below the knee. Some leg wrappings have a hook at the point where you can fasten the end to the wrapping. If your wrapping doesn't have a hook, you can secure it with a small fibula, or tuck it under itself like a bandage.
