Quick Question about Mail 'Leggings'

[Plynkes]

Painting a knight. He is kneeling and the sole of one of his feet is showing. He is wearing mail trousers/hose/leggings? (sure there must be a fancy name for those). Did those things have some kind of leather or wooden sole, or was it just more mail on the bottom? (which I think wouldn't be very comfy, now I am worried about those poor knights and their feet).

Just wondering what colour to paint it. It doesn't appear to have been sculpted to look like mail, it is smooth. But that could be the sculptor not knowing either.

Ta.

[Ranthony]

Plynkes, The shoe consisted of two parts - lames which covered from below the ankle to the join of the metatarsal and the toe cap, which was just that.

I'd think the well healed would likely have a toughened leather sole on purpose made boots.

[Plynkes]

Hmm, that's interesting. This guy seems to just have what I'd describe as a long sock or stocking (that appears to be part of the trousers), but made of mail. No kind of a toe cap or anything.

[Ranthony]

I'll see if I can find a reference, mail was used yes but I'd expect the figure to be mounted.

[Ranthony]

Found this replica, it seems a boot of mail was a thing but the soul remained uncovered.
I can't find any suggestions of a mailed sole.

[jauntyharrison]

I'm dubious about the historicity of a mail boot that would hold its shape without a foot in it. To the best of my understanding you should expect something like the sole of a turnshoe, softish leather conforming to the shape of the sole of the foot, and the mail would connect to that sort of where the welt of a modern shoe would be, either by tabs of leather or by a continuous strip.

[Plynkes]

Thanks, guys, That's very helpful.