Lighted gaiters

Apparel for providing protection and illumination adjacent to a foot of a user, the apparel comprising:

• a gaiter having a top portion and a bottom portion in opposition to one another, a layer of material extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, the layer of material extending a given distance configured to provide a protective covering to a lower limb of the user, a flap formed by an outer fabric layer disposed on an outermost surface of the layer of material, and at least one securement fastener to provide an adjustable attachment of the gaiter to the lower limb of the user, wherein the at least one securement fastener is configured to allow attachment of the gaiter to the lower limb of the user with a variety of footwear;
• a light housing positioned in the flap in direct contact against each of the layer of material and the outer fabric layer, the light housing positioned to extend through the outer fabric layer of material of the gaiter, the light housing includes at least one light emitting diode (LED), and the at least one light emitting diode (LED) having a configuration to shine forward and downward ahead of a toe of the footwear worn by a user, and the light housing configured to provide illumination adjacent to a foot of a user;
• and
• the combination of the gaiter and the light housing together providing a body-worn lighting device positionable between the foot and a knee of the user without attaching the light housing directly to any portion of the user, the footwear worn by the user, and clothing worn by the user.