Abstract: A protective sleeve for a body extremity, such as an arm or a leg. The sleeve includes a spacer textile formed into a self-supporting tube for protecting the extremity from pressure, friction, shear, skin tears and bruising. The tube can have a wide end and a narrow end. The extremity slides through the wide end of the tube and the narrow tube end then slides over the foot or hand. Because these tubes are self-supporting, the sleeve can remain coextensive with the extremity while maintaining a loose fit, even during vigorous exercise. The spacer textile provides for both pressure relief and moisture transmission from the skin.