gaiters

“ive been looking into getting a pair of gaiters, and was wondering what you guys would reccomend. im kinda on a budget, and found goretex military issure mark II snow gaiters at a military surplus store for $20, which seemed like a pretty good price to me, what do you guys think? is there a better deal somewhere else? is there a particular brand that you'd reccomend, that i could get my hands on for a decent price? i want to have them for my trip on grandfather mountain in two weeks

thanks,
-nate”

“How much money do you want to spend?

8)”

“i think i paid 35 bucks for my OR rocky mtn high gaiters. nice gaiters gut if you got the money i'd get the expedition ones.
in my search OR seemed to have the best product for me.”

“I've used them snow skiing and they really did keep my legs dry. I think they would be great for hiking in the snow. Have fun on your trip. Never been to Grandfather Mountain. Would like to hear a trip report on it.”

“If you will be on snow get higher gaiters instead of the low gaiters designed just to keep leaves and stones out of your boots. I have a few pair and use the OR Rocky Mt. low gaiters for fall and spring with no snow or minimal snow. The best thing about them is that they are uncoated and very breathable and not hot too wear. The OR crocs are good for snow and cold, but the Goretex and heavy nylon are hot to wear if it's mild. Overkill for mild conditions. You can go with coated nylon on the bottom part and water resistant nylon on the upper that aren't too hot to wear. I have a pair made by TNF that are like that and they work well for fast dayhikes or X country skiing. For total warmth and coverage of your entire boot OR makes the X gaiters, but I wouldn't recommend them for hiking. Mine got chewed up badly in cold, but non snow conditons. A rubber rand is more durable. The X gaiters are good for snowshoeing and very cold skiiing. The insulation is warm, but you need a totally waterproof boots to use them because snow will sneak past the bottom and melt into the leather of your boot and eventually your socks. That's not a good thing if you are out in the temperatures these were designed to be used in.”

“id like to keep them under $30, and i would probably be using them year-round, so some snow here and there, but want them for keeping out rocks+sticks, holding off those annoying stick-em plant seeds (the hooked ones that stick to pretty much EVERYTHING) and to keep from getting cut up on thorns (and keep me from getting rockbite...right in the middle of my right shin...like i have in the exact same spot my past three trips in a row :p ) probably wont be doing any cross-country skiing in them (as ive never done any crosscountry skiing, and dont even think i could anywhere locally) pretty much the same for snowshoeing, so id need em mostly just for hiking

thanks,
-nate”

“oh yea, and i'll do a trip report when i get back, too

later,
-nate”

“You probably want to consider the coated nylon bottom with a breathable fabric upper for all around use. They won't be too hot to wear, but will fend off snow and sticks.”

“i was kinda worried about if the nylon ones would be durable enough to keep from getting shredded on brambles and such

later,
-nate”

“I still have my first pair of cheap gaiters. I have sprayed them polyurethane in the past for extra protection. They're tough. They still work fine but as of recent I got these 'quiet' GTex camo ones that work great. I would like to get a ankle high pair sometime.”

“My gaitors just gather dust anymore.”

“I like my OR Crocs. In mild weather, I just push them down to just over my ankles and they're fine. Be sure to seam seal the seams on the inside.”

“peregrine backcountry gaitors. i have these. they are extremely durable. $27.50. they are cordura plus on the bottom, light nylon top. good in snow, not too heavy for regular hiking.”

“mickie's place. they are listed under safety gear. $27.50.

equinox trail. $17.95. these also have a heavier bottom/lighter top. zipper closure on the rear.
equinox ultrex $32.95. these seem similar but maybe geared a little more towards colder, wet, sloppy weather.”

“I really like the OR crocs. I only use them in the snow.”

“These are simple things. I sewed my own. Cost about 5 bucks.”

“Besides my OR crocs (snow only), I hav a cheap pair of Campmor G-tex. I think they're Entant now. They've lasted almost twenty years and the only thing is that they're covered in patches because of crampon punctures, not because they're not durable. I haven't seen your surplus ones, but they might be just fine. The overheating part is usually due to the pants underneath, especially if they're w'proof/b'thable - it's too much protection to allow vapour to excape. I use these pants now (I finally bowed to fashion, or am too old to bear the ridicule), but breeks (knickers?), over the knee socks and gaiters are still the best way to go.”

“perhaps a bit above the dollar threshold you set, but the zippered vent with mesh insert allow you to 'vent' them to keep the heat down during hot weather...mine have been doing a fine job for years now.”

“i ended up going and geting the surplus ones for $20, they seem like good stuff, they have a seperating zipper up the back , with a velcro flap over that, a elastic shock cord with a cord clip around the top, and a reinforced rubberized strap around the bottom- they had a different style there too, shoestring-style cord instead of the shock cord+clamp, no velcro, and the zipper didnt seperate at the bottom.

these seem like good stuff, ill see what i really think of em weekend after next on grandfather mountain though.

later,
-nate”

“Good luck with your new gaiters.”

“I have a pair of long OR gaiters and have found them to be too warm to hike in here in the south. So I switched to the OR Rocky Mtn. Lows and find they are just perfect. Not much snow here in the Ozarks.

Mozark”