Gaiters are an essential clothing and footwear item for hikers and backpackers that provide moisture protection, extra insulation, and protection for your ankles and lower legs. They're available in a wide variety of heights and fabrics, with a multitude of different attachment options for use with hiking shoes, trail runners, and hiking boots. Here's an overview of the different types of hiking gaiters available, the best times to use them, and guidance on shoe compatibility, because gaiters attachment systems are NOT universally compatible with all shoe types.
Low Gaiters
Low gaiters are primarily used to keep sticks and stones out of your shoes when hiking or trail running, so you don't have to stop to take them out of your shoes. They typically cover your ankles and lower calves, covering the tops of your socks. Made from stretchy spandex or nylon, they provide some moisture protection from splashing in puddles or mud, but your feet will still get wet if you step in a deep puddle or slosh through a stream-bed during a water crossing. There are a couple of different ways to attach a low gaiter to trail shoes and trail runners, so you need to make sure that any gaiters you buy are going to work with the shoes you intend to use.
If your hiking shoes have an arch between the forefoot and heel (right, above), you can use a gaiter that's held on by a instep strap or cord running through it. These are convenient because you can put them on and take them off without removing your shoe and it's easy to switch them between different shoes quickly. But a bottom instep strap is still subject to considerable abrasion. My preference is to buy gaiters with replaceable straps or cords like Inov8's Debris Gaiter or the mid-size Black Diamond Cirque where I can quickly replace the stirrup with a simple elastic cord when one breaks.
But many low trail or running shoes have flat soles that don't have an arch (left, above). To attach a gaiter, you have to glue a velcro patch to the back of your shoes to keep the rear of the gaiter on (the front hooks to your shoe laces). While gaiter manufacturers include adhesive-backed velcro strips to attach to the back of your shoes (they hook to the inside hem of the gaiter), they don't stick very well, and you'll want to attach them with a stronger glue, like Shoo Goo or Seam Grip, if you want a long-lasting bond.
Some shoes already come with a pre-installed velcro patches or gaiter traps like Altra Running Shoes which is one reason they're so popular with long distance hikers and trail runners. There's also a lot to be said for the Altra's wide selection of gaiters if you like their running shoes, because they integrate so well.
High Gaiters
High gaiters are usually used in combination with insulated hiking or mountaineering boots to prevent snow from drenching your socks, but they're also used by some long distance hikers and bushwhackers for leg and insect protection. Most high gaiters are only made for boots that have an arch, not flat soled boots. If you intend to wear high gaiters with boots, make sure you don't get boots with flat soles.
Most high gaiters have a thick plastic strap that runs under the sole's instep to keep the gaiters from riding up your leg. Some of these straps are sewn to the gaiter and not replaceable, so you need to make them last.
If you have flat soled hiking boots, you need to find high gaiters that have replaceable cords or straps because you're going to wear them out from abrasion pretty quickly. No one, to my knowledge, makes a low velcro-style gaiter for boots. While you could use a low gaiter with boots, you 're not going to get the same cold or moisture protection that a high gaiter will provide.
Recommended Gaiters
Altra Trail Gaiters
Salomon Trail Gaiters
Montbell Stretch Short Spats
Check out the latest price on:
Montbell America
Dirty Girl Gaiters
Check out the latest price on:
Dirty Girl Gaiters
Black Diamond Cirque Gaiters
Check out the latest price at:
Backcountry | Amazon
Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters
Outdoor Research Verglas Gaiters
Written 2018.
Disclosure: SectionHiker.com receives affiliate compensation from retailers that sell the products we recommend or link to if you make a purchase through them. When reviewing products, we test each thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. Our reputation for honesty is important to us, which is why we only review products that we've tested hands-on. Our mission is to help people, which is why we encourage readers to comment, ask questions, and share their experiences on our posts. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.The post Hiking Gaiters 101 appeared first on Section Hikers Backpacking Blog.
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