In need of some decent gaiters

[forest]

Okay okay before you all flick me to the number of other posts I have had a read of those.

I'm just after some decent scrub use gaiters to use with my Meindl leather boots.
If they don't die in 10 days use and keep water out crossing streams and rivers that's good

I have had a look around online. The local choice would be the canvas STS ones but I also stumbled on these NZ ones.
(Are the current macpac's any good, I haven't been in there yet)

The Swazi ones from NZ are enticing as I own some other swazi gear and it's usually top shelf.
http://www.swazi.co.nz/Online-Shop/Hats ... i-Gaiters/
I'm leaning towards the Swazi's at the moment. Comments appreciated.

Or either of these from NZ.
http://www.cactusequipment.co.nz/online ... ord=gaiter
http://www.cactusequipment.co.nz/online ... ters/76-78

[Mountain Rocket]

I have Instigaters which I consider a very proficient design but if I had my time again I would get someone (Evan from Terra Rossa Gear?) to make me a pair of Roger Caffin's gaiters outlined here: https://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bi ... cking.html

Failing that I would opt for some custom made canvas ones from Evan. I have long but very skinny legs so most off-the-shelf gaiters are quite baggy for me.
The result is more material (weight) which gets caught on stuff. Twin Needle in NZ also make some simple canvas gaiters.

One Planet also have their RFG gaiters which are similar to the Instigaiters with a better under-boot strap (imo) and a slightly less intense front hook. The replaceable webbing on the Instigaiters does not take nicely to rock-hopping.

Not too keen on the zip in the Swazi gaiters. :/

PS: Interesting to see you considering some 'heavier' options Forest I know you say you have read most of the threads but this thread is entirely relevant and full of good info: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=8067

[forest]

PS: Interesting to see you considering some 'heavier' options Forest

For track walks and the odd scramble / lighter scrub I'll always wear breathable runners and vary my gaiters between light debris gaiters or breathable OR rocky mountains.
Even grass seed is enough to turn a hardened UL runner fan into a sissy Unless you like the feeling of sharp *&%$#! jabbing your foot through the mesh all day.

Ahh don't count me out of the heavy gear.
I still do my share in the scrub and off track. Just not as often.

I need new gaiters and figure what's the point in buying rubbish ones that will not cut it.

[wayno]

http://www.bivouac.co.nz/footwear/footw ... iters.html

mine arent particularly heavyweight but not lightweight either

http://www.bivouac.co.nz/footwear/footw ... strap.html

[GPSGuided]

Never looked into these before. Do short gaiters work with low cut boots/shoes?

[wayno]

Never looked into these before. Do short gaiters work with low cut boots/shoes?

pretty much

[GPSGuided]

Thanks Wayno. High time to find a suitable set too and do away with all the stones and skin cuts.

[wayno]

i also use the low cut OR softshell ones they are tighter fitting, not totally waterproof though....

[GPSGuided]

Yes, the OR Flex-Tex model on that first page looked pretty good for my needs. Will further investigate.

[Ent]

Having used S2S, WE and One Planet the only gaiters I can recommend are the One Planet ones. Most other gaiters are not suitable for scrub. Would not touch the first two as while there is nothing wrong with the materials the stitching is terrible.

You may find it hard to get OP gaiters but worth the effort. Only thing is they fit high on the boot so best suited to a higher boot with sealed tongue.

Cheers

[forest]

Thanks guys. I'm in Melbourne in 2 weeks. I might email OP and see if anyone down there has them in stock to try on.
They look a bit baggy around the calf though. Will have to try some on as I'm a size 45 with skinny calves.

If I ended up with sts quagmires are the ones people mainly use just the canvas ones or are people having a good run with event gaiters. I guess full waterproof might be nice if spending a lot of time in wet grass and brush. I've soaked through coated nylon in the past in these conditions. But I don't want to cook my lower legs too much if its avoidable.

But I'm a noob to canvas gaiters so am unsure what they are like to wear.

I'm definately keen for gaiters that will stand up without the top clinched in.
That's my main grip with the light OR rocky mountains.

[wayno]

canvas lets in a lot less water than non waterproof nylon gaiters...
the canvas swells when wet limiting further water ingress. so you may get damp underneat in some conditions but they can keep out the worst of the water

[Ent]

Canvas as mentioned has an ability to self heal from small pin prick holes the biggest killer of waterproof membranes. But canvas is not as tough as nylon type materials so more than a few brands use nylon type material low down on the boot. The skill is matching the flex of the different materials and decent stitching something that S2S has not done well.

[KANANGRABOYD]

I might get executed for it but..........
I bought a pair of the Kathmandu ones when they were on "sale" for $30 or $40 last year, and they have Dyneema in them and have the option of replacing the heavy rubber strap for a wire swage. I have owned STS, Berghaus, OR gaiters in the past, and for what I paid these are excellent.

[forest]

Didn't I read in one of the other threads that STS has improved the stiching ??

Oh those Kathmandu ones look okay. Probably a similar gaiter to my OR Rocky Mountains.
But I'll check them out.

I'm really after a pair that will stand up by themselves so I can have to top open to breath better if possible. The stiffer canvas looks to be winning there.

I'll also wear them rogaining and that is one activity that's hard on gaiters. In just one event I managed to put some decent holes in my current OR's.

[KANANGRABOYD]

I haven't seen these for some years ( although I haven't looked ) but these are by far the best gaiters I have ever used. BERGHAUS YETI gaiters. These are well used and I glued them onto my Sportiva mountaineering boots. But for durability and waterproofness - they have the rubber seal, they are hard to beat. They also are pretty stiff and stand up pretty well. I know Wilderness Eqpt used to make some really stiff bombproof ones too.

[simonm]

Gday Forest,

I haven't tried these personally but I have had Mick do some canvas work for me in the past. He is up in Taree so not too far from you. He does a lot bushwalking so knows a bit about it.

Another option anyway - http://bushcamper.com.au/product-category/hiking-backpacking-trekking/gaiters/

[forest]

Okay so I headed into Adventure 195 in Newcastle ans whats hanging on the rack along with STS and OR...... OP RFG's. Excellent as I had a good chance to play with different ones. I must have looked most odd though with a boot on one foot and a trail runner on the other. See I will use these with both types of shoes so they had to suit.

Had a great little play and must have drove the guy in there nuts with all the velco ripping on and off.
In the end I did settle on the RFG's but to be honest it was a close thing against the STS Canvas Quagmires. Fit and comfort were the deciding factors. The RFG has a bigger gap around my calf which just felt cooler when I walked around. The correct size in STS for my shoes gave me a much smaller air gap and the calf fit for me only left a small gap for ventilation. Chances are I'll have them done up anyway when in use but on my current gaiter I use them more for scrub than stopping water ingress. Being able to walk with these gaiters with the top strap loose will be a vast improvement to the sweaty nylong ones I was using. (or so I hope)
Both the RFG and STS stayed up fine with the top strap loose. I did like the top strap on the STS better though as I would think a velco attachment would hold firm longer that the spring toggle thing on the RFG. (If you needed them lashed up firm at the top)
I wasn't a huge fan on the protruding lace clip on the STS, I could see that a) getting clogged full of mud and grass b) eventually getting ripped off as it would cop a bit of punishment sticking up on the front of a shoe. On the flip side the RFG just has a simple hook attached to the underside of the front clip thingy.
I had no issues (I though I might have) with the fit of either type on trail runners. I found no problem with the reported "higher" fit of the RFG with low cut runners. They seem to have a good fit overall.

The RFG's are just a clean simple design and the canvas is heavier than the STS.
Australian made is also a huge plus for me. $89 members price well spent.
I will report more after the August 12hr rogaine. They should get a good test then with runners and a whole lot of lantana, lawyer vine and god knows what other spiky plants in the Watagans.

Thanks for people's input. Both now and in the past threads.

[Onestepmore]

Hey - glad you tracked, hunted down, killed and dragged home a suitable pair of scrub bashers.

A little off the original topic, but you mention you'll use these with trail runners too. How do you stop the heel part of your gaiter from riding high above the top edge of your low cut shoe? I wear gaiters with my usual shoes - low cut Oboze, and i often have to stop and adjust the back of them. I use a front velcro closing goretex pair of Kathmandus with the wire under the heel, and a lighter Outdoor Research pair depending on conditions. I have to wear socks that go up higher, as i've rubbed a few times at the back of the heel when I've worn short merino sport socks. Just interested, as I have a lightweight pair of LaSportiva Wildcats coming for summer, and I think the heel on these trail runners is even lower.

I have a pair of these 'Rab scree' shorty gaiters on the way, to try for stony dry conditions in summer http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/mid-layer/IC104.html Has anyone experience with them?
I've also had a look at these http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/wind-proof/IB101.html - has anyone tried them? Appealing for me as they are a small size
And I love the look of Dirty Girl gaiters - not bought any yet though. http://www.dirtygirlgaiters.com/

[wayno]

i dont have that problem with the OR tech flex with shoes. they are a tight fit with stretch and come down low enough that they dont ride over the top of the shoe. or have another stretchy model as well ankle length

[KANANGRABOYD]

Nice one,
Always good when you find some good gear

[forest]

How do you stop the heel part of your gaiter from riding high above the top edge of your low cut shoe?

I've never had that issue with other gaiters with a strap. If the strap is adjusted correctly that is.
The gaiters are pretty solid around the base. I cannot see them changing shape much and riding up.
On light gaiters I guess it would be possible.

I have no issues with my montbell stretch gaiters which are just to stop the pebbles and stuff getting in the top.
They are very light gaiters and super flimsy. The look similar to those RAB's. The stretch nature keeps mine on firm around the heel.
It's only ever been the sides I have had coverage issues with if they ride up on the low cut shoe where your ankle sits as that's the lowest part.

I'll keep an eye on it and let you know.

[forest]

Okay so you got the better of me regarding the gaiter riding up so I just went down to the car and checked.

Yes I could get the back up over the heel of my runners. But it took some decent pulling right on the back edge under the gaiter.
I guess this could happen in the bush but I've never noticed it in the past with gaiters much more flimsy than these. It would take something like post holing for a while I'd say. Either that or something that is really resisting specifically the back edge again and again.
If the lace hook is pulled tight towards the front of the shoe its even tighter in the heel then. My inov8 do have that little rubber shoe symbol on the heel which increases the friction with the gaiter.

Maybe onemorestep your gaiters are a looser fit over the shoe than what im used to. I like mine TIGHT. Gaiters that is

[Strider]

OSM are you adjusting the instep strap when transferring the gaiters from your boots to your approach shoes?

[Mountain Rocket]

Australian made is also a huge plus for me. $89 members price well spent.

That is a great gaiter at a great price (Snowgum in Hobart have them for $120!). Keep us posted with how you get on

[Onestepmore]

OSM are you adjusting the instep strap when transferring the gaiters from your boots to your approach shoes?

Haha Strider - up until a couple of week ago my 'approach shoes' and my boots were one and the same
i have only just recently bought by first pair of ankle high 'proper' (ie read 'heavy') boots - a pair of nubuck Zamberlans. I've only been wearing them around in the house and not used them on a walk yet. So far I've not needed to wear full boots (I've only walked a bit in Tassie in mid summer, I say as you smirk knowingly....)

I think my issue may be that I have small feet, and even so called 'small' gaiters are too big, so they are not tight enough and therefore tend to ride up. I wear a size 7 womens (37/38 Europen). The under heel strap is always cranked up as tight as I can make it ditto for the front lace hook. I don't think it'll be a problem in my new ankle boots, but gaiters and my Wildcats may not be compatible (which is why I am tempted to try the light ones like Dirty Girl gaiters for reducing summer stones and sand)

Ty for the suggestions

[Dutchy]

Not sure what people are talking about when it comes to the STS gaiters.... I've had mine for ages, and yes, after 5 or 6 years the stitching on the inside (where your feet touch at times) the stitching is coming undone... they've copped a battering though! Bought a new pair for a friend a little while ago, and with some new little changes these look like they will last even longer! And at $67 for the waterproof canvas ones, not a bad buy.... nice neat gaiter too, compared to some flimsy ones out there!

[DARRIN-G]

If you have trail runners try inov8 sock/gaiters great for keeping mud etc out u can put knee high gaiters over the top if you need more protection...

[GPSGuided]

Anyone heard or tried these Black Crystal gaiters? US based store with cheap international shipping. Even has children's gaiters.

http://www.blackcrystalonline.com/index.php?cPath=272

[Strider]

Anyone heard or tried these Black Crystal gaiters? US based store with cheap international shipping. Even has children's gaiters.

http://www.blackcrystalonline.com/index.php?cPath=272

They appear to be identical in design to Outdoor Research Crocodiles. Right down to the little Velcro tab near the toe.