Gaiters advice

[andrewbish]

After a shin-destroying experience in around sub-alpine vegetation around Mt Howitt last weekend I am in the market for some gaiters.

I will be doing most of my bushwalking in the foreseeable future in the Vic high country.

Priorities for the gaiters are:

• <$50
• Cover my shins (duh!)
• Provide protection from scratches and scrapes
• Provide some protection from snakes
• Light
• Don't get too hot

I have had a look around and the Tatonka Long Nylon (~$30) and the STS Grasshopper (~$35) seem like a good fit. The STS Overland(~$45) also looks pretty good.

Keen to hear from anyone who has some suggestions or advice about these (or others)

Cheers

[Moondog55]

Light isn't the best for our high country IMO; I went to very heavy WE canvas gaiters a few years ago and found they actually offered protection from most things. They must have been good; they stopped making them.
The alternative is a lightweight gaiter and lightweight soccer shin protectors

[andrewbish]

Thanks, Moondog. I hear you re going heavier, but I am keen to keep light (ie have cake and eat it too ) I suppose a visit to Sportsmart will be the go if the light gaiters aren't giving my shins enough protection.

[mountnman]

I have the pair of Tatonka's that you are looking at, and mine have survived a couple of years scrub bashing through the budawangs.

Put it this way, if these ones do die one day, I'll go and buy another pair the same. I love them.

[andrewbish]

That's a good rap, Mountnman. Damn! - I was leaning twds the STS Overlands

[Moondog55]

I have a pair of the REI summer weight gaiters here somewhere, your if you want them, just pay for the postage
PM me you mailing address and I'll put them in a small prepaid bag and send em off for you to try

[walkinTas]

You'll find more information in the Gaiters topic.

[andrewbish]

Thanks, WalkingTas.

[andrewbish]

I am widening my gaiter shortlist to include the REI Trail Gaiters.

Others are:

• Tatonka Long Nylon
• STS Grasshopper
• STS Overland

Have you used any of these? Was it a good experience? Would you/did you buy them again?

[stepbystep]

I've had the Overlands in the past, they don't breathe and fall to bits very quickly, if I were you I would go heavier duty than all those you list.
Either get canvas or Goretex if you want strength and/or breathability.

[andrewbish]

Thanks, SBS. Any brand recommendation?

[ILUVSWTAS]

The STS Goretex or Canvas range is quite popular. Last ok if your not walking off track much.

I recently got a pair of OP RFG'S. So far im very happy with them. Probably the best gaiters i've owned. But they are quite expensive.

[andrewbish]

Thanks, ILUVSWTAS.

TBH am getting slightly contradictory messages from this thread and elsewhere in the forum :

• "heavier gaiters last longer" - so get something sturdy like the WE Canvas Bush Gaiters(delivered free for $65)

vs

• "all gaiters wear out quickly if you're going off track" - so buy cheaper gaiters, on the basis that I will need to get new ones after a smallish number of hikes with off-track elements

Decisions, decisions...

[Liamy77]

i use s2s quagmires and am fairly happy with them.... have an old leather pair too but too hot...

[andrewbish]

Thanks. S2S seems like a well-regarded brand here.

[corvus]

My 2cents worth,
Nylon (and its derivatives ) as Gaiters are not worth buying other than for keeping grass seeds off your socks,Canvas is the way to go for protection and breathe-ability.
corvus

[sthughes]

Yeah I'd go canvas too. I've had nylons and were never happy, especially in hot weather. I have some STS quagmires and some One Planet RFG's. I prefer the RFG's but the Quagmires are okay as well. Both were gifts so not sure of price.

[ollster]

I have some STS quagmires and some One Planet RFG's. I prefer the RFG's but the Quagmires are okay as well. Both were gifts so not sure of price.

Just a comment on the Quagmires... there are some older threads panning them for having crap stitching, but I can confirm they seem to have improved the front stitching. My latest ones have not yet had the front stitching "extracted" by scrub. There are other design issues still (like those freaking buckles bending on rocks after about 5 mins).

Oh yeah, Corvus is right, nylon is horrible as a gaiter material.

[stepbystep]

I have some STS quagmires and some One Planet RFG's. I prefer the RFG's but the Quagmires are okay as well. Both were gifts so not sure of price.

Just a comment on the Quagmires... there are some older threads panning them for having crap stitching, but I can confirm they seem to have improved the front stitching. My latest ones have not yet had the front stitching "extracted" by scrub. There are other design issues still (like those freaking buckles bending on rocks after about 5 mins).

Oh yeah, Corvus is right, nylon is horrible as a gaiter material.

Haven't been walking enough Oll, my quagmires have lost most of the stitching on the front, buckles are bent, pushstuds are buggered and straps are snapped - have replaced strap with hoopiron, seems to be holding well
Oh and they are 4 mnths old - will be trying the OP next season, but still better than nylon comfort wise....

[johnw]

Still happy enough with my STS Quagmire Canvas ones. I rarely use them outside Tasmania but wore them on about 4 day trips in Tas. over the Xmas break. No problems other than fair wear and tear. Weather was warm-ish on most of those days, the gaiters were comfortable and "breathed" quite well. Also kept out most of the mud when I stepped in a few bog holes on one trip. I also have a pair of Spinifex nylon ones and agree that nylon is a terrible fabric for gaiters. Doesn't breathe at all and gets very hot.

[Genesis]

I have recently purchased a pair of STS Quagmire canvas, There seems to be a lot of comment regarding the stitching on the front failing. I was wondering if something like a seam seal, araldite etc would help in keeping the stitching intact longer?
I was going to try something along these lines before I take them bush. Anyone else tried anything like this ?

[norts]

I have done that , I also ran some around the stitching on the wear patches.

Roger

[andrewbish]

Thanks all for the suggestions. Have ordered a pair of canvas WE Bush Gaiters.

[Genesis]

I have done that , I also ran some around the stitching on the wear patches.

Roger

Roger,

What did you use to seal the seams?.

Muzz

[norts]

I think it was freesole.

[Genesis]

Hello all

I recently got a pair of STS Quagmire gaiters, unfortunatley even the XL do not fit me around my calves. Who out there knows of a brand that are generous in the
calf area? I will have to exchange these but do not know where to go from here. I see OR have sizes up to XXL but tI am woried that these will be too high and hinder my knee.

Genesis

Last edited by Genesis on Fri 25 Feb, 2011 12:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[ollster]

I recently got a pair of STS Quagmire gaiters, unfortunatley even the XL do not fit me around my calves. Who out there knows of a brand that are generous in the
calf area? I will have to exchange these but do not know where to go from here.

You must have calves like tree trunks! I have what I would consider fairly large calves, and the XLs are too big for me! To be honest, you may need to get some custom made if they don't fit.

[Macca81]

im in the same boat as you Genesis. i have a totally different brand, cant remember what it is, but it was the only thing that fit around my calves (still too long however). they are falling apart now and im looking at getting custom, as S2S do not make any big enough to fit around them...

[Greenie]

I also have problems with the calves. I recently got a pair of canvas STS Quagmire gaiters and I am bit worried that they will rub at the back of my knees. It was a problem getting the right calves/length with my short legs. I suppose I need to take them for a spin to find out how they go.

[walkinTas]

If you find the quagmires too tall, S2S make a short canvas gaiter called a spinifex (I think Link).