Gaiters - What are the most bomb proof?

[Strider]

Any word on the Macpac Torre gaiters? Last time I checked they still weren't available in Australia, despite being designed specifically for Tassie.

They are at least up on the website: http://www.macpac.com.au/torre-gaiters.html
On sale to boot.

They've been on there about a year now, but never said they were available before (on Aus site anyway). Might be worth a look?

[stuey69]

Currently sale priced at $53.95, pity you have to order the underboot wires separately.

[Strider]

Currently sale priced at $53.95, pity you have to order the underboot wires separately.

This was discussed earlier in this thread, apparently most people prefer to add their own (be it shockcord, electrical wire, or SS braid). Though I agree it is annoying, and would rather see at least something on there as standard.

[baldhead]

I’m happy with Macpac Torre gaiters I bought in Perth earlier this year

The gaiters show no sign of wear after a couple of off track walks. One walk was hard, 6 day, off track, a couple of days very slow going through dense, very prickly scrub = hundreds of pin pricks / splinters through your pants into your thighs. Other gaiters did not fare as well.

I went for the normal size for good snug fit. The only problem with this is the stud at the bottom of the gaiter were it sits on top of laces is tight to do up and sometimes pops open, when catching on scrub. Maybe a larger stud would help or if it wasn't as tight across my boot? It doesn’t affect the gaiter coming open as the Velcro holds it in place.

I didn’t worry with the wire under tie, I use elastic cord it’s cheap and easily replaceable.

No mud on the walks though, which will be the acid test for Tassie.

[ILUVSWTAS]

No mud on the walks though, which will be the acid test for Tassie.

Yep. Saw a pair break one hour into their very first walk. The plastic buckles also look likely to breakdown, Not sure of the price, but I think there's better out there.

[stuey69]

I have some of these on order but I believe the OR Crocodile Expeds are as good as anything around.

[north-north-west]

After wearing my One Planet RFGs for over a year ...

Where can I get them, though? I can't find anyone on line who stocks them.

[ILUVSWTAS]

After wearing my One Planet RFGs for over a year ...

Where can I get them, though? I can't find anyone on line who stocks them.

Had mine nearly 2 years before they died! Very happy with them.

I suspect oneplanet.com.au would stock them.....

[stuey69]

Go to www.oneplanet.com.au, click on Industrial, then Outdoor Education rainwear and you'll see the link to RFG gaiters.

[Travis22]

The best gaiters ive come across are made by Huntech in NZ.

I have been using their knee high gaiters for about 5 years now and absolutely love them.

http://www.huntech.co.nz/EssentialsHats.html

Travis.

[matagi]

Travis, how do the zips cope with mud?

[Strider]

The best gaiters ive come across are made by Huntech in NZ.

I have been using their knee high gaiters for about 5 years now and absolutely love them.

http://www.huntech.co.nz/EssentialsHats.html

Travis.

The owner of Huntech (Steve Richards) is a close family friend, so I have used a fair selection of their gear over the years - not the gaiters though. Most impressive are the thermal bottoms I have had for 15 years now, and are still the best I own. I also used one of their packs (70L - no longer available) for about 13 years and it is still in great shape. Good quality NZ made gear.

[north-north-west]

Go to http://www.oneplanet.com.au, click on Industrial, then Outdoor Education rainwear and you'll see the link to RFG gaiters.

Yes, I did that months ago. What I can't find is the link that lets me buy them.

[gayet]

I think you need to contact your local distributor and get whatever ordered in if they don't stock it
http://www.oneplanet.com.au/distributors/australia.html

[stuey69]

[quote= Yes, I did that months ago. What I can't find is the link that lets me buy them.[/quote]

Send them an email and they'll give you the name of your nearest stockist.

[Ent]

Passion eight in Hobart stocks One Planet gaiters. I continue to be impressed by mine.

Cheers

[Mountain Rocket]

Passion 8 occasionally stock them, but like all One Planet retailers they can order them in (so in theory, so could Snowgum).
Personally I have never seen One Planet RFGs in Passion 8 but I know they have certainly had them over the years.

[Travis22]

Travis, how do the zips cope with mud?

Terribly sorry for the delay in reply, i usually seem to be the thread killer and expect noone to reply after ive commented in thread lol.

The Zips, not a problem in the world. They have the largest and best YKK zips available.

Im sure in another 5-10years i might need to take them into the local canvas bloke and get him to fit a new YKK runner, but ill be proud to do that when the time comes.

Travis.

[north-north-west]

My personal opinion, for my personal walking:

Kathmandu - rubbish. garbage. crap. absolute total waste of money. The only good thing about them is the SS wire used for an understrap.

Tatonka nylon - good design, cheap, hot and sweaty, pity that rear zip is so weak.

OR Crocs - reasonable design & materials except that clip on the top strap. Build quality is acceptable. Sizing a bit iffy.

One Planet RFG - superb materials and construction. Dreadful design and sizing.

StS Quagmire - best design, good fit, comfortable, keep out the water and mud; pity about the build quality.

MacPac - given the problems with eVent's DWR finish when dirty, it's useless for gaiters in Tassie.

The One Planets in particular are disappointing. They're beautifully made, top class materials, but they're too short - at both the top and the bottom - too wide and baggy around the leg, the drawstring at the top is awkward and uncomfortable, the press stud in the middle of the velcro is just stupid (Kathmandu do this as well, but even worse), the understrap's too short to be practical with boots, and they don't keep out water even for a short ankle high creek crossing.
What I want is a pair of gaiters made to a modified StS design (using their small or medium Quagmire as a pattern, with no press stud, a rear velcro entry, and a slightly longer finish at the front with the hook fixed under it rather than on a tab, and an easily replaceable SS wire understrap). Canvas. Preferably red. Is that really so hard?

[Strider]

Macpac make canvas gaiters too.

What about Wilderness Equipment?

[blacksheep]

Interesting personal opinion...nnw.But we haven't released an eVent gaiter...only pack cloth models- tolesse nylon, 9oz Aztec cascade gaiters and 12 oz Torre gaiters.

[north-north-west]

Interesting personal opinion...nnw.But we haven't released an eVent gaiter...only pack cloth models- tolesse nylon, 9oz Aztec cascade gaiters and 12 oz Torre gaiters.

Hmmm, I've got wires crossed there somewhere. But, and again, this is purely my personal preference, the design doesn't cut it for me. Still too short at the base. I know there was something else that bugged me about them when I checked them out in the shops, too.
I do like the look of the Wildedrness Equipment gaiters, though. If only I could be sure that the sizing will work.

[ILUVSWTAS]

I know there was something else that bugged me about them when I checked them out in the shops, too.

The plastic buckle that has no chance but to break?? The wire understrap with the split rings that end up pulling apart creating a sharp weapon which has no chance but to puncture the gaiter? Or the material that comes unstitched as fast as any i've seen before?

Sorry Cam, they aren't BAD gaiters, but they certainly aren't at the top of the range either.

[north-north-west]

I know there was something else that bugged me about them when I checked them out in the shops, too.

The plastic buckle that has no chance but to break?? The wire understrap with the split rings that end up pulling apart creating a sharp weapon which has no chance but to puncture the gaiter?

Ahhh, yes, that covers it. I didn't know about the stitching.

[blacksheep]

Hang on..never this is a Sr buckle like on all packs at the of gaiter you mean? Never seen these break??? And we don't supply these with a split ring/ cable. We stock one from aspiring enterprises, but use whichever under foot method you prefer. Stitching is 40s and 60s polycore thread..we buy this from Coates in UK..poly dosent rot and it is about the toughest sewing thread used.
No, not perfect( we have revised the fit on range coming soon) but tough.

[stepbystep]

The Torre has the best material stitching combo I have seen but the rest of the design is seriously flawed good to hear there is a revised version on its way. Ditch the buckle

[ILUVSWTAS]

Ok it's been a while since i've been in one of your stores, but before the one in Hobart moved, the gaiters did not come with an understrap... BUT the shop stocked packs of wire understraps, and sold separate to the gaiter for a further $10.95.

[Strider]

What exactly is the purpose of that SR buckle, anyway?

[Macca81]

given the problems with eVent's DWR finish when dirty,

Isnt eVent the membrane layer and not the DWR? and the DWR is not actually related to eVent? as in, 2 differing brands using eVent fabric can use 2 different DWR finishing on their products?

[blacksheep]

[Yes and No. One laminator factory GE had established applied their DWR chemical in way that has proven to be unreliable. Several brands has inconsistent results from them a from fabric produced 18 mths back. This laminator is no longer being used and affected brands have worked through the issue with GE some time ago. We had this issue appear on one batch of fabric used on our hollyford jackets. This stock has been claimed, any stock that is in store now is fine. You'll find a few big names used this supplier and had the same issue as dwr is already applied to fabric at source.
Not related to membrane, but laminator also applied dwr.