Sea to Summit gaiters - is the under sole strap necessary?

[ChrisJHC]

Just got a pair of the S2S Spinifex gaiters. Once fitted, they seem to be very snug and the under sole straps don't seem to add a lot of extra "snugness".

Any comments on whether these are essential or I can leave them off?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[devoswitch]

I'm sure everyone is different but I definitely prefer the strap on. I find it stops them riding up in deep mud and snow.

[Strider]

I definitely prefer the strap on

I always suspected this Steve.

I do agree though. What's your motivation to remove it? Weight saving?


Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Orion]

I find that the gaiters stay put in most situations without them so I usually don't fasten them.
But I don't cut the straps off either because some conditions warrant their use.

Why not fasten them? It's just one more thing. And they wear faster if you're walking on rocky terrain.

[ofuros]

i use them without, then again I'm in the Sub Tropics & not up to my neck
in snow & mud.
If the straps or cord wears out replace with some dyneema rope/cord,
it seems to last longer especially over rocky terrain.

[neilmny]

I prefer them on for a snugger fit. Aside from snow and mud it makes it harder for bullants, jumping jacks and leeches to find a way up your ankle.

[north-north-west]

If you're wearing shoes rather than boots, gaiters often slip up over the top of the shoe at the heel. The strap will prevent this.

[ChrisJHC]

I mainly bought them to protect against the small cuts you get around your shins from grass / bushes (particularly when wet). I guess I'll just have to try them each way on my next trip.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[devoswitch]

I definitely prefer the strap on

I always suspected this Steve.


Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

got me.

I find that although it stops the gaiters riding up, if the straps are tensioned enough I end up with a big ball of snow and ice that slowly builds under the strap. Really annoying.

[stepbystep]

In scrub the footstrap prevents the gaiter from twisting/rotating. Despite using Scotty's more tapered, fitted gaiters without the strap they also rotate in scrub, the S2S ones were hopeless like this. This is made worse when they are wet.