Gaiters in Sept?

[Poser]

Leave them at home?
Protection from morning due, maybe a creek crossing?
Bottom of your pack unless you need them?

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Where are you hunting? I usually bring a low cut, light weight gaiter for Sept here in Colorado. Keeps the sticks and stones out of my shoes and my socks dry after a hard rain the night before.

 

[mattstanton]

I always wear them. I use shorter trail running type in September. My main reasons are morning dew and also to keep debris and dust out all day. On multi day hunts I bring 2 pairs of socks total. My feet get funky enough without added dirt and such.

 

[Solitude]

I have not regretted leaving them behind in September on traditional elk hunts.

Best use in September is after it rains and you are milling about. However, most states/clothing dry up so darn quick after the rain stops in September they are still typically not warn by most.

 

[fillthefreezer]

like a few above, i wear short gaiters til october

 

[5MilesBack]

For those that do wear them, what is your preference for brand? I prefer a little taller gaiter, silent against branches, grass, etc,....quick and easy to use, and fairly form fitting.

 

[Beastmode]

Sometimes the fog gets very bad where in one of the places I hunt. Walking through soaking grass can get anoying but as others have mentioned my pants dry out quick.

In the higher areas I hunt I will where short gaiters while scouting due to the creeks being a little deeper from snow melt. And I where shorts a lot for scouting.

 

[fillthefreezer]

i wear OR endurance and kuiu gaiters. hoping another brand steps up with an awesome short gaiter when their '14 gear comes out around june

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Im a big fan of the OR Flex Tex Gaiter. I put the gaiter on underneath my Kanab Pants and cinch the pant bottom over the top. When the snow starts flying I switch to the BD Frontpoint Gaiter. Its Black Diamond's answer to the OR Crocs with more cordura reinforcement for cramponing

 

[jmez]

I wouldn't leave them st home. Pretty light insurance against wet feet. I wear them in the am for dew mainly. A couple years ago on a Co hunt I left them at home. It happened to rain every day. Bad idea.

Have good rain gear but in grass water will find its way to the tops of your socks and wick right into your boots. You'll have wet boots the rest of the trip.

I like the Kiui gaiters for full length. Quiet, light and fit well on my size 13 boot.

 

[2rocky]

REI Trail running gaiters

With Hiking boots - no lower strap

With trail running shoes using under arch cord.

 

[Mike7]

Im a big fan of the OR Flex Tex Gaiter. I put the gaiter on underneath my Kanab Pants and cinch the pant bottom over the top. When the snow starts flying I switch to the BD Frontpoint Gaiter. Its Black Diamond's answer to the OR Crocs with more cordura reinforcement for cramponing

I concur 100%. This is the best setup I have found so far... The OR Flex Tex gaiters are very breathable but amazingly waterproof and durable if worn just as Colo4x4J describes. They are much easer to put on than the REI gaiters, and more comfortable for me (they come in various sizes for those of us with thicker ankles/calves). They have been more durable than the Kuiu for me. And for later season the OR Crocs are very durable, more breathable for me than the Kuiu it seams, and more waterproof by a little than the Kennetreks.

 

[justin davis]

I use light trail running gaitors all the time. Summer spring you name it. The main reason I wear them is to keep things out of my boots like stickers and dirt etc

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Outdoor Research also has an amazing warranty. A customer brought in a pair of OR Crocs that were 10 years old and beat to hell. The top little clasp had popped off and he just wanted to get them repaired. Instead OR sent him a brand new pair of gaiters.

 

[fillthefreezer]

The OR Flex Tex gaiters (they come in various sizes for those of us with thicker ankles/calves).

still too big for my chicken legs. i gave up and switched to the enurance

 

[DaveC]

Montbell UL spats are by far the best trail gaiter available at the moment. Tough, trim, quiet. The underfoot strap is amazingly durable. They'll fit trail runners and mid-height boots, probably not the massive wafflestompers some prefer. Folks with cankles should size up.

 

[brucemt]

I'm with justin on this. I wear gaiters whenever I am in the woods. Nice weather I use OR flex tex to keep debris out of my boots, wet to nasty I wear kuiu.