Gaiters…seriously don’t know

[douglasfir]

Gaiters keep gunk out of your boots, which is the main benefit. They also keep water from getting into your boots by keeping your socks dry. They really are useful. I'm usually too lazy to put them on.

 

[COJoe]

I use Stone Glaciers gaiters, they have held up well. Where I hunt in CO I will almost always eventually find myself in a nasty blow down area from beetle killed pines and the gaiters have taken much abuse from the hidden limbs and such so my hunting pants don't get torn up. I've gotten two holes in them from 'dead fall trip and fall' but they were easy to patch with tenacious tape.

 

[Marbles]

Gaiters can keep rocks, dirt, and snow out of your boots. The can also help keep your feet and legs dry.

Gaiters are hot and hold sweat in. I pretty much only use high gaiters if I expect deep snow.

I will use low running gaiters over my boots and socks, but under my pants, to help with my socks wetting out from the top in damp grass/brush.

 

[5MilesBack]

Wear 'em cuz my wife got tired of sewing up my torn pants and I got tired of tripping when my pants snag on a Staub or branch.

A few years ago, the one time I didn't put my gaiters on, a snag caught my pants just above my boot tops and ripped a 5" gash in them. Fixed it with Tenacious Tape, but if I didn't wear gaiters elk hunting every year, I'd need new pants every year. For me the only downside to gaiters is putting them on every morning.

 

[Balderdash]

They stop capillary action. I only use them for long hikes with leather boots in snow.

Not really suited to down south use, but maybe for moisture? If the hikes aren't greater than a few miles, the knee high rubber boots are a good option.

Used to lift a lot of weights, so calves are pretty think, and getting gaiters to fit over even thin pants has been a challenge. Have an old set I got from Gander Mountain and 2 newer sets I got from Kenetrec that fit. Just have to try a bunch on or get them sized.

 

[Slick17]

Most high end gaiters will have multiple sizes to fit your calves. You have to measure the circumference of your calves. Also, the best gaiters are adjustable for size as well. T&K hunting makes gaiters with two different heights as well. I have both as the regular length are a bit long but they work just fine. The shorter version stops right below my knee.

What is your length from the floor to your knee? I'm wondering if the knee height will be too high for me as well.

 

[CMF]

I'm from MS. I have them, but rarely use them and only use them out west so far. worth it if theres snow on the ground or its raining and you're walking through a lot of grass.
I recently added kuiu chuga rain pants that can zip on and off super quick and worked great on a recent sheep hunt when going through grass and waist high brush was wet from rain or morning dew. I'll probably carry the gaiters even less now cause I'll rarely need both.

 

[Macchina]

They are OK on dry and warm hunts, but are great on anything else.

Snow is the number 1 reason I wear them. Absolutely necessary if your blazing paths in anything 4” or deeper.

Next is for rain. The gaiters keep your lower pants dry and you don’t really need rain pants with tall gaiters. This will keep your boots dry. They also keep you dry from wet vegetation.

The last reason I use them for is being active in cold weather. They keep your feet warmer but allow some ventilation on your knees and thighs.