How frequently do you wash your gaiters?

[Poser]

I only wear gaiters when I need them, so I probably carry them around more than I wear them. That being said, when you need them, you need them.

In the past, I've not really washed gaiters very frequently since, when I need them, they get wet and when they get wet, they usually get muddy. Dirt and grit grind into the fabric with use. Gaiters take more of a direct beating than most other clothing. My last 2 pairs of gaiters have fallen completely apart, though that's to be expected after a couple of years of hard use. So, with my latest pair of gaiters, in an effort to get a bit more life out of them, I've been washing them anytime they are dirty, they aren't going to get immediately dirty again the following day and when I have something else that need to be washed in Tech Wash anyway.

Washing (in Tech Wash) too frequently vs. not frequent enough -does it make any difference?

 

[ChrisAU]

I’ve never done anything more than hose them off if they get caked in mud.

 

[cuerro viejo]

I’ve never done anything more than hose them off if they get caked in mud.

Same. I do reapply DWR though via spray.

 

[neandth]

I wash my gear after every time out, even my soft shells. I am out every weekend, so they get washed once a week. I have also used the tech wash, but will use soap powder too.

 

[madcalfe]

ive never washed my gaitors... think my kuiu's are 6 years old and my stone glaciers are going on 3 years now lol

 

[dtrkyman]

Never, not even sure I have ever rinsed them off? KUIU Yukons probably 10 years old and still going strong!

 

[justinspicher]

I’ve never washed my gators and they are probably 20-25yrs old.

 

[Wolfshead]

You’re supposed to wash them?!

 

[lantern68687]

I wash mine after each use.

 

[Jake_B]

Like many others, have never washed them

 

[atmat]

At this point, the mud is what’s holding my gaiters together.

 

[CC55]

At this point, the mud is what’s holding my gaiters together.

Same. I think the mud almost gives it another dwr layer ha. Never washed mine, but after about 10 years they’re getting ready to be replaced.

 

[87TT]

Real men don’t wash gaiters.

 

[Poser]

Real men don’t wash gaiters.

I took that approach with a pair of Kuiu Yukons. Not sure if I did anything more than hose them off for a few years. Then I tried washing them and retreating them and the DWR just wouldn’t stick to the fabric. -could not get water to bead at all.

More recently, I’ve been washing gaiters regularly and water beads as it should. They also dry out faster. That doesn’t always matter for gaiters since exposure to wet grass doesn’t allow fabric to bead, but if you’re using gaiters as part of your rain gear system, it can certainly matter.

Do you not clean and retreat your boots?

 

[WRO]

It rains sometimes on them or wet brush.


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[fisherman983]

I dont know if I've ever washed them but I definitely try to hose the mud off of them any time they are dirty.

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[madcalfe]

I took that approach with a pair of Kuiu Yukons. Not sure if I did anything more than hose them off for a few years. Then I tried washing them and retreating them and the DWR just wouldn’t stick to the fabric. -could not get water to bead at all.

More recently, I’ve been washing gaiters regularly and water beads as it should. They also dry out faster. That doesn’t always matter for gaiters since exposure to wet grass doesn’t allow fabric to bead, but if you’re using gaiters as part of your rain gear system, it can certainly matter.

Do you not clean and retreat your boots?

i can say I've washed my raingear and have retreated it with dwr, kuiu yukon jacket though has finally stopped being waterproof after 6 years. I've still haven't soaked through my gaiters and have nver washed or hosed them off nor have i ever treated them with dwr.