The case for gaiters???

[Humphr47]

All,
Gaiters are something that I have never used or seen the need for. I would like to hear why some of you consider this an essential piece of gear.

Typically, if it is wet and/or snow on the ground, I have always opted to just wear a waterproof durable pant instead. And in dry conditions I have always wore 8" boots to keep the burs and fox tails out.

Looking forward to hearing some of your opinions.

 

[colonel00]

Gaiters do a number of things, especially depending on the type of gaiter. Of them, they do a better job of keeping things from getting up under your pants be it water or snow or sticks or whatever. Unless you are tight-rolling your pants (that joke is for the older folks) then stuff will get up the pants leg. Once water gets on your regular pants, it doesn't matter if you have rain pants over them. The water will wick up the leg and down the sock mostly likely. If you are walking in deep snow or thick brush, that stuff will get right up the leg of your waterproof pants.

Another use is for lower leg protection. Some people wear them with shorts but even with regular pants, when working through thick brush and thorns, your legs and pants can get thrashed. Thicker gaiters will definitely help with this.

While I've never been in the situation to try it, some say that you can even quickly cross a stream that is higher than your boots with gaiters on. Not a recommended use but it might come in handy. Again, the water would probably rush right up the leg of your pants.

This kind of relates to the first topic but morning dew can soak your legs. Unless you are wearing your waterproof pants every time you encounter any moisture, gaiters will be there to always deter the elements.

 

[SHTF]

This kind of relates to the first topic but morning dew can soak your legs. Unless you are wearing your waterproof pants every time you encounter any moisture, gaiters will be there to always deter the elements.

Exactly why I wear them.

 

[tttoadman]

Gaiters do a number of things, especially depending on the type of gaiter. Of them, they do a better job of keeping things from getting up under your pants be it water or snow or sticks or whatever. Unless you are tight-rolling your pants (that joke is for the older folks) then stuff will get up the pants leg. Once water gets on your regular pants, it doesn't matter if you have rain pants over them. The water will wick up the leg and down the sock mostly likely. If you are walking in deep snow or thick brush, that stuff will get right up the leg of your waterproof pants.

Another use is for lower leg protection. Some people wear them with shorts but even with regular pants, when working through thick brush and thorns, your legs and pants can get thrashed. Thicker gaiters will definitely help with this.

While I've never been in the situation to try it, some say that you can even quickly cross a stream that is higher than your boots with gaiters on. Not a recommended use but it might come in handy. Again, the water would probably rush right up the leg of your pants.

This kind of relates to the first topic but morning dew can soak your legs. Unless you are wearing your waterproof pants every time you encounter any moisture, gaiters will be there to always deter the elements.

All of this. I wear them all day most days in the field.

 

[Joee]

Depends on where I'm hunting and the weather. Summer in the high country? I don't wear them. If there is ANY chance of rain and/or walking through swampy areas or wet vegetation I wear them. I don't wear them to protect my shins I wear them to keep my feet dry.

 

[jeffpg]

I don't leave home without them. Once you get used to the protection they provide you won't want to be without them.

 

[Mk7mmSTW]

Cross a stream with the plans of walking carefully on rocks or in the shallow section and make that last jump and dip a boot... Wet boot for the entire day, maybe 2. It's happened to everyone and I've never met someone that wouldn't pay hundreds for a dry boot. Wet boots destroy the hunt with every step.

 

[GKPrice]

also, when it's cold gaitors help keep your feet, legs and YOU warmer even if it's just a little bit

 

[Mike7]

Rain pants would get shredded here by the brush, and they are usually uncomfortable to wear prior to early to mid Oct due to the temps. I think most people that think their boots are leaking when walking through wet shrubs, are really having wicking of water down their socks from wet pants. It can rain here in the mountains on any day of the year and no matter what the forecast, so there is always the possibility of having to walk through wet brush. Gaiters will allow you to be able to wear a shorter, lighter, more breathable pair of boots and still not get debris or water in your boots. If you wear tall boots, and don't mind putting the top of your socks down inside of your boots during wet conditions, or you can wear rain pants all of the time during wet conditions with your style of hunting, then you probably don't need gaiters.

The more breathable soft shell gaiters are great for the warmer months and for shorter periods of water exposure, and the taller more waterproof gaiters are work well for the cooler or wetter months at keeping your feet warm and dry. I only wear rain pants for sitting and glassing after early to mid October if needed, or in the cooler, wetter months more infrequently if bike riding/hiking in a monsoon on a maintained trail/road where the rain pants will not get torn. A big mistake many make is wearing gaiters outside of their pants for prolonged walking through wet brush, because the DWR treatment of their soft shell pants above the level of the gaiters will be defeated by kneeling and by contact from wet brush while hiking, and then water will wick right down the pants under the top of the gaiters and ultimately down to the socks.

From personal experience of crossing hundreds of streams less than 1 ft deep in low cut leather waxed hiking boots and pants rolled up, OR Croc and Verglas gaiters will keep your feet 100% dry. I don't know how long one could stand in the water, but for simply walking across, and as long as the gaiters are applied directly to the skin of your leg above your socks, you will come away completely dry.

 

[elkbowkevin]

I have a set of blacks creek gaiters. LOVE them. in warmer weather you feet and lower legs do get a bit warmer but you can really walk quieter due to the slimmer lower leg. THis year in warm weather Im going with black base layers, knee length shorts and gaiters for the hotter days.

I have over top dipped boots in many a creek and had many a wet lower leg from grassy dew wet brush or berry bushes on trails going in, and ALWAYS my socks will wick the moisture out of the non water proof pants. Since using gaiters the last 3 years the wet boot and sock, standing in the morning sun to dry your pants days, are gladly over.

Later season, snow and rain, I dont care who you are or what killer high dollar pants your wearing , your boots are gunna suck in water /snow somewhere around the tops.

I hunted late season last 2 years in heavy snow / rain out here in the jungles and mtns of western OR and my lower legs stayed dry and the boots / socks never had a drop of water in em.

Great thing about em is that they will compress your lower pants legs tighter and make it much more quiet walking, no more shwoosh-swoosh like a big thigh'd gal with nylons on.

 

[BIGHORNtracks]

Abrasion.
If you spend a lot of time in abrasive country and you find that the lower leg on your pants is being worn thin, gaiters save your pants.

Crampon wearers will call you crazy if you don't wear gaiters.

Lots of folks don't spend time in steep, frozen country, but I do. Gaiters are a necessity in deep snow and on frozen ground.
There is nothing worse than putting a crampon point through a perfectly good pant leg.

I don't find it a requirement, but in real muddy conditions, gaiters keep your lower pant legs clean.
Its nice to get back to camp and pull your gaiters off and have clean pant legs, rather than have to change your pants just so that everything in camp doesn't get mud all over it.
Last years elk hunt, it rained for three days straight. It was crazy muddy. It was doable without gaiters, but it was much nicer with them.

 

[BigAntlerGetter]

I brought this up on another forum where someone was asking about pants being to short, I have long legs and I like pants that hang a little lower on my boots. Well with a 30" waist and 38" inseam I wear gaiters 1 cause i can actually buy pants that fit my waist and not worry about pants riding up, especially when I'm riding horses, pants will ride up and get uncomfortable so the gaiters help with that. Also keeping the moisture out during archery season mornings or rain storms. Keeping snow and my lower pant legs dry when hiking in snow. I had an outfitter buddy tell me once that a set of gaiters can mean life or death on a late season hunt and he proved it to me one night when we shot a cow with a client 10 minutes before shooting light and it got down to -5 all day it was warmer and my gaiters were soaked but feet and pants were dry as could be. We had a 5 mile ride out and if my socks, pants or legs woulda been wet, I could just imagine what could have happened on that ride out. Feet get cold on horses really quick and wet feet at -5 is really dangerous so I wear them all the time, plus my pants usually get torn up pretty bad and buying a pair of pants a year cause the bottoms were shredded was getting expensive.


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[Ross]

I wear them specifically to keep water and snow from running down the top of boots and add a further layer of waterproofing for my boots. In this area rain is very common and the brush makes you like a sponge. Eventually you get wet feet but they help you to stay dry longer and stay out longer when the conditions suck. Also as noted they help retain heat. In September I don't bother but come October they are on many days and in November pretty much everyday.

 

[justin davis]

I wear little OR flex tec gaiters all the time. They keep grass seeds and stickers out of my shoes. If the weather turns bad then I wear snow gaitors. I like gaitors

 

[Humphr47]

Interesting stuff everyone, thanks for the input. I can see the benefits now, seeing that my boots and lower legs are always completely soaked after a long wet day in the snow; even with waterproof pants.

I think I will try a pair now, I am leaning towards either OR or Kuiu. Anything I am missing?

 

[warrior80]

Interesting stuff everyone, thanks for the input. I can see the benefits now, seeing that my boots and lower legs are always completely soaked after a long wet day in the snow; even with waterproof pants.

I think I will try a pair now, I am leaning towards either OR or Kuiu. Anything I am missing?

Go with the Kuiu. They are much quieter than the ORs and perform great.

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[colonel00]

Kinda depends on the situation and the hunt. If a rifle hunt or in more extreme environments the OR Crocs are awesome. If you are bow hunting and need to be quiet, the KUIU ones or others might be better. Best answer, get both

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