Waterproof lower leg pants vs gaiters

[fngTony]

If the lower leg is made of a membrane behind a soft shell face fabric (Kuiu talus, axis, others?) is that kinda redundant or pointless when using gaiters? The pants aren’t going to replace gaiters in deep snow and using the two together sounds like an uncomfortable mess. Am I wrong, right, crazy?

 

[Bump79]

If the lower leg is made of a membrane behind a soft shell face fabric (Kuiu talus, axis, others?) is that kinda redundant or pointless when using gaiters? The pants aren’t going to replace gaiters in deep snow and using the two together sounds like an uncomfortable mess. Am I wrong, right, crazy?

You're definitely right.

 

[Macintosh]

You’re not wrong. Designed in a boardroom, or maybe gaiters arent fashionable?

 

[Ucsdryder]

Love my talus Toby. First pair of pants that were worth the price tag. I still wear gaiters though. Keeps my socks dry, helps keep my legs warm, and protect my pants from tears on downed branches.

 

[cornstalker]

I learned this year that gaiters can keep wild roses from tearing the hell out of the soft shell face fabric on your high dollar hunting pants. Unfortunately, it was a retrospective lesson.

Edit to add: Yes, redundant. You are right. Gaiters are a must.

 

[Team4LongGun]

I have noticed when wearing gaiters over that type of fabric, it holds moisture and heat in. I'll never be out without gaiters on, so I'm for the non treated lower legs.

 

[wapitibob]

We have found when it's really wet, rain all night on huckleberry or slick leaf type vegetation, soaked after 200 yards of walking, it's best to put gaiters under the pants. Water wicks down the pant leg till saturated then hits the outside of the underlying gator, keeping socks dry. When on the outside of the pant leg, water saturates the pant mtl and wicks down and under the gator to the top of the socks.
The biggest issue I have with gators in those really wet areas is they don't cover the boot toe box hinge point. Once that area of the boot gets saturated, hydraulics from the toe box flexing forces water thru the gore-tex.

 

[fngTony]

We have found when it's really wet, rain all night on huckleberry or slick leaf type vegetation, soaked after 200 yards of walking, it's best to put gaiters under the pants. Water wicks down the pant leg till saturated then hits the outside of the underlying gator, keeping socks dry. When on the outside of the pant leg, water saturates the pant mtl and wicks down and under the gator to the top of the socks.
The biggest issue I have with gators in those really wet areas is they don't cover the boot toe box hinge point. Once that area of the boot gets saturated, hydraulics from the toe box flexing forces water thru the gore-tex.

That makes sense.

 

[mtnbound]

For me, the gaiter against the skin only works until I start sweating, and because the gaiters aren't breathable, it doesn't take long before my socks start getting wet. It does help slow the process, but, like most things when it comes to moisture, it works until it doesn't.