leg gaiters-need advice

SDS

SDS

Joined
Oct 22, 2007
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I'd like to get a pair of leg gaiters before I head to Colorado in a few weeks. Having never used them before I'm not sure what to get. This is where buying online has it's drawbacks.

I'd like something that isn't overly loud since these will be used for hunting. I'd like something easy to put on, maybe with a zippered back?? I would like to use these for hiking while hunting to keep my boots/socks from getting as wet. That's the plan anyway.

Any suggestions on where to look, brands, types to look for or avoid?

Thanks,
SDS
 
REI has good gaiters by OR Crocs (Outdoor Research). I don't recall seeing any with zippers though. Both my heavy and light set are velcro top to bottom on the shin. The heavy set has a robust sole strap with buckle whereas the light set is basically flat elastic cord that will snap right quick unless you have a heel.
I like the heavy weight OR's I have.

http://www.backcountry.com/outdoorgear/Outdoor-Research-Expedition-Crocodile-Gaiter/ODR0316M.html

From the webpage:
The Outdoor Research Expedition Crocodiles Gaiters are large enough to wrap around plastic mountaineering boots and thick, insulated pants, and the Gore-Tex and Cordura fabrics provide waterproof protection. Outdoor Research made these mountaineering gaiters with three-layer Gore-Tex on the upper leg sections and durable Cordura on the inner leg and boot section, so your pants, socks, and legs stay dry on ice climbing ascents. Plus, your crampons won't snag on the insides of these gaiters. Attach the hook on the Expedition Crocodiles to your boot laces, tighten the top cinch-strap, and fasten the urethane-coated nylon instep strap. A hook-and-loop tab at the bottom keeps the front of these gaiters closed.
 
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I have some similar to these. They hook on the laces up front, have a loop that goes under the arch, and zips behind the leg.

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You usually don't need them, but when its really wet and you're moving through wet grass, they come in real handy.

-- FLIX
 
Being a hunter from Colorado-- the REI gators above look like they would do the trick for hiking but not for hunting. I bet I could hear you a couple hundred yards away with the cordura making all kinds of noise every time your legs brushed against each other or any other object. I personally do not use gators my wool pants work fine for me..I have seen gators in Cabelas or the like that had a fleece or similar fabric on the exterior of the gator. I would read the customer product remarks before committing, I believe I saw one product that fit this description that had a water proof fabric beneath that became noisy with movement when it became cold....Steve
 
They are not stealthy, that's for sure but they are great in heavy snow and muck.
If you don't scuff them on each other they are silent though. (Walk funny)
 
Check out what REI and Cabelas have to offer. I agree that the gators will make a lot of noise for hunting, so I would suggest getting a low profile pair that just cover the boot and like cz375hh, wear wool pants. Nothing better.
 
cz375hh said:
Being a hunter from Colorado-- the REI gators above look like they would do the trick for hiking but not for hunting.
Click to expand...

The OR gators...good ones but I agree they are not for hunting. Check Cabela's and Google for wool or fleece.
 
Hi Shawn,

Like others have mentioned, my experience with gaiters has been always with hiking. I haven't used them for hunting.

For hiking, the ones pictured above are some of the best I have ever used. They are heavy duty, they stay put at the boot, and stay put up top. Some of the "zip up the back" style I have had problems with the retention up top holding, or the zipper slipping, and them wanting to fall down. It seems if you have to tie them up top, they are more of a pain, but will stay put. I used a pair that had a string and cord lock, and the cord lock kept slipping. Annoyed the crap out of me.

One of the other things to consider with gaiters is your activity level. Goretex or no, if you are hiking a lot you generate more sweat faster than goretex can vent it. Every pair I have used has developed "condensation" on the inside. Still way better than what they are protecting you against.

For hiking, my reasons for gaiters have always been mud and snow. If you step in semi-deep snow, it will shove you pants up over your boots, then you get snow inside. Gaiters are great for not letting that happen. Next is mud. Pretty self explanatory there. They will save your pants for sure. They also help with abrasion. Most hiking pants are expensive, and if anything gets rubbed, kicked, or abraded, it is usually at the ankle. So, they do really help for that. Like others said, most are not designed to be quiet.

For hunting, I have used Filson's Tin Cloth Chaps. But, I have only used them in upland bird hunting. For running through the briars and tangles, they are great! The waxed cloth also does an excellent job of keeping you dry. However, they are a bit high for most needs.

It is funny that you brought up this topic because I was actually planning on making my own. I like the tin cloth material, but want them like short hiking gaiters. So, that is what I was planning on making :D

Good luck finding something that works for you.

B
 
I have a pair of Sea to Summit gortex gaiters.
They are a little noisy for hunting but at the moment they're for snakes.
Look for some with the small hooks that hook onto the bottom of your laces to stop them riding up. Make sure they are gunna go around your calves with the strides your wearing. and an under strap that won't wear out or clog up
I have some of the other gear from Swazi and it is very well made. It is pretty wet in New Zealand and they do love their hunting.
http://www.swazi.co.nz/
Carl
 
I've been able to find the gaiters for upland bird hunting but usually the gear designed for that is meant more for durability than stealth. The nylon gaiters by OR look like they are closer to what I'm wanting but the nylon is noisy.

Flix, I actually looked at those. I think I will go with the GoreTex lined version instead of those though. The description says they are more for drier conditions.

Warrigal, that Swazi gear is some good looking stuff. If I knew for sure I was going to be using this bit of gear for a good long time, and they would arrive in time for my hunt, I would really consider those. That looks like some really bulletproof gear, complete with steel straps to go under your boots.

Brian, I had thought about making some but not having used any before I'm not sure what features I want and what I don't. One thought that came to mind was to buy some of the bird hunting gaiters and spray them with the 3M spray adhesive and then cover them with fleece or some type of quieter material.

Thanks to everyone for the information.
SDS
 
Brian Andrews said:
Hi Shawn,

Like others have mentioned, my experience with gaiters has been always with hiking. I haven't used them for hunting.

For hiking, the ones pictured above are some of the best I have ever used. They are heavy duty, they stay put at the boot, and stay put up top. Some of the "zip up the back" style I have had problems with the retention up top holding, or the zipper slipping, and them wanting to fall down. It seems if you have to tie them up top, they are more of a pain, but will stay put. I used a pair that had a string and cord lock, and the cord lock kept slipping. Annoyed the crap out of me.

One of the other things to consider with gaiters is your activity level. Goretex or no, if you are hiking a lot you generate more sweat faster than goretex can vent it. Every pair I have used has developed "condensation" on the inside. Still way better than what they are protecting you against.

For hiking, my reasons for gaiters have always been mud and snow. If you step in semi-deep snow, it will shove you pants up over your boots, then you get snow inside. Gaiters are great for not letting that happen. Next is mud. Pretty self explanatory there. They will save your pants for sure. They also help with abrasion. Most hiking pants are expensive, and if anything gets rubbed, kicked, or abraded, it is usually at the ankle. So, they do really help for that. Like others said, most are not designed to be quiet.

For hunting, I have used Filson's Tin Cloth Chaps. But, I have only used them in upland bird hunting. For running through the briars and tangles, they are great! The waxed cloth also does an excellent job of keeping you dry. However, they are a bit high for most needs.

It is funny that you brought up this topic because I was actually planning on making my own. I like the tin cloth material, but want them like short hiking gaiters. So, that is what I was planning on making :D

Good luck finding something that works for you.

B
Click to expand...


I look forward to seeing the tin cloth ones you make. ! i once made a quick pair by cutting off the bottom of a pair of oversized Carhart canvas work pants, and having someone sew drawstring loops on the tops and bottom. Then i dipped them in hot beeswax and mink oil, flung off the excess and let they dry, then wrung them a few times to remove the stifness. Looked ugly but worked.
 
Well I managed to find some of the OR brand today. They look really well made but the store I was at didn't have any that fit me. They also had some Mountain Hardwear but they didn't fit either. I was wearing a pair of daily hiking boots and jeans. I know they would not come close to fitting over my hunting boots and pants.

After trying these on I'm leery about buying any that I can't try on. I may end up going the DIY route. Bushman, I like how easy yours sounds. I don't give a rats butt if it's ugly as long as it works.

Thanks again,
SDS
 
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If you're gonna go teh DIY route, I'd suggest fleece on the outside for quiet and neoprene on the inside for stretch and waterproofness. Some kind of "garter" or drawstring at the calf to keep them up, and a paracord "stirrup" to keep them down and you're in business. About the only element you might have difficulty fabricating would be the hook to keep them down over the laces.

BTW, the ones I have are Mossy Oak and are some kind of brushed, fleeclike fabric over the waterproof layer.

-- FLIX
 
I didn't really expect there to be as many choices as there are. Unfortunately there aren't many designed for hunting. I like the ones that Cabelas has for sale but the sizing has me hesitant now.

I'll have to make a run to a fabric store to see what I can scrounge up.

SDS
 
I have the Cabela's gaiters and they a great. Quiet too. I have a size 11 and they fit fine over my hunting boots and pants. Unless you have really thick lower legs you will probably fit these fine.

Gaiters are great for mud, snow, briars, and really help the user hold warms by limiting airflow. A highly underrated piece of gear.
 
I recommend the leg shield which you can buy on Amazon. I also have leg gaiters from REI, but think this is a superior product, for me. I use them for cross country skiing, hiking, and extreme weather golf. The product is well made, neoprene with 3 Velcro straps. There is no annoying under the shoe strap. It’s easy on and off, and it stays there with no falling down, a nice snug fit. It also provides warmth to the lower legs and keeps everything dry and clean.

The product was originally designed for bicycles, as a shield for the pants, to keep them clean and also out of the chain. I thought I would try them instead of my gaiters, and have been using them ever since. I would recommend them for cool weather. Also one size fits all, and you need to buy 2 if you are using as leg gaiters. Price is reasonable.

You can check them out by googling “leg shield”.
 
I suggest adding some Barbour waxed cotton jobs to your shortlist. I don't believe they are the ideal gaiter but my reasoning is: The ideal gaiter is going to extend the weatherproofing of your boot much higher than a boot alone. To do that the best form a seal around the boot. Look up “Berghaus Yeti” for an example. Step in a good puddle with a regular elasticated around the ankle and a hook over the laces jobs and water is still going to readily shoot up the inside. Less so with these. In addition the boot itself is better defended from wet foliage thrashing away at it. Even the best leather takes a panning under those circumstances and although you've got a decent waterproof membrane in the boot, the boot still has to be soaked for it to reach that. Not ideal. Short of a pair of rubber bog steppers these are great. The thing is to make them out of old fashioned materials would compromise the point of them, and retro stuff like waxed cotton is a lot quieter. In short there's not much point looking at sophisticated designs like that other than to frame the problem. .............................................Of the also-ran types I much prefer the ones with a zip up the front and a flap over than a zip up the back. It's not a huge thing but there is a convenience difference. Of the underfoot attachment, there are all sorts; rubber straps, simple bits of string, and wires. The wires sell on the merit that the wire won't break but you'll need to replace bits of string. True enough. On the downside I did notice that with wires snow had the tendency to ball up and make a hard clump under the arch of my foot. That sucked. My homebaked theory was that perhaps the wire encourages a ball of ice to form in a way other types don't. I can't be sure 'cos it could have just as easily been the tread of the boot. I binned both off 'cos each day following up the enquiry would be another ruined day out. I don't have the patience for that. I happen to have rubber underfoot straps now...................................The toughest gaiters I have had are undoubtedly the ones made from with heavy gauge Cordura face fabric. I had no reservations about thrashing through brambles with those on. I never so much as pulled a thread in them let alone ripped them. My woman has them now and is still yet to damage them. The downside for all that toughness though is that the heavy denier fabric makes even more noise when something like a thorn scratches across them. The rough texture of the fabric is a lot louder in that respect than the synthetic ripstop face fabric ones I currently use. But then I've sacrificed toughness and I'm sure mine will rip if I do the stuff I did in those..............................................Whilst waxed cotton isn't something I find useful for anything much beyond casual use here is where I think it is worth some consideration. I've had Barbour jackets that stood up fine to a day shooting in the drizzle. I certainly wouldn't want of have been in it for long in driving rain or for multiple day trips outdoors. As far a I'm concerned it is extinct for that for excellent reasons, but it was sufficient for other purposes. Similarly, I don't believe for a moment that a waxed cotton gaiter could come close to the performance of one made from modern materials but it could well be enough for what you're after given the parameters. Waxed cotton is relatively quiet, fairly tough and easy to repair, and will offer you a fair degree of protection. For multiple day trips in the wet I wouldn't even consider them but on a trip that may have one or two damp foliage days and with hunting a priority I'd be looking at these. Yeti foot dry and no shot is still no shot.
 
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