Gaiters problem

On 3 Jan 2005 12:41:07 GMT, Jim Ford <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a problem I
have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards walking,
the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces. The problem is so persistent and irritating that I've given up using
gaiters. It may be that because of my foot size (12/46), flexing of the boot
causes the toe to move a greater linear distance than with smaller boots,
causing the unhooking.

Very annoying! Is it possible to close the hooks down at all by
squishing them?

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

On 3 Jan 2005 12:41:07 GMT, Jim Ford <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a problem I
have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards walking,
the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces. The problem is so persistent and irritating that I've given up using
gaiters. It may be that because of my foot size (12/46), flexing of the boot
causes the toe to move a greater linear distance than with smaller boots,
causing the unhooking.

Very annoying! Is it possible to close the hooks down at all by
squishing them?

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \ pee AT [guessthisbit].co.uk

On 3 Jan 2005 12:41:07 GMT, Jim Ford <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a problem I
have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards walking,
the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces. The problem is so persistent and irritating that I've given up using
gaiters. It may be that because of my foot size (12/46), flexing of the boot
causes the toe to move a greater linear distance than with smaller boots,
causing the unhooking.

Suggestions, anyone?

No suggestions, I'm afraid. I thought I'd just chip in and say that I
have the same problem. What makes it so annoying is how difficult it
is to get the hook over the front lace in the first place - especially
with cold, wet fingers.

I haven't walked with my full length gaiters for ages, mainly because
I hate the way they make my lower leg hot, but I tended to just keep
walking with the hook unhooked as this still stopped mud going down
the top of my boots anyway.

Judith

On 3 Jan 2005 12:41:07 GMT, Jim Ford <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a problem I
have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards walking,
the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces. The problem is so persistent and irritating that I've given up using
gaiters. It may be that because of my foot size (12/46), flexing of the boot
causes the toe to move a greater linear distance than with smaller boots,
causing the unhooking.

Suggestions, anyone?

No suggestions, I'm afraid. I thought I'd just chip in and say that I
have the same problem. What makes it so annoying is how difficult it
is to get the hook over the front lace in the first place - especially
with cold, wet fingers.

I haven't walked with my full length gaiters for ages, mainly because
I hate the way they make my lower leg hot, but I tended to just keep
walking with the hook unhooked as this still stopped mud going down
the top of my boots anyway.

Judith

Peewiglet said:

On 3 Jan 2005 12:41:07 GMT, Jim Ford <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a problem I
have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards walking,
the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces. The problem is so persistent and irritating that I've given up using
gaiters. It may be that because of my foot size (12/46), flexing of the boot
causes the toe to move a greater linear distance than with smaller boots,
causing the unhooking.

Very annoying! Is it possible to close the hooks down at all by
squishing them?

I had the same thought - use a pair of pliers to close the hook a bit so
that it's a tighter fit around the laces.

Colin

Jim Ford said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a problem I
have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards walking,
the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces.

[snip]

This happens to me from time to time. If it gets persistent, I thread
the gaiter's front clip _under_ the lace below the one you would
normally attach it to and then _over_ the horizontal lace it would
normally hook on - if you see what I mean (not all gaiters may allow
this). It tends to solve the issue for me. It's a little bit fiddly
and some gaiters may not do it, but the initial fiddly fitting is well
repaid throughout the rest of the day, especially - as another poster
pointed out - if it's cold!

Allan

Jim Ford said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a problem I
have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards walking,
the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces. The problem is so persistent and irritating that I've given up using
gaiters. It may be that because of my foot size (12/46), flexing of the boot
causes the toe to move a greater linear distance than with smaller boots,
causing the unhooking.

Suggestions, anyone?

Hook them on an eyelet or two further up, instead ? You can re-lace the
bottom few to have the laces running horizontally if that helps.

I also wear size 11/12s, and my gaiters frequently come undone. As long as
they are securely fastened around the instep, it doesn't seem to reduce
their effectiveness all that much when the front hook comes loose. I only
wear them in claggy conditions, long grass or snow, however. They make my
lower legs overheat, even when down to just one pair of not very long socks.

--
Excommunicated: On vacation without a computer.

Mail john rather than nospam...

In fact, this problem seems to affect a lot of gaiters that has "front"
opening. Mine does the same and so does a few others I know, all with front
zips and velcro.

It's possibly caused by the extra stiffness due to the zips, velcro and
flap. The bending action of the ankle pushes this stiff front opening down
onto the hook, forward and with a slight bend of he boot, out comes the
lace.

I had no trouble what-so-ever with a rear opening zip and thinner material
from my old and much loved but dearly departed gaiters.

The only solution seems to squash the hook, or like me just forget to hook
at all.

Jhimmy

"Jim Ford" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a problem

I

Quoted message said:

have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards

walking,

Quoted message said:

the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces. The problem is so persistent and irritating that I've given up

using

Quoted message said:

gaiters. It may be that because of my foot size (12/46), flexing of the

boot

Quoted message said:

causes the toe to move a greater linear distance than with smaller boots,
causing the unhooking.

Suggestions, anyone?

Jim Ford

* The air of uk.rec.walking was filled with the delicate perfume
* of violets, as Allan Gould <[email hidden]> descended on a shaft
* of golden sunlight, and announced:

Quoted message said:

This happens to me from time to time. If it gets persistent, I thread
the gaiter's front clip _under_ the lace below the one you would

^^^^^
Surely? -> above

Quoted message said:

normally attach it to and then _over_ the horizontal lace it would
normally hook on - if you see what I mean (not all gaiters may allow
this). It tends to solve the issue for me. It's a little bit fiddly
and some gaiters may not do it, but the initial fiddly fitting is well
repaid throughout the rest of the day, especially - as another poster
pointed out - if it's cold!

Thanks - this seems to be the best idea so far, I'll give it a go. To the
other posters that suggest squeezing the hook tighter - I considered this
but felt that if the hook's tight enough to not easily come unhooked, it
would probably make the gaiters difficult to get off.

Gaiters always look niffty and useful on other walkers, but in addition to the
'unhooking' problem my experience is that they're pretty uncomfortable bits
of kit.

Thanks for all the replies: Jim Ford

The message <[email hidden]>
from Allan Gould <[email hidden]> contains these words:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a
problem I
have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards
walking,
the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces.

This occasionally happens to me as well which I have previously put down
to not bothering with the under sole tie except in stiff snow.

Quoted message said:

This happens to me from time to time. If it gets persistent, I thread
the gaiter's front clip _under_ the lace below the one you would
normally attach it to and then _over_ the horizontal lace it would
normally hook on - if you see what I mean (not all gaiters may allow
this). It tends to solve the issue for me. It's a little bit fiddly
and some gaiters may not do it, but the initial fiddly fitting is well
repaid throughout the rest of the day, especially - as another poster
pointed out - if it's cold!

A good idea. ISTM that a varient of this would be even better. Make up a
double wire loop to go across the first set of d rings and clip the
front clip of the gaiter over the bottom wire and under the top wire.
The top wire should stop the clip rising high enough to pull through
even if it is flexed far enough foreward to come off the lower wire.

Thinks - now why didn't I keep quiet and just patent the idea instead. I
could have made a small fortune selling such such wires at a £ a throw.

--
Roger Chapman so far this year - nothing

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

[...]

Quoted message said:

Gaiters always look niffty and useful on other walkers, but in addition to the
'unhooking' problem my experience is that they're pretty uncomfortable bits
of kit.

Wore mine yesterday for 10 hours without really knowing they were there.
I've had no issue with discomfort and only find them hot in the summer
sunshine (ha!). maybe you should try a different make which may fit
your leg better?

--
Darren
mail to darren not ng

I noticed that Message-ID:
<[email hidden]> from Darren G contained
the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Gaiters always look niffty and useful on other walkers, but in addition to the
'unhooking' problem my experience is that they're pretty uncomfortable bits
of kit.

Wore mine yesterday for 10 hours without really knowing they were there.

Ditto here. I don't tighten the calf elastic at all though

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

Judith said:

No suggestions, I'm afraid. I thought I'd just chip in and say that I
have the same problem. What makes it so annoying is how difficult it
is to get the hook over the front lace in the first place - especially
with cold, wet fingers.

I have the same problem (Berghaus gaiters with a plastic clip, so it
can't be re-shaped). I'm currently nursing a painful bent-back fingernail
caused while trying to fit them this morning ..

Untried suggestion : what about replacing the curly clip thing with
a spring alligator clip, giving you something to hold onto while
pushing it over the lace. Something like the clip that Platypus
provide to hold their water hoses to a rucksac strap.

-adrian

Adrian Godwin said:

Quoted message said:

No suggestions, I'm afraid. I thought I'd just chip in and say that I
have the same problem. What makes it so annoying is how difficult it
is to get the hook over the front lace in the first place - especially
with cold, wet fingers.

I have the same problem (Berghaus gaiters with a plastic clip, so it
can't be re-shaped). I'm currently nursing a painful bent-back fingernail
caused while trying to fit them this morning ..

Untried suggestion : what about replacing the curly clip thing with
a spring alligator clip, giving you something to hold onto while
pushing it over the lace. Something like the clip that Platypus
provide to hold their water hoses to a rucksac strap.

Yes, some sort of improvisation may help but I haven't given it any
thought yet.

The reason I haven't been able to find my gaiters for months and
months is that I don't like using them! They make my legs too hot and
I find them difficult to put on, so I just use my easy-to-put-on ankle
gaiters if there's a risk of getting thorns and grass seeds down the
top of my boots.

However, everyone has said I should wear gaiters for the Winter Skills
course so I've dug them out and now need to find a way to make them
easier to put on (and stay on!)

Judith

Darren G <[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

[...]

Quoted message said:

Gaiters always look niffty and useful on other walkers, but in
addition to the
'unhooking' problem my experience is that they're pretty uncomfortable bits
of kit.

Wore mine yesterday for 10 hours without really knowing they were there.
I've had no issue with discomfort and only find them hot in the summer
sunshine (ha!). maybe you should try a different make which may fit
your leg better?

I abandoned wearing them when I got Paramo trousers, they are far too
warm, and prevent the normal ventilation.

I keep looking at those ankle gaiters though, they would keep off most
of the muck.
--
Gordon Harris

In article <[email hidden]>, Judith
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

On 3 Jan 2005 12:41:07 GMT, Jim Ford <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Seeing the recent postings about gaiters, I thought I'd mention a problem I
have with mine. They're a good quality breathable pair (M.E. I think - I
don't have them to hand) and what happens is that after a few yards walking,
the flexing of my boots cause the front hooks to come unhooked from the
laces. The problem is so persistent and irritating that I've given up using
gaiters. It may be that because of my foot size (12/46), flexing of the boot
causes the toe to move a greater linear distance than with smaller boots,
causing the unhooking.

Suggestions, anyone?

No suggestions, I'm afraid. I thought I'd just chip in and say that I
have the same problem. What makes it so annoying is how difficult it
is to get the hook over the front lace in the first place - especially
with cold, wet fingers.

I haven't walked with my full length gaiters for ages, mainly because
I hate the way they make my lower leg hot, but I tended to just keep
walking with the hook unhooked as this still stopped mud going down
the top of my boots anyway.

Judith

While we're talking gaiters, bear with while I tell you how I've
scrapped the under arch strap - which was always a bugger to do up if it
came adrift. Now I've replaced it with 1 inch wide black elastic and
this does the job perfectly and the gaiters are much easier to put on.

Ta!
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

Judith said:

However, everyone has said I should wear gaiters for the Winter Skills
course so I've dug them out and now need to find a way to make them
easier to put on (and stay on!)

One thing that makes it slightly easier is to thread the laces in
such a way that the lace you're hooking with the clip is raised.

If you're using the lace nearest the toe, you can achieve this
(though not as effectively as I'd like) by ensuring that the lace
runs over the top of the front hooks, enters the hooks from the
outside of the boot and then crosses the tongue towards the next hooks.

This lifts the lace above the leather by the thickness of the hooks,
which helps slightly when trying to grab it with the gaiter clip.

To try to make it clearer, the opposite threading has the frontmost
lace spreading from the tongue to the inside of the first hooks, then
over the top of the hooks to cross the tongue toward the next
pair. This results in the lace lying flat against the leather, making
it harder to hook the gaiter clip over. It's more natural to thread
the laces this way, which is why I forget to do it if I haven't
worn the gaiters for a while !

-adrian

Judith said:

However, everyone has said I should wear gaiters for the Winter Skills
course so I've dug them out and now need to find a way to make them
easier to put on (and stay on!)

One thing that makes it slightly easier is to thread the laces in
such a way that the lace you're hooking with the clip is raised.

If you're using the lace nearest the toe, you can achieve this
(though not as effectively as I'd like) by ensuring that the lace
runs over the top of the front hooks, enters the hooks from the
outside of the boot and then crosses the tongue towards the next hooks.

This lifts the lace above the leather by the thickness of the hooks,
which helps slightly when trying to grab it with the gaiter clip.

To try to make it clearer, the opposite threading has the frontmost
lace spreading from the tongue to the inside of the first hooks, then
over the top of the hooks to cross the tongue toward the next
pair. This results in the lace lying flat against the leather, making
it harder to hook the gaiter clip over. It's more natural to thread
the laces this way, which is why I forget to do it if I haven't
worn the gaiters for a while !

-adrian

Adrian Godwin said:

Quoted message said:

However, everyone has said I should wear gaiters for the Winter Skills
course so I've dug them out and now need to find a way to make them
easier to put on (and stay on!)

One thing that makes it slightly easier is to thread the laces in
such a way that the lace you're hooking with the clip is raised.

<snip detailed description of lacing>

Hee! Hee! These things are always so difficult to describe in text!

But I understand what you mean (I think).

I've just realised that I have never worn these gaiters with my
current boots, so I don't even know if I have a problem anymore.

Judith