Gaiter Straps

KRO, We mostly use gaiters to keep small stones, dirt, and other matter out of socks and boots, not
to mention keep prickles out of socks. They are handy to prolong water / mud getting into boots, I
suppose. In Oz most gaiters have small web loops at the bottom, and you tie your own material
between these under the boot. I have seen many walkers use strong kernmantle cord, but I have had
good success with blind cord, the type with the spiral inside the plastic coating, screw in the
eyelets and short cord these to the loops on the gaiters. Recently though, I discovered a very thin
(2.0mm ?) cord at a boating shop that is really strong. They stated it is as strong as steel cable
of the same diameter, and it seems to be passing the test on sharp rocks etc. So far, I estimate at
least 600km on the first lot fitted (desert crossing, lot of rocky Flinders Ranges walking, and a
recent big, wet Tasmania walk), no sign of any damage yet.
--
Regards, Les e-mail munged, remove the obvious to reply direct

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

Quoted message said:

Anyone know where I can buy replacement underboot straps for gaiters? I've got a pair of outdoor
designs, goretex with XCR written up the front, can't find a style/line etc. I've checked their
website and they do go on about easily replaceable straps but don't seem to sell them, no reply to
my email as yet. I find gaiters a necessity due to my frequent bog trotting forays! No use having
waterproof boots if all the water goes in the big hole at the top.

KRO

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

Quoted message said:

KRO, We mostly use gaiters to keep small stones, dirt, and other matter out of socks and boots,
not to mention keep prickles out of socks. They are handy to prolong water / mud getting into
boots, I suppose. In Oz most gaiters have small web loops at the bottom, and you tie your

own

Quoted message said:

material between these under the boot. I have seen many walkers use strong kernmantle cord, but I
have had good success with blind cord, the type with the spiral inside the plastic coating, screw
in the eyelets and short cord these to the loops on the gaiters. Recently though, I discovered a
very thin (2.0mm ?) cord at a boating shop that is really strong. They stated it is as strong as
steel cable of the same diameter, and it seems to be passing the test on sharp rocks etc. So far,
I estimate at least 600km on the first lot fitted (desert

crossing,

Quoted message said:

lot of rocky Flinders Ranges walking, and a recent big, wet Tasmania

walk),

Quoted message said:

no sign of any damage yet.
--
Regards, Les

The company concerned (Outdoor Designs) have asked for my postal address to send out some
replacement straps. I'll not cut these as short as the last ones, which then kept freeing themselves
through the buckle attachment. You've done well with 600km of walking, my last set lasted one 16
mile hike in the Cairngorms and got flung in the bucket on my return, they just wouldn't stay up
without tightening the tops so much, they cut the blood off to my legs ! It was in deepish snow and
they were definately needed.

KRO

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

Quoted message said:

The company concerned (Outdoor Designs) have asked for my postal address to send out some
replacement straps. I'll not cut these as short as the last ones, which then kept freeing
themselves through the buckle attachment. You've done well with 600km of walking, my last set
lasted one 16 mile hike in the Cairngorms and got flung in the bucket on my return, they just
wouldn't stay up without tightening the tops so much, they cut the blood off to my legs ! It was
in deepish snow and they were definately needed.

KRO

Yeah, 600k . . . pretty happy the cord has lasted that long, but I feel they'll go on a lot longer.
I used to walk around 1500k a year, but now around 600k takes me a bit over a year, usually 2 bigger
trips of around 180k, and numerous smaller trips in between.

Obviously your gaiters have a fitted leather strap ? If enough room in the ladder buckle, pass them
back through the first slot again, like closing off a climbing harness buckle.

There are gaiters available here with leather straps fitted, but I feel the leather would definitely
cut through much quicker than this cord.
--
Regards, Les e-mail munged, remove the obvious to reply direct

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

Quoted message said:

Obviously your gaiters have a fitted leather strap ? If enough room in the ladder buckle, pass
them back through the first slot again, like closing off a climbing harness buckle.

There are gaiters available here with leather straps fitted, but I feel

the

Quoted message said:

leather would definitely cut through much quicker than this cord.
--
Regards, Les

Straps are a kind of rubber with a plastic(ky) finish. I'll try your suggestion with the buckle.

KRO

What you want is a couple of bits of that spiral stuff for hanging net curtains. Put one of those
little screw-in metal loops / hooks at each end - squeezed with pliers onto the eylets of the
gaiters and Bob's your proverbial uncle !

Lasts for years

- with acknowledgement and thanks to the helpfull proprietor of the climbing shop / kiosk in
Kinlochewe who taught me the trick.

Hywel

PS ordinary wire doesn't work - gets cut through straightaway though braided steel cable just might.