winter gaiters

I wear ankle gaiters in the summer and in the winter months knee length
gaiters. I don't bother with the straps that go under the boot as
they don't last. The only exception is if I am going through deep
snow as it pushes the gaiter up and the snow gets into the boot.

You can buy lengths of strapping from most outddor shops. However
don't buy gaiters that are rivetted to the material as that makes
replacing them a bit more awkward.

I have also seen some homemade straps made out out of wire etc but I
don't think they last much longer and don't tend to tighten so easily
and as they are a bit slack may cause an accident.

While in the Alps this year the guide used ankle gaiters in the snow.
They seemed to work okay with waterproofs although he did have to clear
them occasionally due to the build up of snow.

Hopefully you will get plenty of suggestions from this forum.

Slainte.

Lindsay
www.caledoniahilltreks.com

pacer said:

I noticed that trekmates have a gaiter, known as the cairngorm gtx, for
what you get it seems to be a pretty good buy, also its more expensive
brother, the sprintlight. Without having actually seeing them in the
shops yet i was wondering if any of you discerning chappies have any
thoughts on these gaiters?

Can't say I see a huge amount of point in Goretex for gaiters. Canvas
ones are more breathable and a lot cheaper, and since you don't need
them to be formally watertight with a large hydrostatic head to be
useful you can save a lot of money and still get a good bit of kit.

Quoted message said:

i'm thinking of adequate protection against
crampon tearing.

You shouldn't be tearing close fitting gaiters with crampons, or it's
only a matter of time before you get your legs. Practice the loping
crampon walk and it shouldn't be an issue. If you still manage to catch
them, just sew on a patch: again the case it doesn't need to be formally
watertight with sealed seams to be useful.

Quoted message said:

If anyone has any idea of another suitable winter gaiter I'm only too
willing to listen to your advice

The only reason I haven't persisted with cheap canvas ones is because
they won't go over my plastic telemark boots, and the rear fastening
meant it was a pain to get in to the laces on any boots to adjust them.
Since in winter for flattish approach walking in big boots I usually
have them unlaced, this is an issue for me.

For leather boots in full winter conditions it's IMHO worth going to
town and then some and getting full over gaiters, like Yeti gaiters.
These will add years to the life of the uppers and ensure your feet stay
completely dry and toasty.

For plastic boots there's not much point in them so I use MH
Ventigaiters. The fastening is zipless, just velcro, which makes them
much easier to open at the base to get at laces and to fit over awkward
boots like my plastic tele boots. The opening vent is handy for when
you're not postholing through deep snow.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On 24 Oct 2005 05:10:49 -0700, "pacer" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

If anyone has any idea of another suitable winter gaiter I'm only too
willing to listen to your advice

I've been very happy with a pair of Tiso's own-brand (Wild Rover)
gaiters for winter use. They are heavyweight PU-coated nylon with
Cordura reinforcement on the lower areas, are front-opening and have a
neoprene-type underfoot strap which so far has proved indestructible.
Nothing fancy or high tech, but they do exactly what it says on the
tin.

Al
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