Gaiters – Keeping your hiking boots and socks dryWithout gaiters there is nothing worse than stepping in what looks like a shallow pool of water only to find mud and water (and who knows what else) pouring over the tops of your hiking boots and permeating your socks because you actually stepped into a deep hole. So how do you prevent it and protect your hiking boots and socks from mud and stones and keep thorny brambles from snagging your legs?
To ease fitting and taking off they usually have a full length zipper down the side or front. Why are they called Gaiters? Some years ago we spoke to an old timer who said that many years ago alligator hunters used to wear pieces of leather on the bottom half of their legs. To lure the alligators out of the swamps they smeared animal fats and blood over the leathers. When the alligators followed the scent and came out of the swamp the hunters shot them (before the 'gators had a chance to bite off their leg!). Each evening from the hunters’ tents you could often hear the shout "where are my gators woman…" Nothing changes eh! Often made of gore-tex type material to make them waterproof they are invaluable for keeping water, mud, and stones etc out of your hiking boots and they protect your legs from abrasion and thistles. Plus in winter they help to keep your foot a little warmer. They also stop insects getting into your boots. You do not want ticks burrowing into your leg and leaving you with a long term disabling disease. Always make sure that your over trousers go over your hiking boots and gaiters. This helps the rain water to run off without going inside your boots. They also help to protect the upper part of your boots from the worst of the elements. And if you need to cross a shallow river or stream they keep most of the water out even if the river is deeper than the top of your boots. Its great fun river-crossing but be very careful. What are the best gaiters we have bought? The types sold by most stores are in our opinion often too heavy and stiff and overpriced costing $60/£30 to $100/£50. We buy ours from a local small firm that manufacturers their own stock from gore-tex material and sell them for about $30/£15 per pair depending on the size etc. They are light but waterproof and you could have a light summer pair as well as a heavier winter pair. Usually you do not know you are wearing them. Yet they do a great job of protecting you and your kit and are therefore another important part of your hiking equipment. Our advice is to always wear them. They just might make the difference between being bitten by a rattler or not! Click on Mountain Gear below and find Rocky Mountain "High Gaitors" for just $34.95. They weigh just 3.45 ounces each!
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Easy you wear a pair of gaiters. They are made of gore-tex or similar material and wrap around the bottom half of your leg and over the top half of your hiking boots or walking shoes. They are fixed in place by a front clip and an under the boot strap, elastic or even a wire.
