I have not found a good solution for this problem

Solution: don't hike in places that have fox tails.
Just like I wouldn't choose to hike in a foot of mud, I don't choose to hike in fox tails.

And if I get into them unexpectedly?… Just deal with it as best I can…

Billy

How about something like these ones :

http://www.ar.co.za/2011/01/desert-gaiters/

If the foxtails are only in one area, you could cover the front section of your shoe with duct tape (accepting reduced breathability). Then peel it off once past the hazard.

With one pair of shoes in the desert I had to use my gore tex socks to keep debris from getting to my feet.

The OR Stamina gaiters cover pretty much all of your lacing and cover down the side too. At least that's how they fit on my Cascadia 9's. Added bonus, although the do supply the Velcro patch and have he other side attached, I haven't applied it to my shoes because I've found it unnecessary. These have four hooks instead the DG's one. Two at the toe and one on each side of the shoe. I paid $35 but they do have OR wicked warranty.

Just a suggestion.

Unfortunately I can't avoid hiking in foxtails unless I just don't go hiking locally. Then I would miss out on some really wonderful wild places. Those desert gaiters look interesting and so do the OR ones, but the desert ones look like they might work. Thank you for the suggestion!

Maybe a cycling shoe cover would help as they usually stretch over the toe. Something like http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1080296_-1_400094__400094 . But the underfoot wrap might wear too quickly.

BTW, those desert thingos need velcro strips glued onto your shoes and will not last all that long according to the reports I looked at, but it's a start…
Someone posted recently (in the last week or so) a photo of some gaiters similar to the one I posted but not the same. Can't think where it was but if I spot it again I'll post.

I should look into kevlar chaps. Mayne make some gaiter/shoe covers. There's not just foxtails. There's star thistle, too.

the zPacks gaiters might work well for you: http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/gaiters.shtml

Joe is well known for being open to custom work if you want the gaiter a bit shorter, etc. as well.

Light gaiters with velcro strips on my shoes get treated to JB Weld, which makes the strips stay on long after the shoe has been hiked to death. The edges may curl a little but the strip sticks.

are there breathable shoes with a tighter weave that won't allow those weeds to stick?

I hate those, although I didn't know their name

The picture I posted was not of my feet. These were my Altra Superiors:

They did pretty well, but they weren't breathable enough and I was getting ball-of-foot blisters. I had to stop every few hours to air my feet and dry my socks.

I also tried this. This is bullet-proof against foxtails but the Luna Tabu booties were too small and even less breathable.

This is all so I can go places like this:

(Pool near but not right below Sisquoc Falls)

(Rattlesnake Falls)

Even the best gaiters are going to heat up your feet. I personally would choose different footwear and carry a couple pair of socks to change.

Have you tried carrying a small pet shedding blade and just brushing off occasionally? Compatible with all footwear! ;)

On my size 10.5 Altra Lone Peaks, the Zpacks gaiters are long enough in the toe that I had to sew a toe loop on my shoes. Totally covers the laces, though.

Diane, you hike in leopard print khakis? Impressive.

That's right, Doug, leopard print running tights. I ditched the zip-off pants after a misty backpack trip in Mt. Rainier park left me damp for days. I find the tights breathe better. Leopard because I got tired of black, dammit!

Not that I have a svelte physique that deserves being shown off. That's not my problem, since there are no mirrors on the trail.

Those z-packs gaiters have really good coverage but they look really hot. I have some MLD (I think) ultralight snow gaiters and they are just too unbreathable. Plus my massive calves don't really fit inside. I had to make my own thorn gaiters from a pair of lycra/cotton pants.

Love the leopard skin tights. I'm tired of boring hiking clothes. It's not that I'm any kind of girly fashion horse in real life. I just feel like being weird out there.

I just like the fact that on the recent thread page it appears as if the good solution to the perplexing problem is employing leopard skin tights.

—I was just looking at the Thread/ post titles and found it ironic that when you glance at the titles it read:

"Help me with this hard problem!"

And the answer appeared to be: "Leopard skin tights!"

I have nothing to say about actual tight usage.

Well, I wouldn't say that, Jeff. I hike in the PNW and don't have to worry about things thorny and pokey. I'm not sure how well they would hold up in Piper's situation, at least without the gaiters.

http://www.runningfunky.com. They don't have the leopard print right now, but boy, do they have other bright fabrics. I originally was searching for light brown or tan tights or long johns instead of black. My searches led me there. I get lots of comments on them on the trail, for sure.

Lol…I loves me loud hiking clothes.

When I met my now husband, he had only seen me in hiking clothes for the first month or so of knowing each other (we met hiking), and I wore bland clothing – carbon grays, khaki, black, white, etc. Then he came to my work when we started dating and found out I had zero fashion sense. Lol….

I was a barista and dressed as loud as I could. Leopard print leather jeans, blue snow leopard fake fur jackets. He was "uhhhhhhh". You make way more tips when people remember you.

Now I dress blandly in life, but my hiking clothing? You can tell LNT to bite me ;-)

On my last trip I wore a skirt. I rarely wear skirts in real life. It was so comfortable. Lots of air flow. Yesterday I wore shorts like a normal person. No air flow. And I sort of missed how my skirt felt like a shield in front of my when pushing through the bushes. I'm trying to learn to sew now so I can sew an awesome skirt. It might even be *gasp* cotton because damn, cotton is comfortable and if it's a skirt, how hypothermic can it make me? I can always remove it in the rain and wear a rain skirt instead.

Honestly? I wear cotton all the time when hiking on the bottom half. It breathes! I carry backup clothing, so no…I am not worried. (I don't do this in say dumping rain in October). Skirts are great – and easy to sew :-)