Out of the boots but now needs gaiters

The thing about walking in the snow is that it can kick up behind you, drop into your shoes and wet your socks and calves, even when it's quite shallow. I don't mind wet feet in three-season stuff, but not in the snow.

So I would recommend full-length gaiters with W/P lower section and W/B uppers. GoreTex does work well for the uppers. That's what we use.

Cheers

In my experience, I want my gaiters to be as breathable as possible or else my leg just wets out from the sweat. I use simple nylon gaiters (and we get some big snow up here). They end up absorbing some of the wet snow throughout the day but are easy to dry/brush off in the evening. I think vapour barrier socks are another addition that will help your buddies trail runners survive in the winter. Of course, as recomended before, the 40 below overboots are an option…mine are on order. :)

When not postholing through deep powder, I prefer those little Schoeller fabric gaiters from MontBell. WR/B, 1.4oz.

While I do have gaiters, I haven’t used them yet (no snow so far). I do recommend Trekmates Ambhibian though, I’ve used them in rain and they’re fine.

nm

I don't think he is going to spend more for the 40 Below overboots than what his shoes cost. That and it seems he is looking for everyday stomping in stomping. He will probably end up wearing a pair of jeans or fatigues as pants. I would suggest the waterproof socks to him but alll that I have seen top out at size 13 and would be too small for his 14s and my 15s. I would love to show him some gaiters but there is only one pair in town that is sized too small and a less than impressive variant.

Brett, understood…I have these gaiters and have put hundreds of miles in them. Cheap and simple…never let me down. 8 oz for the pair. (I think you'll have to cut and paste the link)

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302733919&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441771599

As for your waterproof/VB socks..they are just glorified plastic bags…I'm sure you can find some bags that fit his size 14 foot.

When I was a kid living in the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan), my mom used to put plastic grocery bags over our socks before we put on our snow shoes. She did it to make sure that cold water didn't seep into our socks. Little did she know she was a VB innovator! :)

I already use the bread bag plastic bags as VB liners. I guess I could give him some and see if they work for him.

Is there a way of just rigging something then?