Dirty Girl Gaiters

I've been using them for about two years. I've bought four pairs in that time (and hiked over 3000 miles). I'm still using the first and the last pairs. Each have some tears near the bottom now, but they're still very functional.

Bottom line is that they're durable enough for hiking on trails or very light bushwhacking. I don't know how well they'd fare in brambles and scrub. Probably not too well. Since I tend to hike on trails and not wade through choked brush, Dirty Girls are one of my favorite pieces of gear– about 0.6 ounces per pair, $19 including shipping, and they look rad! Oh yeah. And they do exactly what I want them to do, which is keep dirt and leaf-litter out of my shoes.

They are the best gaiters for trail runners as they do not need a string under the sole. I have cut many under-cords on my REI Desert gaiters because they get ground against the terrain with the trail runners I hike in.

I have been using one pair of Dirty Girls for about 600 miles of backpacking so far. They last longer than the shoes that's for sure.

I have a pair of dirty girl gaiters that have about 300 hundred miles on them. All the hiking has been on trails so I cannot say how they would do if you were bush whacking, but they still look new. They wash up great and are very light weight. They are very comfortable and these are far and away my favorite gaiter.

For $19 they are tough to beat.

Just started using them this year. I really like their simplicity. I have around 300 miles on mine so far. They work great at keeping stuff out of my shoes are very light weight and very breathable. They will be a permanent addition to my 3 season hiking.

Love my Dirty Girls. I recommend them to all my hiking friends.

They hold up really well on trails, but they're not made for bushwhacking. I destroyed my first pair on one Seven Devils, ID, trip with lots of off-trail lake bagging. Briers and snags tear the material pretty easily. And don't expect them to be much good in snow–post-holing tends to push them up off their heel anchors. They're not waterproof either.

I've got two more pair now. The only other problem I've had is the hook-and-loop tape that goes on the heel of the shoe came loose on one pair of shoes. I just cleaned off the old stickum and put a new piece on. They come with plenty of the stuff.

Made my own in a hurry, using heavy Lycra fabric.
Hook&loop at the back, with the bit on the shoe bonded with PU adhseive.
Strap at front doubled back with plastic snaps.
Wore them for the entire 7-week Via Alpina trip in Europe in the middle of this year, worked pefectly, never a problem, harsh scree country.
They even looked better than our Cordura gaiters…
Oh yes – the straps under the shoes on my wife's conventional gaiters had to be replaced a couple of times in Europe.

Cheers

Has anyone used Arizona Gaiters by Joe TrailMan. How do they compare to Dirty Girls other than bland colors of course!

Thanks

Has anyone tried Simblissity Leva Gaiters? Same kind of gaiters, but no velcro. I hate velcro! No fun colors, though–just black and gray.

I have found that I can use my MLD low eVENT gaiters (lighter than either Dirty Girl or Leva) without the under-shoe cord, and they stay put, at least for normal trail wear (not in mud or snow). They are a bit pricey, though, if all I want is to keep gravel out of my shoes and keep the mosquitoes from chewing my ankles!

They work great. True no velcro on the shoe but the gaiters themselves do close with velcro.

I started my A.T thru this year using Simblissity LevaGaiters and they worked great except for when my Salomon trail running shoe laces cut through the metal keeper tabs and caused the laces to both snap at around mile 900. I switched to my Dirty Girls and must say that I love them. They are super cool, fast drying, inexpensive, light, and they stay put without slipping once you super glue the little piece of velcro to your shoe. Awesome trail fashion statement to boot. I had one comment on my gaiters wearing the Leva's and literally hundreds while rockin the Girls! I liked using both pairs equally well, and if the ease of velcro on and off is your priority then go with the Leva's and just watch the metal tab and make sure the laces aren't eating their way through it. Cheers and Happy Trails!

I have some friends that love them and they've lasted hundreds of miles. I've been looking at them recently, but can't decide on a pattern.

Ha, just get a few pair so you can accessorize… ;-)

I actually bought two pair thinking that they might fall apart fast. The first pair are still going strong which is good as I promptly lost the other pair.

for summer hiking and trail running hard to beat the Dirty Girls- I took a tip from her website and secured the velcro w/ seam grip- doesn't look the velcro is going anywhere (300-ish miles, including lots of stream crossings)

for shoulder season and winter I usually go w/ OR Flex Tex gaiters

Thanks for the great info friends. I just ordered a pair to show off at Morris Meadows, Trinity Alps with there first test run. Seems like a great product

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So what pattern did you order? Below are the ones I've been looking at. They're kinda funky, but I think that makes them more fun.

I ordered simple Black.

I just ordered a pair to show off at Morris Meadows, Trinity Alps with there first test run.

I'm looking forward to the fashion show! I've never understood this style of gator and what purpose they serve. To keep the dirt out or the stones?

Both dirt and stones–they really help plus they keep your shoe laces covered.

They work well. And instead of those gaudy colors, you can buy plain brown. Very subdued. Of course, anything else would clash with orange flaming shoes.

I’ve heard that manly men are opting for skulls this season

"I ordered simple Black."

Wimp! :-) One of mine is a 'coffee bean' pattern that looked maroon on the website. It turned out to be essentially pink. Pink coffee beans look like lips. Hot lips. You wouldn't believe the comments I get.

I am a simple man with simple needs. If they had material that said "TOOL" or "Foo Fighters" I would definitely show my colors!

I have the "I do not sell black gaiters" pattern

"One of mine is a 'coffee bean' pattern that looked maroon on the website. It turned out to be essentially pink. Pink coffee beans look like lips. Hot lips. You wouldn't believe the comments I get."

I have that one, too, and I'd forgotten that they looked brown on the website. I got the package and just assumed I'd ordered pink lips for my gaiters. It's not much less crazy than the other patterns.

The best part is that I don't look at my own feet while hiking, so I often forget that I have weird colors on my feet. Other hikers give me weird looks and comments, and it's almost always a surprise :)