gaiters…are they needed?

Hey shovel,

This is sort of like the “bag verses quilt” issue… to each their own.

The reasons I prefer to use gaiters are:

Even though I use pants that go all the way down to the top of my shoes (and have straps to help keep them down) there are times when you might be walking through really soft sand (river silt, beach sand, etc) and they help keep out the very small dirt that likes to works it way down under your toes, or perhaps you are hiking along the Lost Coast Trail and you have a million little black pebbles trying to get into your shoes.

To help keep ticks out. This turns gaiters into a good “double duty” item. They help create a tighter seal to keep those little suckers away from your legs/feet.

They keep the ferns and other plants with sharp ridges from ripping your ankles up.

They give you a nice tan line if you wear them with shorts ;)

Some people think that some of them make you look cool ;)

> or perhaps you are hiking along the Lost Coast Trail and you have a million little black pebbles trying to get into your shoes.

Hmmm… maybe I should invest in some if my son agrees to do part of the LCT? ;)

don't leave home w/o them- trail running, day hikes, backpacking- they always go

nothing worse than picking small rocks, seeds, etc out of your shoes

I always wear gaiters – keep dirt and rocks out of my shoes

Most gaiters are sort of heavy. Weight on your foot is maybe 5 times as bad as weight on your back because you have to raise and lower your foot so much. Someone here mentioned that, so I made some new gaiters out of 1.1 oz breathable nylon and they work pretty good – have lasted quite a few trips but I expect to have to replace them occasionally – do surprisingly well keeping water off my socks.

I started wearing them in the Peco's this year but stopped last week during a Cloudcroft dayhike. Bad move. Forgot how the little stones and twigs can accumulate.

Depends on a few things. You mentioned you have boots that come up 1ft. on your legs. I would say most people on this site, when hiking on trail, will wear low-cut trail runners. Smaller, ankle-height gaiters make lots of sense with these, as they will keep out debris and keep your socks cleaner, in both dry, dusty conditions and wet, slushy conditions. I don't wear boots anymore unless I'm hiking seriously muddy trails or in the winter, in which case I also wear gaiters for the same reasons.

Used to wear them trail running, but no more. I feel like it's just another thing to keep track of, try and remember where I put them, get lost in the laundry or a drawer, put on, etc. I like to be out the door with as little thought and gear as possible…shorts, t shirt, shoes, gone.

I usually run/hike sockless. I've gotten used to a certain amount of sand/grit in my shoes. And if need be, stopping to take one off and shake it out only takes a few seconds.

Craig said,

"Used to wear them trail running, but no more. I feel like it's just another thing to keep track of, try and remember where I put them, get lost in the laundry or a drawer, put on, etc. I like to be out the door with as little thought and gear as possible…shorts, t shirt, shoes, gone.

I usually run/hike sockless. I've gotten used to a certain amount of sand/grit in my shoes. And if need be, stopping to take one off and shake it out only takes a few seconds."

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Same here. Only I wear anklet socks. Also I often hike in sandy loose soil with the lightest shoes possible… lots of mesh. The few times I have hiked with others, they will tell you I almost never take off my shoes to shake out sand.

Winter in snow is a different proposition, and I use gaiters when I expect sub-freezing slushy conditions.

Cordura knee-length gaiters in the Australian scrub. Not for snakes, for the SCRUB.

Knee-length GoreTex gaiters in the snow.

Short Lycra gaiters (DirtyGirl style) on tracks in Europe – for mud, stones etc.

Cheers

It all depends on where you are.

In the snow? Always. OR Crocs rule there.

But I have more gaiters now for when I want to blast in shorts. I rarely wear boots any more so gaiters, the light ones, become a part of my footwear solution.

Dirty Girls keep sand and rocks out down south, REI Sahara's work pretty well on PCT adventures up north. I have some short OR's (GT) that are great in rainy areas.

But are they "needed"? Nope. Not part of the 10 Essentials last time I looked. Just nice sometimes.