gaiters

del

Dirty Girls

http://www.dirtygirlgaiters.com/

+2 on the dirty girls. So simple. And I like simple.

Dirty Girl…

…just a few…and basic Black, if you'd like.

Another option is MLD SuperLight

Adrien

Eric,
Not mentioned, but possibly important –

Most gaiters use a lace hook in front and an instep cord to keep the gaiter in place. The cord will wear and break, sometimes quickly. If you go with an instep cord, look for a coated Spectra, like a bear bag cord. Take pre-cut spares.

A Dirty Girl is made to keep the small stuff out while trail running. They have a lace hook in front, and velcro glued to the back of the heel to hold that end down. The spandex keeps things tight. They don't work for postholeing in snow or deep-scree slides. But for trail walking, they are hard to beat. I attach the velcro with SealGrip. I've never had one peel off.

YMMV.

Greg, I sewed two small grosgrain loops on each of my Dirty Girls. Most of the time I don't use them, but if I run into deep snow I cut two 6" pieces of cord and tie in a quick instep strap. Greatly extends their range of usefulness and keeps them from riding up in deep snow. It's not as good as full gaiters (you still get snow up your pants) but it's a big improvement.

http://www.mountainhardwear.com/scree-gaiter-OM3747.html

Very happy with these.

Will Rietveld's favorites are the Montbell Stretch Semi-Long Spats mentioned above.

The Mountain Hardwear Screes are on closeout at REI.

Outdoor Research has their Stamina Gaiter which is about the same weight as the the Montbell and the Mountain Hardwear.

Either of the MLD Event gaitors are highly recommended. Have worn mine without issue in winter and more impressively for long distances of off trails expedition hiking in thick boreal brush without a single tear. I shredded a pair of Arcteryx goretex rain pants on the same trip on the branches of black spruce deadfall. The gaitors were far more durable and so so light. I love em!

Derrick

Dirty Girls are great for basic protection from rocks and dirt getting into your shoes. They are light and stretchy, like socks really. Fun colors! I have flames, which is pretty funny if you hike with me– I'm slow :)

Outdoor Research is coming out with their "Sparkplug" gaiter which is like a Dirty Girl on steroids. There is an Outdoor Retail article at http://gossamergear.com/wp/buzz-blog/outdoor-retailer-winter-2014-trade-show-part-1-pre-show-hiking-loads-interesting-new-gear-technologies-lightweight-backcountry-travel . Scroll down a bit to see the OR gaiters.

I'd love to use the Dirty Girl gaiters just for the funk factor, but I just could not get the Velcro patch to stay glued to my shoes.

The Montbell gaiters have been fantastic. I thought the cord cover would feel weird to walk on–don't even notice them. And the gaiters are really comfortable to wear, I forget I have them on, even in the heat.

"I'd love to use the Dirty Girl gaiters just for the funk factor, but I just could not get the Velcro patch to stay glued to my shoes."

For my first several pair I cleaned the shoe and just used the adhesive backed velcro. Somewhere along the line I had one that started to peel away.

Now I –

Trim the velcro to match the back of the shoe, so there is no "unsupported" velcro.
Clean the shoe with alcohol.
Peel away the adhesive release sheet and apply SeamGrip.
Place the velcro, and use masking tape to hold it in place overnight.

With this method I've never had the velcro peel away. But, as "full disclosure", I only get about 300 to 400 miles on a pair of shoes, which for me is about 3 months of local use. (Or 10 days on the JMT.)

I like them better than Dirty Girl b/c no velcro. Though, dirty girls stay down okay without it I've found. Somewhere in the articles from last year is a definitive review by Will Rietvield (sp?). Anyway, one I have not tried but would look at if shopping is the Simblissity Levagaiter.

Another vote for Montbell spats. I love mine and forget I have them on even in the summer.

I love my Simblissity Levagaiters. Use them as is…No velcro patch, no under foot cord. They stay put on my Inov-8s just with the lace hook up front and pulled over the raised Inov-8 logo on the heel of my Flyroc 310s. I have actually been really REALLY surprised that these do not move. I checked them multiple times on my first trip with them….positive that I have caused the heel portion to slip off dragging my heels over rocks or when I was marching through valley bog/marsh almost up to my knees…didn't move a bit! Have never once slipped off my shoes in my time owning them. …I'm convinced they're magic.

http://www.simblissity.net/levagaiter.htm

HTH

KJ

Correct me if I'm wrong, but of the gaiters mentioned, the Simblissity Levagaiters look like the only ones that can be put on and taken off without removing one's shoes.

del

Paul

I believe that to be the case. I quite enjoy the fact that mine pretty much cover all my laces on my shoes. Seems to help keep more crud out of my shoes.

KJ