gaiters

[Adam]

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4432231414

how durable are these? do they stop points from cutting through to your pants?? (ya ya better footwork is a better prevention but barring that)

anyone have a suggestion of more durable/comparably priced gaiters? or do you have to spend a lot more to get more durability?

[*Chris*]

Adam,
I wear the cheap nylon gaiters from MEC and they have saved my more expensive pants on several occasions. I find them completely satisfactory:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_deta ... 4423036281

[granite_grrl]

I used the MEC nylon gaiters for quite a while before I upgraded to the Gortex ones. For about 95% of the time the nylon ones will do just as well as the more expensive options, the other 5% of the time you've accidentally stepped into water that's too deep and it gives you those extra few seconds to get out before the water floods into your boots.

In terms of ripping your pants the nylon ones might work a little better, but I haven't tested either very much. The only time I've put a whole in either I tripped over myself on the trail.

[Joe]

I gottem and likem. They're beefy - no holes yet. But like you said, best to walk like you're Ron Jeremy.

[Jon Corey]

I have the cheap 15.00 ones. I broke the zipper on one but I was a bit too rough. Only complaint is the tie that goes under the boot is not long enough.
I put a longer shoelace on and problem solved.

[chossmonkey]

I have those and they have kept my pants hole free except for the time I ripped the inside of the knee above the gaiter. I have never ripped through the gaiters and then into my pants. The gaiters are pretty beat up but I've just been taping them with this clear tape probably available at MEC. It work much better than duct tape for fixing holes and is clear so it isn't as noticeable.

The hook on the front on mine is pretty loose. I actually never use mine anymore since it won't stay on the laces, They stay down fine with out it anyway.

[Stan]

IMO, cheap nylon gaiters should be fine if they fit you. I got MEC ones in size large, and they are too tight. Or I am too fat. Or both.

Anyway, I went sans gaiters, and over 2 seasons managed to get away with just two small rips in my cheap $70 MH softshell pants.

[*Chris*]

Yeah... exact same problem as Stan. They are very snug on the calves. Although Stan may be too chubby in the ankles I prefer to think my problem is that I'm too ripped and huge!

[granite_grrl]

I have the cheap 15.00 ones. I broke the zipper on one but I was a bit too rough. Only complaint is the tie that goes under the boot is not long enough.
I put a longer shoelace on and problem solved.

I stopped using the the tie under the boot very quickly. I found that as long as the shoe lace hook was on snug enough I didn't have a problem.

Also, I would never unzip them, instead I would slip them on before I put my boots on and then roll them down. I found them hard to zip, and this was a lot easier for me. Also it prevents rough housing with the zipper.

[Adam]

thanks for the advice all!

[martha]

I've got the Outdoor Research 'Crocidile' that have codura on the bottom half of the leg. They really protect your pants and I have no trouble getting them over any boots. They are a bit big for me, but Fred can wear them too. Mine are very waterproof too so with early spring hikes etc I stay dry even going through small streams etc and keep everything inside my boots dry. I think mine were about $75.

[Murph]

I have the cheap 15.00 ones. I broke the zipper on one but I was a bit too rough. Only complaint is the tie that goes under the boot is not long enough.
I put a longer shoelace on and problem solved.

I stopped using the the tie under the boot very quickly. I found that as long as the shoe lace hook was on snug enough I didn't have a problem.

Also, I would never unzip them, instead I would slip them on before I put my boots on and then roll them down. I found them hard to zip, and this was a lot easier for me. Also it prevents rough housing with the zipper.

I have the Nylon Gaiters from MEC as well. I find that zipping them up can be cumbersome at times and will usually leave them half zipped when possible. I have been thinking about swapping a longer shoelace for years now, but never got around to doing it. However, once they are zipped up, they serve their purpose.

[szymiec]

gaiters are so 90s man!

[chossmonkey]

gaiters are so 90s man!

Its true!!!

At least when keeping snow out of your panties.

For keeping your new pants from getting ripped up or keeping your legs dry when falling through the creek ice there just isn't a replacement as far as I know.

[Fred]

gaiters are so 90s man!

Dude, you're gona die on one of those mountains someday if you are worried about fashion.

[Outdoorsmack]

I have the mec gortex gaiters, they work wonders but I did happen to put a hole in them this winter and the hole continued on through into my gortex rain pants. Other than that they are great, i just got a patch and they are good as new. I find the sizes seem to run a little small, so i suggest by one size up than normal.