Gear-Zone Guide to Gaiters

Posted by Neil | October 28, 2011

Gaiters are worn over the shoe to protect the lower part of the leg from the elements.

Originally made from leather, nowadays there are many types on the market made of synthetic, waterproof cloth designed for walkers, climbers and motorcyclists to keep out water below the knee.

Heavy gaiters worn with crampons for mountaineering help protect the leg and ankle from brushes with unforgiving rock, while lighter, more weather-proof versions are invaluable when walking in rain, snow and mud, preventing water from entering the top of your boot.

Motorcyclists in particular will benefit from unrelenting surface spray riding up inside the trouser leg and finding its way into the most waterproof of bikers’ boot.

The renowned Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiter is a multi award-winning 3-layer Gore-Tex version. Velcro-fitted from ankle to knee with an extra adjustable buckle below the kneecap to tighten it further, a buckled strap slides below the boot for an even closer fit.

Extremities GTX XCR Nova Gaiters prevent water penetration with an easy front-entry zip and Velcro seal, and stainless steel fittings stop any danger of rusting. A reflective tab makes quick removal in darkness a simple operation.

Many modern gaiters have the additional advantage of a lace-hook, which can slip over a shoe or boot lace to keep them even more firmly in place around the top of a shoe or boot.

Dry feet are the key to keeping warm whatever you’re doing - see our earlier Gear-Zone Guide to Comfort - whether tromping through the Kent marshes or East Anglian fens, skiing down an Austrian piste or thundering along a rain-soaked autobahn on a Harley!

That’s where a good pair of gaiters really come into their own…