Do you hike with Gaiters?

[LAS]

I almost have everything I need for my SOBO thru hike this upcoming summer. One of the last remaining pieces Im debating if I should buy or not are gaiters. Im going to be wearing Merrell Moab Mids. I see REI has a cheap pair of desert gaiter. Are gaiters worthwhile or do they just become a nuisance? Thanks!

[leaftye]

No, but that's something you should figure out for yourself.

[Prime Time]

I use Dirty Girl's. $20. They are virtually weightless, spandex, close fitting gaiters that will keep dust, grit, pebbles from working their way into your trail shoes. This is important because that stuff over time can grind your feet raw and destroy your socks and you won't even know what caused it. They breathe well so perspiration build up is a non issue. They do nothing to keep the rain out, but that's a hopeless battle anyway so don't even wage it.

[gizzy bear]

I use Dirty Girl's. $20. They are virtually weightless, spandex, close fitting gaiters that will keep dust, grit, pebbles from working their way into your trail shoes. This is important because that stuff over time can grind your feet raw and destroy your socks and you won't even know what caused it. They breathe well so perspiration build up is a non issue. They do nothing to keep the rain out, but that's a hopeless battle anyway so don't even wage it.

good info...thanks...and LAS this is a a good question, one i have often wondered about as well...

[hikernutcasey]

Do you hike with gaitors?

I have never seen the need for them so no.

[The Ace]

I wear the low cut Merrell Moab Ventilators non-GTX version in warm weather. My feet will get wet, but dry out quickly. No gaitors because I just never get any junk working its way down into my shoes. I cannot explain why some people get stuff into their shoes/boots and others like me do not.

[garlic08]

I don't wear them.

[FarmerChef]

I don't wear them either but I do get junk in my shoes. The worst experience I had was breaking a stick in one stride and then having the tip of that broken stick pierce the side of my shoe. Didn't hurt me but left a hole in my shoe. I still wore it for 300 more miles but aside from that I just dump my shoes out at the end of the night. Honestly, with trail runners or equivalent I don't see how you keep the fine dirt and duff from coming in through the mesh. My socks are always brown well down in my shoes.

[Pedaling Fool]

No, but that's something you should figure out for yourself.

That's probably true. I found out by starting my thru without them and I did wear boots above the ankles, but still ended up getting debris in my boots. So by Harper's Ferry I bought a cheap pair of ankle-high gaiters and never had that problem (muddy socks from sweat and dirt and little rocks/sticks) again. So, walk a thousand miles then re-evaluate

[Schooley]

Plus 1 on: gaiters keep dust, grit, pebbles from working their way into trail shoes and boots. This has been my experience and I like wearing my gaiters...I don't remember the brand but they sound very similar to the dirty girls.

[The Gambler]

nope...have before but no more

[Southerner]

I only used my gaiters (I have knee-highs) once or twice the entire time north of GSMNP. In fact, I almost sent them home. But, I was extremely glad to have them when I got hit with that huge Hurricane Sandy snow. If I was going SOBO again, I would probably get Dirty Girls to prevent debris from getting in my shoes (as suggested by Prime Time above) and then switch them out for my knee-highs as part of my winter re-gear.

[Schooley]

And a big plus one on: I cannot explain why some people get stuff into their shoes/boots and others like do not. I literally dump junk out of my boots if I don't wear scree gaiters and my buddy gas no problems at all. I can also tell a big difference in the dust and dirt that gathers in my shoes. This is what I wear: http://m.rei.com/mt/www.rei.com/prod...-scree-gaiters

[Doc_of_the_bay]

I wear them to keep sand and gravel out of my shoes, but also to keep ticks and chiggers out of my pants legs. With gaiters on, any ticks that get on my ankles crawl up the outside of my pants and are easy to spot and get rid of.

[wookinpanub]

I always take them. They are a great shield against minor dirt, debris, dampness, and brush. I have knee-highs that I pull up in the AM when the dew is on the grass/leaves. They can also be used for a little warmth. As the day warms and dew evaporates, I push them down to my ankles. I also pull them up in areas where the trail is overgrown. Could I do without them? Yes. Do I want to? No.

[FatHead64]

And a big plus one on: I cannot explain why some people get stuff into their shoes/boots and others like do not. I literally dump junk out of my boots if I don't wear scree gaiters and my buddy gas no problems at all. I can also tell a big difference in the dust and dirt that gathers in my shoes. This is what I wear: http://m.rei.com/mt/www.rei.com/prod...-scree-gaiters

+2 - but I do hike in snow and sand dunes. But they keep all sorts of crud out of my boots - so I am one of the unfortunate ones that gets that stuff in my boots. I have both hi and low gaiters and would tend to use the low exclusively unless I feel I need the height and insulation of high gaiters. Even here in Michigan in snow, if it isn't more than a few inches deep on average, I won't use the high gaiters. However, summer, winter, Michigan, GSMNP, I always have gaiters on. Works for me and they don't keep the rain out. The low gaiters I currently have came treated with Permethrin - they are from OR as I recall.

[ChuckBrown]

yup, Mountain hardwear, Ventigator, full length with venting mesh on calf area with a zip cover. saves alot of dirt and crap from getting in your sleeping bag.

[Stink Bug]

I use Dirty Girl's. $20. They are virtually weightless, spandex, close fitting gaiters that will keep dust, grit, pebbles from working their way into your trail shoes. This is important because that stuff over time can grind your feet raw and destroy your socks and you won't even know what caused it. They breathe well so perspiration build up is a non issue. They do nothing to keep the rain out, but that's a hopeless battle anyway so don't even wage it.

Another Dirty Girl user. Lightweight, functional, cheap and keep trail duff out of my shoes.

[QiWiz]

I hike with debris-attracting low cut trail runners.
I like the 1 oz per pair Dirty Girl gaiters to keep trail debris out.
If in snow or really wet weather expected, I like the eVent shorty gaiters from Integral Designs.

[k2basecamp]

I've used them but the strap that goes under the boot always breaks after 100 miles or so in the White Mts. Anybody know of any that have solved this problem? I had both break on the event intregal design ones I had.