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Runner2017
05-04-2017, 13:39
I'll appreciate if anyone can recommend some Ultralight gators. I'm not very interested in waterproof ones since I'm more interested in light weight and breathability. Thank you.

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Venchka
05-04-2017, 14:00
I'll appreciate if anyone can recommend some Ultralight gators. I'm not very interested in waterproof ones since I'm more interested in light weight and breathability. Thank you.

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..."in light weight and breathability."
Don't wear gaiters.
Seriously, what do they accomplish that you need?
Wayne



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ranger2012
05-04-2017, 14:23
I like dirty girl gaiters https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/.

Just saw at Altra is making their own now, may give them a try https://www.altrarunning.com/trail-gaiters/trail-running-gaiters

DuneElliot
05-04-2017, 14:42
+1 on Dirty Girl gaiters...absolutely LOVE mine. I don't even know I'm wearing them while I'm hiking and they do a good job of keeping the crap out of my trail runners.

bigcranky
05-04-2017, 14:51
My wife loves her Dirty Girl gaiters. Stretchy, light, breathable, and they keep the &^% out of her shoes.

cmoulder
05-04-2017, 15:05
..."in light weight and breathability."
Don't wear gaiters.
Seriously, what do they accomplish that you need?
Wayne
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Some people seem to have no problems with crap getting into their shoes. I ain't one of them. Without gaiters I have to stop every 1/4 mile to remove pebbles and twigs from my shoes.

Venchka
05-04-2017, 15:21
I must lead a charmed life. Even after 4 calf deep & wide stream crossings there was nothing in my shoes but a sock and a foot.
Wayne


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squeezebox
05-04-2017, 15:34
My only complaint about dirty girls is that you have to put then on before putting on your shoes. It would be nice if they made a zippered style.

scrabbler
05-04-2017, 15:40
Outdoor Research makes nice pair too, you can find them on Amazon .

BuckeyeBill
05-04-2017, 15:46
I use Outdoor Research Bugout Gaiters (https://www.rei.com/product/852795/outdoor-research-bugout-gaiters). Breathable, full length opening so you can take them off without removing your shoes, plus they come treated with Insect Shield. Weight is 4.4 oz.

soilman
05-04-2017, 16:03
+1 for Dirty Girl. I used OR but the strap that goes under your shoe kept wearing out.

CalebJ
05-04-2017, 16:25
I must lead a charmed life. Even after 4 calf deep & wide stream crossings there was nothing in my shoes but a sock and a foot.
Wayne

I wish that were true for me. Instead, after several hours of hiking there's a layer of tiny pebbles and debris floating between my socks and shoes. Dirty Girls help with that quite a bit.

greensleep
05-04-2017, 16:30
I'll appreciate if anyone can recommend some Ultralight gators. I'm not very interested in waterproof ones since I'm more interested in light weight and breathability. Thank you.

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I ordered a pair of ultra lightweight gaiters from Lukes Ultralite about 2 months ago and am hoping they get here before I leave for my sobo in June. Sounds like everything you want. Buttttt---they're having some problems right now filling orders, so if you don't need them right away, they may suit the bill.

Harrison Bergeron
05-04-2017, 17:45
I'll appreciate if anyone can recommend some Ultralight gators. I'm not very interested in waterproof ones since I'm more interested in light weight and breathability. Thank you.
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Make your own.
39219

0.5oz. And waterproof. Ridiculously easy to make out of a scrap of Silnylon. I made them for my 2015 hike. Never used them, though. I discovered that I preferred hiking in long pants so that my legs didn't become encrusted in dust that eventually wound up in my sleeping bag. I found that my nylon zip-off's shed rain and dirt almost as well as the gaiters, at least combined with my Danner boots, anyway.

cmoulder
05-04-2017, 17:52
Outdoor Research makes nice pair too, you can find them on Amazon .

The OR gaiters most similar to Dirty Girls are called Sparkplug (https://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/sparkplug-gaiters.html), and they're the ones I use.

Even with these I was finding that I STILL occasionally got stuff in my shoes through the non-gussetted tongue, so I modified them by putting a loop at the front of the shoe to stretch them out so that they cover the lace area, and I further added a little 'stay' to them to improve the shape.

39220 39221

Might seem like overkill to the blessed souls who don't have this problem.

These gaiters don't make my feet hot at all.

Pastor Bryon
05-04-2017, 19:10
I have the MLD pair, very lightweight, will stay on without bungee strap for me no problem. Weight is less than 2oz.

JC13
05-04-2017, 20:16
XL Dirty Girls, mine weigh 1.4 oz for the pair.

Dogwood
05-04-2017, 21:12
I'll appreciate if anyone can recommend some Ultralight gators. I'm not very interested in waterproof ones since I'm more interested in light weight and breathability. Thank you.....

Then you should compare and choose carefully...if it is as you say!

If you don't want to consider and read further than ignore the rest of this post.

First, get rid of the false assumption there always HAS TO BE a big wt difference between WP and non WP gaiters. It's not at all uncommon for WP shortie gaiters in large to WEIGH LESS than a non WP large shortie model in another brand. I'm saying that in context of being a sometimes anal Uler/SULer. AND, since you are gear wt and breathability conscious to the degree you imply I expect you're desiring input about shortie gaiters.

Secondly, consider what you want the gaiters for - how do you want them to function and in what typical conditions.

To just say you want UL non WP gaiters(because it's automatically assumed WP gaiters are always heavier) that are breathable how about considering other aspects - durability, price, other features(ability to be removed without taking shoes off or wanting no under strap for example), level of WPness, etc - and sharing those aspects. I expect you know NOT to fall into a 'stupid light' mentality!

Some examples of shortie gaiter wts(all in large as far as I can ascertain) that I've used or know about that could be on your list based only so far on what you've already shared:

1.2 oz INNOV not WP, have never owned a pr of INNOV shoes or these gaiters so can't comment from personal experience http://www.wiggle.co.uk/inov-8-debris-gaiter-32-socks-aw16/ Not WP
1.2 oz Outdoor Research Sparkplug gaiters not WP not overly expensive mostly elastane(goes by trade named Lycra and Spandex). This is using thinnish stretch fabric as does the INNOV, DGs, Altra, etc but uses the Simblissity Leva gaiter idea of only one attachment point on the laces. On maintained trails I only tried them once with mixed results because as with the Leva Gaiter fit to the shoes and feet characteristics was not ideally compatible. https://www.outdoorresearch.com/en/sparkplug-gaiters.html
1.3 oz Altra not WP, mostly Lycra Spandex, inexpensive option. They certainly can work well with non Altra brand shoes without Altra's gaiter trap. I just bought these to put on a different shoe modelAltras) than I paired them with in the past so can't provide fair comprehensive personal in the field info. https://www.altrarunning.com/trail-gaiters/trail-running-gaiters
1.4 oz Dirty Girl's not WP, made of inexpensive stretchy Lycra(Spandex) making them a good inexpensive option w/ good breathability http://sub-10.blogspot.com/2013/04/dirty-girl-gaiters-vs-simblissity.html Damn colorful if you want to make a fashion statement! I currently have two pr for desert hiking. :D Have gone through two other pr because they were only good for one PCT thru or one Grand Enchantment thru. A .2 oz lighter version that could work is the OR Sparkplug as CMoulder has suggested with the main difference is teh DG's have a vectored heel and the OR's are held on the shoe hell by lateral force friction.
1.8 oz Simblissity UL Leva Gaiter non WP but WR and very breathable gaiters, 4 colors, http://sub-10.blogspot.com/2013/04/dirty-girl-gaiters-vs-simblissity.html AND http://www.simblissity.net This is made from the less expensive than Schoeller fabric stretch woven Durastretch. I liked the one pr I had although sometimes they pulled up over the low cut trail runner collar. Which reminds me to say size carefully because gram weenieing based on saving 1/10 oz by going to smaller size may make your gaiters moot. As Brett says, as I have experienced, Durastretch is more durable than lycra/spandex. These arose out of Brett's own trail needs in largely abrasive clingy plant southwest conditions from what I can tell.
1.8 oz Mt Laurel Designs eVent WP gaiters with eVent, a top WP breathable fabric contender for gear, very breathable WP material but not as breathable as non WP Durastretch https://mountainlaureldesigns.com/product/superlight-gaiter/ I've thoroughly likes my two prs when I wanted a UL WP shortie gaiter. I save these for extensive shallow snow, slush, and wet mud use.
http://sub-10.blogspot.com/2013/04/dirty-girl-gaiters-vs-simblissity.html
1.8 oz Zpacks Ankle Height Challenger WP Gaiters made w cuben fiber and eVent. http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/gaiters.shtml I've never used these $$$
1.5 oz Montbell UL Schoeller Dynamic stretch woven fabric gaiters good WResistance and good breathability w/ IMO better durability than Durastretch and definitely better durability than Lycra/Spandex. I don't think these are available anymore. If they were I'd buy another pr or two. These were lighter wt than the now discontinued REI branded Schoeller stretch fabric gaiters at 2.4-2.6 ozs I used earlier but the REI pr could be removed without taking shoes off and had the sometimes durability problematic under strap.
2.1 oz Montbell Shortie 140 D stretch Schoeller Dynamic Extreme gaiters having very good WResistance and breathability. These replaced the previous just mentioned MB pr. Only wore these for two days borrowed from someone. I liked them. If I bought these I'd do away with the under strap and all under strap hardware and use some velcro on the heel and paired low cut trail runners.ttps://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=14070&p_id=1129451
Compare carefully based on your trail characteristics and needs whether you want Elastane, Spandex or Lycra, which in the U.S. are used interchangeably, are inexpensive and less durable to abrasion and catching on deserts trail plants, Durastretch, which is as Brett says, more durable than Lycra/Spandex, or Schoeller or some other form of non WP breathable gaiter material of varying WR and breathability. .

In my experience Swiss made Schoeller fabrics used in gaiters and pants has the highest WResistance, mud resistance, and durability but it's more pricey and perhaps(likely?) a little less breathable. I base that wearing them on thru hiking the LT in muddy conditions during 6 straight days of rain, a Fig 8 BMT/AT thru hike in high wet vegetation and muddy conditions during a 11 days straight rain, red mud/water filled non technical canyoneering routes through AZ and UT, and summiting Mt Rainer through snow, ice and mud. I've never had significant breathability issues using Schoeller Dynamic as a long endurance backpacker but I'm not so keen employing it in summer in the dessert or in extensive non abrasive conditions. At these times I give the nod to Lycra/Spandex if summer on maintained trails like the AZT and PCT. Could have/Should have used Durastretch gaiters on summer desert routes in the mountains off trail on the Oregon Desert Trail and Great Basin NP in NV and on a few other occasions.

Be careful of gaiters made of some of the nylons as far as breathability.

It makes little sense to not carefully consider the breathability of footwear(beyond just examining it in narrow terms of WP and non WP shoes) and socks when taking special notice of breathability of gaiters.

In my mind as a wt and performance conscious hiker unless I'm considering the wts and performance - INCLUDING BREATHABILITY where applicable - of every thing on my feet and legs - pretty much my entire lower half -, which I anally do, including shoes, laces, socks, compression sleeves(shins,socks, knees), crampons, snowshoes, moisturizer, anti friction salves/creams, Band-Aids, and any other blister preventions or anything else I'm currently ignoring the wts of as these are all so close in wt I'm not basing my gaiter selection on weight alone but including other factors.

Runner2017
05-07-2017, 12:10
Thanks to all for your suggestions.

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Dogwood
05-07-2017, 12:42
You are most welcome. Hopefully that helps. It did take some looking up to get all those wts correct as best I knew how.

Nice inexpensive SUL option Harrison Bergeron shared.

Rain Man
05-07-2017, 12:49
REI sells, or used to sell, light-weight desert gaiters. I got a pair at their "Scratch & Dent" sale. My "go to" gaiters.

AngryGerman
05-24-2017, 12:39
Having used many different brands and types of gators over the years the Dirty Girl gators made it into my gear!!! Dogwood's retort was more eloquently typed out than most and is probably a top five now in my gear selection/reasoning box.

QiWiz
05-25-2017, 16:51
I like dirty girl gaiters https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/.

Just saw at Altra is making their own now, may give them a try https://www.altrarunning.com/trail-gaiters/trail-running-gaiters

+ more for Dirty Girl gaiters

Drybones
05-25-2017, 17:47
I never go to the woods without my Dirty Girls.....I love Dirty Girls.

Runner2017
05-25-2017, 23:23
I always like Outdoor Research's Infinite Warranty so I ordered a pair of its Sparkplug.

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tflaris
06-13-2017, 08:53
Altra's work great with my Lone Peak's 3.0


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