Shoes and Gaiter Recommendation/Comments

[frequency]

I need a new pair of hiking shoes/boots - the Raichle boots I have are too heavy; the New Balance shoes I have are worn out. Anyone have any suggestions for light but supportive foot gear (I have a BMI > 25 so I need something with plenty of cushion)?

Also, I have a pair of Gaiters (Campmor) that I haven't used since 1998 but I get tired of stuff in my shoes plus my socks being heavily stained with grime. Has the UL community chucked the notion of Gaiters or is there some superlight breathable alternative?

[Outlaw]

There was a recent thread that discussed gaitors. I'm a firm (well, soft around the middle) believer in gaitors for keeping out scree and stuff and to keep the socks somewhat cleaner. Check out the thread below for more on this topic. http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=16759&highlight=gaitors