Gaiters..are they necessary?

[Cuffs]

Just a quick thought on gaitors... I use them when bushwhacking on my new farm to clear fence lines... I love them since I have to traverse huge expanses of brambles/briars. The one thing I would change on them is the hook that catches your shoe/boot laces. Besides brambles, I've had to go through vines and other low lying brush. My OR gaitors hook points up through the laces. This just causes and extra place to get hung up on vines/brush. If you find that youre getting gaitors, I would highly suggest that you find a pair that hook down into the laces, or modify ones that hook upward... Granted, there may not be much area like what I have on the Trail, but if you ever take a side track for whatever reason, it might be worth it not to be hassled with hang ups.

[mweinstone]

up pointing hooks? thats unheard of! sounds like youve been hooked up with some bad hookers.personaly id call the company and ask to speak to the head pimp.tell him his hookers are getting upity.

[highway]

They would really look even goofier over my sandals!

[Spiritual Pillgrim]

I used tall ones down south and was glad to have them while in the snow. Later I got short ones, but hardly used them so I sent 'em home.

[mweinstone]

but i use straiters. i find gayters to be too fussy.

[boarstone]

Are gaiters necessary on the AT? It seems like it would help but....can someone with experience with gaiters help? (I will be wearing trail shoes, not boots)

I've only used them for winter forays out into the white stuff, XC skiing, snowshoeing, walking but mostly they are great for ice fishing when drilling those fish holes! Once the ice augur breaks through up comes all that water and the gaiters keep the water off your lower legs and out of your boots.

[rockrat]

I wear goretex trail runners, and the for my thru in 2007 I'm bringing a cheap pair along until I get out of Mt. Rogers. I hate hiking in snow without them, and when it gets misty in the Smokies and Va Highlands the water soaks my legs and socks which is no fun.

[MedicineMan]

1. they are like having a pair of pants on that dont restrict the knees
2. yep they do keep crap out of the boot and socks cleaner but not
realy dryer unless you get goretex gaiters and even then depending
on how many jules your putting out
3. I dissagree with Jack a bit on the snake thing...any material the fangs
have to go through decrease the depth of the envenomization, and the
difference might make a difference in getting venom into a vein or not
but the odds of getting snakebit on the AT are too small to worry about
4. the best thing about gaiters is that you can put the insecticide/repellan
on the gaiters and not your skin
5. they are especially good for the wet fields, even if over long pants
6. if you're cooling off or if a stiff wind comes up they are quicker (well for
me) to put on then zip on legs, maybe its just the zip off pants i've tried?
7. gaiters will prevent snags on your laces and boot hardware, doesnt happen
often at all but just another plus
8. they are available in very lightweight models, some very low and of spandex
good for sand/dessert hiking-used a pair of these on the Bright Angel Trail
and found them well worth the extra weight keeping sand out of the boot
9. water bags, if you get the long gaiters you could use them for emergency
water bags...