My hiking partner and I tested six gaiters of various styles in the rugged wilderness of Northern New York. I’m surprised to say we preferred gaiters that can be taken on and off while leaving your shoes or boots on. This way there’s no extra step to remember before putting shoes on, the gaiters are easier to handle while muddy or wet, and there’s no need for a heel attachment point. Keep in mind that gaiters with instep straps, zippers, or Velcro do present a durability issue for extended periods of use. Any proper gear closet should include at least one pair of hiking gaiters. As stated above, notification of cancellation must be in writing, a telephone call is not a valid cancellation. If you fail to return a product to us, we may make arrangements to have the product collected from you. The cost of this collection will be passed on to you.

Gaiter Straps | Trekmates Gaiter Straps | Trekmates

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These lightweight dust busters consist of three primary components. The main body of the gaiter wraps around the lower leg and upper shoe. Located to the front of the gaiter is typically a metal or plastic hook used to attach the gaiter to a stretch of shoelace on the upper foot or D-ring “gaiter loop”. Lastly, the fit is secured to the lower foot through an instep strap or heel attachment point.

Gaiter Straps - Pair - Needle Sports Ltd Rab Velcro Gaiter Straps - Pair - Needle Sports Ltd

First consider your hiking footwear when comparing gaiter options. Are you an adventurer who prefers trail runners, hiking shoes, or boots? Shoe profile, shoe size, shoe height, and outsole pattern will impact the fit and usability of gaiters. If possible, try your gaiters with the shoes you’ll wear hiking before committing. Environment How I Tested the Best Hiking Gaiters Hooks are used to connect hiking gaiters to the upper shoe. Kate Riley A company best known for its traction products, Kahtoola has some compelling gaiter options. I tested the INSTAgaiter Low, an ultralight ankle gaiter intended for hiking and trail running. These feature a DWR-coated stretch nylon/polyurethane blend fabric (with four color options) that provide spectacular low-fit coverage. A side-closure YKK zipper, toggled elastic top cinch, plastic lace hook that works with D-rings, and hard plastic adjustable DuraLink instep strap are integrated to fit them securely. Kahtoola offers a 1,000-mile warranty on the DuraLink instep strap. Kate Riley A range of gaiter attachment styles were included as part of this test and each has certain benefits. What’s great is that many trail shoes are already gaiter compatible. Popular options such as the Altra Lone Peak 7 and Brooks Cascadia 17 have Velcro tabs added above the heel. Many trail runners also have pre-installed D-ring on the laces for easy connection. The gaiters I enjoyed most for this test didn’t require either of those features for proper use. Find a shoe that’s most comfortable and then a gaiter that adapts well.The main body of the gaiter is constructed out of 15D eVENT fabric that provides waterproof and breathable protection. This gaiter is claimed to last most users one full thru-hike, and although durability is evident, this wouldn’t be my first choice for maintained trails or for trail running. The taller height did provide respite on days traveling through dense overgrowth, rain, and deep mud. However, in our experience, the top elastic circled the widest part of the calf in a way that became uncomfortable with long periods of use. As such, this is a great lightweight option for hikers traveling shorter distances, possibly with pants, and are looking for a gaiter that can be easily used with boots or low shoes. Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Hiking Gaiters Footwear Where a return is lost or stolen in transit to us, you should claim compensation from the company that shipped the return.