Good gaiters?

For snowshoeing. How about a shorter one like the North Face GTX, or is a higher one better? Will gaiters work with a mid height hiker, or do I need a taller boot? Thanks for any help.

The required height of the gaiter depends on the snow. While treading on something like "Sierra Concrete" you can get away with a low gaiter or even none at all. But for the deep wet stuff lots of folks use O. R. Crocs or something similar.

Personally I prefer mid height boots. Lighter and more flexible. Tall boots with gaiters are a bit of overkill IMO.

I don't even see gaiters on the TNF website, so don't know which ones those are.

I have a pair of tall, uninsulated gaiters made from packcloth. I also have a pair of Chouinard Supergaiters, vintage 1983, according to Patagonia. They look like a gaiter with a boot covering. There may be a picture of them on here somewhere.

For snowshoeing or skiing, if I was buying something new, I'd go with a tall OR or similar gaiter. REI sells a bunch of them.

If you are in really cold weather, then an overboot would be better. Some people wear Neos with trailrunners and light snowshoes.

Yeah - depends on the snow and the boots. With higher-topped boots and in deeper snow, I like OR Crocs. With trail runners (Gore-tex, or with a neoprene cover), I often use low, stretchy Schoeller fabric gaiters I got at EMS.

I agree with what many have said about the snow conditions.

I avoid any gaiters that have a zipper in sub zero temps. I find that Velcro closure reduces the fiddle factor and no chance of a zipper failing to freezing.

Wallyh

Actually for snowshoeing, unless you are in very deep loose powder, you should not need gaiters, <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> as you should be too high above the snow. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> In boots on snow shoes and on skis, I just pull my packlite pants over the boots and if theres a buckle, I buckle the pants down too. SInce you will be in shells in snow anyway, you just need minimal gaiters to close the space between your boots and your shell pants. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> I use an old pair of OR shorty gaiters for this. Also unless you are bushwacking or mountaineering, you probably do not need large heavy protective gaiters. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> IF you like to ski in knickers or shorts, or starkers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> , then high topped gaiters may be just the ticket... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> again: YMMV <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Or of the temps are cold enough just use Stieger Mukluks, no gaiter required.

I like very short lite highly breathable but very water/wind resistant. Year round I use Integral Designs Shortie Event gaiters with traditional noninsulated hiking boots or trekking shoes. As others stated with snowshoes you're not postholing up to you knees, you're only protecting your foot/ankle at most from snow piling up on TOP of snowshoe.

Here's a great and very timely article reviewing footwear options for snow travel...


http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/...vel_part_1.html

if it doesn't open PM me and I'll cut and paste it.

Great education and understanding of options and how each works, then you decide what to try!

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