Winter mountain climbing gaiters, particularly excessive gaiters, are an vital a part of a winter mountain climbing clothes layering system however they undoubtedly have some pluses and minuses. While the advantages nonetheless outweigh the negatives, it is a piece of substances that would actually stand to be reimagined by some small firm seeking to make a reputation for itself.
What are High Gaiters?
High gaiters are a winter clothes layer, normally waterproof, that covers the highest of your footwear and pants, extending up your leg to only beneath the knee. They stop snow from sticking to your pants or socks, melting, and making them moist. They additionally block the wind and lure physique warmth, so your toes and calves keep hotter.
High gaiters run from the toe field of your boots the place they hook onto the laces, as much as slightly below your knee, and have a sturdy strap that runs below the only real of your boots to maintain them from using up. Most fashions might be placed on when you have already got your boots on and wrap round your shins and calves, securing in entrance with a protracted strip of velcro or a water resistant zipper. There’s additionally normally an adjustable strap or elastic wire on the high to tighten across the high of your calf to stop the gaiter from sliding down your leg.
The backside of a excessive gaiter is normally made with heavy-duty nylon for defense in opposition to self-inflicted crampon strikes. This can happen if you find yourself carrying full mountaineering crampons, you get drained, and your foot placements develop into much less correct. But fewer and fewer winter hikers use full crampons anymore, choosing winter traction aids like Hillsound Trail Crampons or Kahtoola Microspikes the place there may be little danger of harm from their smaller traction factors.
The higher portion of a excessive gaiter is commonly made with a water-proof/breathable materials to assist vent water vapor since your calves will sweat. When current, this waterproof/breathable part is well torn as a result of it’s a lot thinner than the underside of the gaiter. Less costly gaiters, like these offered on Amazon from no-name manufacturers, typically don’t have waterproof/breathable uppers and are strong nylon from high to backside.
High Gaiter Pitfalls
There are various usability points with excessive gaiters which are price figuring out about, though there’s not a lot you are able to do to keep away from their pitfalls. There are a really restricted variety of excessive gaiters out there, so that you typically must make do with what you will discover.
Perspiration – While excessive gaiters will stop snow from making your pant legs and socks moist, they’ll lure lots of physique warmth inflicting your decrease legs to perspire, soaking your socks and decrease pant legs within the course of. This is commonly exacerbated by carrying 400g insulated winter mountain climbing boots that run over the ankle and up the leg. As lengthy as you retain shifting it’s not an enormous challenge, as a result of you’ll keep heat, however it’s not ultimate. This occurs even when your gaiters have waterproof/breathable uppers. In different phrases, the breathability is terrible.
Sizing – Gaiters are sized by shoe sizes with out consideration for the scale of your calves. If you’ve huge toes however average-sized calves, your gaiters will likely be too giant and can tend to fall down round your ankles when worn. This isn’t ultimate as a result of it might develop into a visit hazard, particularly when carrying full crampons.
Bottom Strap – If you injury or lose the underside strap that runs below the soles of your boots, it may be very troublesome to restore. It depends upon the gaiter, however many producers use backside straps that can not be changed at dwelling and require an industrial stitching machine to get replaced.
Top Strap – The finest sort of high strap to carry the gaiter above the calf is an elastic wire with a cordlock. It’s fairly uncommon, nonetheless. Most gaiters have a webbing strap/buckle to carry the gaiter up, however it’s troublesome to get tight sufficient to maintain the gaiters from falling down round your ankles.
SectionHiker is reader-supported. We independently analysis, take a look at, and charge the most effective merchandise. We solely earn a living if you are going to buy a product by means of our affiliate hyperlinks. Help us proceed to check and write unsponsored and unbiased gear opinions, newbie FAQs, and free mountain climbing guides.