Montbell’s Light Long Gaiters are extremely practical Gore-tex Gaiters with a easy design that overcomes most of the issues that you just’re more likely to expertise with gaiters from different corporations, together with Outdoor Research’s Crocodile Gaiters, the preferred winter gaiters bought right now. These Montbell gaiters are finest used for snowshoeing and winter mountaineering with mild traction aids like microspikes or path crampons and aren’t as thick or protecting as gaiters meant to be used with full mountaineering or mountaineering crampons.
Specs at a look
- Height: Calf-high
- Gender: Unisex
- Waterproof/breathable: Gore-tex
- Weight: 5.1 oz
- Fabrics: 50-denier nylon ripstop (higher), 210-denier Urethane coated nylon (backside)
- Closure: Zipper
- Color: Two-tone pink and gray, or all-back
- Sizing: Runs small. If you’ve got fats calves or Men’s dimension 11 boots or increased, these gaiters can be too small.
Unique Design
Montbell’s Light Long Gaiters are calf-high gaiters that shut (vertically) with a heavy-duty rear zipper as an alternative of velcro and depend on elastic tensioning on the prime to maintain them from sliding down your legs and bunching round your ankles. They have a gaiter hook and a heavy-duty replaceable instep strap that’s anchored with a grommet/hook mixture however non-adjustable in size.
This is a fairly totally different design than the OR Crocodile Gaiter, which is why these Montbell gaiters caught my eye. The OR Crocodiles use velcro to shut the entrance of the gaiter; they’ve an adjustable belt-like strap to safe the highest over your calves, and an adjustable size instep strap to forestall the gaiter from using up your leg. The final two of those options are problematic as a result of the Crocodile gaiters tend to fall down across the ankles and the instep strap is straightforward to tear out, requiring frequent third-party repairs.
I’m satisfied that the Montbell design is best performing and extra sturdy if you happen to’re on the lookout for a non-technical gaiter as a substitute.
Construction
Montbell’s Light Long Gaiters use totally different higher and decrease materials for breathability and safety: the higher a part of the gaiter is a 50d nylon ripstop whereas the underside is 210-denier Urethane coated nylon. The uppers are reasonably breathable, which minimal inner moisture buildup, even on very steep and strenuous climbs in deep snow. This is essential since you need winter gaiters to behave as a part of your layering system, contributing decrease leg heat fairly than making your legs chilly as a result of your socks get soaked from perspiration.
Zippers
I’ve had blended luck with gaiters with zipper closures as an alternative of velcro: I reviewed a number of gaiters from Hillsound some years again and their zippers all failed inside a season. Those zippers had been on the entrance of the gaiters although, whereas the Montbell gaiters are on the rear and higher protected. They’re additionally bolstered on the prime with a snap so the zipper just isn’t beneath pressure when the gaiter is worn.
As you possibly can think about, placing on a gaiter with a rear zipper is a ache within the ass as a result of it means contorting your physique to succeed in behind your leg. An easier answer is to zip the gaiters on with the zipper in entrance earlier than rotating them round your shin in order that the zipper is dealing with the rear. This is critical to attach the gaiter hook to your laces, since its positions on the facet reverse the zipper.
Top Collar
The prime of the Montbell gaiter is a comfortable elastic band that encircles your higher calf and prevents the gaiter from sliding down round your ankles. Snug is the operative phrase. It’s way more dependable at maintaining the gaiter from falling down round your ankles than every other gaiter I’ve used this winter. I additionally assume it takes extra pressure off the rear zipper closure.
Instep Strap
The backside instep strap is girth hitched to the gaiter on one facet with a grommet and on the opposite with a hook, making it very straightforward to interchange if you happen to handle to interrupt it. That’s so much higher than having to ship it out for restore. The size just isn’t adjustable, nonetheless, however that’s much less of a difficulty if you happen to’re not carrying inflexible mountaineering boots.
Colors
Available in pink/gray or all black, I couldn’t assist myself and acquired the pink/gray mannequin as a result of I assumed they’d be amusing to put on and since they clearly illustrate the usage of the 2 materials on the gaiter. Technically, these gaiters are Unisex solely and the pinkish coloration just isn’t pink, however one thing that Montbell labels as “Cosmos,” no matter that’s…
Recommendation
If you’re on the lookout for a calf-high trekking gaiter that’s snug to put on for snowshoeing and winter mountaineering, I counsel you give these Montbell Light Long Gaiters a strive. They’re skinny and funky sufficient to maintain your ft and calves from perspiring when mountaineering or snowshoeing in winter, they’re straightforward to keep up if you happen to break the instep strap, and don’t always fall down round your ankles like another widespread gaiters. Time will inform how lengthy the zipper closure lasts (examine again in 2 years), however I’m fairly bullish on these gaiters and assume they’re addition to my winter footwear equipment.
Disclosure: The creator bought this product.
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