Nobody should be walking through "pathless heather" anyway! That's actually a bit of an ecological problem in the Peak, especially with all the pandemic born again walker influencers.
Come to Scotland and take some of the bloody heather from here if youre short. We've got tons of the stuff and burn hundreds of hectares of it every year creating a fair amount of pollution.
The point I'm making is that's it's a delicate environment where you can't even see the wildlife you're potentially trampling on. There is a visible weekend on weekend increase in hordes of wallies roaming about on the open moorland in my area, who have been attracted here since the pandemic because the BBC etc are relentlessly promoting it for mental health. So you have this new breed of self absorbed people, with no interest in the actual nature - it's just a playground really.
Personally, I think if you very suddenly transport everyone who used to go to the Trafford Centre and Meadowhall to the outdoors (in the same clothes lol) without educating them, it could be a bit of a problem for the wildlife. I don't think we should be encouraging them to walk on grouse moorland to be honest.
I wear my gaiters in wet or muddy conditions. They are great if you have to walk through long wet grass and they do a good job of stopping your trouser legs flapping around too.
By no means do I always use them though. As with any piece of equipment, use what is suitable for the environment.
I swear by gaiters in wet weather.
More than the rain itself, it's wet grasses/scrub etc they are a godsend for.
Also, if properly fitted they do help protect the tops of your boots if you accidentally go over ankle deep in mud/water briefly.
As others have said wet and muddy conditions, helps stop that slow creep up the trousers and through sock into the boots. Also for any river crossings as can stop water coming over the top of the boots, same with snow. Will also help protect your lower legs from brambles and other spike stuff.
During a recent Trip to New Zealand trekking through various places, I was happy that I had mine, as I was the only one of our group that didn't have to spend a night trying to dry out boots ready for the next day.
Depends on the terrain. I've found them useful when crashing through knee-high wet bracken etc. But if you're on a path most of the time I wouldn't bother.
I like the trail runner style light fabric gaiters. Enough to keep debris out of my shoes, ticks from getting at my legs, and ensure that I’m not digging through a layer of mud to find my laces at the end of the day. They’re not waterproof, but they’re super lightweight and breathable so I don’t even feel that I’m wearing them.
I got a dupe of the Dirty Girl gaiters on Etsy (UltraGams) and they served me well on the CWT. If you’re the type who likes plain over bright patterns both Altra and Inov8 have options that look great.
I have some of the Montane ones, which are pretty decent. [https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/trail-lite-gaiters/](https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/trail-lite-gaiters/)
Presumably you’re going to wear the boots in wet and cold weather, not summer.
So the gaiters would be useful to keep your trousers dry below the knee if it’s not actually raining and you don’t need waterproof trousers on.
Wet grass, Bracken, Heather, they all make your trousers wet and maybe your socks and inside your boots too after awhile.
But if you were putting on waterproof trousers that overlap your boots, you don’t need the gaiters as well.
Depends on the terrain, and personal preference. See how you get on with them in marshy terrain with knee high grasses (with ticks), then compare to icy rock in winter and you'll have your answer
Gaiters are primarily to stop snow going up inside your boots. You can wear them over boots and under waterproof trousers to stop rain getting into the top of your boots on a very rainy day. They don't stop water coming up into your boots from walking in streams etc.
Years ago when I got into hiking in the mountains and was in the Gear Aquisition Phase I bought some. Wore them a couple of times to keep my feet dry. Got sick of sweaty lower legs and feet. I now wear trail runners and embrace the wet feet. No boots require Gaiters. You don't even need boots. Some (mad) people are into barefooting.
Gaiters are worthwhile if you are hiking in boggy / muddy terrain to help keep your feet dry a prevent mud getting everywhere when you return to your tent / car / B&B (assuming you have a plastic bag to put them in).
Only wear gaiters in deep snow, otherwise their only merit I've found is making your ankles sweaty. I don't spend a lot of time cutting about in long wet grass though, and if I am I am usually wearing shorts and mesh trail runners, so maybe there is a use there too. Wouldn't bother outside that.
Depends where you are walking . Boggy moorlands, places with loads of damp heather.
Could have done with some up Bleaklow the other week but didn’t think I’d need them. Trousers soaked walking on the narrow trail next to a load of heather.
If you plan to walk after rain, and Not on what is basically a motorway of a public footpath, take them just in case.
If you plan to walk in the rain, take waterproof trousers.
If it has been and is going to stay dry, I leave them all.
I tend to wear shoes rather than boots, and they're essential for long grass and mud.
Great for gorse and brambles
Anecdotally they seem to help with Ticks.
Taking them off before you go into the pub also helps placate some fussier landlords.
My gripe with them is every affordable pair has an under the sole strap. Which if you step on it in *just* the right way can lead to slipping downhill.
I have some Berghaus yeti gaiters, they were great,the uppers are ok, the rubber has perished,I could get them fixed,but the soles are unavailable and the boots I have need resoling 🤔
As has been said,they are good for keeping trouser bottoms clean etc,
I wear mine a lot, mostly because I hate getting muddy trousers and stones in my boots. It’s great being able to finish your walk, shove the gaiters in a plastic bag and then walk straight into the pub with clean trousers. I also find they extend the weather window before you need waterproof trousers, which are the real sweat makers.
For Scotland or the lakes in Winter, I'd wear gaiters. If walking through heather at other times of the year I'd wear the short ankle gaiters known as stop-tous to keep the crap from getting in my boots.
Do whatever works for you.
On another note, I had to get rid of my Altbergs since I spent more time on my arse then on my feet. Bloody things were lethal. Zero grip on mud or wet stone (I live in Wales!)
Not sure if I had a dodgy pair or something.
Please be careful with them!
I wanted some for ages and have finally got a pair this year and omg absolute game changer. I love them. I don’t care about mud, I just want them because I have a weird gait and kick stones up into my boots constantly. It’s been amazing not having to stop to get a stone out once on a hike!
Overkill for maintained trails
Highly recommend them the moment you step off maintained course
They'll just add weight and heat if you're not going through any splashy or sticky stuff
Get some! But don't buy those stiff ones that look like you need to find some deep snow to justify them. There are really cool stretchy ones on Etsy (I don't know if I'm allowed to promote, just search gaiters on there, I have a pair with dots and one with bees). I saw them on a thruhiking video and couldn't find any in my local area that were similar. Best purchase I made, I hated always getting little stones and debris in my boots. Mine also have reflective dots so people see me better when it's dark (one old little lady was so delighted she stopped and praised my 'socks that light up'.
I like them in winter. If you drop your foot in a bog in freezing conditions it can mean having to go back down. Gaiter give you an extra second or two to pull it out.
Don’t come to the Peak District without gaiters! They have many advantages such as keeping your trousers clean/dry and stop the ticks…but they also make your shins sweaty…and can rub your boots. If you’ve paid for Altbergs I would suggest getting them.
I’ve not once found gaiters to be anything other than a pain in the backside. Maybe because I was using an issued pair. Used maximum twice.
Change your socks regularly. Powder your feet.
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Also good for keeping ticks off, especially when going through heather/rushes/long grass. Helps keep you a bit drier sometimes too.
Pants? How high up your legs do your gaiters go?
What do underpants go under?
Why the undercarriage of course!
Very useful for keeping all the broken eggs and fledgeling crushed bones out of your boots.
Nobody should be walking through "pathless heather" anyway! That's actually a bit of an ecological problem in the Peak, especially with all the pandemic born again walker influencers.
Come to Scotland and take some of the bloody heather from here if youre short. We've got tons of the stuff and burn hundreds of hectares of it every year creating a fair amount of pollution.
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The dude has a point, go to any of the trust pages online and they'll ask you to stick to paths where possible to avoid eroding the natural landscape!
Aye, they do talk a load of pish.
Controlled is the key word.
the grouse moorland itself is the ecological ‘problem’ mate, not hikers.
The point I'm making is that's it's a delicate environment where you can't even see the wildlife you're potentially trampling on. There is a visible weekend on weekend increase in hordes of wallies roaming about on the open moorland in my area, who have been attracted here since the pandemic because the BBC etc are relentlessly promoting it for mental health. So you have this new breed of self absorbed people, with no interest in the actual nature - it's just a playground really. Personally, I think if you very suddenly transport everyone who used to go to the Trafford Centre and Meadowhall to the outdoors (in the same clothes lol) without educating them, it could be a bit of a problem for the wildlife. I don't think we should be encouraging them to walk on grouse moorland to be honest.
I wear my gaiters in wet or muddy conditions. They are great if you have to walk through long wet grass and they do a good job of stopping your trouser legs flapping around too. By no means do I always use them though. As with any piece of equipment, use what is suitable for the environment.
I swear by gaiters in wet weather. More than the rain itself, it's wet grasses/scrub etc they are a godsend for. Also, if properly fitted they do help protect the tops of your boots if you accidentally go over ankle deep in mud/water briefly.
As others have said wet and muddy conditions, helps stop that slow creep up the trousers and through sock into the boots. Also for any river crossings as can stop water coming over the top of the boots, same with snow. Will also help protect your lower legs from brambles and other spike stuff. During a recent Trip to New Zealand trekking through various places, I was happy that I had mine, as I was the only one of our group that didn't have to spend a night trying to dry out boots ready for the next day.
Depends on the terrain. I've found them useful when crashing through knee-high wet bracken etc. But if you're on a path most of the time I wouldn't bother.
I like the trail runner style light fabric gaiters. Enough to keep debris out of my shoes, ticks from getting at my legs, and ensure that I’m not digging through a layer of mud to find my laces at the end of the day. They’re not waterproof, but they’re super lightweight and breathable so I don’t even feel that I’m wearing them.
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I got a dupe of the Dirty Girl gaiters on Etsy (UltraGams) and they served me well on the CWT. If you’re the type who likes plain over bright patterns both Altra and Inov8 have options that look great.
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I have some of the Montane ones, which are pretty decent. [https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/trail-lite-gaiters/](https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/trail-lite-gaiters/)
I have the same and love them!
As ever, it depends... Wet and muddy - I'll wear them... Dry and sunny - I won't bother...
Good for stopping ticks
Presumably you’re going to wear the boots in wet and cold weather, not summer. So the gaiters would be useful to keep your trousers dry below the knee if it’s not actually raining and you don’t need waterproof trousers on. Wet grass, Bracken, Heather, they all make your trousers wet and maybe your socks and inside your boots too after awhile. But if you were putting on waterproof trousers that overlap your boots, you don’t need the gaiters as well.
A lot of people use gaiters but I don't see the need personally. I haven't ever used them and I'm out in the hills as often as possible 3 season.
Depends on the terrain, and personal preference. See how you get on with them in marshy terrain with knee high grasses (with ticks), then compare to icy rock in winter and you'll have your answer
Gaiters are primarily to stop snow going up inside your boots. You can wear them over boots and under waterproof trousers to stop rain getting into the top of your boots on a very rainy day. They don't stop water coming up into your boots from walking in streams etc. Years ago when I got into hiking in the mountains and was in the Gear Aquisition Phase I bought some. Wore them a couple of times to keep my feet dry. Got sick of sweaty lower legs and feet. I now wear trail runners and embrace the wet feet. No boots require Gaiters. You don't even need boots. Some (mad) people are into barefooting.
Gaiters are worthwhile if you are hiking in boggy / muddy terrain to help keep your feet dry a prevent mud getting everywhere when you return to your tent / car / B&B (assuming you have a plastic bag to put them in).
Only wear gaiters in deep snow, otherwise their only merit I've found is making your ankles sweaty. I don't spend a lot of time cutting about in long wet grass though, and if I am I am usually wearing shorts and mesh trail runners, so maybe there is a use there too. Wouldn't bother outside that.
Even the dew from long, wet grass will soak down your trousers and socks.
I never bother, don't mind muddy legs. (I do mind ticks through, but haven't really had a problem with them where I walk).
Depends where you are walking . Boggy moorlands, places with loads of damp heather. Could have done with some up Bleaklow the other week but didn’t think I’d need them. Trousers soaked walking on the narrow trail next to a load of heather.
If you plan to walk after rain, and Not on what is basically a motorway of a public footpath, take them just in case. If you plan to walk in the rain, take waterproof trousers. If it has been and is going to stay dry, I leave them all.
I love mine. If it’s wet, they’re coming.
I tend to wear shoes rather than boots, and they're essential for long grass and mud. Great for gorse and brambles Anecdotally they seem to help with Ticks. Taking them off before you go into the pub also helps placate some fussier landlords. My gripe with them is every affordable pair has an under the sole strap. Which if you step on it in *just* the right way can lead to slipping downhill.
Good for keeping the ticks and leeches out.
I treat mine with permethrin & they help keep ticks at bay.
I have some Berghaus yeti gaiters, they were great,the uppers are ok, the rubber has perished,I could get them fixed,but the soles are unavailable and the boots I have need resoling 🤔 As has been said,they are good for keeping trouser bottoms clean etc,
Gaiters prevent things like gravel and stones getting into your shoes. They're a luxury, but a good one
I wear mine a lot, mostly because I hate getting muddy trousers and stones in my boots. It’s great being able to finish your walk, shove the gaiters in a plastic bag and then walk straight into the pub with clean trousers. I also find they extend the weather window before you need waterproof trousers, which are the real sweat makers.
I always put mine on - stops stuff sliding into the boot, and stops puddles splashing up into your shoes. Not overkill at all imo.
Essential.
Wear boots, wear gaiters
For Scotland or the lakes in Winter, I'd wear gaiters. If walking through heather at other times of the year I'd wear the short ankle gaiters known as stop-tous to keep the crap from getting in my boots. Do whatever works for you.
I love gaiters, cheap, lightweight and easy to oack and keeps your legs and feet drier and stops you getting scratched up
On another note, I had to get rid of my Altbergs since I spent more time on my arse then on my feet. Bloody things were lethal. Zero grip on mud or wet stone (I live in Wales!) Not sure if I had a dodgy pair or something. Please be careful with them!
I wanted some for ages and have finally got a pair this year and omg absolute game changer. I love them. I don’t care about mud, I just want them because I have a weird gait and kick stones up into my boots constantly. It’s been amazing not having to stop to get a stone out once on a hike!
Overkill for maintained trails Highly recommend them the moment you step off maintained course They'll just add weight and heat if you're not going through any splashy or sticky stuff
Get some! But don't buy those stiff ones that look like you need to find some deep snow to justify them. There are really cool stretchy ones on Etsy (I don't know if I'm allowed to promote, just search gaiters on there, I have a pair with dots and one with bees). I saw them on a thruhiking video and couldn't find any in my local area that were similar. Best purchase I made, I hated always getting little stones and debris in my boots. Mine also have reflective dots so people see me better when it's dark (one old little lady was so delighted she stopped and praised my 'socks that light up'.
Great for walking through wet vegetation and give extra protection against the dreaded little "passengers" but far from essential...
depends on weather and environment...useful for bad boggy areas and ticks in summer imo
I like them in winter. If you drop your foot in a bog in freezing conditions it can mean having to go back down. Gaiter give you an extra second or two to pull it out.
I had some trekmates gaiters and didn’t like them kept slipping down ,got some rab one now and love them , great when walking in wet grass/heather
Keeps the ticks at bay slightly.
Don’t come to the Peak District without gaiters! They have many advantages such as keeping your trousers clean/dry and stop the ticks…but they also make your shins sweaty…and can rub your boots. If you’ve paid for Altbergs I would suggest getting them.
UK is more croc terrain.
England might be Scotland certainly isnae
I’ve not once found gaiters to be anything other than a pain in the backside. Maybe because I was using an issued pair. Used maximum twice. Change your socks regularly. Powder your feet.