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Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: Bruces on 22:28:50, 17/10/20

Title: Gaitors
Post by: Bruces on 22:28:50, 17/10/20
Hi guys newbie here,I’m looking for some gaitors but I’m struggling to find some to fit as I have chubby legs! I’ve had two sets that I can’t get on,is there any wide fitting ones that don’t cost a fortune?


TIA
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: kinkyboots on 09:05:05, 18/10/20
I’ve had two sets that I can’t get on,is there any wide fitting ones that don’t cost a fortune?

Interesting that you don't state which makes and models you've tried and the circumference of your calves?

By the way there's no such thing as gaitors....they're called gaiters which may be why you can't find many online. Gaitors have teeth!  ;D

The short answer to your question is no there aren't any that I'm aware of. Manufacturers and retailers will only make and stock items when there is a reasonable demand for the item.

This earlier thread may be worth a read http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=40620.msg587357#msg587357 (http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=40620.msg587357#msg587357)
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: Mines a pint on 10:54:07, 18/10/20
 Bruces,mate dont sweat about gaiters,they are the last bit of kit you`ll ever put on! I`ve had a pair for at least 15 years and probably worn them twice,dont even pack them TBH.




     Cheers,Richard
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: ninthace on 11:14:23, 18/10/20
Bruces,mate dont sweat about gaiters,they are the last bit of kit you`ll ever put on! I`ve had a pair for at least 15 years and probably worn them twice,dont even pack them TBH.



     Cheers,Richard
A lot depends on where you walk.  In the North Pennines, I wore them more often than not, year round. In the SW, it depends.  If there has been a wet spell, they are needed on routes where I might encounter mud or high wet vegetation.


The thing that most frequently catches me out is just over ankle high wet grass.  You can end up soaked from the knees down and the water ends up finding its way into your boots via your socks.


There have been a couple of times when I have suddenly and unexpectedly ended up with a foot deep in a bog.  On both occasions gaiters helped no end in keeping the peat and most of water at bay.
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: shortwalker on 11:32:46, 18/10/20
Bruces,mate dont sweat about gaiters,they are the last bit of kit you`ll ever put on! I`ve had a pair for at least 15 years and probably worn them twice,dont even pack them TBH.

     Cheers,Richard


Totally disagree, about a third of my walking is through silage meadows, so gaiters are important to me.


Unfortunately I can't help the OP. 
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: gunwharfman on 11:53:33, 18/10/20
I use gaiters a lot, they are essential for my type of hiking! Mine are Rab and they work fine but I've never noticed if they do a large calf model?

If I didn't wear gaiters then my rain skirt wouldn't work properly, I'd just end up with wet feet. And I really like to have them on when having to walk through wet grass and other wet vegetation, especially first thing in the morning. Again, if I didn't wear them I'd still have wet feet and I personally don't like wet feet!

Mind you I've always felt that gaiters need a complete design makeover, they are such clumsy things to start with. I'd prefer to buy a thin lightweight soft pair designed to be worn under my walking trousers, not on the outside. Unfortunately, as far as I know they don't exist.

I've always told myself that one day I'll get my wifes friend to sow me a pair but so far Ive never got around to it.
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: Birdman on 12:11:52, 18/10/20
Despite having hiked a lot in Scotland, I had never used gaiters until beginning last year. Now I realise I should have got them earlier. They are really useful to keep mud and splashing water out, as well as protecting your trousers against bushes. And last year in Australia I wore them as protection against venomous snakes (On the southern part of the Bibbulmun Track I saw three Tiger Snakes on average every day, and their bite can kill you - All Australians I met on the track wore them for that reason, so I figured I should follow their advice).
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: GnP on 12:17:52, 18/10/20
I have a love hate relationship with Gaiters .

If I drop down into boggy ground , walk through tall wet grass or nip through a stream they are great .

If I wear them all day because I thought I would need them , but in the end all that happens is my legs sweat for no apparent reason because I didn`t really need my gaiters that day then I hate them.
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: ninthace on 12:34:55, 18/10/20
I sometimes think the manufacturers of gaiters no longer intend us to wear them.  I have a set of older Rab gaiters - sturdy front zip closure, velcro flap and decent lace hook.  Mrs N has a newer pair of Berghaus gaiters - no zip behind the velcro closure and you need a PhD in Origami to attach the hook - you either need to be a contortionist or have good friend to fit them properly.   At the time we bought them, they were the best of a fairly indifferent selection and as the OP has discovered - not much choice in sizes.
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: rambling oldie on 19:04:21, 18/10/20
I find these handy, only come up to lower calf so may not be a hindrance for you.


Although they don't cover the whole leg, they do give some protection and avoid having to undo muddy laces.


http://www.spatsleisuregear.com/ (http://www.spatsleisuregear.com/)

Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: richardh1905 on 19:49:05, 18/10/20
Only really wear gaiters if I know that I am going to be bog trotting - or in snow, of course, in which case they are absolutely essential.
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: GnP on 20:06:08, 18/10/20
I find these handy, only come up to lower calf so may not be a hindrance for you.


Although they don't cover the whole leg, they do give some protection and avoid having to undo muddy laces.


http://www.spatsleisuregear.com/ (http://www.spatsleisuregear.com/)
I do like the look of those . I`m surprised out of all the colours , there is no brown .
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: BuzyG on 12:16:04, 20/10/20
A big fan of gaiters in the winter months.   O0

I struggle to find sets that fit around my calf too. The only ones I know that fit me are these.  No idea how big your calf's are though. Pretty much all manufactures seem to quote 50cm as the fitting size.  But as often happens with clothing. some 50cm sizes are bigger than others.

https://www.trespass.com/nanuk-performance-gaiters?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9LeA-aja6gIVh-7tCh0GTQePEAQYASABEgKThvD_BwE#color_code=Black&size_legacy=L%2FXL (https://www.trespass.com/nanuk-performance-gaiters?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9LeA-aja6gIVh-7tCh0GTQePEAQYASABEgKThvD_BwE#color_code=Black&size_legacy=L%2FXL)

They're good gaiters too. Make sure you get the larger size, as they do come in different sizes.
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: edam on 16:17:39, 06/01/21
A big fan of gaiters in the winter months.   O0

I struggle to find sets that fit around my calf too. The only ones I know that fit me are these.  No idea how big your calf's are though. Pretty much all manufactures seem to quote 50cm as the fitting size.  But as often happens with clothing. some 50cm sizes are bigger than others.

https://www.trespass.com/nanuk-performance-gaiters?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9LeA-aja6gIVh-7tCh0GTQePEAQYASABEgKThvD_BwE#color_code=Black&size_legacy=L%2FXL (https://www.trespass.com/nanuk-performance-gaiters?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9LeA-aja6gIVh-7tCh0GTQePEAQYASABEgKThvD_BwE#color_code=Black&size_legacy=L%2FXL)

They're good gaiters too. Make sure you get the larger size, as they do come in different sizes.




Thanks for posting about the Trespass Nanuk gaiters


My left calf measures 52 cm over my bottoms and I can still put my hand down inside the gaiter. Well pleased. The only trouble is I have to return the others I have ordered
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: BuzyG on 12:46:42, 07/01/21
Glad to help.  I have just started using my newest pair.  The previous set survived two years of regular moorland use.  One of the stud poppers has now come off though.  Not something I can easily mend. So I thought I would break out the new set, I bought last spring. :)   
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: kinkyboots on 13:11:31, 07/01/21
One of the stud poppers has now come off though.  Not something I can easily mend. 

Any cobbler should be able to repair or replace that for you.
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: dproberts on 07:39:13, 08/01/21
I have been using ex British army gaiters bought off fleabag that are spacious around calf and so far have kept me dry and unlike the karrimor ones I had breath so I don't end up with sweaty legs
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: edam on 19:51:03, 10/03/21
I have been trying the Nanuk gaiters on . They are obviously paired as the velcro flap is different but what is left/right
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: Eyelet on 09:08:52, 11/03/21
Usually the buckle that secures the gaiter’s underfoot strap is positioned on the outside of the boot.  O0
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: edam on 10:51:50, 11/03/21
Buckles both sides
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: jimbob on 11:34:04, 11/03/21
Edam, looking at images of Nanuks there is only one buckle on the underfoot strap, which as previously stated should go on the outside. If you have two buckles then you have got the late Friday afternoon set and I would return them for a set as advertised.

Has anyone else noticed the hugely differing prices for these gaiters, from" ooh they fit my wallet with enough left over for a few pork pies" to "call the Coop I'm having a heart attack".

I love gaiters as I believe they help protect me from wet grass and ticks. I'm with GWM in that I am always on the look out for a very soft, long, ultralight material set. Probably 2oz waterproof ripstop would be strong enough.
 
 
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: ninthace on 12:05:19, 11/03/21
Normally the right gaiter goes clockwise round the right leg  so the edge of the overlap faces right.  Left leg vice versa.
I lent a set to an inexperienced friend going on a charity walk, they came back muddy with an odd pattern of muck - turned out he had worn them back to front all day
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: kinkyboots on 13:31:08, 11/03/21
Buckles both sides is a strange design. As previously mentioned gaiters normally only have one buckle on the outside edge of the gaiter which is usually on the outside edge of the boot so the buckles and straps don't catch or rub together when walking. Unless the buckles are metal they will damage very easily if they happen to catch together.

Found this https://guns.allzip.org/topic/204/2203302.html (https://guns.allzip.org/topic/204/2203302.html)

Don't know if the image below helps or not? It's very difficult to tell (even when zoomed in on the image) but it looks like the flap opening edge is on the outside edge of the boot.



(https://s03.radikal.ru/i176/1712/7c/bc8ca891c1dd.jpg)
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: Eyelet on 13:47:36, 11/03/21
I agree with Ninthace and kinkyboots. Both my Mountain Equipment and old Berghaus gaiters wrap around as Ninthace describes. The short tab by the top press-stud points towards the outside of my leg with both these gaiters. On the Nunaks, I think the Tres-Tex label will therefore be on the inside of your leg.

I presume the two buckle design is a cheap-and-cheerful approach to being able to replace the underfoot strap (if the plastic buckles last that long) as opposed to the more complex (and more expensive to manufacture) design used by ME, Outdoor Research and RAB etc?

Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: edam on 17:17:01, 11/03/21
The same design is sold under another brand name and the pictures clearly show the 2 buckles.


I dont like having the buckles on the inside as has been said they will catch.


Its a pity as they fit my 53cm calf.
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: shortwalker on 17:36:35, 11/03/21
Mine doesn't actually have buckles just adjusters on either side. I had intended to stitch one side but have not had an issue with them coming undone.
Title: Re: Gaitors
Post by: gunwharfman on 09:41:48, 12/03/21
I've had to learn how to put my Rab gaiters on without trying to work out which one was which each time. Nowadays I just glance at the elastic fitting at the top of one of them and I instantly know that the elastic fitting needs to be on the outside of leg. I can even put them on in the dark if need be. As regards the under boot strap, I have cut the buckles off (unnecessary) and have sewn the straps on.