Summer Gaiters
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- espressoself
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Summer Gaiters
I've been holding out for a while, but I'm getting tired of having to empty my shoes of scree and pick stickers out of my socks. I've seen Dirty Girls thrown around here a few times; any of you have any other favorites? I looked at the OR Rocky Mountain Lows, but these seem...excessive for just keeping rocks and debris out.
Thanks!
Thanks!
- HikerGuy
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Re: Summer Gaiters
I like the old Outdoor Research Thru Gaiters, but it looks like they have been updated, now called Ferrosi Thru Gaiters, not sure how they stack up to the past version.
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Re: Summer Gaiters
I don't have a favorite, but I can recommend against OR trail gaiters. I've had a couple and haven't been impressed with either. The first pair was called 'overdrive', looks like it's been discontinued now. They worked well, but the strap wore through in just a few hikes, with no ability to replace it. I recently picked up a set of the Ferrosi hybrids, and they're not great. The elastic around the calf wore out in less than a mile, and there's no rigidity to the body, so it just sat on top of the shoe and flopped around.
- brauda02
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Re: Summer Gaiters
I really like the Dirty Girl gaiters. The adhesive stays well on all of my trail runners (Altra, Hoka, La Sportiva). The ones with the loop on the bottom always break in my experience.
Re: Summer Gaiters
Yeah, another vote for Dirty Girl. I've used them on thru hikes and really put them through the ringer, the sizing/elastic/adhesive are superior to any others I've tried.
LoJ
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- MUni Rider
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Re: Summer Gaiters
+1 for Dirty Girl Gators. And the website is fun. Lots of "dirty" play-on-words humor. A page to post your dirty pics, etc...
I've been using Dirty Girl gators for years. My 1st pair did eventually stretch out after several years, but I may or may not have pulled them over the shoes once or twice or more due to laziness after I had already laced up. (Oops). My 2nd pair are doing fine since I bought them 2 or 3 years ago.
One of the best things about Dirty Girl Gators is the hundreds of patterns and colors to choose from. And if you scroll through the clearance section, you can get a decent deal of pretty cool looking gators. I'm at work now, but can post a pick of my vibrant design of choice later.
I switch back and forth between 8-10 or 20 pair of running shoes, so I had to pick up more velcro. I found gluing it on the back with aquaseal holds better than just the sticky back.
I've been using Dirty Girl gators for years. My 1st pair did eventually stretch out after several years, but I may or may not have pulled them over the shoes once or twice or more due to laziness after I had already laced up. (Oops). My 2nd pair are doing fine since I bought them 2 or 3 years ago.
One of the best things about Dirty Girl Gators is the hundreds of patterns and colors to choose from. And if you scroll through the clearance section, you can get a decent deal of pretty cool looking gators. I'm at work now, but can post a pick of my vibrant design of choice later.
I switch back and forth between 8-10 or 20 pair of running shoes, so I had to pick up more velcro. I found gluing it on the back with aquaseal holds better than just the sticky back.
Last edited by MUni Rider on Thu Jul 15, 2021 1:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Summer Gaiters
Iguanas are a good alternative
http://www.listsofjohn.com/m/cougar
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"If we don't change direction, we'll end up where we're going."
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- espressoself
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Re: Summer Gaiters
Thanks for the replies!
One of the main things I was hesitant about was the adhesive; my Sportivas don't have the integrated velcro on the heel that Altras and some other trail runners have, so I'm glad to hear this. I figure velcro isn't expensive either, so if I have to replace it at some point, no biggie.
I'd love to see 'em, and thanks for the tip with the aquaseal. I'll try this if the adhesive gives out.MUni Rider wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 1:41 pm I'm at work now, but can post a pick of my vibrant design of choice later.
I switch back and forth between 8-10 or 20 pair of running shoes, so I had to pick up more velcro. I found gluing it on the back with aquaseal holds better than just the sticky back.
- 9patrickmurphy
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Re: Summer Gaiters
Great thread. I think I might try out a pair of dirty girls, in only the best patterns available, of course...
Re: Summer Gaiters
those are SO you!9patrickmurphy wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 7:51 pm Great thread. I think I might try out a pair of dirty girls, in only the best patterns available, of course...
LoJ
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Re: Summer Gaiters
Another +1 for the dirty girl gaiters. Once you start using them, you'll never go back
- nyker
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Re: Summer Gaiters
If you wear two pairs of socks, with an outer thicker layer, I've found by pushing that second one down around the neck of your shoe helps prevent pebbles/sand from coming in the shoe pretty effectively, assuming there is a snug fit.
Its efficacy could depend on the shoes you wear but its worked for me with low cut trail hikers.
Its efficacy could depend on the shoes you wear but its worked for me with low cut trail hikers.