My original Quagmires (about 4 years old) lasted a good life and they still work, the only issue with them is that the velcro around the top is all frayed and coming off.
Having tried these gaiters on a weekend walk recently, I also notice they are nowhere near as solid up the centre strip as the new Quagmires, and they tend to fall down a bit.
The older ones have a much better hook system for grabbing the laces than the new ones that stick out and can get stuck on Bauera etc, a real hazard.
But the biggest issue I find with the new ones is the failings in the stitching. We bought them (2 pairs) in November, they both have fairly significant issues.
On my wifes pair, firstly a lace hook came off all together, the rivets failed. Top repair job, thanks TWF & crew.
Now the stitching on the top velcro strip has failed and it's a shaggy mess. The under-boot strap on her pair doesn't seem to be as indestructable as my pairs.
The tabs with the clips on them (new pair) both came off completely, also some velcro stitching issues.
It's a real shame, because these do seem to be the best out there.
Photos to follow, and a good scrub up...
What to do?
(A) Hope that Sea to Summit take our concerns on board and improve the quality issues
(B) Have someone custom design something that will last
(C) Look for another alternative.
Paying that much for a gaiter, you would expect to get a reasonable life out of it. They might be fine for the average overland-trekker, but if these are the best out there, what about all the other tracks that actually TEST equipment?
It's not a cost issue, it's a value for money issue. I don't mind paying, if I'm paying for quality and reliability.
It's only gaiters, but some equipment can well be life-dependant on a walk. Quality is indeed important.
My tent was 18 years old, and problems with it were minor, but I replaced it because it was old - and I need to rely completely on it in anything that nature throws at me.
My pack was near 20 years old when I replaced it - but it is still an excellent pack. But how many times can you pick up 20+ kg's on one strap to throw it over your shoulder, and still expect it to hang in there? I don't know - it hasn't failed yet, but I know what it's been through and I need to rely on it, so it's been replaced.
I don't want to have to be paying near $100 every time a pair of gaiters fails, unless it's because of my own harsh treatment of them. And if that's the case, maybe I need to find a gaiter that will stand up to some harder wear than Quagmires are capable of.
I still believe in my Quagmires, but they do need to have a look at what is going wrong, so I appreciate their willingness to investigate, and to listen to us.
And I would be happy to let them know everything I like in my gaiters.