Bushwalk Australia

Awesome, thanks for that. You mention gaiters. I have a set my mother in law bought me a while ago. they are what appears to be nylon or cordura. They should keep the mud and a few of the leeches out...but im not sure they would stand up to a determined snake. What sort do you guys use and where did you get them from. I find in summer I sweat like noones business wearing them...however in summer the snake protection outweighs the sweat. In winter I have just been using a set of cloth overboots...the type you can get from bunnings for cheap that tradies wear...they are great. I tend to walk in shorts year round and thermals in winter unless its REALLY cold.

Yep, I don't like wearing gaiters either, especially in hot weather. I'm not convinced they'd really help in a snake bite, but you never know. I generally wear them to avoid getting mud down my boots, and to avoid scratches on the lower legs. If I'm walking a track that I know is fairly open and dry (eg, overland track) I will not bring the gaiters. Some other walks I'll carry them rather than wear them if I don't think I'll need them.

But I end up wearing them most of the time.

they don't do much to stop leeches. Leeches seem to be able to get through anywear. I've had leeches bith me through thick socks!

Snakes have been frequently discussed on the Fly Life forum. I think the concensus is that tiger snakeswould find it difficult to penetrate jeans. While their poison is potent their delivery system is not efficient. So if your wearing gaiters they would be holding up your socks, so they need a very good penetration to effect any damage. I would venture to say you'd be pretty safe - not that I would like to put it to the test though

taswaterfalls.com wrote:What sort [of gaiters] do you guys use and where did you get them from.

My gaiters are "Adventure Designs". They are of a general design that was very popular in the late 90's, but which seems to have gone out of style again now, which is a shame, because no gaiter style before or since seems to be as good, in my opinion.

They are essentially a cylinder of fairly rigid waterproof fabric that flanges a bit at the bottom to fit over the boot tops and laces. They have a draw string at the top, and NO ELASTIC IN THE MIDDLE! They are stiff enough to stay up on their own, and the draw string at the top is ONLY to stop stuff falling down them.

They have a hook at the front (to attach to laces) and eye holes at the sides so you can tie (or wire) them under your boots, but I've never used these holes, as they are so good that nothing gets up them in the mud, and only a very little bit occasionally in the snow, and they don't actually ride up.

The velcro runs from the front at the bottom end, diagonally up the outer side, not directly up the front, such that the top overlaps the bottom and water runs off nicely.

Got a pair of sea to summit quagmire gaiters today. xmas present from boss. They are more than i would spend on gaiters if it was my own money...but it wasnt

very nice gear...canvas which should breath better than the crappy ones i had previously. they are very similar to the ones you have except rather than a drawstring at top they have velcro strap. very comfortable to wear.

this is them:

http://www.seatosummit.com.au/showdetail.php?Code=AHDG

TWS - I have worn the quagmire gaiters for over twelve months. I am very happy with them - particularly in hot weather. They do sit high on the boot but have not let water in easily - even on the sodden Lodden Plains. The old trouble I have had is wearing in the inner side where the strap joins the gaiter. i have the older design where this area is quite proud and so rubs in the other boot as it goes by. The newer design is better with a protective pad over this. I have used aqual seal to good effect.

These gaiter have converted me to wearing gaiter on most walks.

whilst most of my time on maria will be on bike, i will be taking the gaiter with me. maria and bishop and clerke will be climbed wearing them so expect a full report as to how i feel about them pretty soon

I currently use these puppies.



I find that they provide the best seal around boots of any gaiter if sized correctly and are as durable as.

I am on to my second pair with not complaints. I replaced the first pair after doing somewhere in the order of 2500 - 3000 kms and the second pair has now done somwhere around 1200km.
I still have the old ones kicking around in the car in case I forget the newer ones which happens from time to time.

I found I got heaps more wear from both pairs of mine when I applied Seamgrip to all the seams and have also used it to repair the odd small rip in the canvas. I also replaced the elastic under the boot with cord, and covered the cord with a peice of tubular climbing tape to protect it.

I broke in a new set of Sea to Summit "Quagmire" canvas gaiters last week and was very happy with their general performance. Their fit to my boots could be adjusted to allow minimal mud intrusion during days of extended mud waiding - especially across the top of the South Cape Range. The velcro band across the front was sufficiently wide and secure to also prevent mud passage, and on many creek crossings, a rapid sprint got me through with very little water intrusion. The top closure was adjustable enough to handle warm weather (leave loose to breathe) or pull tight (when raining or creek running). The main frustration was trying to get the bottom press studs to clip together when the gaiters were muddy, which they were most of the time. The under boot straps are VERY stiff and tough and took a bit of effort to adjust correctly, but once set up, they worked well, ad I expect to get plenty of mileage out of them. Here is a wearers view of them in action!

My vote is for the Quagmires too Ian. One problem I had was the wear patch on the inside started to pull away after two walks. Sent them back to Sea to Summit and they restitched them. I have now run a small bead of Freesole around the edge and over the stitching. Only done one walk since that and doesnt show any sign of wear.

Roger

yeah only done a couple of walks in mine...but im very happy with the quality of the quagmires as well.

My Quagmires are getting a bit old now - done a lot of miles. The velcro that straps around the top has come away a fair bit but there is still enough to grip.
Thre is a fair bit of wear on the area of the inside ankle on both left and right gaiters.
The three best things about these gaiters to me -
By far number 1 is the strength of that strap underneath the boot - I reckon I could use it again on another two pairs...
Number 2 is the nice wide velcro that runs bottom to top, gives a nice stiffness so they stay up.
Number 3 is that they fit around my boot really well also - very rare do I get wet feet.
Tas-man I know what you mean about a sprint across a creek - Junction Creek, my wife wanted a good photo of me in action so I ended up having to make 5 crossings, and my feet stayed dry.

Sounds like people like the Quagmires, how do they go in summer with getting sweaty under them? Is canvas or goretex better - is it breathability vs durability or is goretex unneccessary for gaitors?

I got a new pair of Quagmires for me and a pair for my wife too.
I never noticed a problem in summer, I always walk in longs - even a thin long pair of walking trousers.
If you saw my legs you'd understand...

I wear gaiters in winter for mud & water and in summer for snakes (I always wear shorts in summer).

I can personally vouch for the protective qualities of gaiters regarding snakes! Although it was in WA.

Tasadam: I've heard the odd shriek when my legs come out for summer!!

norts wrote:My vote is for the Quagmires too Ian. One problem I had was the wear patch on the inside started to pull away after two walks. Sent them back to Sea to Summit and they restitched them. I have now run a small bead of Freesole around the edge and over the stitching. Only done one walk since that and doesnt show any sign of wear.

Roger

I have had the same problem. Generous amounts of Aquaseal now protects the lumps on the inside where the strap connects to the gaiter. I note on the new ones they have an rubber (?) protector here. I am up to my second lot of straps. I give the gaiters hell.

The Gortex ones have been comfortable in summer. And that has included some days in the mid 30's. Have washed them regularly for the gortex.

When the uppers finnaly get too threadbare would be happy just to replace with the same.

Devon Annie wrote:Sounds like people like the Quagmires, how do they go in summer with getting sweaty under them? Is canvas or goretex better - is it breathability vs durability or is goretex unneccessary for gaitors?

I bought my sea-to-summit gaiters because the old pair I had were really bad for holding in the sweat. Since wearing the quagmires I have had no trouble at all with sweat.

I have TurtleSkin Snake Armor gaiters http://www.turtleskin.com/Snake-Gaiters.aspx. Only got them about a month ago from the US for about 90 when the dollar was up. Got them from a guy that runs a small home based business and beat all the big shops for price, arrived in around a week. I combine them with GatrGard straps http://www.mountainabout.com/GatrGard.html

Local Rays store had a 26 1/2% discount sale last night. They had one pair only of medium STS Quagmire Canvas Gaiters, which I now own . Paid $44 which seemed like a good price.

Son of a Beach wrote:

taswaterfalls.com wrote:What sort [of gaiters] do you guys use and where did you get them from.

My gaiters are "Adventure Designs". They are of a general design that was very popular in the late 90's, but which seems to have gone out of style again now, which is a shame, because no gaiter style before or since seems to be as good, in my opinion.

They are essentially a cylinder of fairly rigid waterproof fabric that flanges a bit at the bottom to fit over the boot tops and laces. They have a draw string at the top, and NO ELASTIC IN THE MIDDLE! They are stiff enough to stay up on their own, and the draw string at the top is ONLY to stop stuff falling down them.

They have a hook at the front (to attach to laces) and eye holes at the sides so you can tie (or wire) them under your boots, but I've never used these holes, as they are so good that nothing gets up them in the mud, and only a very little bit occasionally in the snow, and they don't actually ride up.

The velcro runs from the front at the bottom end, diagonally up the outer side, not directly up the front, such that the top overlaps the bottom and water runs off nicely.

.

Hi Son of a Beach, I too have a pair of"Adventure Designs" gaiters that I prob bought in the 90's. In the past I have always used a cord to tie under my boot thought the eyelet holes. You mentioned that you never had to do this, I have never tried, probably just tied out of habit. Was there not a habit of the gaiters sliding up without an under boot tie? Cheers

Tassieoptom wrote:Hi Son of a Beach, I too have a pair of"Adventure Designs" gaiters that I prob bought in the 90's. In the past I have always used a cord to tie under my boot thought the eyelet holes. You mentioned that you never had to do this, I have never tried, probably just tied out of habit. Was there not a habit of the gaiters sliding up without an under boot tie? Cheers =

I wear a pair of Evan's gaiters (Terra Rosa Gear) and I don't have problems with them riding up without a cord underneath the boot.

Thanks Simonm, am heading out next week will try to go cordless.