Trail shoes and gaiters

Waterproof, breathable combo

Latest Posts | New Discussions | Hot Threads | Forum Topics
Help | Settings | Followed Threads
reply
1 to 20 of 39 messages
Page:
benp1
07/09/2010 at 12:46
I'm a convert to walking in trail shoes.

My normal attire is unlined mesh shoes and merino socks, I don't really mind walking in wet feet if I know they'll dry out at some point.

However, with the wet, cold season coming up I've bought some lightweight goretex shoes. My other goretex shoes are too heavy and my boots (meindl burmas) are for winter use.

I want to get some gaiters to stop water coming in over the top of them, the problem I've found with shoes and gaiters is the gaiter coming up over the back of the shoe and resting on your achilles heel.

I've seen a few options, but most are debris gaiters, I want waterproof, breathable ones, preferably as light as possible. The best option so far looks like the integral designs event shortie, but I'm not convinced it will fit well on the shoes (given my large size 12 shoes)

What do others do? Any recommendations?
ALoveSupreme
07/09/2010 at 12:55
Integral Designs are about the best I've tried (I'm an 11.5); not perfect though. They can ride up at the back, or get scagged, and of course you have to put them on before your shoes. The elastic cord could be beefier too. I sometimes put them on, but roll them up in my sock, so that I only need to pull them over my shoes when they become necessary. Occasionally I muse about taking some scissors to them and adding some velcro.
Guy Hurst
07/09/2010 at 13:03
The Integral Designs ones ALS mentions are the best shortie-type ones I've used. I saw some similar ones from Black Diamond earlier this year that looked useful, but they were too expensive to justify at the time.
Edited: 07/09/2010 at 13:12
edwin
07/09/2010 at 13:10
I either get wet feet or use goretex socks (in which case I get wet feet but not socks); tried the gaiter route - does not work in very wet ground my experience.
ALoveSupreme
07/09/2010 at 13:28
yeah, all that gaiters can do is keep your feet a bit warmer, and stop rain running off your waterproofs and into your shoes - they're not much use on very wet sodden ground (nor are goretex shoes for that matter). Still, for some conditions, they're useful I reckon.
Derek Goffin
07/09/2010 at 15:26
I use goretex socks in cold wet and event shortie gaiters only in deep snow, to keep snow out of my trousers. Goretex shoes are so easy to overtop that they do not seem a sensible idea. The goretex socks come higher up my calf than full boots and even if I briefly overtop them, I seem to mostly escape wet feet. The water must press them shut against my legs.
benp1
07/09/2010 at 16:21
Seems like the ID ones are the only option then.

Goretex socks would have been my choice if I could have found the rocky socks, but as they've stopped making them its limited my options, don't really fancy the trek mates amphibian ones

I'm not going to wear them when I know its going to be really horrible, I would probably wear boots then, the gaiters are to try and stop my feet getting wet from the top down. I'm sure they'll be sweaty, but I can deal with that. My last few trips have involved very wet feets from walking through very wet peaty boggy ground, the waterproof shoes/gaiter combo should help limit that!
edwin
07/09/2010 at 17:12

I got rather tired with shoes and wet feet on multi-day trips and so bought some Salomon Fastpacker mids.....goretex; never been a great fan of lined shoes (for the reasons Derek states) but I find these OK.

They are principally for Scottish backpacks - and somewhat ironically the three routes I did there early Spring were all dry as a bone.

ALoveSupreme
07/09/2010 at 17:45
Here are some goretex socks that look like they might be available.
Mikel von Dundeeski
07/09/2010 at 18:09
I gave up on waterproof gaiters with my trail shoes, and went down the g/tex sock route. I use a short softshell gaiter in snow to stop snow going up my trouser leg and/or balling up in the shoes.

 

Mole
07/09/2010 at 18:36

Trekmates do 2 flavours of short gaiters.

The lightweight ones (Furtech sell them) are ok for rain/debris, but wet out easily in bogs/long wet vegetation.  They stay happily on the heel of my size 12 terrocs. Also can be put on easily as they have a velro fastening.

I've not used the heavier ones, but saw someone using them and they seemed happy enough...

benp1
07/09/2010 at 18:45
Any feedback on those Gore Bike Wear goretex socks? look interesting!

I've already bought the goretex shoes so will give them a shot with gaiters first. if they don't work out then i'll use them for dog walking. last few days with them on in wet grass means i'm happier than before

I think I might have those trekmates ones.... maybe. I have some that I got annoyed with and ended up buying some Rab Event ones. Might try out the trekmates ones again but remember not being the hugest fan, though they are pretty cheap!
RobP
07/09/2010 at 19:41

I've used gaiters with trail shoes quite a lot (Keen Targhees, Haglofs Trail), and agree it is often difficult to get the gaitor to position low enough at the back and round the ankle (most are not designed to do this).

 However, Outdoor Research gaiters (eg Verglas or Crocodile) are a very different shape and it is easy to get these to wrap around the back of the shoe very neatly down to the sole.  Certainly worth a try.   Personally I find trail shoes work OK with gaiters unless feet are completely submerged in water. 

ALoveSupreme
07/09/2010 at 19:44
I've had some very similar Berghaus goretex socks for many years - not available anymore. They work fine, but don't expect miracles. If your shoes hold water, you'll still feel the cold (if it is cold), and your feet might sweat more so you'll probably do better in a sock designed for gore-tex (ie not wool). But at least you can dry goretex socks out fairly quickly, which you can't do with sodden goretex shoes, not to mention replacing them relatively cheaply if they leak. There's pluses and minuses with both strategies; if you can guarantee that water will never get over the top or in, then goretex shoes are fine and practical, but when their defences are breached then they are more miserable than the socks alternative, and when the membrane fails your feet will never dry.
Imperial Dave
07/09/2010 at 19:47
another vote for ID shortie gaiters but also MLD do 2 types of event gaiters - long and short
Chris, OutdoorsGrub.co.uk
07/09/2010 at 21:58

Bob does some trail shoe gaiters at http://backpackinglight.co.uk/product290.asp?PageID=34 (I've not tried them).

Would not recommend the Trekmates ones -- they don't work with shoes very well.

My experience is that the stretchable softshell type of short gaiter works well with shoes and is useful against stones, dust and mud. Outdoor Research ones are the nearest I can find in Google, try the Salamander and Flex-Tex at http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/browse/Gaiters/Trail.html

In UK see http://www.wildtrak.com/product.asp?ID=2797 and http://www.equipyourtrip.com/outdoor-research-flex-tex-gaiter.html

benp1
08/09/2010 at 09:24
Not convinced about soft shell ones, wouldn't walking through wet grass and bracken wet them out?

I managed to get a really good price on my shoes so they're only slightly more expensive than socks, though perhaps not as versatile.

I'll have a quick look at the other gaiters recommended but think the ID ones look like the best balance of weight, use and breathability
Sand Dancer
08/09/2010 at 14:47
Gore GT11 Bike Socks - I have a pair, but have only used twice so cannot give a well formed opinion apart from they have worked so far. They suited my feet better than sealskin (just from try on in store - not use), but are not a great fit - that could be down to me - I have one foot bigger than the other and fall between sizes (I could probably do with one small and one medium size). Got mine from probikekit.com
Derek Goffin
08/09/2010 at 15:39
Sand dancer sealskins are more stretchy than trekmate amphibians but all my pairs leak very quickly. The trekmates last a lot longer but are made of some stretchy panels of goretex ontop of the foot and some non stretchy panels elsewhere. I have never seen the rocky goretex ones that are no longer available. I assumed they fit better by having more stretchy panels. Can you describe the GT11 bike socks?
Sand Dancer
09/09/2010 at 08:33

Derek - here goes:

Bike socks This link gives brief description.

Shaped to suit each foot (keeping logo on outside denotes right and left foot). 3 panel construction plus elasticated 30mm cuff around top - one panel on base, upper in two sections(you should be able to make out join seam on pic in link). Height from base seam to top of cuff 245mm. All seams (apart from cuff) taped. There is a bit of stretch in the material (plenty in cuff), nevertheless they are a "bit wrinkly" on my feet. They coped well in heavy rain in mid boots that leak and a bog trotting session in innov8s - although in the latter my feet were already damp before I put the socks on. Both occasions were in thin socks which didn't help the fit, but the wrinkles must have ironed themselves out because I soon forgot about them. If between sizes like me I would suggest choosing the smaller. They are made for the bike fraternity, where closer fit may not be so necessary? I cannot remember what my criticism of fit of Sealskins was otherwise I would be able to give a constructive comparison.

I purchased them to get more use out of leaky mid boots (that have now packed in completely) and for use in leaky winter boots (that have now been replaced) - so may not get a lot if use out of them.

1 to 20 of 39 messages
Page:
Forum Jump  
Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Shopping

Most popular

Competitions

View all competitions
Sign up to our twitter feed

Promotions

View all promotions