gaitors?

[mla1]

Hi all,
Just wondering anyone would recommend taking (light) gaitors for May along the Le Puy route?
thanks,
ml

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Gaiters keep your boots and socks drier, if not completely dry. In steady rain, I have found that they do not keep boots completely dry. I usually take them, and it is worth the trouble when there is a lot of rain. May can be very wet in France.

 

[Jackie Robinson]

I was contemplating the same thing myself. I have both knee and ankle length gaiters, the former weighing barely anything and the latter not a great deal more. I really haven't been able to gauge the likelihood of rain on the earlier stages although I've been reliably informed that there are parts where rain is almost guaranteed! I'm not packing my waterproof over trousers because they're such a faff to put on/take off and my poncho should keep me fairly well protected. It's the cold that gets me though, I have a chilly soul and am worried that this will lead me to pack too many layers and then find out I needed but a few!

 

[jsalt]

Hi all,
Just wondering anyone would recommend taking (light) gaitors for May along the Le Puy route?
thanks,
ml

Hi, I was glad I wore my gaitors on the Puy route last May as we had a fair amount of rain. Jill

 

[Kitsambler]

Partly it depends on the relationship between the length of your raincoat/poncho and the length of your legs. During my training walks, I found I had quite a length of wet trouser-leg when I wasn't wearing my knee-length gaiters.

 

[mla1]

jsalt and falcon - thanks! The gaitors will go in.

 

[KerrySA]

My gaitors didn't do anything for the rain but they stopped stones going into my shoes. I was having a particularly bad day of pain and rain and blisters (week two into my six weeks) and that day I had to stop every kilometer to get the stones out of my shoes. An Australian angel I had never met before nor ever saw again gave me his gaitors. I thanked him every single day for the next four weeks. Pack 'em

 

[scruffy1]

Simple, yes!

 

[ranthr]

Yes, for rain, mud and stones, and it is easier to wash mud off your gaitors than your shoes.

 

[ricitosdeplata]

I'm not taking gaiters because I've read they are hot and can cause excessive perspiration which will make you wet anyway. Found Dirty Girl Gaiters which are used mainly to keep out rocks but they are supposed to wick perspiration and dry quickly if they get wet. Couldn't find where to buy them until I found them on Facebook where there's a link to purchase them. Many colors and styles to choose from.

 

[irishgurrrl]

Low lightweight waterproof gaiters are great - I brought them for my trip and they were worth it.... mine weigh only 70g for the pair and are waterproof. They don't cause noticeable perspiration/condensation - at least in my experience and I have worn them in all weather. This is the exact kind here: http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/mid-layer/IC101-2.html

 

[Fr Scott]

Hi all,
Just wondering anyone would recommend taking (light) gaitors for May along the Le Puy route?
thanks,
ml

Try gaiterwraps.com. They are fantastic, light, easy to put on, water proof, inexpensive.

 

[Bungle]

Hi all,
Just wondering anyone would recommend taking (light) gaitors for May along the Le Puy route?
thanks,
ml

Took gaitors and did not use them (April). Trousers dry and a little mud is not really a problem - it can be brushed/washed off.