Gaiters for October/November

[lovelyshell]

I've been going through some other threads but haven't been able to determine whether I should bring gaiters with me? I've looked at the weather and seen rain in some spots, is bringing gaiters advisable? I'm kind of hesitant to drag them along. I do have waterproof hiking shoes but I am wearing running leggings not hiking pants so the opening of my shoes will be exposed. Thoughts?

 

[vlebe]

I personally think Gaiters are a weight worth carrying from october up to march.

 

[ranthr]

If mud -gaiters- YES!!
If rain - gaiters - YES!!
If sand and small stones in the road - gaiters -YES!!

 

[ranthr]

Your post reminded me to put my gaiters into the backpack, starting mid october!

 

[jstorybook]

I've been going through some other threads but haven't been able to determine whether I should bring gaiters with me? I've looked at the weather and seen rain in some spots, is bringing gaiters advisable? I'm kind of hesitant to drag them along. I do have waterproof hiking shoes but I am wearing running leggings not hiking pants so the opening of my shoes will be exposed. Thoughts?

I walked during the same time of year and brought gaiters just in case I needed them and I never needed them because I used rain pants. Now if you choose to wear a poncho for your rain gear you will probably need gaiters but I also used a rain jacket.

 

[jsalt]

Hi, what @vlebe and @ranthr said.

 

[vlebe]

If mud -gaiters- YES!!
If rain - gaiters - YES!!
If sand and small stones in the road - gaiters -YES!!

If there are "Snakes on your plane" - gaiters - YES!!!



Sorry... The joke was infamous (as the movie itself!)

 

[cher99840]

What brand of gaiters do you gaiter supporters like? I had outdoor research short ones last time and they were a waste. I would like to find a good pair that would keep rain from rolling down my pant leg and into my boot.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Rab Latok mid gaiter made from eVent material that also breaths

 

[lovelyshell]

Gaiters will be packed! Thank you so much for the feedback. Much appreciated!

 

[Hiawatha]

You might like to consider a pair of these .
http://www.workwearhub.com.au/accessories/sock-savers
They are very light and come in a range of water resistant or cotton fabrics. They are really great for keeping nasty bits of gravel out of your shoes and even better at keeping your socks free of burrs and seeds .
You can make a pair reasonably easily from the cuffs of an old pair of jeans and some elastic .
Otherwise if caught out without gaiters and stones become a problem ,you can improvise quite easily . Take your worst pair of socks and cut the toe out of them , slip onto your leg and over the cuffs of your pants before your boots . Roll the top down over the top and laces of your boot or shoe . This trick also works reasonably on sand when the open vent tops of many shoes let buckets of grit in make walking really uncomfortable .

 

[cher99840]

Rab Latok mid gaiter made from eVent material that also breaths

Thank you. Checking them out. Any particular reason to get Mids rather than the taller ones?

 

[cher99840]

You might like to consider a pair of these .
http://www.workwearhub.com.au/accessories/sock-savers
They are very light and come in a range of water resistant or cotton fabrics. They are really great for keeping nasty bits of gravel out of your shoes and even better at keeping your socks free of burrs and seeds .
You can make a pair reasonably easily from the cuffs of an old pair of jeans and some elastic .
Otherwise if caught out without gaiters and stones become a problem ,you can improvise quite easily . Take your worst pair of socks and cut the toe out of them , slip onto your leg and over the cuffs of your pants before your boots . Roll the top down over the top and laces of your boot or shoe . This trick also works reasonably on sand when the open vent tops of many shoes let buckets of grit in make walking really uncomfortable .

Wow!! Great idea for improvising to keep out sand and rocks. More concerned about water right now, but thanks for the tips.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Thank you. Checking them out. Any particular reason to get Mids rather than the taller ones?

No just weight depending on the time of year if your not taking rain pants the taller may be better depending on how far your poncho or coat length is. There are other brands that have eVent material I would google it.
I see you are from Kentucky, my grandfather last name was Stanfill I know this is a strange remark but you look like family.

 

[David]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hiking-Ga...ntiago-Sale-/201665382562?hash=item2ef43188a2

 

[Anniesantiago]

I have never worn gaiters, never felt I needed gaiters, and probably never will use them.
If it is THAT wet, I find a bar and wait out the storm.

 

[SYates]

Long rain trousers that cover the top of my shoes/boots do the trick for me during the cold season, as for the summer: Rain only goes to the skin, but not deeper - as my grandmother used to say.
Buen Camino, SY

 

[C clearly]

Long rain trousers that cover the top of my shoes/boots do the trick for me during the cold season,

It seems to me that my rain pants channel all the water to run over the tops of my boots, which inevitably get wet before too long, even though they are "waterproof." Maybe if I had longer pants, it wouldn't, but then the pants would very wet and muddy. I am thinking about making some light weight gathers to try.

 

[KinkyOne]

What brand of gaiters do you gaiter supporters like?

If you're not in for a real winter conditions with a lot of snow just buy the cheapest (and the lightest) ones. Same with walking poles for most of the Spanish Caminos. For later I had mine (10€ a pair) for more than a decade and did a lot of mountaineering in Alps with them as well and few 1000kms on Caminos. Better spend it on a good home-cooked dinner
Also you can just put your legs into that trash bin bags and tied it below or even above your knees (poncho & shorts like me). The soles of your boots will torn them but the water won't get into your shoes. Tested

 

[Kanga]

An alternative is breathable, waterproof socks. Not that I believe anything waterproof is truly breathable, but I can tell you from experience that Sealskinz and Dexshell socks are incredibly warm and my feet stay dry, in sandals walking through water. Dexshell socks are currently on sale here.

As I am a repeat offender the cost gets amortised over many caminos.

 

[cher99840]

An alternative is breathable, waterproof socks. Not that I believe anything waterproof is truly breathable, but I can tell you from experience that Sealskinz and Dexshell socks are incredibly warm and my feet stay dry, in sandals walking through water. Dexshell socks are currently on sale here.

As I am a repeat offender the cost gets amortised over many caminos.

Do you wear liners under them?

 

[Kanga]

@cher99840 they are lined but feel a bit rough so sometimes I wear thin merino socks under them.

 

[cher99840]

@cher99840 they are lined but feel a bit rough so sometimes I wear thin merino socks under them.

Thanks. I just ordered a pair from Amazon.

 

[Smallest_Sparrow]

I knew I would be walking in rain everyday for weeks if not months on the routes I chose (admiting spring on the Norte as one). I considered gaiters but thought my pants would become soaked and not only would I become cold, but water would drip down my legs to my socks. I went with rain jacket, rain pants, and runner's ball cap (surprise valued item suggested by my marathon coach), with a cover for my pack. The hood on a rain jacket does a poor job of keeping water out of your face, but the cap under it was amazing. I hate it when he's right.
i don't know why i just didn't use the wait-in-a-bar-til-it's-over method...