Gaiters useful ?

Wim Dijkstra said:

Anyone used gaiters in combination with a poncho to keep dry feet and pants clean from mud during rain ?

Click to expand...

Yes. They work very well, though you should expect some rain to penetrate the lace areas of boots in heavy rain.

Purpose of gaiters is to keep mud and snow out of hiking boots.

I'm not sure they do much to keep feet dry except in that they keep snow out.

Scree cuffs are often used to keep small gravel out of shoes.

I wear shorts with gaiters and hiking boots. I like that gaiters keep bugs off my calf muscles. Plus it keeps debris, including mud and snow should I get into it, out of my boots.

On the camino its pretty rare to get mud deeper than the sole of your shoe. Snow is usually gone by end April. If you are wearing long pants while on the camino then debris won't get in your shoes and bugs won't get your legs.

If your main concern is about getting wet feet ... there is a secret to staying dry ... don't get wet.

I found in Galicia the rain came in squalls that lasted 5 or 10 minutes. There was usually at least a half hour warning with a line of advancing black clouds providing notice. I tried to find places to wait it out. Bus stops, coniferous trees, and under building cornices. At minimum I'd find a place to stand where there wasn't a river flowing through keeping shoes out of water. It provided a good excuse for a tea break too. The rain fell; the water ran in rivulets; and, when it was over I resumed walking.

I will take a pair on my next camino.

Last September on the Camino Frances, I only encountered 3 days of rain, fortunately. A lightweight pair of gaiters would've been helpful to keep socks dry below rain pants.

Buen Camino!

I didn't use my gaiters at all, although I had them with me both in June & also in September. My trousers were long enough to cover my boots for the odd downpour in June and a Spanish poncho with the space over the backpack kept me dry. It does depend what time of the year you go and which Camino I suppose but if you've got gortex type shoes, I wouldn't bother as it's extra weight.

Wim Dijkstra said:

Hi Paul, did you notice it was me ?

Click to expand...

Of course, Wim!! Wish I could be joining you for leg #2, but air prices wouldn't allow it. You may not need gaiters for this leg, this time of year. We want to see pictures!

I used em in 2012 and they were great. Keep the feet dry when many around me walked in wet boots. This year I'm gambling on the GTX working. We'll see.